Ad Clerum

Hydref 01 October

As Bishop Gregory will be on sabbatical until the end of October, Archdeacon Andy Grimwood contributes a message for this month’s ad clerum:

ANNWYL GYFEILLION,

Later this year, the final Star Wars film (in the Skywalker saga) will be released, entitled ‘the Rise of Skywalker’.  The trailers and posters have already got Star Wars fans asking ‘Will Rey (the heroine) turn to the Dark Side? And if so, why?’  The previous film, ‘the Last Jedi’, gave a few hints as to ‘why?’  Perhaps temptation,  falling in love with Kylo Ren (a Sith – baddie), a lack of care from her ‘Master’ (Luke Skywalker), refusing to read and meditate on the Jedi wisdom, issues from her past.

St Paul is keenly aware of the dangers for leaders of ‘falling’ from our faith; speaking to the elders of the church in Ephesus as he prepares to leave them in Acts 20, he says in verse 28  ‘Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood’

As we approach what for us all is a busy ‘term’: harvest, All Saints’, Remembrance, Advent, Christmas; as we are inundated with phone calls, emails, meetings, visiting the sick and the housebound, visiting those who don’t come to church, getting bogged down with meetings and administration, it is very easy for us to lose sight of what is ultimately important, and so Paul warns us to ‘keep watch over ourselves’. physically, emotionally and spiritually. In essence, to make sure we are being fed by the word of God.

But, look closely at that verse from Acts and you will notice that elders are to protect a second group of people, they are told to keep watch over the flock.  These are people who are in our churches week by week. They are people for whom Jesus laid down His life. They are precious in God’s sight. They need to be protected from savage wolves who will come in amongst them and destroy the flock.  How do you destroy the flock? Simple, by starving it of food. So our task is to ensure that the flock is fed on the Word of God.

Will Rey turn to the Dark Side? Well, we’ll have to wait for the film to be released on 19^th December to find out, but in the meantime, please ‘keep watch over yourselves and all the flock’ and over the next few months focus on the important, feed on the life-giving Word of God.

With every blessing and my prayers at this busy time,

Please remember Bishop Gregory in your prayers in this final month of his sabbatical.

Archdeacon Andy also reminds us about two important property matters:

Faculties

Please remember to put all work on your church buildings on the online faculty system (or ask a member of your building committee or churchwarden), even down to organ tuning and cleaning the gutters. Please also put all ‘List A’ work on the system. This will ensure that all the information is in one place, and it will help completion of the annual fabric report and with grant applications (by showing you are maintaining your buildings). Please also note that work on trees is a List A item.

Please find attached the necessary guidance notes relating to emergency works, what makes up Lists A & B, what supporting documentation you need, and guidance as to how a statement of significance.  If you need any help, guidance or advice, please speak to Rachel Cutler in the Diocesan Office before doing any work.  For more information please visit the property section of our website.

Parsonage/Vicarage maintenance

As a member of the Diocesan Property Board, I am often told by clergy that one of the things they most value are the superb vicarages we live in, and how well maintained they are. I am sure you would join with me in extending our thanks to Emyr and his team for their care.

Clergy however have responsibilities. Attached is a guidance note for the care of parsonages, and the Property Board would be grateful if you could read it and ensure that you are doing your bit to help maintain our parsonages. Thank you for your help with this.

For further information please visit the parsonage pages on the website or  contact Emyr on 01745 532586.

Hwyl a Helo

Today, 1 October, is the 40th anniversary of Norman Morris’ priestly ordination by the Rt. Rev’d. Mervyn Stockwood at Southwark Cathedral. We extend our congratulations to Norman and wish him continued blessings in his ministry amongst us.  Congratulations too to Pam Powell who has become a grandmother for a second time. Pam’s daughter Katie gave birth to Gruffydd Eric Davies last month and both mother and son are doing well.

We give thanks for the life and Christian witness of the Revd Arthur Poulton who died last month, and remember his widow, Dorothy, and the family in our prayers at this time.  Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him.  May he rest in peace.

Diary

October

10 October              11:30 Retired Clergy Association service (Cathedral), followed by lunch and speaker at the Oriel House Hotel

12 October              Diocesan Conference (all day)

Later in the Year

10 December          Advent Confirmation (Cathedral)

2020

09 April                     11:00  Chrism Eucharist & lunch (Cathedral)

11 April                     Easter Vigil and Confirmation (Cathedral)

07 June                     Diocesan Service to Mark the Centenary of Disestablishment (Cathedral)

27 June                     10:00 Ordination of Priests (Cathedral)

04 July                       10:00 Ordination of Deacons (Cathedral)

Notes & Queries

Additional appointments and responsibilities

From time to time clergy are approached or volunteer to undertake chaplaincies or additional ministries or responsibilities.  Please remember that it is important to consult with Bishop Gregory before an appointment is accepted or agreed, as any additional duties that impact upon public ministry require his approval.

Centenary of the Disestablishment of the Church in Wales

As listed in the diary, a major diocesan service to mark the centenary of the disestablishment of the Church in Wales will be take place in the Cathedral on the afternoon of Trinity Sunday 2020, to which all are welcome.  Nearer the time the liturgy will also be made available for use in churches and mission areas as well.

Concise Almanac

We are grateful as ever to Martin Snellgrove for preparing a useful Concise Almanac for the coming liturgical year.

Open Doors Celebration

On November 12^th, the Open Doors ministry will be holding an event in the Cathedral to inspire and challenge us about the persecuted church, focusing on how God is building His kingdom in the most dangerous places to be a Christian, particularly North Korea.  Please do support this event if you can.

Retired Clergy Eucharist and Lunch

A reminder that the Annual Meeting and Lunch of the Association will take place in St Asaph on Thursday, 10^th October.  The Association will gather for the Eucharist in the cathedral at 11:30.  Lunch will be served afterwards in the Oriel House Hotel, with the Archdeacon of Montgomery as guest speaker. For more information please email Pauline Walker, who oversees the Association.  It has been something of a tradition to suggest that mission areas might like to contribute to the cost of lunch for the retired clergy who do so much to support ministry in their locality.