Pobl Dewi: December 2024

Faith and Fear: Where Christianity is a Crime

Open Doors is a charity committed to working in places where being a Christian can get you into serious trouble. Every year, in January, it publishes the World Watch List, which identifies the top 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian; places like North Korea - top of the list in 2024 - where even owning a Bible can put you in prison.

Jim Stewart, Wales Church Relations Manager, reports on its work

O Come Let Us Adore Him

The Church in Wales’ Advent course for 2024 is under way

O Come Let Us Adore Him is designed to strengthen your faith throughout the festive period, from the beginning of Advent through to Epiphany It consists of an introduction by the Archbishop of Wales followed by six full sessions, each led by one of the diocesan Bishops.

People can complete this course by themselves or in small groups and communities

Find out more

Bishop Dorrien has been out with the Street Pastors of Pembroke to get a sense of their ministry and their contribution to the local community. Street Pastors in Pembroke and also in Haverfordwest offer pastoral and practical help to people using the pubs and clubs in our towns. This might include giving water to the dehydrated, tissues to the tearful and even flat footwear so someone can walk home. Most importantly they are someone to talk with, to share pain and concerns and to offer prayers and the love of Jesus.

Bishop Dorrien praised their work which he sees as a witness to Christ and as fulfilling His commandment to love our neighbours. He was impressed by the welcome they received wherever they went, the affection in which they are held by the community and blessed their ministry and work.

Transforming lay ministry

A new website devoted to supporting lay ministry has been launched in partnership with the Church in Wales and the Church of England

The site - www.layministry.org.uk - is being developed by the Central Readers' Council to support Readers/LLMs and all kinds of lay ministry with stories, resources and book reviews, as well as useful information for Wardens, lay ministers, and those exploring Licensed Lay ministry.

And they want your feedback. If you have comments about the new site, please email chair@transformingministry.co.uk for the attention of the Communications Working Group.

Judge Eternal, Throned in Splendour

The legal year starts in October and is marked by a ceremony that dates back to the Middle Ages when legal business could only be conducted at certain times.

In London, the judges, dressed in their finery, process from the Law Courts to Westminster Abbey. In Wales, naturally, they gather in St Davids Cathedral to pray for guidance at the start of the new term, equally well attired in colours that reflect their place in the hierarchy.

The bilingual service was led by the Dean, Sarah Rowland Jones, and the congregation was made up of many of the leading figures in the British judiciary. The readings were delivered by the Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales, Baroness Sue Carr, the first woman to hold the post, and Lord David Lloyd Jones, a Supreme Court judge.

Winter Events at St Davids Cathedral

Advent, Christmas and beyond with Tyr Pererin

Check out the calendar

A Plenitude of Poppies

How Llangoedmor remembered...

Take a look

A winning hymn

Pupils at Ysgol Penboyr Church in Wales Primary School have produced an award-winning new school hymn, inspired by one of our greatest hymn writers, Griffith Jones.

Every year, we at Ysgol Penboyr take part in the Welsh Heritage Schools Initiative competition. This year, we decided to find out more about a man who was born a stone’s throw from the school – Griffith Jones. After learning that he had written hymns, we came up with the idea of creating a new school hymn. Our hymn was launched in front of the new Bishop, the Right Reverend Dorrien Davies, at St Davids Cathedral. We also studied Madam Bevan’s life and work as part of our project. The school won one of the competition’s top prizes and received a cash donation of £800 in a ceremony held at the National Library of Wales. Here's the hymn

Do vicars ever retire?

Not Canon Michael Lloyd Rees!

During a busy time at Eglwys Santes Fair, Aberystwyth, he celebrated half a century of service at home and abroad.

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Fo Madio! - Money for Madagascar

How Calon Lan and 20p donations got Welsh schoolchildren on national TV!

Theresa Haine recalls a fundraising effort that brought unexpected dividends...

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