Pobl Dewi: September 2020
September 2020
Welcome to the September edition of Pobl Dewi, our diocesan newspaper. Once again, the coronavirus pandemic means we are unable to print this issue so, once more, we are publishing it exclusively online. All the articles we would have printed are included here, grouped into broad themes. We hope you find them interesting and enjoyable.
Introductions
From the Bishop
Faith, plain and simple Read more
From the Editor
Here we go again! Read more
From the Diocese
Covid-19: The state of play
An evolving situation
Paul Mackness describes how the easing of lockdown applies to church life Read more
Money matters
Tim Llewellyn outlines the financial straegy for 2021 Read more
Office FAQs
Jeff Thomas - zooming along Read more
Ministry
Appointments
We welcome three new faces Come and meet them
Vocations
Discernment in uncertain times Our Vocations Adviser explains
Digital Ministry
Mones Farah has a question... Read more
Shaping our Future
The view from St Padarn's An update from J-D Laurence
Zoomed into Office
Viv Sayer describes her digital licensing Read more
Ordinations
Meet our new priests and deacons Read more
Church & Society
Impact 242
A vision is becoming a reality Victoria Jones writes
Tackling Climate Change
Becoming a Zero-carbon Church Read more
Sackcloth & Coffee
A new podcast on faith and life Sophie Whitmarsh issues an invitation
Health & Well-being
You are not alone!
Covid-19 & Child Mental Health
Surveys reveal generational damage Read more from Barnardo's
Cynnal
It's not only the laity who are suffering Counselling for clergy families
Porth Ceredigion
Bridging health & care services in Ceredigion Read more
Helping hands: a nation of shopkeepers
Three articles, one from each archdeaconry, expressing gratitude to our small shopkeepers who stepped up to the mark when lockdown struck, and pleas for us to keep using their services
Aberystwyth
Responding to a new reality Read more
Ammanford
Dark clouds with silver linings Read more
Fishguard
Feeding new friends Read more
Covid-19: new opportunities
Plant Dewi
Taking up the 2.6 Challenge Read more
Shopping - a win-win!
How a chore became a privilege Read more
Strawberries anyone?
Penrhyncoch's parish pick-me-up Read more
Stepping up for Christian Aid
Becky Evans' long lockdown walk Join her
Back to School
Rising to the challenge at Ysgol Penboyr Carol James writes. So do her students.
Looking ahead to Libraries Week
Celebrating 1620, 1920 and 2020 Find out more
Interfaith & International
Learning from St Frances
Interfaith Officer Derek Davies sees encouraging signs Read more
A cry for help from Beirut
John Holdsworth reports from a desperate city Read more
Bukavu
The latest from our companion diocese Roger Dirokpa reports
Black Lives Matter
Churches Together for Justice
Cytun's response to twin crises Read more
Husband and wife together for Justice
A personal testimony by Shirley Murphy Read more
History & Remembrance
St Peter's, Lampeter
Celebrating 150 years Read more
Englynion
Every headstone tells a story Lyn Dafis investigates
The Unknown Warrior
The Welsh Connection Read more
Mediaeval Lost Property
Mick Dean, Diocesan Property Officer, makes an exciting find Read more
On the lighter side
Our regular columnists find something to smile about, even when up against it
Diary of a retired Parson
The joys and gin-traps of virtual worship Jonathan Copus encounters the unexpected
Diary of a Parson's wife
"Let's stay home and make it fun!" Polly Zipperlen on what was...and what might have been this summer
Have your say - in Welsh!
Are you learning Welsh? Have you been to Welsh night classes for a year or two? Well, here is a new series of articles in Pobl Dewi to help you.
These articles will be in easier Welsh with a list of new or uncommon words (highlighted in yellow). The articles will be about the history, people and places in St Davids Diocese.
But we need your help as well. Here is your chance to put into action what you have learned in your Welsh classes. We would like you to write a short article for Pobl Dewi in Welsh!
You can write on any subject: what’s it like to go to Welsh class, or what makes learning Welsh special for you? Perhaps you would like to tell others about somewhere interesting you have visited, an interesting person you have met, or what you do.
The article should be around 300 words, and it would be good to have a picture to go with it. If you would like to write then someone from Pobl Dewi will be there to help so you don’t have to think about all the little details. What is important is that your voice will be heard.
If you would like to write or find out more then please contact me. My name is Lyn Dafis. My address is Y Ficerdy, Penrhyn-coch, Aberystwyth, SY23 3EP. My email address is lyndafis@gmail.com and my telephone number is 01970 820162. Don’t be shy!
These are our first three pieces to get you started - and hopefully inspired!
3 HUNAN-YNYSU AC ANCR LLANDDEWI-BREFI
Reflections for the harvest season
God's blessings, whatever the weather
John Howells remembers some good advice Read more
A time to sow and a time to reap
A normal day's work in abnormal times Life on a Narberth dairy farm
Young reflections
Poems and prayers by Ysgol Penboyr pupils Take a look
Book reviews
Celtic Saints
A treasure trove of wisdom and inspiration Read Val Legg's review
Eating Together, Becoming One
“hospitality is part of the best of our humanity" Read Brendan O'Malley's review
Isaiah's Legacy
Biblical fiction at its best Read Shirley Murphy's review
Christianity Expanding
(Book 1 in Wisdom Series)
Pub: John Hunt, 30th October 2020
ISBN: 978-17890-44225
Price: £7.99 (available from Amazon)
Daring to challenge preconceptions
Don MacGregor is a prophet for our time. Well informed on the key elements of spirituality, scientific enquiry, early Christian thinkers and current church practice, he knits this knowledge together to help the reader understand some of the conundrums facing thinkers, scientists and people of faith. This first of a short series of small books applies his breadth of understanding in an easy-to-read style and each chapter concludes with simple stated questions, some easy spiritual exercises and suggested further resources.
To anyone with a questioning mind this small book is a revelation. To anyone who is very comfortable in their faith it may present a challenge. To those who are certain of their faith it may be an affront. The author opens the mind, bringing together some long held ideas that were generally lost in the search for certainty and even ruled unacceptable by those in authority. Like a detective, the author asks how and why some decisions to create an orthodoxy happened, and we, the viewer, are set free to realise we knew all along.
This book should be read and pondered by those exploring faith. If the Church is to retain any relevance in a changed, and changing, world it must dig deep into its lost elements to realise that many of the 95% who have nothing to do with organised religion may be onto something after all.
Revd Canon Jeremy Martineau