Eglwys Wyllt
Mae prosiect Llan Esgobaeth Bangor yn chwilio am ffyrdd newydd o ymgysylltu â phobl a'u helpu i gysylltu â Duw. Mae addoli yn yr awyr agored yn un ffordd y maent wedi gwneud hyn. Crëwyd lle hygyrch sy'n caniatáu i bobl ddod a bod yng nghanol byd natur, i archwilio cysylltiad â rhywbeth mwy na nhw eu hunain.
Dros y flwyddyn a hanner diwethaf mae pwysigrwydd treulio amser yn yr awyr agored wedi ei amlygu dro ar ôl tro. Daeth ein gerddi'n hafanau drwy'r pandemig ac aeth teuluoedd a ffrindiau i fannau awyr agored i fwynhau. Daeth y byd tu allan yn le i gyfarfod a threulio amser gydag anwyliaid.
Pan symudodd y Parchg Sara Roberts, Arweinydd Cymunedol Arloesol ar gyfer prosiect Llan, i Fethesda roedd am gynnig cyfle i'r gymuned ymgynnull ac i ymgysylltu â Duw ond nid mewn adeilad eglwys. Roedd Parc Meurig, ardal o goetir gyda mannau casglu, yn lle diogel ym myd natur a oedd yn gyfarwydd i bobl leol ac felly sefydlodd Sara Eglwys Wyllt yno.
Wrth siarad am Eglwys Wyllt dywed Sara,
Roeddwn i eisiau creu gofod lle mae gan bobl y rhyddid i ddod, i eistedd, i fod ac i fyfyrio.
Mae Eglwys Wyllt wedi gweld pobl o bob oed yn ymgynnull gyda rhai yn dod ag offerynnau cerdd i'w chwarae. Nid oes litwrgi na threfn gwasanaeth i'w dosbarthu, er y dilynir amlinelliad syml sy'n para tua 40 munud. Cynhwysir darlleniad Beibl, cyfle i rannu ac i weddïo gyda'n gilydd. Gobaith Sara yw y bydd pobl, ymhen amser, yn teimlo'n ddigon cyfforddus i gyfrannu eu hunain.
Rhoddodd y cyfarfod cyntaf, ar fore Sadwrn, gyfle i bobl o bob oed ymgynnull yn rhydd mewn dathliad syml ym mis Gorffennaf eleni gyda'r cyfarfodydd canlynol yn canolbwyntio ar elfennau dŵr, tân, aer a'r ddaear. Bydd y cyfarfod olaf yn yr awyr agored ym mis Hydref yn gymundeb sy'n canolbwyntio ar ysbryd.
Galluogodd Eglwys Wyllt hefyd i'r rhai a ymgasglodd gael cyfle i fyfyrio cyn cyfarfod COP26 ddiwedd mis Hydref gan chwilio am ffyrdd o newid ein perthynas â'r greadigaeth a dysgu gofalu am ein hamgylchedd.
Drwy'r gaeaf mae Sara'n awyddus i archwilio cyfleoedd amgen wrth iddi geisio helpu'r gymuned leol i gyfarfod â Duw.
Wild Church
The Diocese of Bangor’s Llan project is seeking new ways of engaging with people and helping them to connect with God. Taking worship into nature is one way they have done this. An accessible space has been created allowing people to simply come and to be in nature, to explore a connection to something bigger than themselves.
Over the last year and a half the importance of spending time outdoors has been highlighted time and time again. Our gardens became havens through the pandemic and outdoor spaces were visited and enjoyed by families and friends. Outside became where we met and spent time with loved ones.
When the Revd Sara Roberts, Pioneer Community Leader for the Llan project, moved to Bethesda she wanted to offer the community a chance to gather and to connect with God but not in a church building. Parc Meurig, an area of woodland with gathering places, provided a safe space in nature which was familiar to locals and so Sara established Eglwys Wyllt (Wild Church) there.
Speaking about Eglwys Wyllt Sara says,
I wanted to create a space where people have the freedom to come, to sit, to be and to reflect.
Eglwys Wyllt has seen people of all ages gathering with some bringing musical instruments to play. There is no liturgy or order of service to be handed around, though a simple outline is followed which lasts roughly 40 minutes. A Bible reading, an opportunity to share and to pray together are included. Sara’s hope is that people will, in time, feel comfortable enough to contribute themselves.
The first gathering, on a Saturday morning, gave people of all ages the opportunity to gather freely in a simple celebration in July this year with the following gatherings focussing on the elements of water, fire, air and earth. The final outdoor gathering in October will be a communion focussing on spirit.
Eglwys Wyllt also enabled those gathered to reflect ahead of the COP26 meeting at the end of October and to seek ways in which we can change our relationship with creation and learn to care for our environment.
Through the winter Sara is keen to explore alternative opportunities as she seeks to help the local community encounter God.
