From our Assistant Bishop

Generous God, thank you that in Jesus you show us costly love. In this time of anxiety when many are worried about the future, and fear seems to drive many decisions; help us to be people who are driven by love. Fill us with compassion, enable us to be open-handed with whatever we have that we might follow in the way of Christ our King helping all to know they are loved, Amen.

The death of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth and the succession of King Charles has raised questions across the generations in Wales and throughout the UK about the meaning and purpose of kingship.

In our prayer this weekend we are reminded of what Christ shows us about the meaning of the Gospel descriptions of the Kingdom of God. The feast of Christ the King offers us a sharp depiction of God's values and shows us what costly, saving love is like.

Here is a King who is prepared to suffer alongside us. This is not a King who holds himself above others but one who experiences betrayal, injustice, and humiliation. A king who has died as we will also die, but who now lives a new resurrection life. He welcomes us into that same resurrection life where we will know the peace, hope and healing for which we long.

The feast of Christ the King, coming at the end of our Christian calendar year, and just before Advent Sunday, offers us an opportunity to reflect upon the ways that we reflect and show others the love of our servant King.

Our Archbishop's campaign this Advent "A Gift for Christmas", as part of the Church in Wales' Food and Fuel initiative, offers us ways to show compassion for others and to advocate for a more just society. It has been wonderful to see some pictures this week of boxes of toiletries that Ministry Areas have already prepared. Please do consider how your congregation might respond to this. If you have prepared something already, do please share news of this to help encourage others.

Diary

23 November
Gofal ein Gwinllan

1-2 December
Grŵp Cadfan
Grŵp Cadfan is an opportunity for all licensed clergy of the diocese to gather together to worship, to reflect, to pray, to learn and spend time together. Provincial colleagues will be joining the meeting to share information about Safeguarding and 'My Church People'.

1 December
World AIDS Day
10am - 10pm
Saint Deiniol's Cathedral in Bangor
A varied day of events combining remembrance of the lost, prayer for the suffering and celebration of advances in medicine and society.
7.30pm Candlelit Vigil of Remembrance followed by:
Presentation | Prevention and Treatment: Celebrating Medical Advances
An illustrated talk given by Dr Olwen Williams, OBE, Consultant in Sexual Health at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, followed by an opportunity to ask questions 

Wales Climate Week

Wales Climate Week provides an annual opportunity to hold a national conversation on climate change. The week explores the urgent action needed to reduce carbon emissions and create greater resilience to the impacts of climate change we are already experiencing across Wales.

Wales Climate Week 2022 is about climate choices and the important contribution that the general public can make in helping to tackle climate change.

A Rocha UK and Christian Aid will host an online session on Monday 21 November at 3.15pm focussing on both the local and global action taken by churches across Wales. You will hear directly from churches of different denominations about their experiences, what they have done with regards to their buildings, land and nature and campaigning and what they have achieved. To register for the event please click on the image above.

A new lectionary companion

The People’s Church is produced by Saint Padarn’s Institute in partnership with Cyngor Ysgolion Sul. It’s a bilingual book of Bible reflections for each Sunday of the Church Year (Year A). It will be available for sale at Welsh book shops, through Cyngor Ysgolion Sul and also on Gwales and Amazon.