Tydw i ddim y berson da am bloggio!

I am not a good blogger!

Mae na wythnosau lawer wedi mynd heibio ers imi anfon y blogg diwethaf a dwi ddim yn gwybod lle i gychwyn ran rhoi up-date ich ran hanas y plwyfi a'r Ardal Cenhadaeth?

Many weeks have gone by since my last blogg - and much has happened in our life as a group of parishes and in our life as a Mission Area. Where do I begin?

There wasn't much rest after Easter... a busy week and of course... being a bad one for not taking holidays... Wyn and I didn't go away at all... but we did have various friends down for visits and so it was good to welcome and catch up with good friends.

Re the parishes... there have been a wedding at Llanllwchaiarn - my first in my new ministry, there have been many baptisms... and now I have a group of committed pastoral assistants to help with baptism preparation - and to welcome the families to church if they are new to church. This is a wonderful opportunity for ministry and mission. We often ask... I often ask in my prayers... that god shows me a way whereby we as a church can reach out to those in our communities who may not have heard the Good News. Well, here is a golden opportunity - we have an open invitation to visit young families preparing for baptism... and we can speak openly and freely and excitedly about our faith. This is God's answer to my prayer. And so it is up to me to make sure that we take this opportunity to heart and to encourage and foster good relationships with these young families.

We have had a number of funerals also... all of them very sad of course... and an opportunity to share with families the hope of the promise of eternal life. This is the area of ministry that I consider a great privilege and honour... to be involved with families at a raw and painful time... and to offer support, comfort and hope.

There has been attention to business and buildings - St Gwynog's Church in Aberhafesp and All Saints church, Newtown - both with re-ordering plans! I had hoped that I wouldn't have to deal with building plans ever again after my experience at Bala. When groups of people came to Bala to view the beautiful re-ordering of Christ Church - I would always comment... I can smile and share the story, the pain, the sweat, the anxious times...etc... now that we are in the post-reordering era - i could never do it again!

"Well, too bad Nia...",  I can hear god saying, I have plans for you... and they are going to involve mission... in building up a people of God... and giving attention to the church buildings in your care... and by the way... 3 Churchyards!"

So there...!

I am being supported by the Diocesan staff. Jan came down from St Asaph - the faculty officer (she has a grander title than this!), and she agreed with me that it would be a good thing to bring our Quinquennial inspection forwards two years so that we have a detailed inspection of the church with a full and detailed report - carried out and written by a professional surveyor. This has been agreed by Diane - the Diocesan Secretary, and John Pugh - whom I trust totally... following our work together on Christ Church in Bala - has already been down to view All Saints Church and will come down later this month to carry out the Quinquennial. he has also agreed to have a look at St Gwynog's church - as a favour - to give his expert advice re the flooring and plans for re-ordering.

All seems to be on a stand-still now for a while... no fixing of broken windows, no dealing with a very bad and ugly damp patch... and no patching up! No removing the organ and buying a small Allens consule! We must wait patiently! And of course there is no guarantee that any grant money will be forthcoming... but we can pray and hope and be positive!

Mission Area news...

An excellent Worship Leader's workshop has taken place together with organists and those involved with music and liturgy. The plan was to gather together for support and encouragement, to start work on creating some service books that can be used in all our churches in the Mission Area - so that Clergy, Readers and Worship leaders are familiar with the service format in all the Churches.

We had an open evening for all our mission Area PCC members and all who are on the Mission Area conference. A good crowd gathered with a fair representation from the various parishes. We viewed the john Timpson DVD - his keynote speech at the diocesan Conference in october 2014. And then we welcomed Philip Chew - Dyffryn Clwyd Mission Area Leader - who spoke to us about his experience of Mission Areas.

He spoke excellently and encouraged some interesting comments. One point was made clear - a need for better communication so that people are informed re developments in regard of the 2020 Vision.
People asked when it was to start! Cedewain has been regarded as a Mission Area in the making for some time... the Bishop in offering me the position of Mission Area Leader spoke about Cedewain - as already being well on the way to becoming a Mission Area. People weren't too clear about what a Mission Area is meant to be. People weren't aware that Readers and Worship leaders were willing to help with services in churches within the Mission Area other than their regular church. And people seemed to appreciate that a Mission Area will enable people to choose the type of service that best suits them. And it became quite clear that all the churches in our Mission Area cannot and ought not be the same, nor offer the same type of services, nor indeed to try to be everything to everybody... ending up in not pleasing anybody!

This meeting was the beginning of an open and necessary dialogue I feel... and it is quite clear that there is a sense of expectation and excitement. And some anxiety... and many more questions!

The most important think for me I think is that I realised that I mustn't take anything for granted as to what people know and don't know - relating to church, parish and Mission Area business. It is good to start from the very beginning, to share all information and to do so with clarity. It is also very important that people feel that they can ask questions and voice their concerns and opinions.

We had a good gathering for our Archdeacon's Visitation a couple of weeks ago... our Archdeacon - the Venerable Peter Pike spoke well and encouraged us as regards the 2020Vision.

I have several meetings with Diocesan Officers - Sarah Wheat is keen and willing to work with us in the Mission Area. Sarah is the newly appointed Communication Officer and she is already booked up to meet with the plc of Llanllwchaiarn and Newtown. I am also due to meet Tracey White - to discuss the possibility of arranging a programme of training sessions that will be based in our Mission Area... Areas of training needs need to be identified - this is an on the agenda for our next Chapter meeting - a meeting where we gather together on a monthly basis as clerics, retired clerics and Readers.

We have a Mission Area trip to Bala to view the re-ordering of Christ Church, in the hope that it will inspire many of the PCC members in various churches of the Mission Area who are thinking and planning for a reordering project.

Terence Bryan has encouraged me to plan a pilgrimage visit to Uwchmynydd on the Llyn Peninsula where we will have a fantastic view of Bardsey Island - I haven't planned this trip as yet as I am awaiting information re coaches and whether they will be willing to negotiate the narrow road from Aberdaron up to Uwchmynydd!

And one more piece of news that I can share. There is mention of Transition Mentors being employed by the Diocese to help Mission Areas in many and various ways. Archdeacon Peter informed me that the Bishop has asked us as a Mission Area to prepare a bid for one of these mentors and to think how a mentor could help us here in Cedewain. Peter and I had a good chat about this and we came to the conclusion that there were certain areas whereby the help of a mentor could be useful - certainly in helping us address children and youth work, in helping to encourage all our people to embrace the concept and working of a Mission Area, and the whole issue of churches of the Mission Area helping one another - with finances, resources etc...

So... there is a lot going on! One of my colleagues - Alex - is away on a well earned holiday at present... she is away on a cruise with her mother. Alex is a real asset... Together with Terence I do believe that we make a good team... especially with our retired clergy, Readers, Worship Leaders, Pastoral Assistants, Wardens... and all who contribute to the life of our parishes and Mission Area.

Nearly forgot... sorry girls...! We have the pleasure of having Alyson Gwalchmai with us in my group of parishes for a few months as she gains more experience of parish life and the work of a parish priest. Alyson is a reader in the Diocese of Bangor. I wish her well during her placement with us and as she continues to explore her vocation to ordained ministry.
And Ann Chidgey is busy gaining as much experience as possible in the parish and beyond as she continues on her journey of exploration - of God's call to ordained ministry.

In the meantime i am preparing for a course I am due to participate on in a fortnight - Dealing with Church Conflict! I make no comment as to why I should be going on this particular course for a whole week - churches are not places of conflict are they?!

Whilst I'll be away Wyn will be entertained by over 30 parishioners on holiday on the Isle of White. He is joint the parish trip and is looking forwards to a well earned holiday. He is not at the TT Races on the isle of man this year and he regrets not going. Well, I am going o pack him off next year. He is taking over my lap top this week to listen to the races live on manx radio - no reception in the Rectory and although a good reception on the car radio... it fades out after a while... and so Nia's working tool becomes his radio! Nia is not a happy bunny... but cos she loves him she gives in... for this week only!!!

Will send word again... sooner than later ... hopefully!

Nia