LIsa Medina
Letter to Churches January 2021
Please find below a letter from Rev. Cathy Gale.
January 4th, 2020
Dear Friends,
I wish for you all God’s blessings in this New Year. As 2021 begins, there is no doubt that we will face some challenges (and we already are!) but I pray you will know the hope of our faith in your hearts – God is with us and better days are ahead.
This correspondence comes to bring you up to date on a few matters:
1. Public Worship
The current Tier 4 restrictions in Wales do allow gathering for public worship but this is just a reminder that we have decided there will be no public worship planned for by the Cardiff Circuit at least for the month of January. This difficult decision was taken based on the alarmingly high transmission rates of the Covid virus in Wales and our perception that we could not mitigate risks enough to feel confident that we would not put worshippers and leaders of worship at risk. Equally importantly, we felt that we should do our bit to help protect the NHS at this extremely challenging time.
Please note that this does not enforce such a decision on other denominations which may use our premises for worship. Such a decision would need to be made between the denomination (following its own risk assessment review) and the managing trustees of the building.
As we receive the government review(s) of the current Tier 4 arrangements in Wales we will review our decision on public worship across the Circuit and keep you informed of future decision.
2. Alternate Arrangements for Worship
There are several online alternatives for worship on Sunday mornings provided by our ministers and others. All of these are “open” to be joined and, while originating in a particular church or cluster, are by no means exclusive. Please let folks know that they can contact Lisa at the office or any of the ministers directly if they wish to join a particular Zoom worship. Other services produced locally are available on Facebook and YouTube, with some being placed on the Cardiff Circuit Facebook page.
It is my hope that we can continue to meet monthly on Zoom for evening worship as a Circuit.
We are constantly working to make worship resources available for those who don’t have access to technology or don’t feel confident using it and we are grateful for all your help in spreading the word.
3. A Methodist Way of Life Course
One good thing to come out of 2020 was studying together in Bible Studies and the like. We are offering a new course for January/February entitled “A Methodist Way of Life”. It’s a challenge to think about how our faith affects our day to day living and complements the start to a new year, renewing our Covenant and what looks like several weeks where restrictions will enable us to have a bit more time for reflection! There are resources on the Methodist Church website if you’d like more information, but the ministerial staff will deliver the course over Zoom on Monday evenings at 7:30pm for six weeks, beginning January 11th. Please spread the news widely and ask people to contact Lisa or their minister for Zoom login details.
4. Morning Session on Pioneer Ministry – Saturday January 30th
For just over a year we have had the Rev. Judith Holliman in our circuit and she serves as a Pioneer Minister, with a specific focus on the Plas Dŵr estate near Radyr. On Saturday January 30th from 10am to 12pm we will be hosting an open session on pioneer ministry – what it is and how it might give insights for ways of doing God’s work wherever we may be. Speakers will include Rev. Dr. Stephen Wigley, Rev. Simon Sutcliffe (Chester and Stoke District Learning Network and Pioneer) and Judith, our own pioneer. Please could people contact Lisa or Judith for log in details.
5. Paul Martin’s Sabbatical
All ministers in the Methodist Church are encouraged to take a sabbatical every seven years for rest, reflection and renewal. Paul is actually overdue in receiving his and Synod have granted him permission to be on sabbatical leave from mid January to mid April 2021. While he is off, the other staff members will look after the congregations under his pastoral care as follows:
Conway Road – Alana and Alexis
Ely – Judith
St. Paul’s – Kofi
Pontprennau – Cathy
We wish Paul all the best for a good and productive time.
Every blessing to you and the congregations as we look forward to a year ahead under God’s guidance and care. Please feel free to be in touch if there are any questions about any of the above.
Yours in Christ,
Cathy
January Worship
Please find below a letter from Rev. Cathy Gale, that was sent out to Churches regarding Worship in person during January 2021.
December 16th, 2020
Dear All,
I hope this letter finds you well and anticipating our celebration of the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Two thousand years ago he came quietly and without fanfare and this year we are forced to strip back our celebrations due to covid restrictions. I can’t help wondering if there may be something positive to found in that stripping back – might we meet the Christ-child anew when we have less to distract us?
I write to let you know that the Circuit Staff, with the support of the Circuit Stewards, have taken a decision to close all our churches for public worship during the month of January.
As I write, the First Minister has just announced that from December 28th Wales will enter Level 4 restrictions, which is the equivalent of a Lockdown. This Level does allow places of worship to remain open but given all we have heard recently about the levels of virus in our communities, the critical strain on the NHS and Welsh Ambulance Service and the anticipated spike to follow the increased household mixing over Christmas we feel that closing is the right thing to do.
The plan is to reassess the situation towards the end of January and then make a decision for February and beyond. While churches are closed there will be alternative worship opportunities made available online and through other media. Please contact your minister for information.
We appreciate all the work done by churches which have reopened to make their premises covid-safe and this has been acknowledged by the Welsh Government.
As things stand currently there are no plans to stop services already set for December 20th and Christmas Day but, given the very real concerns about virus transmission at the moment, I ask each church to look again at its risk assessment and ensure any additional safety measures necessary.
Let us hold one another in prayer as we continue to reflect on God coming into our broken world to show the extent of his love for us all.
Blessings,
Cathy
Christmas Services 2020
Circuit Plan December 2020 – early January 2021
The new Circuit Plan is available here.
Circuit Plan Dec 2020 to early Jan 2021
The plan for the rest of January and February will be available in early January.
Refugee Week 2020
At Trinity Centre they are currently preparing for the upcoming Refugee Week (15 – 21 June). As the celebration is going to be online this year, they would still like to engage with the local community to educate and celebrate how we not only welcome but value refugees in Cardiff.
They have created the Trinity Centre Tree Project – an easy way that people in the community can show their support for Refugee Week 2020. On the back of this sheet there is a template of a tree for people to decorate with leaves using paint, gluing pieces, colouring, printing…they’d love for people to get creative! You could also create your own tree. This is to represent that Each leaf is unique and has its own story, but all leaves come together to make fantastic trees.
They would love to see your trees – once complete, please put them in your windows during Refugee Week (15 – 21 June) if possible, and either send a photo to them at enquiries@trinitycentre.wales or tag them on facebook @TrinityCentreCDF or Twitter @CdfTrinity to show the refugee and asylum seeking community that we are all here to support them.
Prayers for 31st May
Today’s thoughts are provided by Rev. Nick Oborski
You can download a copy of these prayers here.
Dear friends, today is the last day of our month of prayer. I hope you have found it an encouragement and help to have journey through this month. Of course, prayer does not stop today so I encourage you to continue to pray for our world and the Methodist Church every day. Please join the District prayer meeting tonight at 8pm on Zoom. If you want the password to join please contact your Minister.
Hear my prayer, LORD; let my cry for help come to you … Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.’
PSALM 102:1–2
As you know I have used material from the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC) and today is no different. Tomorrow the differences between England and Wales become more pronounced as children in England begin to resume schooling. My own granddaughter is in yr. 6 and will be back in school tomorrow. It seems right to finish our month praying for those in Education. Again, below are thoughts from those who are involved in education
Giving thanks …
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‘I see God in the social, emotional, physical, and practical work being done by schools to support pupils. Nearly half of our pupils received free school meals. Over the past nine weeks, staff have delivered food to their homes.’ Teachers are ‘selflessly still going to work to care for others, putting themselves at more risk and giving up their free time, in most cases unpaid.’
‘Ask for God’s help…
Pressures: What are the pressures affecting this context?
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‘The pressure is for those children and young people who are considered vulnerable – those with special educational needs, those eligible for free school meals, those who are on child protection registers. There are many children who experience difficult or less than loving homes and schools are their safe spaces.’
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‘New online ways of teaching are very demanding, and many teachers are feeling isolated and stressed, complaining of very bad headaches and sleeplessness.’
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‘Where we’re predicting student GCSE and A level grades, we feel pressured to make sure that we do it accurately, and it will be hard dealing with the fallout from students and parents if they don’t like what they get.’
Praying God’s heart for these people and situations…
Loving God we thank you for the gift of Education. We pray for all those working to educate our children, grandchildren, our nephews, nieces, and cousins who would normally be in school. Help them as they produce and mark work to be mindful of the different needs of each child. We pray for those who should be going back to school tomorrow, some excited, some fearful and for their parents agonising over whether it is right to send them. We ask that your peace may descend, and right decisions will be made. We know that school cannot be the same, but we ask that you will help teachers and children to adapt to the new ways of working that will begin tomorrow. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen
Praying for the Wales Synod and Our Circuit
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