On Saturday 13th September, 27 young people aged between 11-18 connected with Methodist Churches right across Wales met at Theatre Hafren, Newtown, for their annual ‘Youth Forum’.  We had a good loyal number of young adults helping, as well as a Worship band from the Methodist Churches in Aberystwyth. We started with some welcomes and good refreshments, well it was an early Saturday morning!
Our theme and journey for the day was ‘Change’:Change in 3 ways
1. Change the World in One million ways.  In this workshop led by Christian Aid Wales, young people were encouraged to think about how can we serve God, love people and protect the planet.   2. ‘Change Hearts’  This was led by Emily Barry assisted by Trish Earlam, where she led a ‘Bible log in’ to encourage the young people to see the Bible as something that still has the power to change hearts.
3. ‘Change Attitudes’  Megan Thomas (UK Youth President for 2014-15) and Abby Watterson led this session in which they encouraged the young people to think about mental health and related issues facing young people. Deacon Samantha Taylor (in keeping with some of the adult Synod topics) did a short presentation on ‘Presumed Consent’ and information booklets were given to young people and adult leaders there, so they could continue their own discussions in their church youth groups.

After lunch Pete Taylor and Richard Sharples talked about future youth participation in Synod Policy Committee.  Two young people put themselves forward to be nominated as reps to a Synod Policy committee meeting to be held early next year.  These were:  Mary Sharples & James Noys.  Both are from North Wales.  Richard and Pete proposed their names be accepted and all present were in agreement.

We had some times of Worship throughout the day as well as some ice breakers and ‘voting’ games led by Cathie Steele and Bex Shaw.  A promotional video on 3Generate was shown to encourage more young people to come next year.  Towards the end of the day, we came into join the adult Synod for the closing devotions.  3 young people took part in the devotions.

On behalf of YWAG, I wish to thank all who helped on the day, and we have to give Thanks to God for all the young people entrusted to our care in our Churches and Circuits across Wales.

Rev.  Peter  Taylor.

More information and pictures about the bicentenary events held in Brecon in May 2014, remembering the life and legacy of the Revd Dr Thomas Coke, Father of Methodist missions and the first co-superintendent (bishop) of the Methodist Church in America, can now be found on the Methodist Heritage website using the link below:
http://www.methodistheritage.org.uk/thomas-coke-memorial-celebrations-brecon.htm

The next Youth Forum will take place alongside the Wales Methodist Synod in Newtown on Saturday 13th September.

The Forum is for those aged 11-18 who want to find out more about Youth activity within the Methodist Church in Wales.

More information can be found by clicking on the links below.

Youth Forum 2014
Youth Forum 2014 Registration

You are invited to
BREADLINE QUESTION TIME
a panel discussion on
POVERTY and FOODBANKS

Come and debate the issue of food poverty and put your questions to a specially-invited panel

Friday 4 July
8.00 – 10.00 pm
City United Reformed Church, Windsor Place, Cardiff CF10 3BZ

Chair: The Revd Simon Walkling (Moderator, United Reformed Church Synod of Wales)
Panellists will include:
 Stephen Doughty MP (Labour MP for Cardiff South and Penarth)
 Tony Graham (Trussell Trust Foodbank Network Manager, Wales)
 Julie Jarman (Programme Manager, Church Action on Poverty)
 Kirsty Davies (Head of Oxfam Cymru)
and others tbc

Please submit your question in advance – by 2 July –
to: church.society@urc.org.uk / 020 7916 8632

Hosted by the United Reformed Church (meeting for its General Assembly in Cardiff 3-6 July)
and the Trussell Trust, Wales

During a recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land by folk from the Pembrokeshire Methodist Circuit, Mrs Muir Bird of Tenby was presented with a certificate for 60 years service as a Methodist local preacher.

The presentation was made during a communion service by the side of the Sea of Galilee at Tabgha by Rev Hugh-John Wilson, the Circuit’s Superintendent Minister.

Mr Wilson said “it was a huge privilege to present this certificate to a wonderful person who remains an active and much valued local preacher serving the churches in Pembrokeshire”. He commented that Tabgha is the traditional site of the feeding of the five thousand by Jesus so there is no more appropriate place on earth to present this certificate to someone who has spiritually fed so many people over the years,

Pictured with Mrs Muir Bird by the Sea of Galilee are Pembrokeshire Methodist Circuit’s probationer minister Rev Lorette Hinson and Superintendent Minister Rev Hugh-John Wilson.

Christian Aid Week 11th – 17th May

‘Thomas Coke (1747-1814): From Brecon to the World’
3-16 May 2014

Thomas Coke was the minister appointed by John Wesley, along with Frances Asbury to superintend the Methodist movement in America, and who went on to play a pivotal role in organising Methodist missionary work around the world, dying on his final journey to undertake missionary work in Sri Lanka in May 1814.

On Saturday May 3rd. the 200th year celebrations commenced with a series of lectures putting Coke’s life into the context of the town of Brecon and then his legacy for American Methodism.

In the afternoon of May 3rd, the Cathedral was filled to capacity for a Gathering of Methodists from most of the Circuits in South Wales and beyond and folk from other denominations to celebrate Coke’s life and his contribution to Methodist Missionary work.   Entitled ‘Thomas Coke – Looking back, Looking forward’ the lead speaker at the Gathering was The Reverend The Lord Leslie Griffiths of Burry Port.  Contributions also came from, amongst others, Revd. Cathy Gale (Superintendent of the Gwent Hills and Vales Circuit) on Coke’s Mission to the West Indies, Revd. Jennie Hurd (Chair of Synod Cymru) on the Concern for the Welsh Speaker and Revd. Soba Sinnathamby (a former Minister in the Newport and Lower Wye Circuit) on Coke’s final journey to Sri Lanka (then Ceylon).

Those of us who were there found the Gathering afternoon extremely informative and well put together.   It is hoped that Leslie Griffiths will be making available a transcript of his speech if anyone is interested.

On Sunday May 4th. there was an Ecumenical service of Holy Communion in the Cathedral at which the preacher was Bishop Thomas Bickerton of the Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church and in the afternoon, Glasbury Methodist Church at Cwmbach (the last remaining chapel of the old Brecon Circuit) hosted a buffet tea followed by a service at which the preacher was Revd. Cathy Gale.

From 3-16 May inclusive, Brecknock Museum will be open (ground floor only) every day 10am-4pm for the temporary exhibition ‘Thomas Coke (1747-1814): From Brecon to the World’. In addition to a wealth of illustrative material, it contains many memorable personal items that will never be seen in Brecon again, including his ‘writing slope’ (with inbuilt tea-caddy) that travelled the world with him, and his memorial ring.

Free admission.

Clergy in Barry will be bringing the Easter story to life with a modern twist by cleaning shoes in the town centre on Maundy Thursday.

As Jesus washed the feet of his disciplines on this day, ministers from two churches will be carrying out their own take on this by cleaning the shoes of passersby.

Rector Ben Andrews of Cadoxton-juxta-Barry will be carrying out these ‘Acts of Kindness’ along with Revd Peter Taylor and Deacon Sam Taylor of the Crossway Methodist Church in Kings Square, Barry, on Thursday, April 17, from 11.30am until 1pm.

To read the full article on the Church in Wales Website click here