麻豆社

Bore Da a Chroeso, Good morning and Welcome to Sunday Worship. My name is Manon Ceridwen James. Next Saturday I will be installed as Bishop of Bangor, in the Church in Wales.

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You join me as I stand at a vantage point on the Southern side of the Ll欧n Peninsula, near Abersoch in North West Wales.听 From here, I can see Ynys Enlli, or Bardsey Island, faintly on the horizon.听 Enlli is the burial place of 20,000 saints, according to tradition.听 Since the 6th century it has been a destination for pilgrimage, with three pilgrimages to Enlli considered the equivalent of one to Rome.

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But I鈥檓 not going there today, to see its glassy sea and purple heather, nor to hear its singing seals.听 But I am going on a pilgrimage. In fact, I鈥檓 going on a 鈥榬everse鈥� pilgrimage: a journey from my roots, here on the Ll欧n Peninsula, towards Bangor, as I prepare to become its 82nd bishop, and the first woman in this role.听 I will be stopping off to encounter people and places, to reflect on the idea of vocation.听 What could it mean to seek purpose not only in what we to do, but in who we become? What could it mean to live a life that is attentive to God鈥檚 call? One of my favourite hymns which speaks of this journey in life and faith is I heard the voice of Jesus say, which points to Christ being with us throughout our lives, in all our varied roles, as our strength, comfort, and guide.

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I heard the voice of Jesus say

An archive recording, sung by the 麻豆社 National Chorus of Wales.

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Let us pray.

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God of our journey, we thank you that you walk alongside us throughout our lives. You delight us with the unexpected and give us strength to face the challenges of the way ahead. Keep us restless when we become complacent, and help us to live in the moment, when we feel unsettled. Help us to enjoy the journey as well as the destination. We ask this in the name of him who is the way, the truth and the life. Amen.听

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Last September I arrived in Bangor as the Dean of the Cathedral, thinking I鈥檇 be there for quite some time, maybe even until the end of my ministry. Until then I鈥檇 been working for the St Padarn鈥檚 Institute, the Church in Wales鈥檚 theological college. I loved my role there. Helping people grow in their discipleship, faith and ministry has felt very much like my vocation. But the opportunity to come back to my home diocese to serve was too much of a pull, and I applied to become the Dean at Bangor. To now be elected as bishop has been a bit of a surprise, but it too is a ministry which combines many of the themes of my roles in life so far, that of pastoral care and responsibility, of helping to disciple and form others, and of teaching.听

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Maybe we鈥檝e all had times when we鈥檝e had to think through what our particular gifts and skills are, and how we can use them to serve others. Even my friends who don鈥檛 have an active Christian faith tell me how their work, paid or voluntary, gives them meaning and purpose in life.

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For me, I don鈥檛 just bring my gifts to any role, I also bring who I am too, my whole identity. And although I鈥檝e never actually ministered on the Ll欧n Peninsula, being from this part of the world is very much part of who I am. 听This feels particularly real to me as I stand here looking over to Enlli. But now, I travel onwards, about twenty miles east, to Cricieth, a pretty seaside village with its dominant castle ruins.

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What does home mean for us?听 A person, a place, God even?听 As I stand here on Cricieth鈥檚 bustling high street, I鈥檓 reminded of one of my favourite songs which explores this question, by the Welsh poet and musician, Gwyneth Glyn.听 It鈥檚 called Adra, which means 鈥楬ome鈥� in Welsh. To fulfil the stereotype of Welsh people, Gwyneth and I of course know each other, and our mothers were best friends growing up here in Cricieth. 听My grandfather and grandmother (or, Taid and Nain as we say in Welsh) lived here. My Taid had a pharmacy in the middle of the town, and Gwyneth鈥檚 Taid had the grocer鈥檚 shop a few doors down.听

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What does home mean for us?听 How do our roots form and shape us?

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Bishop Manon and the Welsh poet and musician Gwyneth Glyn share memories of their relatives and upbringing.听 They reflect on how people and places not only give us a sense of belonging, but influence, shape and form who we become.听 Gwyneth introduces her song 鈥楢dra鈥�, a song about what home means, and our searching for belonging and connection.

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Adra (鈥楬ome鈥�)

A recording, sung by Gwyneth Glyn

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Our first reading this morning is about the push and pull of place and of home. It鈥檚 the famous account of the Israelites leaving Egypt after Pharoah lets them go. Its story is captured in the well-known Welsh hymn Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer where God is described as a pillar of fire leading his people on.

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Exodus 13 17- 22

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17听When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was nearer, for God thought, 鈥淚f the people face war, they may change their minds and return to Egypt.鈥澨�18听So God led the people by the roundabout way of the wilderness bordering the Red Sea.听The Israelites went up out of the land of Egypt prepared for battle.听19听And Moses took with him the bones of Joseph, who had required a solemn oath of the Israelites, saying, 鈥淕od will surely come to you, and then you must carry my bones with you from here.鈥澨�20听They set out from Succoth and camped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness.听21听The听Lord听went in front of them in a pillar of cloud by day, to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light, so that they might travel by day and by night.听22听Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.

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The familiarity of people and places is not only comforting; it is often an important part of our identity.听 Our memories, the people who have formed us and the places that have been important to us are significant aspects of who we are. For the Israelites too, people and places were important, and were part of how they experienced God working in their lives.听 But we know that their journey from slavery in Egypt to the promised land involved a long time in the wilderness. Even though they had been desperate for their freedom, they grumbled about being in the wilderness and wanted to turn back. But it was during this time that Moses had his awesome experience of God, and received the ten commandments. Sometimes during our most challenging times we can feel God closest to us.听

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There have been, no doubt, times in all of our lives when we have felt anxious or confused when facing something difficult. When I arrived last year as Dean of Bangor Cathedral, I arrived at a place where there was conflict, hurt and pain. There was also failure and deep shame. We鈥檝e reflected together how moving through our own wilderness has been really challenging. It has been tempting to long for Egypt, because it鈥檚 what we know best. Going forward into the promised land has felt scary and out of our comfort zone. We have had to trust that God is leading us forward, like the pillar of flame leading the Israelites.听

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I have found the phrase from 2 Corinthians helpful, 鈥榳e walk by faith not by sight鈥�. Whatever our personal wildernesses in our lives, perhaps we find that the way forward can become clearer as we walk it. Even through difficult times, our trust in God can help sustain us as we continue our journey towards a better destination, just as our next hymn encapsulates.

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Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer

An archive recording, sung by Cambrensis

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Before we move on from Cricieth, I鈥檝e come down to the Moranedd Seafront to visit a colleague of mine, Robert Townsend.听 As well as being the Archdeacon of Meirionnydd, Robert is a volunteer lifeboat crew member.听 I鈥檓 meeting him here at the lifeboat station, to hear more of his story, and vocation.听

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Bishop Manon and Archdeacon Robert Townsend discuss Robert鈥檚 ministry and voluntary role as a Lifeboat crew member: two vocations united by a common call to serve.听

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Our next reading from Hebrews 11 and 12 picks up on the story of Israel鈥檚 Exodus from Egypt, and reminds us that faith is a journey of trust in God.

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Verses from Hebrews 11 & 12

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11听Now faith is the assurance听of things hoped for, the conviction听of things not seen.听2听Indeed, by faith听our ancestors received approval.听3听By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

8听By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance, and he set out, not knowing where he was going.听

23听By faith Moses .....24听left Egypt, unafraid of the king鈥檚 anger, for he persevered as though听he saw him who is invisible....

29听By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned...听

39听Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised,听40听since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.

12听Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,听and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,听2听looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith鈥�

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In many ways we are all following in the footsteps of those who have gone before us.听 The letter to the Hebrews describes Christian life as a race, and that image of being in a relay race feels very evocative of ministry to me.

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On my way to Bangor I鈥檝e stopped off at Caernarfon, a town with a long history of Roman, Welsh and English rule. Its castle is even more imposing than Cricieth鈥檚, and as I look up at its walls, towers and turrets, I think of what previous generations have built, defended, imposed, inherited and passed on.听

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And to think a bit more about this idea of vocation as a journey of faith and heritage, I鈥檓 going to catch up with my colleague, Nia Roberts, on the quay in Caernarfon. Nia is the schools鈥� officer for Bangor diocese, but until recently was a pilgrimage education officer.

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ITEM 16: 听

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Bishop Manon and Nia Roberts discuss the heritage of local Saints in the area, including Deiniol, the first Bishop of Bangor.听 Nia shares her own story of vocation, and how her role and personal experience of pilgrimage, have inspired her faith and sense of purpose.听

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Will you come and follow me

An archive recording sung by the Welsh Chamber Singers

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We鈥檝e now arrived in Bangor, but not yet at the historic Cathedral. One of the joys of my ministry as Dean of Bangor has been engaging with the other church which we also serve, on the community estate of Maesgeirchen or 鈥楳aesG鈥� as we affectionally call it. This little church called 鈥楨glwys y Groes鈥�, 鈥楥hurch of the Cross鈥� and doubles up as a lively community centre during the week.听 I鈥檓 stopping off here to chat with Phil, who is one of our church wardens in Bangor with particular responsibility for this church.听 Phil鈥檚 vocation has been very much rooted in this estate, and of loving, faithful service to the 4000 people who live here.

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ITEM 19:听 FEATURE 4听

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Bishop Manon speaks with rapper Owen McClean of the Letters Grow project about his work and vocation, serving the young people of the local community and providing them with opportunities.听 Young people share how the project has inspired them and given them confidence.听

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Bishop Manon speaks with churchwarden Phil Roberts about his busy role, and his own sense of vocation.

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I鈥檝e now at Bangor Cathedral, where I am preparing to be installed as bishop next Saturday. 听It seems fitting ending this pilgrimage by the Bishop鈥檚 chair. I feel humbled and excited to think that I鈥檓 also following in the footsteps of some of the saints and pilgrims of this part of the world. But the companions on the way I have met also inspire me as they too navigate living out their vocation in this part of north west Wales.

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Let us pray.

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Gwyneth:听 God of the journey, your saints inspire us with their stories of courage and commitment. Help us also to be faithful and creative as we respond to your call in our age.

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Robert:听 God of the journey, your comforting presence has guided us in the past. Help us to trust in you, whatever we are going through in the present.

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Nia: 听God of the journey, your call is as unique as we are, help us to see the meaning and purpose in our daily lives, even if what we are doing seems ordinary and mundane.

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Phil:听 God of the journey, when we long for the comfortable and familiar, help us to be willing to embrace new beginnings and new challenges and see you at work even the unexpected and even unwelcome events in our lives.

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Manon:听 All this we ask in Jesus鈥� name, our brother, redeemer and friend.听

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Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever.

Amen.

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Our final hymn sums up for me the hope I have for our work here in the diocese, a vision of diverse people working together serving our communities, and pointing to the presence of God always with us wherever we are, whatever we are going through. We all have very varied vocations, as members of families and communities, in our paid and voluntary work, in our ministry, whether officially for the church, or unofficially in our lives as disciples, for each one of us may we make these words our own: 鈥淚n our loving, in our living, give us strength that Christ may reign.鈥�

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Living God your word has called us

An archive recording

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God of saints and pilgrims,
who guided Deiniol and all those who sought you in this nation,
lead us also by your living presence.

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And the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always.

Amen.

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Playout听

Llety鈥檙 Bugail

An archive recording played by harpist Alces Peate.