Pam takes a Spiritual Journey to Lambeth
Our Diocesan Youth Officer, Mrs Pam Richards, has had a busy summer! She was invited by Revd Peter Ball, the National Youth Advisor for the Church of England, to take one of her Spiritual Journeys to Canterbury whilst the Lambeth Conference was being held there. Then she led a group of young people in a YES residential course at the Urdd Centre in Cardiff Bay.
Pam (right) with Archbishop Rowan and Mrs Jane Williams
Of the Spiritual Journey at Lambeth, Peter Ball writes:
There can be some very precious moments in one's ministry when you witness people, especially young people, taking steps into new experiences for the first time. To observe them discovering that any fear that they might have swiftly subsides, and to see them being drawn deeper into prayer, and ever closer to God, is a real joy.
This was my experience of seeing both young people and those 'born earlier' entering into an encounter with God through prayer, contemplation, and reflection through the Spiritual Journeys created by Pam Richards, Diocesan Youth Officer in Monmouth Diocese.
The Dean and Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral responded enthusiastically to the idea of setting up one of Pam's Spiritual Journeys in the Crypt of the Cathedral during the Lambeth Conference - providing an opportunity to minister to the Bishops and their spouses, on the one hand, and to the myriad of daily visitors to this Spiritual home of the Anglican Church. Again, the powerful witness of Pam's ministry was evident in the way that people of all ages and nationalities took the time to pause, reflect, and pray in that Holy place where pilgrims have journeyed for centuries. The Cathedral staff were clearly touched by what they witnessed that week and I am sure that as the many visitors travelled home they will have taken with them precious memories of a rather special journey, in the space of the Crypt, which proved to many to be a real encounter with God.
Pam has developed resources for a variety of themed Spiritual journeys. Contact her to enjoy the ‘Lambeth experience’ in your parish
The YES Residential in Cardiff Bay
by Nick Scott, who went along to help as part of his Teacher Training
YES
Youth Eucharist
on
December 14th
6.00p.m.
at
St. John's, Maindee
and
St. Marks,
Goldtop
linked by technology!
It was my privilege to be a part of the leadership team on the YES residential week at the Urdd centre in Cardiff Bay. Pam Richards our Youth Officer had had this vision for some time, and now, with help from Sharon Smith, the vision was becoming a reality.
The week was very full with Music sessions led by our resident tutors Sarah Gillard-Faulkner and Mike Prosser, as well as a session with a guest singing teacher and a very exciting morning learning Samba Rhythm drumming. Drama sessions were led by Jenny Hood of Llantarnam and Dance sessions by Sue Lewis from the Ffin Dance Company who are performing at the YES on 28th September in St Michael's Church, Abertillery.
It was very reassuring to have Becky on hand as our resident first aider for when the inevitable accidents happened – we’re pleased we didn’t have to call on her services too much!
The company (Team Monmouth) met daily for Morning and Evening Worship and on the Wednesday for a Eucharist.
We also had trips out and a very keenly-fought Round Robin Rounders match, and a bowling tournament. Thursday evening saw us enjoying a Revue which had us crying for a large proportion of the time – sometimes with laughter, sometimes because we were so moved by the performances. As if we hadn’t had enough evidence already, it certainly proved that there is a great deal of talent around in the Monmouth Diocese.
It’s our prayer that the YES Residential will go some way to helping parishes make more use of the fabulous gifts of our young people.
An added highlight was the fact that one of the Centre staff was Tim, a member of the Bass section of Only Men Aloud. The day after we left they went on to win the final of the BBC show “Last Choir Standing”. Unfortunately, Tim was unable to escape work to perform with the choir on the Tuesday morning, when we walked the very short distance to the front of the Senydd building to welcome home the Welsh Olympians.
We held two public services over the week which brought together all the skills of music, drama and dance that the young people had been developing as a way of expressing their Christian faith. A lively Songs of Praise on Thursday evening from the lightship in Cardiff Bay, included “There is a Redeemer” sung in Welsh as well as other classic and more modern pieces. On Friday, our closing Act of Worship was a more contemplative service of Evensong at St Mary Bute Street which reflected the theme of Angels that had been running through the week. Both services were superb and it was a joy to be a part of them. The sound of the final song, I the Lord of Sea and Sky, resounding around the beautiful church made the spine tingle. At the end of it we presented Pam with a small token of thanks from all of us for her hard work.
It was a fantastic week. I’ll leave you with the rallying calls of Team Monmouth – to get the full effect you need to shout them rather loudly.