Dictionary

Words on this page

Bishop

‘Bishop’ comes from the Greek word for ‘overseer’. So a bishop is a senior Christian minister authorised to have oversight for God’s people. As well as duties given to deacons and priests, bishops confirm and ordain.

Diocese

‘Diocese’ refers to the geographical territory in which a bishop exercises oversight. The Church in Wales is divided into six dioceses each with its own cathedral in which is housed the cathedra (the bishop’s ‘chair’ or ‘throne’).

Holy Communion

At Holy Communion blessed bread and wine is shared, by which we receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The congregation gives thanks for Jesus’ life, his death and resurrection and his continuing presence. See also Eucharist.

Lent

Lent is the six-week period leading up to Easter. It is a particular time to confess sin and to seek personal and collective renewal (a ‘springtime of the spirit’). Lent has a special focus on Jesus’s journey to the cross and prepares the Church to celebrate his resurrection.

Liturgy

Liturgy is a set form of words and action used for worship. In the Church in Wales (and many other churches) these forms follow the same pattern from one congregation to another. Most Anglican liturgies look back in some way to the Book of Common Prayer.

Prayer

Prayer sustains our human relationship with God and may involve words (formal or informal) or be silent. Prayer can involve adoration (‘I love you’), confession (‘sorry’), thanksgiving and supplication (‘please’).

Home For clergy and members Coronavirus (Covid-19) guidance Prayers

Prayers

Simple forms for Morning and Evening Prayer

In these challenging days, whilst our churches remain closed, some will wish to pray at home using the liturgy of the daily services. Here are simple versions of Morning and Evening Prayer, based upon the Daily Prayer book of the Church in Wales.

Download:

Meditative prayers of intercession for use during the Coronavirus pandemic

As Christians, we have a duty to pray for those who are being affected in various specific ways during this pandemic. It is also good to connect our prayer with Scripture. Therefore, each of the prayers of intercession presented in this document begins with a short reading taken from one of the Psalms, with a simple prayer concerning some aspect of the emergency to follow. A little silence between the reading of the Psalm verse and the prayer is suggested in order to reflect upon the meaning and significance of the Psalmist’s faith for us and for those who suffer.

Download:

Meditative prayers of Intercession - Coronavirus pandemic (Word)

If you need to speak to our clergy you can continue to contact them by phone, email, post or through social media.

Please continue to pray for all those suffering as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, those caring for others, those who feel isolated and our leaders who are tasked with making key decisions.

O God, you know us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: grant to us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Bench of Bishops The Church in Wales

Download Bishop Gregory’s prayer (PDF)

Praying at home

Bangor Diocese has launched a new 'rule of life' to help us as we stay at home. Called Following St Deiniol's Way, the seven key elements are prayer, learning, valuing, witnessing, caring, exercising and reflecting. You can map out your personal path and sketch a typical day.

Following St Deiniol's Way

St Martin’s Church in Llay has created a prayer pack for use at home.

Download Praying at Home (PDF)

See also this guide to worshipping at home from the Diocese of Monmouth:

Worship at home (PDF)

Readings and homilies adapted from the Church in Wales Daily Prayer 2009 by the Diocese of St Davids, are being published each week. See the diocesan homepage:

https://stdavids.churchinwales.org.uk/

Pool Mission Area has created a Service of Morning Prayer at Home and listed the Readings from March to May.

Prayer card

Here’s a prayer card which can be printed and left in churches for private prayer – from Sir Richard Gwyn School in Flint

Radio and Television

You can join in worship services with others by tuning into radio and television.

Television programmes (also available on iPlayer)

Sunday Worship: Sundays at 11.45am on BBC1

This is a new series and the first programme, on Mothering Sunday, comes from St Davids Cathedral, led by the Dean, Dr Sarah Rowland Jones. It will return to St Davids Cathedral on Easter 2, Easter 6 and Trinity Sunday. Other programmes will come from Bangor Cathedral led by the Bishop of Bangor, Andy John, and the Dean, Kathy Jones.

Songs of Praise: Sundays at 1.15pm on BBC 1

Radio programmes (also available on BBC Sounds)

Prayer for the Day: daily at 5.43am on Radio 4
Sunday Worship: Sundays at 8.10am on Radio 4
Daily Service: Monday to Friday at 9.45am on Radio 4 Long wave and DAB only (see instructions below on how to find this on DAB)
Lent Talks: Wednesdays at 8.45pm on Radio 4 during Lent
Celebration: (Act of worship) Sundays at 7.30am and 6.30pm on BBC Radio Wales
Yr Oedfa (Act of worship in Welsh): Sundays at 5.30am on BBC Radio Cymru
Choral evensong: Wednesdays at 3.30pm and the same service is repeated Sundays at 3pm on Radio 3

(The Daily Service is available on a Radio 4 DAB side channel which is automatically made available about a minute before the programme begins. After tuning to Radio 4 DAB, select “Daily Service” from your display, with the tuning wheel and press the selector button.)