Most of the extracts reproduced below were electronically scanned and transcribed from printed copies of the Cytûn Newsletter. Numerous transcription errors have been corrected, but a few may have escaped detection – for which my apologies.

Newsletter No 31 – September 2004

This Newsletter was edited and produced by Mrs Barbara Davies

Who kindly agreed to produce one more issue.

THE PRESIDENT WRITES – REVD NICK SISSONS

Dear friends,

I am writing just as the athletics get underway at the Olympics. Today I watched the shot putt competition in the stadium of ancient Olympia. Perhaps like me you have travelled to Greece and visited the ruins of this ancient sanctuary, where the tunnel still survives, down which the athletes would have come to the roar of the awaiting crowd. Since the Olympics were just as famous in New Testament times as now, it is not surprising that writers draw on the games when they want to teach about Christian faith. In fact it is this very scene that inspired the writer of the letter to the Hebrews to speak of the former heroes of God as a great cloud of witnesses cheering us on.

This cloud of witnesses, who by faith have already run the race, are now on the heavenly side of reality, delighting in the eternal presence of God, but also watching us as we do our best to follow Christ. They are witnesses, the translation of the Greek word ‘martyr’ - people, who in their own day gave their all for God. When the Iraqi cleric Moktadr Al-Sadr recently said he would stay in Najaf until the last drop of his blood had been spilt, he echoed the commitment of the early Christian martyrs.

Cytûn is founded on the principle that we as Christians of different denominations and traditions need one another. We are not asked to go it alone. On his recent retirement, Philip Cousins spoke very warmly of the support and encouragement he had found in this Cytûn; he had, he said, not experienced such depth of ecumenical fellowship elsewhere in his ministry. Not only are we grateful to have had Philip ministering amongst us for the past 9 years, but we must also be thankful for everyone else, who has worked hard and continues to do so, in order that this Cytûn thrives and its unity of spirit is maintained.

But let us always remember that our Cytûn is not only about us present-day Christians coming together. At our Admin. meetings, or Councils, at our Coffee mornings, lunches or teas, at our services or prayer meetings, even when there may be just a handful of us, we are always surrounded by that great cloud of witnesses. As someone once said, there may be struggling congregations, weary congregations and suffering congregations, but there is never a small congregation. When we gather in the name of Christ, for whatever purpose, the room is always packed to overflowing. And from those who have gone before us, as well as from those who walk beside us, we draw great strength and encouragement. So may we, as fellow Christians, enter the autumn renewed in our determination to do together everything that need not be done apart, and to support one another in prayer, word and deed, to our great good and to God’s greater glory.

Nick Sissons

Llythyr y Llywydd – Parch Nick Sissons

Annwyl Gyfeillion

Ysgrifennaf fel mae’r athletau’n dechrau yn y Gemau Olympaidd. Heddiw gwyliais gystadleuaeth taflu pwysau yn stadiwm yr hen Olympia. Efallai, fel fi, eich bod wedi teithio i Wlad Groeg ac wedi ymweld ag adfeilion y gysegrfan hynafol hwn, ble mae’r twnnel yn dal i fod, lle byddai’r athletwyr yn rhedeg allan i ru'r dorf ddisgwylgar. Gan fod y Gemau Olympaidd yr un mor enwog yn amseroedd y Testament Newydd â heddiw, nid yw’n syndod fod ysgrifenwyr yn tynnu ar y gemau wrth ddysgu am y ffydd Gristnogol. Yn wir, yr olygfa hynny ysbrydolodd yr ysgrifennwr i’r Hebreaid i siarad am gyn arwyr Duw fel cwmwl enfawr o dystion yn ein hannog ymlaen.

Mae’r cwmwl tystion, sydd drwy’u ffydd wedi rhedeg yr yrfa’n barod, yn awr ar ochr y nefoedd o realiti, yn ymhyfrydu ym mhresenoldeb tragwyddol Duw, ond hefyd yn ein gwylio ni wrth i ni wneud ein gorau i ddilyn Crist. Maent yn dystion, cyfieithiad o’r gair Groegaidd ‘merthyr’ - pobl, a roddodd eu holl dros Dduw yn eu dydd. Pan ddywedodd y clerig o Irac, Miktadr Al-Sadr yn ddiweddar, y byddai’n aros yn Najaf nes bod y diferyn olaf o’i waed wedi’i dywallt, roedd yn atsain ymrwymiad merthyron cynnar Cristnogaeth.

Seilir CYTUN ar yr egwyddor ein bod ni, fel Cristnogion o wahanol enwadau a thraddodiadau, angen ein gilydd. Ni ofynnir i ni deithio ar ein pennau’n hunain. Ar ei ymddeoliad diweddar, siaradodd Philip Cousins yn gynnes iawn am y gefnogaeth a’r anogaeth a gafodd yn y CYTUN hwn. Dywedodd nad oedd erioed wedi profi cymaint o ddyfnder brawdoliaeth eciwmenaidd yn unlle arall yn ei weinidogaeth. Nid yn unig ydym yn ddiolchgar fod Philip wedi gweinidogaethu yn ein mysg dros y 9 mlynedd diwethaf, ond rhaid i ni hefyd fod yn ddiolchgar am bawb arall sydd wedi gweithio, ac yn dal i wneud felly, er mwyn i’r CYTUN hwn ffynnu a chynnal ei ysbryd o undod.

Ond rhaid i ni gofio bob amser nad Cristnogion heddiw’n unig sy’n dod at ei gilydd yn CYTUN ni. Yn ein cyfarfodydd gweinyddol, neu Gynghorau, yn ein boreau coffi, cinio neu de, yn ein gwasanaethau neu’n cyfarfodydd gweddi, hyd yn oed pan fo dim ond llond dwrn ohonom, rydym pob amser wedi’n hamgylchynu gan y cwmwl enfawr o dystion. Fel y dywedodd rhywun rhyw bryd, gallai cynulleidfaoedd fod mewn trafferthion, y cynulleidfaoedd yn flinedig a chynulleidfaoedd yn dioddef, ond does byth cynulleidfa fechan. Pan fyddwn yn dod ynghyd yn enw Crist, at ba ddibenion bynnag, mae’r ystafell bob amser yn orlawn. Ac o’r rhai a gerddodd o’n blaen, yn ogystal â’r rhai sy’n cerdded gyda ni, tynnwn nerth ac anogaeth gadarn. Felly, gallwn ni fel cyd Gristnogion, symud i mewn i’r hydref wedi’n hadnewyddu yn ein penderfyniad i wneud popeth gyda’n gilydd nad oes rhaid ei wneud ar wahân, a chefnogi’n gilydd mewn gweddi, gair a gweithred er ein lles ni ac er gogoniant i Dduw.

Nick Sissons

JESU, WE LIFT OUR LIGHT TO THEE

The child whose eyes are full of stars

That burn the hills of broken cars,

The man whose smile is like the sun,

Whose only wealth is everyone -

Jesu, we lift our light to Thee

To glorify their poverty.

The bones upon the searing plain

Too weak to reach for milk or grain;

The hands that cry from fields of blood

Dying in debris, war and mud -

Jesu, we lift our light to Thee

To guide us to Eternity.

The girl as simple as the moon

Robbed of her innocence too soon;

The mothers who are left to pray

For sons and husbands locked away -

Jesu, we lift our light to Thee

To shine in their captivity.

Revd Pam Crane

THE LIBERAL CATHOLIC CHURCH

My Church originated as a Mission of the Old Catholic Church. It began in Holland, was founded by the Anglo-Saxon missionary Willibrord, becoming independent of Rome in the 18^th century. They retained Apostolic Succession and were able to transmit it to the Old Catholic churches of Germany and Switzerland and eventually to the Liberal Catholic Church. Bishop Mathew who was ordained priest in the Roman Catholic Church in 1877, was consecrated by the Archbishop of Utrecht and held services in and around London in 1908. James Wedgwood was ordained, then consecrated as the Presiding Bishop in England. The name was changed to the Liberal Catholic Church.

Bishop Wedgwood consecrated Charles Webster Leadbeater as a Bishop. He had been a priest in the Anglican Church. Together they revised the Mass and compiled the Liberal Catholic Liturgy which is based on the Roman Liturgy, and was proclaimed by theologians world wide as a magnificent piece of liturgical writing, and it is the one which is used in all Liberal Catholic Churches throughout over forty countries. It is always used in the vernacular. The clergy are non-stipendiary and their places of worship tend to be ‘house churches’ although there are some purpose built churches particularly in Australia, Canada, America and Holland.

The Church aims to combine the traditional sacramental form of worship with intellectual liberty and respect for the individual conscience. It recognises the seven traditional sacraments with the Mass as the pivotal centre which is offered to visitors attending worship, but the consecrated Host is deeply revered and venerated, and the Sanctuary is considered to be the Holy of Holies. In our Mass we thave opportunity of offering ourselves spirit, soul and body in loving devotion to Almighty God.

The Liberal Catholic church is a Sacramental Church, which ordains priests with valid Holy Orders and its Apostolic Succession leads back to Rome. We believe that all humankind is on a spiritual path to perfection. The Divine spark within each and everyone of us, as described by St Paul, longs to return to Almighty God, from whence it came, and everyone will eventually do so - by God’s grace and love.

Bishop Gerard J Crane

MISSION HOUSE

The structure of the 15+ ministry is being developed with a tier of eldership being put in place to support the young adult leaders and set a secure framework around the ministry.

The young leaders are - Guy Cross (Gloddaeth United); Darren Hulme (Antioch); Helen and Sarah Davies (Emmanuel); and Louisa Warbarton (Bethel). All these have been ‘commissioned’ for this ministry by their churches. The elders are - Roy Weaver - Administrator (Gloddaeth United); Nigel Whittaker - Treasurer (Emmanuel); Tim Hall - Pastor (St David’s College); Rachel and Brian Reynolds - oversight of the House (Rhos Family Church).

The residents of the house have just changed as Sarah Atkin, who has been here for 4 years goes for further ministry training at Hillsong College in Australia. Guy Cross and Darren Hulme are moving in.

The overseas aspect of the ministry has become so exciting as we encourage young people to gain experience overseas.

We are looking forward with excitement to another group of young people, two of whom were completely unchurched a year ago, being baptised in the sea in Llandudno on 5^th September.

Revd Tim Hall

Pocket Sermon Writers please!

Mr Frank Collier, a Methodist Local Preacher from Craigside, and organizer of the Pocket Sermons that appear in the North Wales Weekly News, has asked if I might appeal on his behalf for new contributors. If anyone would like to know more about what this involves, could they please contact Frank on 01492-549033. Thank you - Nick Sissons

FAIRTRADE COALITION for CONWY COUNTY

The initial launch was held on Friday 2^nd July at St David’s, Craig y Don. Present were Mrs Betty Williams MP, Janet Ryder, Denise Idris Jones and Brynle Williams, AM’s. Also Cllr Gareth Jones for the county, and Llandudno Mayor Janet Finch-Saunders, also the Bishop of St Asaph. The Penmaenmawr Churches Youth Group sang and presented a sketch and pupils from Ysgol Llangelynnin, Henryd also sang. There were people there representing different groups from around the county and these people signed a declaration of support to give the county Fairtrade Status.

In order to do this there are 5 goals to aim for -

- Fairtrade tea/coffee to be used at Council meetings - this has been done in Conwy Council and Llandudno Council.

- Fairtrade products to be readily available in shops, cafes and catering establishments - 22 retail outlets are needed for Conwy and 11 Cafes

- Fairtrade products must be used by a number of workplaces and organisations such as churches and schools.

- The Council must attract popular support for the campaign

A local steering group must be convened to ensure continued commitment, eg the group present at this meeting and any new people also committed.

To become a Fairtrade Church, the criteria is -

- to use fairtrade tea and coffee for all meetings for which you have responsibility.

- to move forward on using other fairtrade products, eg sugar, biscuits, fruit and jam.

- promote fairtrade during Fairtrade Fornight, first two weeks in March, and through any activities possible..

We are fortunate in Conwy in having two solely Fairtrade outlets in Kingdom Krafts in Llandudno and Just Shopping in Conwy. Other retail outlets include Asda, Tesco, Co-op and Holland & Barrett. Cafes include Badgers, Ottakers in Llandudno and Café Contessa in Llanrwst. It is important that we support these.

Pam Kirkham

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Annual Autumn Lunch

This will be at St David’s Methodist Church in Craig y Don, Llandudno on Sunday 10^TH October at 12.30 for 1 pm. Tickets are now available at £8.50 each from Barbara Davies. (875778)

As previously the two course meal will be provided and served by Clemence of Conwy. Roast Beef is ordered for all, unless a vegetarian option is ordered from Eileen Duller (878404).

Do arrange for a group of you to come from your church, or buy your ticket from your Cytûn representative.

THE RESTAURANT MUST KNOW THE DEFINITE NUMBER A WEEK BEFORE THE EVENT, PLEASE.

There will be an opportunity for you to give towards the Food Voucher Scheme afterwards.

Annual Cytûn Conference

This will be held at Eglwys Unedig Gymraig SEILO on Gloddaeth Avenue on Thursday 11^TH November at 7.30 pm.

The title is -

‘STARTING FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE’ - ‘New Ways of being Church’

The speaker will be -

the Revd Barbara Glasson & The Bread Community from the Methodist Church in Liverpool.

This will prove an interesting and helpful evening certainly so do come along and bring some friends.

Everybody is Welcome.

Coffee and Biscuits will be served after the talk.

Newsletter No 30 – June 2004

Newsletters 19 – 30 were all edited and produced by Mrs Barbara Davies

who has retired with this issue.

THE PRESIDENT WRITES – REVD NICK SISSONS

Last month many of you, who are reading this newsletter, shared in a beautiful ecumenical service in St David’s Methodist Church, Craig-y-Don. It was beautiful, not because of the nice interior at St David’s, nor because of the glittering Presidential chain, which was making one of its rare appearances, nor even because of my new suit. It was beautiful because, just a few days before Pentecost, the Holy Spirit so plainly united God’s people across so many different divisions - age, culture, denomination and opinion - to worship God in spirit and in truth. I felt privileged to be there, as I hope you did if you were present, and to be able to celebrate the signs of God’s kingdom embedded in and embodied through the work and worship of CYTUN. And I do not believe we should ever take for granted this ability and opportunity to come together in peace and harmony. It is not, after all, a natural thing for human beings to do, as the recent 60th anniversary of D-Day has so poignantly reminded us. But it is a sacrificial and costly path and a visionary one also.

At the outset of my year as President, I would like to share some stories from my ecumenical journey so far. I was baptized as an infant in Park Rd. Methodist church in Rushden, Northants, in 1962. The church celebrates its centenary next year and the first person baptized there was H.E.Bates, author of ‘The Darling buds of May’ and other novels. Our Methodist church was just 200 yards down the road from the Baptist church and our youth clubs happily shared many things together - in my case, sport and girlfriends jump most readily to mind. At University, at Oxford, I worshipped at Wesley Memorial church, but the college chapel system introduced me to the world of High Anglicanism; I still fondly recall the heavy linen napkins and warm white rolls that followed Sunday morning Eucharist and also talking philosophy with David Brown, the Chaplain in John Henry Newman’s old rooms. He thought I might make a good philosopher! He now makes a good Professor of theology at Durham. For my last three years at Oxford I lived in a Roman Catholic convent backing on to the Parks (in the student annexe, I hasten to point out). Sr. Marie McCloughlin, one of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, remains perhaps the most influential person from that period of my life. Her quiet, probing faith and the wonderful evenings of prayer and study that she and the other sisters organized, nurtured in me a desire for theological reflection and for creative worship.

I was trained in Cambridge in the Federation of Theological colleges, which included four institutions: two Anglican, one URC and one Methodist, which were then and still are growing ever closer together. It is a delight to see that since my days there the Federation has expanded to embrace Roman Catholic involvement and that my own college now has an Orthodox study centre on its premises as well as the Centre for Jewish Christian Relations. I left Cambridge in 1992 and my first station, as we Methodists call them, was to the University of Southampton and the Southampton Insitute of Higher Education as full-time Free Church chaplain. I was funded jointly by the Baptists, the URC and the Methodists and had to justify my role and the cost of it at regular intervals to the regional leaders of those three denominations - now that is ecumenism in practice! I shared the Chaplaincy building with full-time Anglican and Roman Catholic colleagues: with Father Alan Griffiths, who first greeted me in his cassock with the dry words - yes, an old man in drag - and Reverend Nigel Coates, now Rector of Freemantle in Southampton, who was present at my ordination ten years ago this month, as my supporting minister, and remains a close friend. This posting gave me many of my most vibrant ecumencial experiences. I remember with great warmth Sister Mary and the other chaplains at La Sainte Union in town, now sadly gone, and their strange predilection for full-bodied red wine at chaplains’ lunches. I recall Professor Mary Grey and her indomitable pursuit for justice and peace. And then there was Rev’d Katie Young, who shared the chaplaincy with me at S.I.H.E. and who died tragically during her first pregnancy. I shall never forget her collaboration and her creativity, nor Winchester cathedral, on that cold January morning, with light streaming in through its windows, when we brought in her coffin. She rests now in the quiet graveyard of the parish church in Hinton in the New Forest, where her husband Charles was the local priest.

When I left Southampton in 1997, I moved to East Sussex to Uckfield. My ecumenical experiences there focused firstly on the Prison chaplaincy at Lewes, where I met the saintly and memorably named Major Stan Ozanne of the Salvation Army; I still count on his support, because on retirement he gave me his brown leather trouser belt. Then there were the Churches Together in Uckfield, who pulled together over the Millennium under the inspiring lay leadership of Michael, a Roman Catholic, who kept setting before us the Jubilee vision. It is perhaps symbolic of the importance ecumenism has played in my ministry that when I left to come to North Wales, the two people I was told I must go and meet, because we had mutual friends, were a Roman Catholic nun and a retired URC minister. They now provide me with some of the mature guidance and gentle encouragement that I need as a minister and have valued for so long in others.

These are some parts of my story. I trust that over the next 12 months I shall be able to share with you, and you with me and each other, many other stories about our faith journeys. Ronald Reagan, who died at the start of June, was by all accounts a U.S. President not much interested in facts and figures, but very much interested in telling stories, and this was one of his great charms and something which clearly helped people relax in his company and learn to trust him. As people remembered him in the media after his death, I heard about an incident following his attempted assassination. He was brought to hospital, aware that he had been shot in the lung; as he was being taken to the operating theatre he looked up, smiled at the doctors and nurses and quipped ‘I hope you’re Republicans.’ The surgeon looked back at him and replied ‘Today we are all Republicans.’ I hope that by being part of CYTUN we will discover, that not only during the difficult times that may lie ahead for us, but also in the times of joy and celebration, we too have something fundamental that binds us all together. Today and every day we are all Christians, living by the grace of God and in the power of the Spirit, so let us always welcome one another as God in Christ has welcomed each of us. Amen. Nick

Llythyr y Llywydd – Parch Nick Sissons

Fis diwethaf bu llawer ohonoch sy’n darllen y cylchlythyr hwn yn cymryd rhan yn y gwasanaeth eciwmenaidd hyfryd yn Eglwys Fethodistaidd Dewi Sant yng Nghraig-y-Don. Roedd yn hyfryd, nid oherwydd ysblander tu fewn Dewi Sant, nac oherwydd cadwyn ysblennydd y Llywydd, a oedd i’w gweld ar un o’i ymddangosiadau prin, nac hyd yn oed oherwydd fy siwt newydd i. Roedd yn hyfryd oherwydd, dim ond ychydig o ddyddiau cyn y Sulgwyn, bod yr Ysbryd Glân wedi’n huno mor amlwg, pobl Dduw ar draws y sbectrwm – oed, diwylliant, enwad a barn – i addoli Duw yn yr ysbryd ac mewn gwirionedd. Teimlais ei bod yn fraint i fod yno, fel gobeithio y gwnaethoch chi, os oeddech yn bresennol, ac yn fraint i allu dathlu arwyddion fod teyrnas Dduw yn sylfaen gwaith ac addoliad CYTUN. Credaf na ddylem byth gymryd yn ganiataol y gallu a’r cyfle hwn i ddod ynghyd mewn tangnefedd a chytgord. Nid yw, wedi’r cwbl, yn beth naturiol i ni bobl ddynol i’w wneud, fel mae 60fed pen‑blwydd D-day diweddar yn ein hatgoffa mor ingol. Mae’n llwybr aberthol a drudfawr ond hefyd yn un gweledigaethol.

Ar ddechrau fy mlwyddyn fel Llywydd, hoffwn rannu rhywfaint o hanes fy nhaith eciwmenaidd hyd yn hyn. Cefais fy medyddio yn faban yn eglwys Fedthodistaidd Park Road yn Rushden, Swydd Northants ym 1962. Y flwyddyn nesaf bydd yr eglwys yn dathlu ei chanmlwyddiant a’r person cyntaf i’w fedyddio yno oedd H E Bates, awdur ‘The Darling Buds of May’ a nofelau eraill. Roedd Eglwys y Bedyddwyr ond 200 llath i lawr y lôn oddi wrth ein heglwys Fethodistaidd ac roedd ein clybiau ieuenctid yn rhannu llawer o bethau gyda’i gilydd – yn fy achos i, chwaraeon a chariadon daw i’r meddwl gyntaf. Yn y Brifysgol yn Rhydychen, bum yn addoli yn eglwys Goffa Wesley, ond cyflwynodd system capel y coleg mi i fyd Anglicaniaeth Uchel. Rwy’n dal i gofio’n annwyl y napcynau lliain main trwm a’r rholiau bara gwyn cynnes a ddilynai’r Ewcharist fore Sul a hefyd drafod athroniaeth gyda David Brown, y Caplan yn hen ystafelloedd John Henry Newman. Roedd o’n meddwl y byddwn yn gwneud athronydd da! Mae yntau’n Athro diwinyddiaeth da yn Nurham erbyn hyn. Yn ystod fy nhair blynedd olaf yn Rhydychen, bum yn byw mewn cwfaint Catholig ar fin y parc (yn anecs y myfyrwyr, rwy’n prysuro dweud). Mae’r Chwaer Marie McCloughlin, un o Chwiorydd y Galon Sanctaidd, yn aros fel y person mwyaf dylanwadol ar fy mywyd yn y cyfnod hwnnw. Magodd ei ffydd dawel, ymdreiddgar a’r nosweithiau bendigedig o weddi ac astudiaeth, a drefnid ganddi hi a’r chwiorydd eraill, yr awydd ynof am fyfyrdod diwinyddol ac addoliad creadigol.

Derbyniais hyfforddiant yng Nghaergrawnt yn Ffederasiwn y Colegau Diwinyddol a oedd yn cynnwys pedwar sefydliad: dau Anglicanaidd, un Eglwysi Diwygiedig Unedig ac un Methodistaidd, a oedd yr adeg hynny, ac yn dal i dyfu’n nes at eu gilydd. Mae’n bleser gweld fod y Ffederasiwn wedi ymestyn, ers fy nyddiau i, i gynnwys yr Eglwys Gatholig a bod fy ngholeg i yn cynnwys canolfan astudiaeth Uniongred erbyn hyn yn ogystal â Chanolfan ar gyfer Cysylltiadau Iddewig Cristnogol.

Gadewais Gaergrawnt ym 1992 a’m galwad cyntaf, fel mae Methodistiaid yn ei galw, oedd ym Mhrifysgol Southampton a Sefydliad Addysg Uwch Southampton fel caplan llawn amser yr Eglwysi Rhyddion. Cefais fy nhalu ar y cyd gan y Bedyddwyr, yr Eglwysi Diwygiedig Unedol a’r Methodistiaid. Roedd raid i mi gyfiawnhau fy swydd, a’r gost ohoni, yn rheolaidd i arweinwyr rhanbarthol y tri enwad – dyna ymarfer eciwmenaidd! Rhennais y Caplandy gyda chydweithwyr llawn amser yr Eglwys Anglicanaidd a’r Eglwys Gatholig: gyda’r Tad Alan Griffiths a gyfarchodd fi gyntaf yn ei gasog gyda’r geiriau sych – ie hen wr mewn drag – a’r Parchedig Nigel Coates, Rheithor Freemantle yn Southampton erbyn hyn, a oedd yn bresennol yn fy ordeiniad ddeng mlynedd yn ôl i’r mis hwn, fel fy ngweinidog cefnogol, ac sy’n aros yn ffrind agos. Cefais lawer o’m profiadau eciwmenaidd mwyaf gwefreiddiol yn y swydd honno. Rwy’n cofio’n gynnes iawn y Chwaer Mary a’r caplaniaid eraill yn Undeb La Sainte yn y dref, sydd wedi mynd erbyn hyn gwaethaf modd, a’u hoffter rhyfedd am win coch cadarn gyda chiniawau’r caplaniaid. Cofiaf yr Athro Mary Grey a’i chwilio di‑ildio am gyfiawnder a heddwch. Yna, y Parchedig Katie Young a rannodd y caplandy gyda mi yn Sefydliad Addysg Uwch Southampton a fu farw’n drasig yn ystod ei beichiogrwydd cyntaf. Anghofiaf i byth mo’i chydweithrediad a’i chreadigrwydd, nac Eglwys Gadeiriol Caer-wynt, ar y bore oer ym mis Ionawr gyda’r golau’n llifo i mewn trwy’r ffenestri, pan ddaethpwyd â’i harch i mewn. Mae hi’n gorffwys yn awr mewn mynwent dawel yn eglwys y plwyf yn Hinton yn y New Fforest, ble roedd ei gwr Charles yn offeiriad lleol.

Ar ôl gadael Southampton ym 1997, symudais i Uckfield yn Nwyrain Sussex. Roedd fy mhrofiadau eciwmenaidd yno wedi’u canolbwyntio ar gaplandy’r Carchar yn Lewes ble cwrddais â’r sanctaidd a’r byth gofiadwy Uwchgapten Stan Ozanne o Fyddin yr Iachawdwriaeth. Rwy’n dal i ddibynnu ar ei gefnogaeth gan iddo, wrth ymddeol, roi ei felt trowser lledr brown i mi. Wedyn, roedd Eglwysi Ynghyd yn Uchfield a dynnodd gyda’i gilydd dros y Mileniwm dan arweinyddiaeth leyg ysbrydoledig Michael, Pabydd, a oedd byth a beunydd yn gosod gweledigaeth y Jiwbilî o’n blaen. Efallai ei bod o bwysigrwydd symbolaidd fod eciwmeniaeth wedi chwarae cymaint o ran yn fy ngweinidogaeth. Pan adewais i ddod i Ogledd Cymru, y ddau berson y dywedwyd wrthyf roedd rhaid i mi eu cyfarfod, am fod gennym ffrindiau’n gyffredin, oedd hen leian Babyddol a gweinidog Eglwysi Diwygiedig Unedig wedi ymddeol. Mae nhw, erbyn hyn, yn rhoi i mi rywfaint o’r arweiniad aeddfed ac anogaeth addfwyn sydd angen arnaf fel gweinidog ac yr wyf wedi’u gwerthfawrogi cymaint mewn eraill ers cyhyd.

Dyma rywfaint o’m hanes. Dros y 12 mis nesaf, gobeithio y gallaf rannu gyda chi a chithau gyda minnau a chyda’ch gilydd, sawl hanes ynghylch ein teithiau yn y ffydd. Mae’n debyg nad oedd gan Arlywydd America, Ronald Reagan, a fu farw ddechrau mis Mehefin, lawer o ddiddordeb mewn ffeithiau a ffigyrau ond roedd â diddordeb garw mewn adrodd hanesion. Dyma un o’r pethau mwyaf hudolus amdano a rhywbeth a oedd yn amlwg o gymorth iddo wrth gael pobl i ymlacio yn ei gwmni a dysgu ymddiried ynddo. Fel yr oedd pobl yn y cyfryngau yn cofio amdano ar ôl ei farwolaeth, clywais am ddigwyddiad pan geisiwyd ei ladd. Aethpwyd ag ef i’r ysbyty. Roedd yn ymwybodol ei fod wedi’i saethu yn ei ysgyfaint. Fel oedd ar ei ffordd i’r theatr edrychodd i fyny a gwenodd ar y doctoriaid a’r nyrsys a chellweirodd ‘Gobeithio eich bod yn Weriniaethwyr.’ Edrychodd y llawfeddyg yn ôl arno ac atebodd ‘Heddiw rydym i gyd yn Weriniaethwyr’. Gobeithiaf wrth fod yn rhan o CYTUN y byddwn yn darganfod bod gennym ninnau hefyd rhywbeth sylfaenol sy’n ein clymu gyda’n gilydd, nid yn unig yn ystod yr amseroedd anodd allai fod o’n blaenau ond hefyd yn ystod amseroedd o lawenydd a dathlu. Heddiw a phob dydd rydym yn Gristnogion, yn byw drwy ras Duw ac yn nerth yr Ysbryd Glân, felly gadewch i ni groesawu’n gilydd bob amser fel mae Duw yng Nghrist wedi croesawu pob un ohonom. Amen. Nick

TENT MISSION

Last year a number of us from the English Presbyterian (as it was then) and Emmanuel Christian Centre erected a marquee on Maesdu field.. Although it was all done at short notice the aim was to build bridges into the community through games and activities for children during the day and family centred events in the evening. In between we took the opportunity to share our faith through puppets, the work of the Beach Mission Team and private conversations. We managed to attract about 50 young people but failed miserably with the adults.

It wasn’t without its problems - we called the police ten times in three days, mainly when the safety of the tent was at risk or children were running round the roof of the tent.

Undeterred, we are planning a similar meeting from 16-21 August 2004. Hopefully we will be better organised this year but any offers of help, if only to be another pair of eyes and ears, would be greatly appreciated.

We are also entering into discussions with Spurgeon’s with a view to appointing a Christian person to link the churches with the work in the community. If any church would like to be part of this programme I would be pleased to hear from them. Neil Kirkham

MISSION HOUSE

Rev Tim Hall reported to the May Annual General Meeting via the Revd Peter Marshall, confirming that Sarah is leaving in August after 4 years.

The work among young people is most exciting, as on a Sunday evening at 8 pm there is a regular attendance of up to 20 young people some of whom are from 6^th form and will be moving on next year. Our prayers are needed for this work. There is a shortage of seating accommodation - any offers of seats or bean bags will be taken up gladly.

There is a ‘Let’s Go’ week in August at St David’s College Gloddaeth Hall with activities for11-14 year olds from 12 noon - 4 pm daily. The churches have been given posters and information about this, the charge is £4 per session and as there are limited places booking is essential - contact Peter Marshall (revmarsh@tiscali.co.uk) or ring 547352.

CHANGE OF OFFICERS

Grateful thanks are extended to Charles Lonsdale who has been our excellent Treasurer for some years, and we extend our thanks and good wishes to Margaret Baker who is our new Treasurer; also to Pat Hillman who is our new Press and Publicity officer on the retirement of Barbara Davies.

You will have read the letter from our new President the Revd Nick Sissons who was inducted at St David’s Church in May and to whom our good wishes are extended for his year in office, along with the Revd Pam Wright as Vice President. Much gratitude and thanks are owed to the Revd Jane Allen the retiring President who has guided us through the previous year in joyful confidence and with great grace.

We are most pleased to welcome three ex- presidents who have become life members, namely Mrs Betty Mills, Y Parch E R Lloyd Jones and Y Parch Lord Roberts of Llandudno. They were warmly welcomed into Life Membership of Cytûn during the Induction Service and were each handed an illuminated certificate recording this. In the past certificates had not been presented to people conferred with Life Membership of Cytûn, after some years of service to ecumenism in this town, and it was felt that this should be put right on this occasion, so illuminated certificates were presented or sent to Mrs Geraldine Meikle, Mrs Anne Neville, Mrs Myra Owen, Mrs Effie Rowlands, Mrs Mona Savage, and Mrs Irene Heywood.

In our churches we should pray for those in office, and all those who work hard to further the work of Cytûn in Llandudno, especially any who are in special need, particularly thinking of Aled Morgan at this time, and also remembering that Prayers are held on the Second Saturday of each month from 7 am to 8 am at Emmanuel Christian Centre.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

July 27^th - Cytûn Council Meeting at 7 pm at Stella Maris

Aug 26^th - Christian Aid Charity Market at Holy Trinity Church 10 am - 4 pm

Newsletter No 29 – February 2004

THE PRESIDENT WRITES – REVD JANE ALLEN

Some of the most poignant words in the Old Testament, for me, are found in chapter 3 of 1 Samuel -"there was no vision in the land". Visions, dreams, are essential in life, and its interesting to learn that modern business practice appreciates this fact. Companies spend a lot of time nowadays in writing a "mission statement" which sets out the company's vision for itself. I think those words "mission statement" have quite a biblical ring to them, and I think they are words which visionaries as far apart in time as Isaiah and John the Divine, the author of Revelation, would both understand. There had to be a vision here in Llandudno of churches in partnership for CYTÛN ever to get off the ground, and I think across the years that vision of churches working together has held fast, and indeed grown in breadth and practice.

I don't think it would be an overstatement, either, to say that one of the great problems with our society today is that there seems to be very little vision, if any at all, of the sort of world we want to pass on to the next generation. The great reformers of their day had what could be described as impossible, unrealistic visions - the outlawing of slavery, children freed from the horrors of the cotton mills or the

mines, prisoners treated humanely, freedom from fear of old age or iII-health, every child given the right to an education. And yet those impossible visions became a reality because the people who had them really believed in them.

So It's been a real bonus for me as President of CYTÛN to share in and be part of the vision which so many people in CYTÛN hold for our future as Christians working together

in partnership with one another. And as this will be the last time I will be writing to you as President, I would like to say what a privilege and joy this year has been, and to thank you all for your support, kindness, friendship, and above all, for shared visions. There has been the new vision and courage

with has led to churches moving premises, or joining together across denominations, supported I know by much prayer from CYTÛN members. There has been a sustained vision and understanding of the need to pray together on a regular basis at the monthly early morning Saturday prayers, or on special occasions like the Peace Vigil - which, incidentally, grew out of the vision of a lay Christian.

We share in a world-wide vision of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity each year - and couldn't you just sense the way the momentum of that week was maintained in the joy of our joint worship in January? There is, I feel, a growing vision of the importance of breaking bread together, simply enjoying one another's company, getting to know one another. There is a developing vision of what we must do to practise Christ's commandment of visible and loving service as we try to offer practical support to the homeless or hungry or disadvantaged. There is a daring vision of being visible outside our church buildings - as has happened over the past few years through the Good Friday Procession of Witness, outdoor service and Cross Vigil. Part of this daring vision, too, is the recently started ASDA Chaplaincy.

"I saw a new heaven and a new earth, " writes John the Divine, and he goes on to explain that the new Jerusalem he envisions will be a place where God will dwell with us, where together we will be his kingdom. That is, surely, our ultimate vision, which we can strive to achieve as we work in partnership with each other, and with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

So, let us go forth in peace; in the Name of Christ. Amen.

Awn ymaith mewn tangnefedd; yn Enw Crist. Amen.

JANE

DROP-IN CENTRE FOR THE HOMELESS

REPORT FROM JANET HUGHES

At the last Cytûn Council Meeting is was agreed that a working group should be formed to explore the possibility of opening a drop-in centre fot the homeless somewhere in the centre ofLlandudno. Ideally the working group will include one lay person from each Church denomination. If you feel that this is a form of ministry for which you have a passion, - please let your Cytûn rep know. Please remember this work in your prayers, as Cytûn seeks to witness to the love of Christ through outreach in the community in which we live. JANET

GREETINGS FROM THE REVD ROGER ROBERTS IN TORONTO

I understand that there are gales and floods in North Wales - sympathetic because we have snow, snow and more snow! Temperature has been as low in Toronto as minus 36 C. But I'm still impressed by Canada and Toronto - in spite of the severe winters. We have the most comfortable multi-ethnic community that I have ever experienced - they are all regarded as equal citizens and all play their part in the community. I have yet to hear of intolerance and discrimination.

There are between 45,000 and 55,000 people of Welsh background here and part of my job is to make folk aware of our Welsh community, Church, Cultural and Sporting Societies. We are planning a St David's Day presentation - stall etc in the Eaton Centre and as wide a display of Welsh Flags as possible. More of that later. If you know ofWelsh folk in the Toronto area could you ask them to contact me please or let me have contact details for them ?

I'm here until April 12th - six months well spent.

Best wishes, Roger R

MISSION HOUSE UPDATE

Tim Hall reported on the growing involvement within secondary schools of Christian pupils leading a Christian group, and he asked us to pray for the witness of these young people in schools and colleges. Tim Hall went on to say, 'If you have pupils in your church who are in secondary schools or college in North Wales, please put them in touch with us at Mission House so we can encourage them and introduce them to each other' He then turned to the 18-30 age group and explained that the vision is to establish a Christian Union on the University model where young people come for an hour a week for Bible teaching.'

Tim also hoped that young people could go and spend some time in Uganda, helping at the Youth Training Centre there. He should be contacted if there are any young people who would like this opportunity.

Sarah Atkin has lived in the house for almost 4 years and she is almost certainly going to Australia in September, and her work at Mission House has ended.

Tim told us that The Penrhynside Village Youth Club has been developed by Sarah over the last few years and around 40 young people between the ages of 8-16 come regularly. This is a fantastic service to the village and community and a real opportunity to get to know the young people who would never come to a church. Again Tim stressed that Mission House needed people to come forward who felt that they could work with young people of this age.

Finally, Tim told us about a Christian Holiday Programme for 11 to 14 year olds which will take place for one week in August (probably the week beginning 16th) at St David's College who are offering the use of their facilities for this week. Do contact him for details.

‘Thank you all so much for your prayer and support for this ministry among our young people.’

Tim Hall

WELSH TRANSLATION

The Admin Committee has explored many avenues to try and find someone who is willing to translate our Newsletter on a regular basis and can produce this on disc, but sadly to date with no success. The Committee is most anxious to produce our Newsletter in Welsh and English, so if you have any suggestions or contacts, please could you get in touch with Barbara Davies, our Publicity Officers, on 875778, or Patrick Rohde, our Secretary, on 878504, who will gladly follow up on any leads. To our Welsh speakers, please accept our sincere apologies for a monolingual Newsletter on this occasion. Admin Committee.

LLANDUDNO BIBLE SOCIETY

ROSEMARY WEAVER, SECRETARY, wishes to report from the AGM -

1. A SECRETARY is required who will inform churches of forthcoming events.

2. FORTHCOMING EVENTS - 4th March Coffee Morning at Eglwys Unedig Gymraeg (Seilo)

10.30 - 12 noon

8th July Tea at Holy Trinity 2 - 4.30 pm This is an inter-church event so offers of help and gifts of cake would be appreciated. Contact Mrs Hazel Elias (581375)

Advance Notice - A SONGS OF PRAISE will be held at 3 pm at Holy Trinity later in the year.

Support from churches not yet involved will be greatly appreciated.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

MARCH 3 Christian Aid/Fair Trade Coffee Morning from 10 am to noon at St David's Craig y Don

MARCH 5 WOMEN'S WORLD DAY OF PRAYER English Service at Our Lady Star of the Sea in the

afternoon and at the English Baptist Church, West Shore in the evening; Welsh Service at 2.15 pm at Bethania, Craig y Don. See notices.

MARCH 10 Showing of the film 'Gone with the Wind' at St David's Craig y Don for Fair Trade/Christian Aid at 2 pm until about 6 pm.

MARCH 13 -Cytûn Prayers for Llandudno are held on the SECOND SATURDAY of each month from 7 am to 8 am at EMMANUEL CHRISTIAN CENTRE.

MARCH 25 - Regional Cytûn Meeting in Bangor APRIL 9th GOOD FRIDAY - WALK OF WITNESS

AND OUTDOOR SERVICE followed by the Silent Vigil around the Cross for those who can stay for an extra hour of silent witness at the grounds of Holy Trinity.

APRIL 20 - LLANDUDNO Cytûn Council Meeting at Stella Maris at 7 PM

MAY 9 - The Annual CHRISTIAN AID SERVICE, which this year will be held at ST JOHN'S CHURCH on this SUNDAY EVENING in preparation for CHRISTIAN AID WEEK.

MAY 18 - AGM at Stella Maris at 7.30 pm During this meeting the REV E R LLOYD JONES and the REV ROGER ROBERTS will become LIFE MEMBERS OF LLANDUDNO Cytûn This meeting is open to all.

MAY 27 - INDUCTION OF OUR NEW PRESIDENT - the REV NICK SISSONS at ST DAVID'S CRAIG Y DON AT 7.30 PM

JUNE 24 AFTERNOON TEA for CHRISTIAN AID

JULY 26 - CHARITY MARKET ALL DAY AT HOLY TRINITY.

JULY 27 - HOLY TRINITY AND ST JOHN'S COFFEE MORNING from 10 am to noon at ST JOHN'S FOR CHRISTIAN AID

NEW (2004) BROCHURES

Preparations are underway to update our Cytûn Brochure ready for distribution to the hotels and public buildings before Easter. Help would be much appreciated in delivering these as usual, when they reach the different churches. Patrick Rohde, Secretary

Newsletter No 28 – December 2003

THE PRESIDENT WRITES – REVD JANE ALLEN

I'm not quite sure whether this should be a Christmas or New Year letter, so perhaps I'd better make it a bit of both!

Probably most of you share my sense of frustration that Christmas seems increasingly to be overtaken by glitz rather than God-with-us, by conspicuous consumption rather than the Christ-child, and by rush rather than by reverence. Yet, in spite of all the commercialism it is still a time of wonder and rejoicing as we celebrate the eternal mystery of the word becoming flesh and dwelling with us. I expect we all have a favourite carol, and Christmas becomes a new experience for me every year when I hear the first line of "Once in Royal David's city". That carol reminds me of the fact that this was a once-and-for-all event in every sense, because God chose that one moment in our human history for the incarnation of his love, and did that for all ofus, every man, woman and child. And if we can just keep that fact to the forefront, then everything else falls into place and the glitz and conspicuous consumption and rush become less of a distraction. So let's become as little children and look with fresh eyes at the stable and the manger and the star, and kneel with the shepherds and kings before the breathtaking humility of that very special Child.

May I also commend to you two CYTÛN events which bracket Christmas, as it were. The first is the Advent In-Church Pilgrimage when we will be highlighting the Trade Justice campaign. As already advised to Council members, this will take place on December 14 at 3.00 pm at Holy Trinity. A special service has been prepared by CAFOD and we will be using this as our framework. We will be asking churches to provide readers, etc. –particularly young people if possible. Then on December 28, there will be a Christmas Meditation led by Father Tony Jones at Our Lady Star of the Sea. So thinking about the needs of others and how we can help to do something constructive towards meeting them should put our Christmas preparation into perspective. And it will be good to have time to think about Christmas in a meditative way after we have enjoyed the celebrations.

New Year is always, for me, a time of some nostalgia as well as hopeful anticipation for what the next twelve months will bring. What will your hopes, wishes and dreams be for the New Year, I wonder? I'm sure we will all be praying and longing for a world of peace and justice, freedom from hunger and violence for all those dark places where life is dangerous and so difficult for so many. As well as my wishes and prayers for the world, here are a few of my hopes for CYTÛN here in Llandudno. I hope we will be able to find the means to fund our Food Voucher scheme, to start a Chaplaincy at ASDA, to enjoy prayerful fellowship and worship at one another's churches during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and beyond, to find new ways together of witnessing to our Lord Jesus Christ which will bring nearer the coming ofhis kingdom. May God the Father bless and keep US, may God the Son through his Cradle and Cross bring us closer to the Father, may God the Spirit strengthen us in love and faith. Every good wish to you and yours for a Joyful Christmas and a Peace-filled New Year. Na dolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda. JANE

DENOMINATIONAL PRESENTATION – THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH

By the Revd Kieth Jones

The URC came into existence in 1972 when the Congregational Church in England and Wales and the Presbyterian Church of England came together in a united church which had been created through a new Act ofParliament. The larger of the two groups united to form the URC was the Congregational Church; Congregationalism emerged as a separate denomination in 17th century. A characteristic of Congregationalism has been the "gathered church" – the understanding that Christians were called together out of an ungodly society to serve God. With that went the rejection of hierarchy and the belief that the governance of each congregation lay in the hands of its members under obedience to God. Today the promises made by new

members still reflect that depth of commitment and the "Church Meeting" still takes precedence in arranging the affairs of the local church.

Presbyterianism had existed as a denomination in England since the 17th century and the foundational Presbyterian documents drawn up during the English Revolution became a pattern for Presbyterianism around the world. Even so, Presbyterianism declined in England – though not in Scotland! – and by 19th century most Presbyterian congregations in England existed as a result of Scottish emigration.

Keith Jones, as a former Congregationalist, would be the first to say that the URC strengthened by the order and structure in church government which came in via Presbyterianism. The new church also received with gratitude from Presbyterians the gift of Eldership through which chosen local church members are ordained in spiritual leadership at the local level and share with ministers the pastoral care and oversight of the local church.

In 1981 the Reformed Churches of Christ, a small British denomination, joined the URC bringing with them the doctrine of Believers' Baptism which was incorporated into the URC so that parents if they wish could have their children dedicated and not baptised as infants; so that when older the children can decide for themselves.

In April 2000 the Congregational Union of Scotland came into the URC so the Ecumenical Pilgrimage continues.

The URC stands in the historic Reformed tradition, whose members make up the largest single strand in Protestantism – with more than 70 million members worldwide. Keith Jones.

THE ENGLISH PRESBYTERIAN AND UNITED REFORM CHURCHES

These two churches of Llandudno are coming together in 2004, and the Cytûn President, The Revd Jane Allen, extends good wishes for their united future from all Cytûn. The service to mark their coming together will be held on Saturday 24th January starting in Christ Church at 2 pm.

THE FELLOWSHIP LUNCH – SUNDAY 19.10.03

On a lovely day, following morning services, about 100 people from the various churches met at St David's, Craig y don for Sunday Lunch! Our fellowship began as we met each other in the Lounge and continued over a most enjoyable lunch, prepared and served so thoughtfully and pleasantly by Clemence of Conwy. As newcomers to the area, it was good to meet people from the different churches, and we look forward to future Cytûn events. Thank you to all who arranged this.

Pauline and Jack Waddington.

THE HOMELESSNESS FORUM

This meets regularly and brings together key people from agencies such as Conwy Council Housing and Benefits, Shelter, housing associations, Mostyn Estates, CAIS, Cornerstone Trust, Nacro, Llandrillo College and Cytûn. The Forum provides as opportunity for the exchange ofviews and has led o a better understanding of what each agency provides, and how the facilities can be accessed. The Forum has also facilitated smaller Focus Groups, where agencies concerned with a similar client base can meet to-share:- for example there is a young single homeless Focus Group. As the Forum members have built relationships with each other, they have felt able to openly share problems and discuss ways forward. There has been

some positive action. At each meeting one agency gives a brief presentation on their work, and so far we have heard from the One Stop Shop in Colwyn Bay and from supporting people. Next time, the presentation is about the Pathway scheme (which formerly was known as Leaving Care). Homelessness is an emotive problem and it is encouraging to hear of all the efforts what are being made by so many agencies to help those who find themselves homeless. JANET HUGHES, Cytûn rep.

ACTIONAID

Twelve months ago, when I first announced my intention of making this trek, one of my neighbours, a member at Bethania lent me a prayer card. It read, "Lord help me to remember that nothing will happen today that you and I cannot manage together." Well I did it; we all did it, our group of 16 diverse people from England, Northern Ireland and Wales, ages ranging from 18 -72. The challenge was all that we had expected and more! It is impossible to imagine the sheer scale of the

Great Wall from previously seen film and photographs and we had not reckoned on the 90% humidity, the fog and rain-

generated mud, but it was an incredibly wonderful experience, and we did it! I have todate sent over £3,500 for the work of ActionAid. I am absolutely amazed at the generosity and support I have encountered, and the prayer with which I have been upheld. Thank you all so much. The group raised £28,000. Arline Griffiths.

SISTER JENNIFER

Sister Jennifer has been honoured for ‘exceptional service to the church’. She was presented with the Papal Award

Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice by the Bishop Edwin Regan, Bishop of Wrexham at a special service in Wrexham Cathedral. Celebrations in the parish were held on November 25th with a Concelebrated Votive Mass of Our Lady with Bishop Edwin presiding in the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea. This was followed by a buffet at the school. Our President said how delighted Cytûn was. It was a wonderful recognition of Sister Jennifer's dedicated service to her Church and to the community here in Llandudno. On behalf of Cytûn, in the unavoidable absence of the Revd Jane Allen, the Revd Canon Robert Griffiths thanked Sister Jennifer for her witness to the Gospel in her daily life.

DATES FOR THE DIARY

ADVENT IN-CHURCH PILGRIMAGE – a joint Service with CAFOD on SUNDAY, 14th DECEMBER 2003 at 3 pm

in HOLY TRINI'IY CHURCH – DO TRY TO SUPPORT THIS SERVICE WHICH CELEBRATES ADVENT IN A WORLD-WIDE CONTEXT – LINKING OUR FAITH TO A FAIRER REWARD FOR THOSE WHO PRODUCE OUR FOOD.

A CHRISTMAS MEDITATION on SUNDAY, 28th DECEMBER 2003 at 6 pm at OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA

led by Father Antony Jones – DO GIVE YOUR SUPPORT TO THIS SERVICE WHICH WILL BE A THOUGHTFUL CONT1NUATION OF OUR CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS.

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY – Starting on SUNDAY l8th JANUARY 2004

Days, places and times of the daily services as follows:-

SUNDAY l8th JANUARY at 3 pm at Eglwys Unedig (SEILO)

MONDAY 19th JANUARY at 10.30 am at OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA

TUESDAY 20th JANUARY at 10.30 am at ST DAVID'S, PENRHYN BAY

WEDNESDAY 21st JANUARY at 10.30 am at ST DAVID'S , CRAIG Y DON

THURSDAY 22nd JANUARY at 10.30 am at the BAPTIST CHURCH, WEST SHORE with COMMUNION

FRIDAY 23rd JANUARY at 10.30 am at the ENGLISH PRESBYTERIAN/URC

SATURDAY 24th JANUARY at 10.30 am at EMMANUEL

BOOKS FOR PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Thanks to the generosity of friends we have been able to send off by sea 15 parcels of theological books and journals

to the Saimon Gaius Library at George Brown Pastors' College, Rabaul. They will be much appreciated.

Patrick and Barbara Rohde.

Newsletter No 27 – August 2003

THE PRESIDENT WRITES – REVD JANE ALLEN

Being part of a link in the chain of people who have had the privilege of serving as President of Cytûn here in Llandudno

is a somewhat humbling experience, especially when you look back at past presidents and see all that they achieved when

they were in office. Our immediate past president, Roger Roberts, who has done the job several times over many years

tells me he has seen a great sense of fellowship and a real coming together develop over those years. I very much hope we can continue to grow in the spirit and service of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. As I said at the first meeting I chaired in July, I see this happening through praying together, praising together, preparing together, playing together and practising service together So it was good to move those aims and objectives forward as we did at that meeting by arranging events and putting dates into diaries. You 'll find those events and dates listed elsewhere in this Newsletter.

As I start my year as President, I know how much I will need the support of you all -both Ministers, laity, and the Admin

Committee, especially the support of your prayers. And speaking of prayers, we hope to have our Prayer Vigil for Peace on Friday, September 19 from 7 am to 7 pm, in the Memorial Chapel at Holy Trinity. More details to follow through your own churches, but we will need lots of support if we are to sustain prayer throughout the day.

Finally, may I share with you a prayer I use often, and one which seems particularly appropriate to the ongoing work of

CYTÛN:

Lead us, Lord, with thy most gracious favour, and further us

with thy continual help, that in all our works, begun,

continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name,

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

May we walk together in the peace of Christ, JANE.

INDUCTION OF REVD JANE ALLEN AS OUR PRESIDENT

Cytûn Llandudno has been very well served over the years in its succession of Presidents. Each one has brought personal

strengths and concerns to the task. And Jane will be no exception in her concern for people, and young people, and for the Christian Church in this modern society. Jane chose to have her Induction Service at St Tudno's Church on the Orme, which recognises a Christian presence in the area over many generations, so that the building itself has an aura of peaceful calm even standing as it does in what can be a very windswept position.

One is conscious of an atmosphere of Christian worship as soon as one enters and regards its simple beauty. The ceremony of Rev Roger Roberts passing on the 'succession' to Jane was full of sincere Christian hope and faith. We are in good hands for another year, for it is God's presence and love which leads our faith and hope. Faith provided plentiful refreshments and a joyful conclusion as we shared wine, fruit juice, food and conversation. Welcome Revd Jane Allen as our President..

Barbara Davies.

NEW HOME – NEW NAME – NEW CHALLENGE

Easter Day 2003 was the first day of public participation in worship at the new home of Zion English Baptist Church in

the Church of Our Saviour West Shore. It was an excellent day to celebrate not only Our Lord's resurrection but also a "New beginning" for our fellowship. Since that day we have experienced the difficulties of using microphones in such a large place, we can spread out a little, and we can rejoice that we actually have more than one toilet! but not forgetting a break-in. We have been blessed by the fact that the Lord has brought some new friends amongst us and we give Him thanks for them.

Our trustees have allowed us to change our name from Zion to Llandudno Baptist Church and it is under this name that we shall be seeking to serve the Lord in a new area of the town. Fred Halstead.

ACTIONAID

Well the big news is that it is on! The World Health Organisation lifted the ban on travel to China on July lst, and so we shall be leaving as planned on 4th October. With almost 3 months still to go I can already say that the whole venture has been a remarkable experience, and I have been both amazed and humbled by the support, encouragement and generosity of people, including Cytûn. Words are just completely inadequate to express my thanks and gratitude. As a result the amount raised to date is actually £3747. So all that remains now is for me to fulfil everyone's trust in me and achieve what I set out to do, that 40 mile trek along the Great Wall of China, Arline Griffiths.

MISSION HOUSE

Young People's Ministry is very concerned about the unsupervised use of chatrooms on the internet and the clear dangers this affords to young people. As the church we must recognise the need for twin strategies of education and providing a safer alternative. Currently Mission House is in discussions with specialists at the forefront of this technology and of pioneering software. We are looking into the feasibility of setting up chatrooms and gamesrooms which are the best the 'net' can provide, but with - supervision and 'registration'. ..

There are 3 essential areas that senior generations can help with -

1) Supervision - one idea would be to have a rota of say 40 adults who could do 2 x 1 hour supervision slots a week in the

chat areas. These people would need to be 'cleared.'

2) Help with funding - Initially we are looking at £500 to put together a pilot webpage which we could then 'trawl' around

the big Christian youth ministries in the UK to see the level of support we can get and the resources we could provide in

terms of music, video and games.

3) Prayer - this is a major move, and the whole vision will be written up and available, but we are so moved that something has to be done that we cannot rest until we have explored the issues and tested whether God is calling us into this. TIM HALL

PRAYER CARDS

A couple of years ago the "facevalues" campaign was launched with the aim of restoring basic Christian values in society. One of the latest developments initiates the use of prayer cards. The scheme operates by encouraging local church members to deliver prayer postcards to each house, either personally or by posting.

The card explains that, "Christians from local churches are providing a prayer request service for this area. If you would

like people from a nearby church to pray about something or someone you are concerned about, then fill in the prayer

request form and return it to a Prayer Point near you. You can give as little or as much information as you want. You may

just want to give a first name. No-one will call by phone or in person."

Details of the nearest prayer point are given on the card and they are easily recognisable from a distinctive poster in the

window. It would be good to have a network of prayer points across the town and to deliver a card to each house. Cards and posters are fairly cheap to buy from CPO. Neil Kirkham

BOOKS FOR PAPUA NEW GUINEA

We have been presented with seventeen boxes of theological books from the recently closed Wrexham Resource Centre. News of this very generous gIft has already been passed on to the Pastors' College. Patrick & Barbara Rohde.

Newsletter No 26 – May 2003

THE PRESIDENT WRITES – REVD ROGER ROBERTS

Dear Fellow Christian,

More than anything else the conflict in Iraq has been our main concern – not only as Cytûn but as ordinary people everywhere.

I know how relieved we are that the fighting appears to have ended although there is a massive task to try to ensure real peace and establish a just society in Iraq and throughout the Middle East. We constantly pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Many questions regarding the conflict and the events which led to it have to be answered.

I was, myself, deeply sad that the Iraq issue could not be settled through the United Nations. This organisation, however imperfect, is the one global forum where l92 countries – from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe – are able to come together to discuss problems and differences.

As Cytûn we held a remarkable candlelit vigil in Holy Trinity, another smaller vigil and during the conflict a good number met on four Sunday evenings at the Llandudno Town Cenotaph. It was a time for prayer and meditation.

We have become a real "out door" organisation! On Good Friday about 300 of us walked in procession from the Town Hall to the grounds of Holy Trinity Church where a short service was held. Many visitors shared in our commemoration of the Crucifixion of Jesus. The weather was kind to us and there was a great feeling of worship and unity.

There are so many good things happening within the Christian Community in Llandudno. Never before have I felt so much warmth and friendship. We appear to be, through grace, growing in so many ways.

Changes during the past month or so include the move of Zion Baptist Church from Craig y don to the Church of our Saviour on the West Shore. We hear that Fred Halstead and the congregation are settling in well. Of course, as we mentioned before, the Parish of Llandudno has united in Holy Trinity and, again, all reports are very positive. The United Welsh Church following much deliberation has voted to centre its activities on Seilo in Gloddaeth Avenue. When the changes and renovations are completed we shall have a wonderful home for our Welsh Congregation. Is there anyone else on the move?

My year as President of Cytûn is nearing its end. Thanks to all who have given their support during the year, especially to the marvellous team of officers My very best wishes go to the Rev Jane Allen who will, I know, be a first class President.

With love and prayers,

Roger.

Llythyr y Llywydd – Parch. Roger Roberts

Yr hyn fu'n pwyso ar ein meddyliau yn fwy na dim arall yw'r sefyllfa yn Iraq – nid yn unig yng Nghytun ond ar bawb ohonom fel unigolion.

Ydym yn falch eithriadol i'r brwydro, yn ol pob golwg, fod drosodd ond mae tasg aruthrol i sicrhau heddwch ac i sefydlu cymdeithas gyfiawn yn Iraq ac ym mhob rhan o'r dwyrain canol. Gweddiwn yn wastad dros heddwch Jerwsalem. Mae'n rhaid ateb llawer o gwestiynnau ynglyn a'r hyn sydd wedi digwydd a'r camau sy wedi arwain at y rhyfel.

Yn bersonol roeddwn yn drist nad drwy'r Cenhedloedd Unedig death ateb i'r problemau. Y mudiad hwn, er mor amherffaith, yw'r fan lle mae l92 o wledydd – o Afghanistan i Zimbabwe – yn dod at eu gilydd i drafod problemau a gwahaniaethau.

Fel Cytûn cynhaliwyd gwylnos arbennig iawn yng ngolau'r ganwyll yn Eglwys y Drindod a gwylnos lai wedyn a phedwar gwasanaeth i weddio a myfyrio ar nosweithiau Sul wrth Gofeb y Dref.

Daethom fel Cytûn yn gymdeithas "awyr ogored" ! Dydd Gwner y Groglith gorymdeithiodd 300 ohonom o Neuadd y Dref i erddi Eglwys y Drindod lie cynhaliwd gwasanaeth byr. Ymunodd Ilawer o ymwelwyr

a ni i gofio Croeshoeliad Crist. Gwenodd yr haul arnom ac roedd ymdeimlad o addoliad ac undeb.

Mae cymaint o bethau da yn digwydd oddimwen i'r Gymdeithas Gristnogol yma yn Llandudno. Ni theimlais erioed cymaint o gyfeillgarwch a chynhesrwydd. Edrychwn fel petaem, trwy ras, yn tyfu mewn Ilawer ffordd.

Bu symudiadau arbennig yn ystod y mis. Aeth Zion, Bedyddwyr Saesneg, o Graig y Don i Eglwys Ein Gwaredwr. Deallwn bod Fred Halstead a'r gynulleidfa yn cartrefu'n dda. Soniwyd yn barod i'r Eglwys yng Nghymru uno yn Eglwys y Drindod ac mae'r adroddiadau yn codi'n calon. Mae'r Eglwys Unedig Gymraeg ar ol trafod Ilawn wedi pleidleisio i sefydlu yn Seilo. Pan cwblheir y newidiadau a'r gwellianau bydd gennym gartref hyfryd. A oes eraill yn symud ?

Mae fy mlwyddyn fel Llywydd Cytûn yn dirwyn i ben. Diolch am bob cefnogaeth yn ystod fy nhymor, yn arbennig i gyd-swyddogion bendigedig. Dymunaf yn dda i fy olynydd, y Parch Jane Allen a sy'n sicr o fod yn Llywydd rhagorol.

Gyda chariad a gweddiau,

Roger.

DENOMINATIONAL PRESENTATION ON THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD

given by Bernard Lynch at Cytûn Council.

The Assemblies of God is part of the world wide Pentecostal movement so called because it began on the Jewish day of Pentecost. It was the start of the 6^th dispensation commonly known as the "dispensation of the spirit" accepted as "the birth of the church" celebrated at our Whitsuntide.

During what is known as "the dark ages" the experience of Pentecost almost faded out but God kept a faithful remnant (as he has always done with Israel) who kept the flame of the spirit burning through the following generations up to the start of the last century when the wind of the holy spirit fanned the flame into a blaze.

This blaze caused a spiritual revival in the USA in Asuza Street and also in Norway spreading soon after to the UK through a Church of England vicar in Sunderland by the name of Alexander Boddy who became the founder of the "Pentecostal Fellowship" in England though remaining in the Church of England as a vicar up to his death in the l930's. He was the most influential leader of the Pentecostal movement in the UK. (I feel privileged to be one of his descendants as a "Pentecostal Anglican").

In the early l900's the wind of the Holy Spirit swept through S Wales through Evan Roberts, which was the start of the well-known Welsh Revival, giving birth to the Elim Assemblies of God and Apostolic churches still the main ones in the Pentecostal movement of whom Yong Cho is the present president pastoring the largest Pentecostal congregation in the world in Korea.

The Pentecostals, as they were called grew greatly in numbers drawing adherents from many of the traditional denominations who rejected the tongues phenomena and were co-ordinated into fellowships under the leadership of Rev Alexander Boddy – out of which developed the three sections – Elim under the Jeffrey brothers; The Assemblies of God under the Carter brothers and Donald Gee and Nelson Parr; and the Apostolic under D.P. Williams.

In l924 the Assemblies of God held its first conference in which it elected an executive presbytery and missionary council, drawing up a statement of faith which all members were expected to adhere to. The main issue separating these three fellowships is governmental although like most denominations scriptural differences also are involved.

The Assemblies of God churches work autonomously with a regional superintendent under the umbrella of the Executive council, previously the executive presbytery. Tithing is expected of its members but not compelled. Infants are blessed and dedicated, the water comes later when they are ready to make a personal declaration of faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord Assemblies of God ministers who are called Pastor are inducted after training at Mattersey Hall our Bible College. They can have several or more churches known as Assemblies under their supervision, each having' elders' who are responsible for the local running of the Church activities and Ministries.

There are 700+ churches in the Pentecostal Church in the UK and is increasing continually, due probably to the informal type of worship which appeals to young people, the greater part ofthe congregation. By the l960's the charismatic movement came into being through people like Michael Harper a Church of England vicar and Edgar Trout a Methodist minister and the well-known brethren speaker David Lillie bringing understanding and respectability to the Pentecostal movement, with even bishops filled with the spirit.

Finally Emmanuel in Llandudno. A small gathering of Pentecostals met in a local hotel for fellowship for a while and as they grew in number moved to several buildings and in l990 took over Emmanuel with Kevin Bank as pastor. We have been without a pastor since Kevin left 7 years ago and the church is served by 3 elders and church council.

Cyflwyniad Enwadol ar ran CYNULLIADAU DUW

Cyflwynodd Mr B C Lynch yr uchod drwy egluro bod yr uchod yn rhan o gynulliad Pentecostaidd fyd-eang a gychwynodd ar ddydd Pentecost yr Iddewon. Yr oedd yn gychwyn ar yr a gyfeirir ato fel "Goruchwyliaeth yr Ysbryd" a dderbynir fel "genedigaeth yr Eglwys" a ddethlir adeg ein Sulgwyn.

Bu bron i brofiad y Pentecost ddiflannu yn ystod yr 'Oesoedd Tywyll', ond fe erys rai yn fyddlon i gadw profiad ysbrydol y Pentecost yn fyw drwy genedlaethau hyd at gychwyn yr ugeinfed ganrif pan ddisgynodd yr Ysbryd Glan yn ei nerth unwaith eto.

Yn dilyn fe arweiniodd at ddiwygiad ysbrydol yn yr Unol Daleithiau Norwy a Prydain Fawr drwy sylfaenydd y Mudiad Pentecostaidd yn y wlad hon y Parch Alexander Boddy, ficer gyda Eglwys Lloegr. Hyd at ei farw yn y tridegau yr oedd yn arweinydd dylanadol o fewn y mudiad yn y wlad hon.

Ar ddechrau'r ganrif ddiwethaf Evan Roberts yw'r enw a gysylltir a'r Diwygiad. Mae Cynulliadau Duw a' r Eglwysi Apostolaidd, yn dal y rhai mwyaf pwysig o fewn y mudiad gyda Yong Cho y Llywydd presennol ac yn arwain y gynulleidfa fwyaf o'r mudiad yng ngwlad Corea. Daeth nifer o enwadau eraill i ymuno a'r Pentecostiaid dan arweiniad y ficer y Parch Alexander Boddy.

O'r Cynulliad yma datblygodd tair rhan:- ELIM dan y brodyr Jeffrey, Cynulliadau Duw gyda y brodyr Carter, Donald Gee a Nelson Parr ac yna YR Eglwys Apostolaidd gyda D P Williams yn arwain. Yn eu cyfarfod cyntafyn l924 fe etholwyd Cyngor Cenhadol a Datganiad o'u cred a oeddent i'w ddilyn.

Materion llywodraethol yn bennafyw'r gwahaniaeth mwyaf rhyngddynt ac fel pob enwad ychydig o faterion Y sgrythurol.

Mae Eglwysi Cynulliadau Duw yn hunanlywodraethol i raddau helaeth gyda Goruchwiliwr rhanbarthol yn gweithredu ar ran y Cyngor Gweithedol. Mae degwm i'w dalu gan yr aelodau ond nid yw yn orfodol. Fel y Bedwyddyr ceir trochiad llawn i fedyddio pan mae'r aelod yn ddigon aeddfed i sylweddoli arwyddocad y weithred gysegredig hon Bendithir a chysegrir babanod, ni chant eu bedyddio yn llawn hyd iddynt fod yn ddigon aeddfed i ddatgan eu hymroddiad i Jesu Grist.

Caiff gweindogion iddynt – gelwir hwynt yn Pastor – eu hyfforddi yn Mattersey Hall cyn eu sefydlu i weinidogaeth lawn. Mae gan pob Eglwys leol ei diaconiaid sy'n gyfrifol am weithgareddau yr Eglwys. Mae dros 700 ar hyn o bryd o eglwysi Cynulliadau Duw ym Mhrydain Fawr ac yn i dyfu, yn denu'r ifanc, o bosib am bod ffurfeu haddoliad yn anffurfiol, yr ifanc yw gan amlaf y gaman uchaf yn eu gwasanaethau.

Erbyn y chwedeagau yr oedd y mudiad carismataidd yn lledaenu drwy weithgaredd Michael Harper ficer gyda'r Eglwys Loegr ac Edgar Trout gweinidog gyda' r Methodistiaid a David Lillie a arweiniodd tuag at gwell dealltwriaeth a parchusrwydd i' r Mudiad Pentecostaidd

Daeth ein hachos yrna yn lleol i fodolaeth trwy gyfardod yn gyntaf mewn gwessty lleol ac fel y cynyddodd ein dilynwyr symud o le i le hyd at symud i lmmanuel yn l990 gyda Kevin Bank yn gweinidogaethu amom, ers saith mlynedd nid oes gennyrn Weinidog ond fe'n gwasanaethir gan dri o ddiaconiaid a Cyngor Eglwysig.

A PLEA FOR RESOURCES FOR PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Some years ago we had a request from Rarongo United Church Theological College near Rabaul for theological books and periodicals for their college library. With your help we were able to send out back issues of the Expository Times and other journals and books. George Brown Pastors’ College who used to share the same campus have now moved to their own building nearby and are setting up their own library. Last week we had a similar request for sets of Expository Times and Theology Today or books on theology, which are no longer being used. It should perhaps be borne in mind that the educational standard of the pastors would be slightly below that of the theological students. If you have anything that you feel might be of value, please get in touch with us, Patrick and Barbara Rohde 0l492 878504.

E-mail: rohdepatba@aol.com

ADNODDAU ar gyfer brodorion PAPUA GINI NEWYDD

Derbyniwyd cais ychydig flynyddoedd yn ol gan ; Golege Diwinyddol yr Eglwys Unedig Rarongo am : lyfrau diwinyddol a chylchgronau ar gyfer eu Llyfrgell. Gyda eich cyrnorth fe ddanfonwyd nifer. iddynt yn cynnwys rhai cylchgronau esboniadol. Yr wythnos ddiwethaf derbynbwyd cais tebyg ar gyfer Llyfrgell Coleg Gweinidogion George Brown. Dylid cofio fod safon addysgol y gweinidogion ychydig yn is na rhai o'r myfyrwyr diwinyddol. Os tybiech bod gennych unrhyw gafrol a fuasai o fudd iddynt crysyllter a Patrick a Barbara Rohde 0l492 878504.

E-mail: rohdepatba@aol.com

Newsletter No 25 – February 2003

THE PRESIDENT WRITES – REVD ROGER ROBERTS

It is a challenging time for the Christian Church. In the face of the threat of war we attempt to understand and promote the teaching of Jesus.

"Blessed are the Peacemakers", says the Sermon on the Mount; "...the greatest of these is love" says Paul's first letter to the Church in Corinth, and whilst the first great Commandment is to love God, the second is "Love your neighbour as yourself'. Jesus' approach is always constructive, never destructive, always positive, never negative. He tells his followers to pray for the fulfilling of the Will of Heaven here on earth, for His Kingdom to come in the world.

The Church leads the way in Peacemaking. The leaders of the nations have made their way to Rome to seek audience with the Pope. He urges peace, not war. The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams and the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster are joined by those who lead the Free Churches in praying and working for a peaceful solution to the crisis in the Middle East.

Here in Llandudno we held, early on – some weeks ago – a most effective Vigil for Peace at Holy Trinity Church. Over 200 people shared in that candlelit vigil. On the day of the great London March a number, unable to make the journey to London, stood in a testimony for peace in the grounds of Holy Trinity. We are grateful to those who made the arrangements for these demonstrations. I and many hundreds from North Wales, joined the March for Peace in London. Over a million people walked in the bitter cold for five or six hours. In hundreds of cities throughout the world millions more showed their concern - the largest number, probably, the two million who thronged the streets of Rome. There were babes a few weeks old in the arms of their parents and very elderly people (even older than me !) pushed in invalid

chairs. A very genuine anxiety saw people who had never before demonstrated in this way take to the streets in the cause of Peace.

The situation is very uncertain, but clearly the concerns of the millions has influenced the thinking of world leaders. We continue, indeed persist, in praying for a Peaceful and Just world.

At home Cytûn once again held a very beautiful service for the Renewal of Marriage Vows. Thanks to the Rev Jane Allan and Father Anthony Jones for organising this – and to Stella Maris for the post-service hospitality!

The Rev John Lewis Jones was inducted minister of the United Welsh Church. The splendid service at Seilo was very well attended. Our very best wishes to John in a very challenging post.

I'm told that the amalgamation in the Llandudno Parish has also been a success.

"Dechrau Canu, Dechrau Canmol" is to be broadcast – the second, from Seilo on June 29th on the occasion of the visit of the Methodist Conference, for the first time ever, to North Wales. By the time this Newsletter reaches you the world will have listened to our singing – about 650 voices conducted by Tristan Lewis with Iris Hughes as organist. For me it was a truly outstanding experience and thanks to all who made it possible.

Finally, our best wishes to all who are in difficult circumstances – illness, bereavement, crisis – our love

and our prayers are with you.

Yours very sincerely,

Roger Roberts

Llythyr y Llywydd – Parch. Roger Roberts

Mae'n gyfnod a her i'r Eglwys Gristnogol. Yn wyneb bygythiad rhyfel ceisiwn ddeall a hybu dysgeidiaeth yr lesu.

"Gwyn eu byd y tangneteddwyr II medd y Bregeth ar y Mynydd, " ….. y mwyat o'r rhai hyn yw cariad" medd Ilythyr cyntat Paul at Eglwys Corinth a gan mai'r gorychymyn cyntat yw i ni garu Duw, yr ail yw i ni garu'n cymydog tel ni ein hunain" Mae agwedd yr lesu bob amser yn adeiladol, byth yn ddinistriol, yn gadarnhaol a byth yn negyddol. Mae'n erfyn ei ddilynwyr i weddio i Ewyllus y Netoedd gael ei

gyflawni yma ar y ddaear, i'w Deyrnas ddod i'r byd.

Mae'r Eglwys i arwain wrth greu heddwch. Mae arweinwyr y cenhedloedd wedi ymweld a'r Pab yn

Rhutain. Mae’n annog heddwch, nid rhyfel. Mae'e Archesgod newydd Caergaint. Dr Rowan Williams a

Phennaeth yr Eglwys Gatholig ym Mhrydain wedi ymuno ac arweinwyr yr Eglwysi Rhyddion i weiddio a

gweithio am heddwch yn y Dwyrain Canol.

Yma yn Llandudno cynhaliwyd gwylnos yng ngolau'r ganwyll rhai wythnosau'n ol yn Eglwys y Drindod eta dros 200 yn bresennol. Ar ddiwrnod yr Orymdaith Fawr yn Llundain daeth rhai, yn methu a theithio i

Lundain, i setyll yn dawel mewn tystiolaeth dros heddwch a flaen Eglwys y Drindod. Diolch i'r rhai a

dretnodd y digwyddiadau hyn. Oeddwn i eta cannoedd eraill a Ogledd Cymru yn yr Orymdaith yn Llundain. Dros miliwn a bobl yn cerdded am bum ney chwe awr ar ddiwrnod eithriadol a oer.

Mewn cannoedd a ddinasoedd drwy'r byd cerddodd miliynau a bobl -y niter fwyat, mae'n debyg y dau

filiwn yn Rhufain. Babanod ym mreichiau eu rhieni, henoed (yn hyn na fi hyd yn oed !) mewn cadeiriau

olwyn. Roedd pryder eithriadol wedi anton pobl'roedd heb orymdeithio erioed o'r blaen i gerdded dros

heddwch.

Mae'r sefyllta yn ansicr, ond heb os mae pryder y miliynau wedi dylanwadu ar arweinwyr y byd. Parhawn i weddio am fyd a Heddwch a Chyfiawnder. Hefyd mae Cytûn yma yn Llandudno wedi cynnal

gwasanaeth hyfryd a Adnewyddu Addewidion Priodas. Diolch i'r Parch Jane Allan a'r Tad Anthony Jones am drefnu hwn - ac i Stella Maris am eu croeso!

Sefydlwyd y Parch John Lewis Jones yn weinidog ar yr Eglwys Unedig Gymraeg. Daeth cynulleidfa fawr i wasanaeth arbennig iawn. Ein dymuniadau gorau i John mewn swydd Ilawn sialens.

Clywaf i'r uno eglwysi Plwyf Llandudno fod yn llwyddiant.

Ar Mawrth 2 darlledwyd "Dechrau Canu. Dechrau Canmol" o Seilo. Darlledir yr ail raglen ar Fehefin 29 ar achlysur ymweliad cyntaf erioed a Gogledd Cymru o'r Gynhadledd Fethodistaidd. Erbyn i chi ddarllen y Cylchlythyr bydd y byd wedi gwrando arnom – rhyw 650 o leisiau dan arweiniad Tristan Lewis efo Iris

Hughes ar yr organ. I mi’roedd yn brofiad arbennig a diolch a bawb a'i gwnaeth yn bosibl.

Yn olaf dymunwn yn dda i bob un mewn amgylchiadau anodd – afiechyd, profedigaeth, argyfwng – mae ein cariad a'n gweddiau efo chi.

yn gywir iawn,

Roger Roberts.

DENOMINATIONAL PRESENTATION ON THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WALES

by Rev Neil Kirkham

The origins of the Calvinistic Methodist movement in Wales lie with Griffith Jones, Llandowror, in the late l7^th century, though most people will associate it with the conversion of Howel Harris, Trefeca under the preaching of Pryce Davies, Vicar of Talgarth. With him in the movement were Daniel Rowland, curate of Llangaitha and William Williams, Pantycelyn as the hymnologist. Their purpose was to reform the Anglican Church in which they remained until their death. Only in the next generation when no Anglicans would give them communion, did they separate taking their order of Church government from John Calvin.

Thomas Charles of Bala provided the guiding hand at the first ordination in 1811. He was then inspired by the efforts of Mary Jones, to become a founder member of the Bible Society.

In 1904/05 Evan Roberts ofLoughor was instrumental in bringing revival throughout South Wales spreading northward although the work took its toll on him personally.

Today we find ourselves in decline with too many buildings and not enough ministers. We are 80% Welsh speaking and organised into regional Presbyteries (North Wales Coast stretches from Caernarfon to Prestatyn and comprises 10 churches). Above are three Associations; North and South being geographical and Welsh speaking. The Association in the East covers all the English speaking churches throughout Wales and the borders. The Associations then meet annually at the General Assembly in Lampeter.

We are currently seeking to reorganise in an effort to streamline a cumbersome structure and free valuable resources.

CYFLWYNIAD ENWADOL ar ran y PRESBYTERIAID yng NGHYMRU

gan y Parch Neil Kirkham

Trwy waith Griffith Jones Llanddowror tun diweddail ganrif ar bymtheg y bu dechreuad Methodistaidd

Galfinaidd yng Nghymru. serch bod rhai yn cysylltu troedigaeth Howel Harris dan ddylanwad pregethu Ficer Talgarth Pryce Davies. Gydag efyn y mudiad oedd Daniel Rowland curad Llangeitho a William Williams Pantycelyn yr Emynydd. Eu nod oedd diwygio yr Eglwys Anglicanaidd. Bu raid aros hyd y genhedlaeth nesaf iddynt wahanu dan drefniad John Calfin gan na allent gymuno gyda’ r Anglicaniaid.

Thomas Charles o'r Bala a lywyddodd yr ordinhad cyntaf yn 1811; yr oedd wedi ei gyffroi yn fawr drwy ymdrechion Mary Jones a ddaeth yn aelod gwreiddiol y Feibl Gymdeithas.

Yn ystod l904-05 bu diwygiad crefyddol dan ddylanwad Evan Roberts, gan ddechrau ynNe Cymru

cyn cyrraedd y Gogledd.

Erbyn heddiw mae'n sefyllfa ddigon pryderus - gormod o adeiladau ond heb ddigon o weinidogion,

Mae 80% ohonom yn Gymru Cymraeg, wedi ein rhannu i Henaduriaethau rhanbarthol, gyda tair

Cymdeithasfa Y De a'r Gogledd yn Gymraeg a Chymdeithasfa y Dwyrain yn Saesneg, yn rheoli pob

Eglwys Saesneg yng Nghymru a'r Gorosau. Maent oll yn cyfarfod yn tlynyddol mewn Cymanfa Gyffredinol yn Llanbedr.

Ar hyn o anser yr ydym yn mynd drwy y broses o ad-drefnu yn y gobaith y bydd yn fwy manteisiol ar gyfer y gweinyddu.

OPEN DAY AT CANOLFAN IMAM CENTRE

Llandudno Junction, Saturday 2 November 2002 by Patrick Rohde our Secretary

The President of Llandudno Cytûn, Parchig Roger Roberts, received an invitation after inviting the Conwy Islamic Centre to attend the September ll Service on the Promenade, Llandudno. He was away in Australia, and Rev Nick Sissons and Mrs Janet Hughes represented Cytûn. Barbara and I received an invitation. The Centre in Glan y Marl Rd in the Junction is an old Baptist chapel. The members of the Muslim community have spent 4 years renovating the building and they have certainly made an excellent job of it.

Inside the door we took off our shoes and most of the lady guests wore head scarves in accordance with

Muslim tradition. We were received warmly and given drinks downstairs. I had a long talk with Dr Valijan, a consultant anaesthetist in Ysbyty Gwynedd, while Sister Batool Al Toma, an Irish convert to Islam had a lively talk with Barbara. The Police were represented and both Mrs Betty Williams MP and Jane Ryder AM were present and spoke.

They then went upstairs to the gallery which had been tastefully converted into a small conference area. We were welcomed by the Chairman, whom we took to be Mr Amirech. He expressed the gratitude of the Muslim community for all the support they had received after September 11. He particularly thanked the Police, the Society of Friends and the other Christian communities. The main points of his talk and the succeeding ones were projected in a high tech manner on the wall. We heard that there are 40 Muslim families from the area worshipping at the mosque. Relations were generally good with other communities and the local authorities, though the Muslim community were hoping for arrangements for them to conduct their own funerals to be agreed.

The next speaker was Mohammed Seddon, a research worker at the Islamic Centre in Leicester. He is a

Mancunian and we later met his very bright wife and son. She was brought up in Nelson. His short talk went back to the first English coin of King Offa, which had an inscription with 'Mohammed, the messenger of God' on, just l50 years after the death of Mohammed. He also referred to the 9th century, Ballycottin Cross from Ireland which has 'bismillah ' in the centre. He stressed that there was much cross fertilization of ideas during the period of the Crusades. In the l9th century many Yemeni sailors came to Cardiff where a mosque was built in l860. There are now 4l mosques in Wales. He stressed the need for dialogue.

Sister Batool Al Toma from Ireland spoke feelingly about the true teaching of the Koran on the equality of women and men and the strength of the family. She stressed that we worshipped the same God and spoke of the common ground between Judaism, Christianity and Islam. We then went downstairs for a wonderful spread of tasty bakemeats and sandwiches. We felt we had been with fellow searchers for God's will for our community and our country in these turbulent and materialistic times. We hope to be able to build on these links in the days ahead.

DIWRNOD AGORED YNG NGHANOLFAN IMAM YNG CONWY

Yn dilyn gwahoddiad gan Lywydd Cytûn Llandudno, y Parch Roger Roberts i'r Ganolfan uchod

anfon cynrychiolaeth i'r Gwasaaeth Coffad am drychineb 11 Medi, derbyniodd yntau wahoddiad i

ddiwrnod agored a gynhaliwyd ganddynt yn ddiweddar. Gan fod ein Llywydd ar y pryd yn

Awstralia fe'i cynrychiolwyd gan ddau aelod o Cytûn Llandudno.

Hen addoldy y Bedyddwyr yw y Ganolfan yng Nghyffordd Llandudno wedi ei atgyweirio dros y

blynyddoedd diwethaf gan y gymuned Moslemaidd lleol. Derbyniwyd y ddau gynrychiolydd gan Dr

Valijan sydd yn anesetydd ymg Ylngynghorol yn Ysbyty Gwynedd a'r Chwaer Batool Al Toma,

Gwyddeles, sydd wedi troi at y grefydd Islamaidd. Ymysg y gwahoddedigion oedd yr Aelod Seneddol

lleol, Mrs Betty Williams aelod y Cynulliad Janet Ryder ac aelodau o Heddlu Gogledd Cymru.

Croesawyd ni ymhellach gan y Cadeirydd, Mr Amirech a ddiolchodd ar ran y gymdeithas Foslemaidd

am y gefnogaeth a dderbynient yn dilyn ll Mediyn lleol, mynegodd ei ddiolchgarwch yn arbennig i

aelodau o'r Heddlu, y Crynwyr a chymdeithasau Cristnogol eraill.

Eglurodd bod deugain o deuluoedd Mwslemaidd yn y gymuneb yma yn lleol yn addoli yn y Mosg, a

canmolodd y cysylltiadau agos cydrhwng eu cymdeithas ac eraill gan gynnwys yr A wdurdod Lleol, eu gobaith yn y dyfodol agos yw gallu trefnu iddynt gynnal gwasanaethau angladdol drostynt eu hunain.

Y gŵr gwadd oedd brodor o Faenceinion, Mahommed Seddon, sydd yn gwneud gwaith ymchwil yn y

Ganolfan Islmnaidd yng Nghaerlyr, Cyfeiriodd yn ystod ei sylwadau ymysg pethau eraill am y darn

arian. prydeinig cyntaf o gynod y Brenin Offa gyda'r geiriau 'Mohamed -negeseuwr Duw' arno, hyn, cant a hanner o flynyddoedd ar ol marwolaeth Mohamed; cyfeiriodd hefyd at y Groes 'Ballycottin' o Iwerddon sydd a 'bismillah' yn ei chanol. Yng nghyfnod y Croesgadwyr yr oedd cryn nifer o gyfnewid syniadau yn mynd ymlaen. Yn ystod y l9eg ganrif daeth nifer o forwyr Yemen i Gaerdydd gan addoli yn y Mosg a adeiladwyd yn y flwyddyn 1860. Mae 4l o rhain yng Nghymru ein dyddiau ni, yr oedd am weld mwy o drafod a sgwrsio yn ein plith. Mewn araith fer pwysleisiodd y Chwaer Batool Al Toma ein bod yn addoli yr un Duw.

MISSION HOUSE

Report by Rev Tim Hall

We are seeking to take l00 young people from our area, as a group in two coaches to an evening with Matt Redman (leading contemporary worship-song writer for the younger generation) and J John (UK's foremost evangelist. This event is in the RHYL PAVILION on MONDAY l0 MARCH. Tickets are £8, and we would encourage churches to 'sponsor' their young people to go.

MISSION HOUSE commends SUNDAY EVENINGS at Mission House where young people are leading

worship, sharing the Scriptures, and praying together. The House opens at 7.30 and worship begins at 8.l0 - the current age range is l5 to late 20's.

Y Tŷ Cenhadol - Parch Tim Hall

Yr ydym ar hyn o bryd yn ceisio trefnu i fynd a tua cant o bobl ifanc i noson yng nghwmni Matt Redman a J John a gynhelir yn y Pafiliwm yn Rhyl nos Lun y lofed. oF awrth. Y pris yw £8 ac hyderwn y gwnaiff yr eglwysi lleol roddi cymorth ariannol i'r Ieuainc gael mynd. Mae gan Y Ty Cenhadol ugain (20) o docynnau, ni fydd yn rhaid talu cludiant i Rhyl. Mae gennyf l00 o docynnau eisoes wedi talu amdanynt ac yr wyf yn awr yn ceisio cefnogaeth ariannol am yr ail fws (mae'r gyntafyn llawn). Mwy o wybodaeth drwy gysylltu a Tim Hall neu Patrick Rohde.

Y bobl ifanc sy'n arwain ein addoliad a'n myfyrdod ar nosweithiau Sul, drysau ar agor 7.30, addoliad yn

cychwyn 8.l0 yr hwyr. Mae oedran yr ifanc yn bresennolo l5oed, i'r ugeiniau.

Cyfarfodydd Gweddio Cytûn ar yr ail Sadwrn o bob mis, 07.00 y bore hyd 8.00 y bore yng Nghanolfan

Emmanuel.

Newsletter No 24 – November 2002

THE PRESIDENT WRITES – REVD ROGER ROBERTS

CYTÛN MESSAGE

The Churches of LIandudno appear to be as busy as ever! Once again, a word of genuine appreciation to all those who make things happen. Our Commemoration of the September ll 200l devastation in New York and Washington was held at the Cenotaph on the Promenade. Some reckon that nearly l,000 people were present. It was a time of reflection and commitment. In the face of threats from so many different directions we prayed together – the Islamic and Jewish communities joined with our Christian churches - we prayed for national leaders and ordinary people the world over. When we say "Our Father" we recognise that we are very much one family with responsibility for our brothers and sisters everywhere.

Many thanks to the Town Band, the Scottish Piper and everyone who was part of this commemoration.

Our first Cytûn Lunch attracted just short of one hundred people to St David's, Craig y Don. It was a time of real fellowship and a deepening of our understanding of each other. There were NO speeches! (nor sermons!). People look forward eagerly to the next meal!

Every month the Ministers' Fraternal meets at Stella Maris and we receive a royal welcome - not just discussion but a first class meal. For this - a million thanks. At our last meeting we put together the programme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - the l0.30 morning services will be - Saturday, January l8, Immanuel; Sunday evening at 6 pm the United Service, probably at Deganwy Avenue Chapel; Monday at Our Lady Star of the Sea; Tuesday at Tabemacl; Wednesday at St David's Craig y don; Thursday at Holy Trinity; Friday at Christ Church and Saturday at St Paul's.

We also look forward to our Annual Conference. This year the subject is "United We Stand" and the leader is the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Wales, the Rev Meirion Lloyd Davies. So please come on Friday, Nov 29 at 7 to Deganwy Avenue Chapel and on Saturday between l0 and l2 to Stella Maris.

I was delighted to join in a service conducted by Dr Rowan Williams, who is the new Archbishop of Canterbury, in early August at St David's Cathedral. We wish him well in a very challenging appointment. Have we ever had a Welsh speaking Archbishop of Canterbury before ?

On two occasions I have been present at the Vatican and have met Pope John Paul. This October the Pope celebrated 24 years in his post. During that time he has been on 240 trips, has met with 5l kings, queens and princes, 27l presidents and 88 prime ministers!

The Methodist Conference visits North Wales for the first time ever at the end of June 2003. It is being held in our own town and, again, is a very special Conference as it celebrates the 300th Anniversary of the birth of John Wesley. Finally, we send our best wishes to the Church in Wales in Llandudno on the amalgamation of churches and send our thanks to the stalwarts of St George's and Church of our Saviour who move to Holy Trinity.

But all is not lost! I understand that the Baptist Church (Craig y don) will be moving to the Church of Our Saviour and our best wishes are extended to them.

Yours sincerely,

Roger Roberts

Taflen Newyddion – Cytûn LIandudno

Neqes qan Lwvdd Cytûn

Mae pethau cyffrous yn mynd ymlaen o fewn cylch Cytûn LIandudno mynegaf fy niolch gwresog i'r holl aelodau am eu gweithgarwch.

Daeth bron i fil o bobl i ymgynnull ger y Gofeb i'r gwasanaeth o Goffadwriaeth a drefnwyd gennym i gofio am drychineb Medi Ileg 200l yn Efrog Newydd a Washington. O gofio'r bygythiadau sydd beunydd yn ein gwynebu yr oedd yn gyfle i fyfyrio ac o ymroddiad i weddio am decach gwawr - daeth aelodau o gymdeithas y Moslemiaid ac Iddewig i ymunio ani - gan offrwm gweddi dros Arweinwyr y gwledydd a phobl y byd drosodd. Pan fynegwn "EIN TAD", yr ydym yn cydnabod mae aelodau ydym o un teulu gyda chyfrifoldeb dros ein brodyr a chwiorydd led-led y byd.

Yr ydym yn gwerthfawrogi yn fawr gyfraniad Seindorf y Dre, y Pibydd Albanaidd a phawb a gymerodd ran yn y gwasanaeth.

Daeth yn aaos i gant ohonom at ein gilydd i fwynhau cinio Sui yn eglwys Dewi Sant, Craig y Don; dim araith, (dim pregeth!) ond sgwrsio mewn cwmni diddan. Edrych rhai ymlaen i'r nesaf!

Cawn qroeso tywvsoaaidd yn fisol yn Stella Maris lie cyfarfu y Frwdoliaeth, trafodaeth dda a doeth a bwyd blasus tu hwnt; diolch yn gynnes iawn. Dyma raglen a luniwyd ar gyfer Wythnos Weddi Cytûn , pob cyfarfod am l0.30 y bore.- Sadwrn, lonawr l8ed., Immanuel, am 6.0 nos SUI, gwasanaeth undebol yn Rodfa Deganwy (o posib), LIun, 20fed., yr Eglwys Gatholig, Mawrth, Tabemacl; Mercher, Dewi Sant, Craig y don; lau, Eglwys y Drindod; Gwener, Eglwys Crist; Sadwrn, Sant Paul.

Yn ogystal edrychwn ymlaen i'n Cynhadledd Flynyddol yng nghapel Rhodfa Deganwy, Gwener, 29ain. Tachwedd, a 0l0.00 y bore hyd l2.00 y Sadwrn yn Stella Maris. Arweinydd y Gynhadledd eleni fydd y Parchedig Meirion Lloyd Dayies, Pwllheli, Liywydd Eglwys Bresbyteraidd Cymru; y tesun fydd 'Safwn a'n Gilydd'..

Yr oeddwn yn hynod falch o gael bod yn bresennol mewn gwasanaeth ym mis Awst yn Eglwys Gadeiriol Ty Ddewi dan arweiniad y Parchedicaf Ddr. Rowan Williams, Llongyfarchwn ef ar ei benodiad, y Cymro Cymraeg cyntaf o bosib, i fod yn Archesgob Caergaint.

Bum ddwvwaith mewn gwasanaeth yn y Fatican lie cyfarfum a'r Pab John Paul unwaith; mis Hydref eleni mae'n dathlu 24ain o flynyddoedd yn ei swydd ac yn ystod y cyfnod mae wedi gwneud 240 o deithiau wedi cyfarfod a 5l o frenhinoedd a breninesau, 27l o Arlywyddion ac 88 o brifweinidogion.

Daw y Gynhadledd Fethodisaidd yma i Llandudno am y tro cyntaf ddiwedd Mehefin 2003; bydd yn Gynhadledd arbennig fel y dathlwn dri chan mlynedd er genedigaeth John Wesley.

Ac yn olaf anfonwn ein dymuniadau gorau i'r Eglwys yng Nghymru yma yn Llandudno, daw Eglwys Sant Sior ac Eglwys ein Gwaredwr at eu gilydd i ymuno a Eglwys y Drindod. Deallaf fod Eglwys Bedyddwyr, Craig y Don yn symud i eglwys ein Gwaredwr a dymuniadau gorau iddynt hwythau.

Yn Gywir,

Roger Roberts

DENOMINATIONAL PRESENTATION ON METHODISM

by Rev Roger Roberts – Cytûn Council, October 2002

The Methodist Church was established by John Wesley following his conversion experience on May 24th l738, "I felt my heart strangely warmed; I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given to me that he had taken away my sins, even mine and saved me from the law of sin and death"

During his lifetime John Wesley travelled thousands of miles through Great Britain, emphasising scriptural holiness, the opportunity of forgiveness for all who sought it, the personal assurance and experience of this new state of grace. No one was outside the grace and forgiveness of God.

He established "Societies" local churches throughout the land. These Societies worked together in Circuits, the Circuits co-operated in Districts. And the Districts of which there are nearly 40 in Britain come together in the Methodist Conference which is the final authority of the Methodist Church. For the first time ever this Conference is meeting in North Wales, here in Llandudno, this June. Within the world-wide Methodist Church there are more than 70 million members.

Yr Eglwys Fethodistaidd – Parch. Roger Roberts

Sefydlwyd yr eglwys gan John Wesley wedi iddo gael profiad o droedigaeth ar 24 o Fai l738

"Cynheswyd fy nghalon yn rhyfeddol. Rhodddwyd sicrwydd i mi fy mod wedi fy achub ac i Grist farw dros fy mhechodau i"

Yn ystod ei oes teithiodd John Wesley led led Prydain a throsodd i'r Iwerddon. Sefydlwyd yr Eglwys Fethodistaidd efo pwyslais arbennig ar sancteiddrwydd ysgrythurol, y posibilrwydd o brofiad a sicrwydd iachawdwriaeth a maddeuant Ilawn i bob un oedd yn credu. "Dewch bechaduriaid o bob gradd, mae John Wesley eto'n gwadd"

Sefydlodd seiadau drwy'r wlad. a'r seiadau/eglwysi lleol, yn cydweithio yn gylchdeithiau a'r cylchdeithiau yn cydweithio a'u gilydd mewn taleithiau. Mae bron i 40 talaith ym Mhrydain a'r rhain yn dod at eu gilydd fel un Eglwys. Y brif awdurdod yw'r Gynhadledd F ethodistaidd sy'n cyfarfod am y tro cyntaf Mehefin 2003 yma yn Llandudno. Hefyd mae eglwysi mewn llawer rhan o'r byd efo tua 70 miliwn o aelodau i gyd.

Newsletter No 23 – August 2002

THE PRESIDENT WRITES – REVD ROGER ROBERTS

It is a great pleasure to write this letter to all the members of the Christian Church in Llandudno. We

have, over recent years, made so much progress in our relationship as Churches in this area. No longer are there massive divisions between us - we do so much together - and we long to do more. It is wonderful that we share so much as brothers in sisters in Jesus.

Thank you for welcoming me as the new President of Cytûn. This is the third time that I've filled this post but what a difference! We hardly dared to dream of such understanding thirty years ago. I try to visit all our churches and chapels to share in different functions and am so grateful to be welcomed everywhere. Surely Llandudno must be one of the best examples of Christian togetherness in the whole of Wales!

The new United Welsh Church has invited the Rev John Lewis Jones (Deganwy Avenue) to be its first Minister. He starts his new role on January lst 2003. We wish him well. Certainly there is great confidence and excitement in this historic coming together of the town's Welsh speaking churches.

We have a splendid team of officers organising the work of Cytûn. We extend to them our most genuine

gratitude for their work. A special thanks to our retiring president Father Tony Jones who was such an

outstanding and inspirational president.

I'm so aware of the debt we owe to those who give so much time and skill to the work of the our various

churches. Here in Llandudno we owe them so much - the folk who welcome us, who wash the dishes,

prepare our services and other activities, call on sick members the list is endless. They are the "unsung

heroes" without whom the Church would be at a complete loss.

There are a number of events planned for the coming months –

On Wednesday, September ll at l.30 pm we shall meet at the Cenotaph to commemorate those who were killed twelve months ago in New York. Do come along to this short service.

On Sunday, October l3 at l2.45 there will be a Cytûn lunch at St David's, Craig y Don. Tickets are likely to be £8 and already there is a great deal of interest. More later.

Our Annual Conference will be led by the President of the Presbyterian Church in Wales, the Rev Meirion Lloyd Davies. The title is "United we stand". On Friday, Nov 29 we shall meet at Deganwy Avenue Chapel at 7 pm. Discussion Groups will follow at Stella Maris across the road. These discussions will continue on the Saturday morning for all able to attend. Just turn up at 7 pm and join in.

There will be an evening of Hymn Singing - more later. I wish you all a really blessed time in your own churches and together in Cytûn.

Yours sincerely,

J. Roger Roberts.

Llythyr y Llywydd – Parch. Roger Roberts

Pleser anghyffredin yw cael anton y Ilythyr hwn i holl aelodau'r Eglwys Gristnogol yn LIandudno. Rydym wedi symud ymlaen yn sylweddol yn ein perthynas a'n gilydd. Mwyach nid oes gagendor aruthrol rhyngom – gwnawn cymaint gyda'n gilydd – ac ydym yn dyheu am gael gwneud mwy. Mae'n hyfryd i ni rannu cymaint tel brodyr a chwiorydd yn yr lesu.

Diolch am ty nghroesawu telllywydd Cytûn. Dyma'r trydedd gwaith i mi gael yr anrhydedd, ond am

wahaniaeth! Mae mwy o gyd-ddeallt na tuasom yn breuddwydio amdano tri deg o flynyddoedd yn ol. Ceisiaf ymweld a bob un o'n capel ac eglwysi ac rwyf yn ddiolchar iawn am y croeso rwy'n ei dderbyn.

Yn sicr mae LIandudno yn un o'r engreifftiau gorau yng Nghymru o Gristnogion yn gweithio eto'u gilydd. Mae'r Eglwys Unedig Gymraeg wedi gwahodd y Parch John Lewis Jones (Deganwy Ave) i fod yn weinidog o lonawr l at 2003 ymlaen. Dymunwn yn dda iddo. Mae hyder a brwdfrydedd yn y symudiad hanesyddol hwn yn mywyd eglwysi Cymraeg y dref.

Mae tim o swyddogion hyfryd yn tretu gwaith Cytûn. Diolch o galon iddynt –

Diolch arbennig i'r Tad Tony Jones, a orffennodd ei dymor telllywydd ac a anwodd y swydd hyd yr ymylon. Rwy'n ymwybodol o'n dyled i'r rhai yn ein eglwysi sy'n rhoi o'u hamser a'u doniau i waith y deymas. Yma yn Llandudno mae cymaint o gyfeillion rydym yn ddyledus iddynt - y rhai sy'n ein croesawu i'r addoldai, y rhai sy'n golchi Ilestri, yn paratoi ein gwasanaethau, yn ymweld a'r cleifion does dim diwedd i'r rhestr. Hebddynt byddem ar goll yn Ilwyr.

Mae niter o ddigwyddiadau dros y misoedd nesat. Dydd Mercher, Medi ll am l.30pm wrth y Goted (Cenotaph) cawn wasanaeth i gofio'r rhai a tu tarw blwyddyn yn ol yn Etrog Newydd.

Ar y Sui, Hydret l3 am l2.45 bydd cinio Cytûn yn Eglwys St David, Craig y don. Tocynnau £8. Mwy eto am hyn.

Cynhelir ein Cynhadledd Flynyddol, dan arweiniad y Parch Meirion Lloyd Davies, Nos Wener Tachwedd 29 am 7 yng Nghapel Deganwy Ave. Bydd cylchoedd tratod yn Stella Maris y nos Wener ac, i'r rhai tedr ddod y bore Sadwrn. Y testun tydd “Mewn Undeb mae nerth”. Trowch i mewn am 7 y nos Wener.

Ymhellach ymlaen bydd noson o Ganu Emynau.

Dymunaf i chwi pob bendith yn eich eglwysi gwahannol ac yng Ngytun.

Yn ddiffuant,

J.Roger Roberts

DENOMINATIONAL PRESENTATION ON ANGLICANISM

by Rev Philip Cousins – Cytûn Council, l6 July 2002.

We are a worldwide denomination, with a presence in all six continents and most countries of the world, e.g. a church in South Georgia in the Antarctic and secret congregations (no buildings of course) in Saudi Arabia. Membership worldwide reckoned to be some 70 million.

We are known by two alternative titles - Anglican referring to our English roots and Episcopal referring to our form of government (Episcopal is the name used for our denomination in USA, Scotland, Brazil, Egypt, Rwanda). Indigenous names used in some countries, e.g. Japan Anglicans are called Nippon Sei Ko Kwai = Holy Catholic Church of Japan. The worldwide Communion grew out of C of E missionary expansion from l8th century onwards, largely via British Empire, but not exclusively, e.g. we have indigenous Churches in Mozambique and Madagascar.

In polity and liturgy, we claim to be both Catholic and Reformed sometimes described, eg by Greek Orthodox as "bridge Church" able to reach out in friendship to opposite theological positions. This can be both an advantage and a disadvantage (because huge varieties exist within our Church, ranging from neo-Paisleyite to neo-Papist). Comprehensiveness could therefore be described as the curse of Anglicanism.

Core beliefs can nevertheless be summed up in so-called Lambeth Quadrilateral (statement approved by

Lambeth Conference of our bishops worldwide in l888). It has four Articles, l) The Holy Scriptures of Old and New Testaments, 2) The Apostles' and Nicene Creeds, 3) The two Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist, 4) The historic episcopate.

All sorts of riders could be added to the above bare outline, eg we also read the Apocrypha in public

worship, some of us believe in seven Sacraments (Marriage, Ordination, Penance, Unction, Confirmation

as well as the two instituted by Christ Himself) and episcopacy is a still unresolved problem in unity

negotiations.

Re the local situation n Wales, the Anglican Church here was disestablished in l920 and separated

organisationally from the C of E to become an independent Province of the worldwide Communion.

is organised into 6 dioceses, 4 of which are of very ancient pre-Reformation origin, eg Bangor, founded by St Deiniol in 546 AD claims to be the oldest diocese in the entire British Isles. Continuity of this kind is very important to us. One of the 6 diocesan bishops is elected (and it is a real election, not an appointment) as Archbishop of the Province, currently the Bishop of Monmouth, Dr Rowan Williams. Dioceses are divided into archdeaconries and these are further subdivided into deaneries which are groups of parishes. As a throwback to pre-disestablishment days, every inch of Wales is notionally part of some Anglican parish and we are thus available to serve the residents of the parish, whether or not they are actual church members. That said, we resent being regarded as the Church of England in Wales. On the contrary we are a national Church and fully bi-lingual in our liturgies and pronouncements.

ANGLICANIAETH TRWY LYGAD EGLWYSWR

Parch Philip Cousins Cygnor Cytûn l6 Gorffennaf 2002.

Rydym yn Eglwys fyd-eang yn bresennol yn y chwe cyfandir ac yn y mwyafrif o wledydd y byd e.e. Fel yr Eglwys yn Ne Georgia yn yr Antarctig a'r gynulleidfa honno yn Saudi Arabia (ond dim adeilad ganddynt) sy'n cyfarfod yn y ddirgel. Amcangyfrifir ein haelodaeth oddeutu 70 miliwn.

Fe'n hadnabyddir dan ddau enw- Anglicaniaid ar bwys ein gwreiddiau Seisnig, a'n bod yn Esgobol oherwydd natur ein Ilywodraeth eglwysig (wrth yr enw "Esgobol" yr adnabyddir ein Heglwys yn Nhaleithiau Gogledd Amerig, yn yr Alban, ym Mrasil, yn yr Aifft ac yn Rwanda).Ceir enwau brodorol mewn rhai gwledydd e.e. Gelwir Anglicaniaid Siapan yn "Nippon Sei Ko Kwai"(Eglwys Santaidd Gatholig Siapan). Datblygodd y Gymundeb Anglicanaidd fyd-eang fel canlyniad i ymddroddiad

Cymdeithasau Cenhadol o'r Ddeunawfed ganrif ymlaen, yn benedol yn yr Ymerodraeth Brydeinig, ond hefyd y tu hwnt i'w ffiniau ee. Ceir Eglwysi brodorol ym Mosambique a Madagasgar.

Ar bwys ei Ilywodraetj eglwysig a'i Litwrgi honnwn fod ein Heglwys yn Gatholig ym ogystal a Diwygiedig, y math ar Eglwys a ddisgrifir gan Eglwys Uniongred Groeg fel "eglwys sy'n bont" ac yn sgil hynny gall estyn deheulaw cyfeillgarwch at bobl sy'n coleddu daliadau diwynyddol gwahanol. Gall hyn fod yn fantais ac anfantais (oherwydd gwahaniaeth dybryd mewn safbwyntiau ee o "Neo-Paisleyite" i "neo-Papist"). Ar y Ilaw arall gall eangfrydedd oddi mewn i Anglicaniaeth fod yn felltith.

Ceir crynhodeb o ddaliadau Anglicaniaeth yn yr hyn a elwir "Lambeth Quadrilateral" (datganiad a arddelwyd yng Nghynhadledd Lambeth l888 gan yr Esbogion o bedwar ban byd). Mae'r datganiad ym pwysleisio pwysigrwydd y pedair Erthygl a ganlyn. l) Yr Ysgrythurau Santaidd yn cynnwys y ddau Destament. 2) Credoau Nicea a'r Apostolion 3) Y ddau Sacrament Y Bedydd Santaidd a'r Cymun Bendigaid. 4) Yr Esgobaeth hanesyddol. Ar ben hyn, gellir atodi daliadau eraill at yr uchod, ee

Addefwn ddarllen yr Apocryffa mewn addoliad cyhoeddus, tra y cydnebydd eraill y saith Sacrament: Priodas, Ordinasiwn, Penyd, Eneinio, Bedydd Esgob yn ogystal a'r ddau arall a sefydlwyd gan Grist Ei Hun. Deil "Esgobyddiaeth" yn faen tramgwydd mewn cylchoedd uno'r Eglwysi.

Parthed y setyljla yng Nghymru, datgysylltwyd yr Eglwys Anglicanaidd a'i dadwaddoli ym l920 ac oherwydd hynny daeth yn annibynnol ar Eglwys Loegr a'r goron a'i gwneud yn Dalaith annibynnol o'r Gymundeb Anglicanaidd. Tretnwyd yr Eglwys yng Nghymru yn chwe Esgobaeth, pedair ohonynt yn perthyn i'r cyfnod cyn y Diwygiad Protestannaidd ee Setydlwyd Esgobaeth Bangor gan Deiniol Sant yn 546 OC ac ar bwys hynny hawlia'r ffaith mai hi yw'r Esgobaeth hynat ym Mhrydain. y mae olyniaeth tel hyn yn bwysig i awn i ni fel Eglwys. Etholir (nid apwyntio) un o'r chwe Esgob i swydd Archesgob y

Dalaith. Archesgob presennol y Dalaith yw Esgob cyfredol Mynwy, Ddr Rowan Williams. Rhennir pob

Esgobaeth yn Archddiaconiaethau a dosrennir rheini hefyd i Ddeoniaethau Gwlad casgliad o blwyfi. A

dychwelyd i'r cynfod cyn y Datgyslltiad, y mae pob modfedd o Gymru yn gorwedd oddi fewn i dalgylch plwyf Anglicanaidd, sefyllfa a'n galluoga i fugeilio i bob plwyfolyn, boed yn aelod o'r Eglwys neu beidio. Wedi dweud hynny, teimlwn yn ddig wrth gael ein galw yn Eglwys Loegr yng Nghymru. I'r gwrthwyneb, 'rydym yn Eglwys genedlaethol sy'n gwbl ddwyieithog yn ein Litwrgiau ac yn ein datganiadau.

MISSION HOUSE VACANCY

FOR ONE OR TWO GIRLS AGED ABOUT l9-30

This is a 3-4 bedroom house in Penrhynside. It is known to be a house where Christians live and young people meet for prayer and worship. It is the basis of the Christian witness in the village. It has a large meeting room and two smaller ones and these are used primarily for prayer and worship by young people. This year over 40 (between l5-40 years old) from across the area have been meeting regularly on a Sunday evening for their own fellowship, Word and Worship. The residents of the house are committed to this ministry - there is a mid-week Bible study also.

NO RENT IS CHARGED FOR LIVING IN THE HOUSE BUT A CONTRIBUTION OF AROUND £25 PER WEEK IS ASKED FOR TO COVER COSTS.

The House is a full member of Cytûn, and under the umbrella of the local church, is overseen by a group of people being a wide representation from local churches. Residents of Mission House are expected to:

Have full or part-time paid employment or be in College.

Live lives honouring to God as a Christian witness in the village.

Facilitate and be committed to the young people's ministry (called l5+).

Be committed to their own church in the local area –

Be accountable to the Management Group.

Have a sense of calling from God to explore areas of their own Christian ministry.

There are ministry opportunities in the village, with visiting, helping with the youth club, children's work, baby sitting service, music and friendship evangelism in the two pubs, leadership with l5+, supporting local churches in their ministries. For more information contact Rev Tim Hall.

TŶ CENHADOL, OCHR Y PENRHYN

Llety ar gael ar osod i Un neu Ddwy o ferched, l9-30 mlwydd oed

Tŷ yw'r uchod lie y trig Cristnogion ymroddedig a man cyfarfod i bob! ifanc gyfarfod i addoli a gweddio. Mae eisoes yn sylfaen i dystiolaeth dros Grist yn y pentref.

Fe gynnwys 3-4 ystafell wely, ystafell gyfarfod eang a dwy o ystafelloedd lIai a ddefnyddir gan amlaf ar gyfer addoliad a gweddi gan yr ifanc.

Eleni mae dros ddeugain (40) o bersonau l5 eg i ddeugain oed o bob cwr o'e ardal wedi cyfarfod yma yn reolaidd ar nosweithiau Sui i fyfyrio ac addoli. Mae preswylwyr y Ty yn ymroddedig yn eu gweinidogaeth -cynhelir un dosbarth Beiblaidd yn ystod yr wythnos.

MAE Y DENANTIAETH YN DDI-RENT OND DISGWYLIR CYFRANIAD ODDEUTU £25 YR WYTHNOS AR GYFER Y COSTAU

Mae'r TŶ yn aelod Ilawn o CYTÛN (Llandudndo) a dan ofal eglwys leol yn cael ei oruchwilio gan aelodau o'r eglwysi lleol.

Disgwylir i breswylwyr y Tŷ -

Fod yn gyflogedig Ilawn amser/ran-amser neu mewn coleg

Byw eu bywyd gan ddangos clod i Dduw a bod yn dyst Cristnogol a fewn y gymuned

Ymrwymo i weinidogaeth yr ifanc - (gelwir yn l5+)

Ymroddedig i'w heglwys yn Ileol

Fod ag ymdeimlad ddwfn o alwad gan Dduw ac i geisio dyfnhau gweinidogaeth bersonol

Fod yn atebol i'r GrWp GweinyddolMae cyfleoedd gwweinidogaethu yn y gymuned drwy roddi cymorth gyda'r clwb ieuenctid, gwaith gyda phlant, ymweld, gwarchodwr babanod, efengylu mewn dwy dafarn, arweinyddiaeth gyda l5+ a chefnogi eglwysi Ileol yn eu gweinidogaeth.

- Mwy o wybodaeth - Parch Tim Hall.

RETIREMENT OF PARCH/REVD E R LLOYD JONES

At his last preaching service for the Welsh Church/Eglwysi Unedig Cymraeg in July Cytûn representatives passed on to him our grateful thanks for all he has done for Cytûn in Llandudno, and our good wishes in his retirement, after so many months of ill-health since his accident.

Ymddeoliad y Parchedig E R Lloyd Jones

Yng "nghyfarfol gollwng". y Parch E R Lloyd Jones yn Seilo mis diwethaf cyflwynwyd rhodd iddo ar ran Cytûn, gan ddiolch iddo am ei tewnbwn a'i sel dros ein cangen am nifer o flynyddoedd a dymuno ymddeoliad hapus a gwellhad buan o'i anhwylder.

Newsletter No 22 – May 2002

THE PRESIDENT WRITES – FR ANTONY JONES

Dear Fellow Christian,

When the Good Friday procession of Witness made its way down Mostyn Street, it was a joy to see curious spectators become earnest members of the procession, as many of them left the sidewalks

and joined us. Instead of the busy traffic, a procession of people following a Cross. Christian

people. Christians from all the denominations united in witness, proclaiming faith in a crucified

and risen Messiah.

The route was Mostyn Street. Not any of the secondary streets of the town, but the main

thoroughfare.

Witnessing and advertising are different, but they have much in common. When a car is being

advertised on TV, it is presented in its most attractive features. No one would use a vehicle that was constantly breaking down or breaking up to advertise the brand. The Good Friday procession was an advertisement for Christianity, as well as being a reminder to the onlookers and shoppers of the sacredness of the day. The procession was a success because a lot of Christians did it together. There was an element of wholeness there. The division of Christianity, of which the several church buildings across the town so constantly remind us, is a counter witness. The car that is being advertised has already broken up. But by doing things together we can go some way to reverse this corrosive impression. The procession was a witness not only to the bystanders, but also to ourselves. If we want people to join the procession of Christ's People in life, to join the Christian Church. Then we must present ourselves as much united in action as we possibly can. Actions speak louder than words. The words of our various

denominational formularies differ still; but if our actions are ever more united, our witness will be

more vigorously made.

And the Mostyn Street syndrome is important too. Christianity is forever under attack by the media

and by enemies on all sides. Things are said about Christ and the Church which, if said about Islam,

would cause a fatwa or holy war instantly to be declared. But we go along with it, heads bowed.

Partly because we know that Christianity has always been and always will be persecuted - 'the

blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church '; partly because we have Christ's promise that He

will be with us till the end of time, so we can be ultimately confident in our faith; but partly because we have been so marginalized by our consumer and materialistic society that, feeling somewhat second class, we keep our heads down, we take Madoc Street instead of Mostyn Street.

'Do not be afraid; I am with you'. The message rings out loud and clear in both Testaments of our

Sacred Scriptures. We must be prepared to raise our heads above the parapet. Only so will people

join us. For it was in Mostyn Street that the vast majority of people were. The unbelieving world

will only see and join us if we are prominently visible where they themselves are.

It is wonderful to see the witness being given by the Welsh churches of the town as they strive to

come together to testify to the unity of their Christian faith. And what has happened? People have noticed. numbers are growing and a sense of excitement is everywhere.

Our Good Friday witness was a witness to ourselves as well as to the onlookers. May we be so united in our witness and so confident in our faith that the everyday procession of God's People may be continually swelled - to the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ and to the benefit of our beloved Church.

God bless you.

Fr Antony Jones

Llythyr y Llywydd – Tad Antony Jones

Annwyl Gyd Gristion,

Pan oedd gorymdaith y Tystiolaethu ar ei ffordd ar hyd Stryd Mostyn Ddydd Gwener y Groglith, roedd yn bleser gweld gwylwyr chwilfrydig yn troi'n aelodau brwd o'r orymdaith, fel gadawai llawer ohonynt y palmant ac ymuno gyda ni. Yn lle traffig prysur, gorymdaith o bobl yn dilyn Croes. Pobl Crist. Cristnogion o bob enwad wedi’u huno mewn tystiolaeth, yn datgan ffydd mewn Meseia wedi'i

groeshoelio ac wedi atgyfodi.

Stryd Mostyn oedd y llwybr. Y prif stryd, nid unrhyw stryd eilradd yn y dref.

Mae tystiolaethu a hysbysebu’n ddau beth gwahanol, er bod ganddynt lawer yn gyffredin. Pan fo car yn cael ei hysbysebu ar y teledu, ei nodweddion gorau sy'n cael eu cyflwyno. Does neb yn defnyddio car sy'n torri lawr i'w hysbysebu. Hysbyseb ar gyfer Cristnogaeth oedd Gorymdaith Dydd Gwener y Groglith yn ogystalag atgoffa'r gwylwyr a siopwyr o sancteiddrwydd y diwrnod.

Roedd yr orymdaith yn llwyddiant oherwydd bod llawer o Gristnogion yno gyda’u gilydd. Roedd elfen o undod yno. Mae rhwyg Cristnogaeth, y mae'r gwahanol adeiladau eglwysig ar draws y dref yn ein

hatgoffa ohono'n barhaus, yn wrth dystiolaeth. Mae'r car sy'n cael ei hysbysebu wedi torri’n barod. Ond, wrth wneud pethau gyda’n gilydd gallwn symud beth o'r ffordd i wrth-droi'r argraff ddifäol hon. Roedd yr orymdaith yn dystiolaeth nid yn unig i'r rhai oedd yno’n gwylio ond he.fyd i ni’n hunain. Os ydym am i bobl ymuno â gorymdaith Pobl Crist mewn bywyd, rhaid i ni gyflwyno'n hunain yn unedig gymaint ag sy'n bosibl. Actions speak louder than words. Mae geiriau gwasanaethau ein hamrywiol enwadau yn wahanol o hyd, ond, os oes mwy o undod yn ein gweithredoedd bydd ein tystiolaeth yn fwy cadam byth.

Ac mae syndrom Stryd Mostyn yn bwysig hefyd. Mae Cristnogaeth dan fygythiad byth a beunydd gan y

cyfiyngau a chan elynion ar bob ochr. Dywedir pethau am Grist a'r Eglwys, petai rhywun yn eu dweud am Islam, fyddai'n achosi galw fatwa neu ryfel sanctaidd. Ond rydym yn dal i wrando, a'n pennau'n isel. Yn rhannol oherwydd ein bod yn gwybod y cafodd Cristnogaeth, ac y bydd yn dal i gael, ei erlyn –‘gwaed y merthyron yw had yr Eglwys’, yn rhannol oherwydd fod gennym addewid Crist i fod gyda nid hyd ddiwedd amser a gallwn, felly, fod yn gwbl hyderus yn ein ffydd, ond yn rhannol oherwydd ein bod ar gyrion ein cymdeithas faterol ac yn teimlo’n eilradd ac yn cadw ein pennau'n isel, oherwydd hynny, gorymdeithiwn ar hyd Stlyd Madoc yn hytrach nag ar hyd Stlyd Mostyn.

‘Nac ofnwch, yr wyf i gyda chwi’ Seinia'r neges yn uchel ac yn glir yn nau Destament ein Hysgrythurau Sanctaidd. Rhaid i ni fod yn barod i godi'n pennau uwchben y wal. Dim ond wedyn fydd pobl yn ymuno a ni. Ohcrwydd yn Stryd Mostyn yr oedd mwyafrif o'r bobl. Fydd y byd anghrediniol ddim yn ein gweld nac yn ymuno ani os na fyddwn i’n gweld ym mhle maent hwy. Bendigedig yw gweld tystiolaeth eglwysi Cymraeg y dref wrth iddynt ymdrechu i ddod at eu gilydd i dystiolaethu i undod eu ffydd Gristnogol. A beth sydd wedi digwydd? Mae pobl wedi sylwi, mae'r niferoedd yn tyfu ac mae teimlad o gynnwrf ym mhob man. Tystiolaethu i ni'n hunain yn ogystal a'r gwylwyr oedd, ein tystiolaeth Dydd Gwener Groglith. Boed i ni fod, yn un yn ein tystiolaeth ac mor hyderus yn ein ffydd fel bod gorymdaith pob dydd Pobl Duw'n cynyddu'n barhaus - er gogonianr i'n Duw mawr a'n Iachawdwr

Iesu Grist ac er lIes ein hannwyl Eglwys.

Bendith Duw arnoch,

Tad Antony Jones

THE LLANDUDNO WELSH CHURCHES

We have all been most interested and concerned in the brave venture which has been taking place over the last year or so, in the joining together of the different Welsh denominations for Sunday worship and other activities too. A major decision has been taken now to amalgamate all their activities onto two sites, Y Tabernacl and Seilo from January 2003. Both these chapels have been listed for architectural and historical reasons. Their hope is that eventually they will meet in one united chapel building. Bethania, Craig-y-Don and Peniel, Deganwy continue to be independent at present. They are assured of our thoughts and prayers as they move forward boldly into the future, united in the mission of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

EGLWYS UNEDIG GYMRAEG, LLANDUDNO

Yr ydym oll yn cymeryd diddordeb yn yr arbrawf arloesol sydd yn digwydd o blith yr Eglwysi Cymraeg, Llandudno, ers y flwyddyn 2000 maent yn cyd-addoli ar y SuI ac yn cymdeithasu â'u gilydd yn ystod yr wythnos. Y gobaith yw y byddent o'r flwyddyn 2003 yn canolbwyntio eu haddoliad a'u gwithgareddau cymdeithasol mewn dwy Eglwys, sef Y Tabernacl a Seilo. Mae'r ddwy Eglwys yma am resymau hanesyddol a pensaerniol wedi eu rhestsru gan CADWY gobaith i'r dyfodol yw y byddent yn cyfarfod mewn un Eglwys yn unig. Deil Bethania,Craig-y-Don a Peniel, Deganwy yn annibynol ar hyn o bryd. Maent yn sicr yn ein meddyliau a'n gweddiau yn yr arbrawf anturus yma gogyfer a'u cenhadaeth dros Deyrnas Crist.

THE PROBLEMS OF HOMELESSNESS

A forum has been set up, comprising representatives of the local Council, Social Services, Shelter Cymru and the Cytûn churches to share concerns regarding this problem in Conwy county. The first meeting was held in early March and future forums are planned which should provide good opportunities for the church to keep informed, and to offer help and support. Conwy County will draw up a Homelessness Strategy which will tie in with the new Homelessness Act which comes into force in June 2002. At present there are big gaps in the system, for instance there is no night shelter between Rhyl and Bangor. The Cytûn Fraternal has discussed this and decided on one way forward. This is one main area where working together makes us more able to be of service.

PROBLEMAU Y DI-GARTREF

Oherwydd y broblem yma o fewn ffiniau Sir Conwy mae fforwm wedi ei sefydlu gan gynnwys cynrychiolaeth o'r canlynol: YCyngor lleol, Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, ‘Shelter’ Cymru a Cytûn i drafod sut i’w gwynebu, Cyfarfu eisoes ym mis Mawrth bydd rhagor o gyfarfodydd i ddilyn a rydd gyfle i’r Eglwysi gael mwy o wybodaeth a chynnig cefnogaeth a chymorth, Bwriad Cyngor Conwy yw llunio strategaeth ar gyfer y di-gartref i gyd-ymffurfio â'r Ddeddf y Di-Gartref a ddaeth i rym ym mis Mehefin 2002. Mae problemau dybryd ar hyn o bryd; er enghraifft nid oes cysgodfa nos rhwng Rhyl a Bangor. Mae Brawdoliaeth Cytûn wedi pender.fynu ar ffordd ymlaen, mae hyn yn enghraifft os cyd-weithiwn gallwn fod o gymorth.

Cytûn Llandudno

We are very sorry to hear that Rev Peter Taylor has found it necessary to retire early from the Llanrhos parish because ofhis ill health. We understand that he and his wife Ruth will be moving to Rhyl. We can feel for them just now, and I'm sure all our thoughts and prayers will be with them as they leave friends and colleagues. May God strengthen and bless them greatly as they adjust to new and different areas of service for the Kingdom of Christ.

It was a joy to welcome Rev John Harvey, Priest in Charge of the church of Llangystennin Parish, to

our recent Cytûn Council meeting. He is no stranger to the area having been a pupil at Ysgol John

Bright. We wish him, and his wife, every blessing in their new ministry here amongst us.

Drwg oedd gennym ddeall bod y Parch Peter Taylor yn ymddeol yn gynnar o blwyf Llanrhos oherwydd afiechyd. Deallwn y bydd el a’i briod yn cartrelu yn Y Rhyl, dymunwn yn dda iddynt i’r dyfodol. Boed nerth a chadernid Duw gyda hwynt a’u bendithio wrth iddynt geisio ymgynefino mewn ardal newydd.

Hyfryd oedd croesawu y Parch John Harvey, Person â chyfrifoldeb am Eglwys plwyf Llangystennin i

gyfarfod o Cytûn. Nid yw yn ddiarth i’r ardal gan ei lod yn gyn-ddisgybl o Ysgol John Bright.

Dymunwn y gorau iddo el a’i briod tra yn gweinidogaethu yn ein plith.

Seren Cymru – This Welsh Baptist National Newspaper contained a leading article on the retirement

of Parch Idwal Wynne Jones, with a photograph of our President, Father Antony Jones presenting him

with a farewell gift from Cytûn on the occasion of the last Lenten Service which he led at Y Tabernacl.

Seren Cymru –Ym mhapur wythnosol y Bedyddwyr Cymraeg yr oedd cyfeiriad at ymadawiad y Parch

ldwal Jones ynghyd a llun ohono yn cael ei gyflwyno ag anrheg ar ei ymadawiad gan ein Llywydd, Y

Tad Antony Jomes. Y Parch ldwal Wynne Jones oedd yn Llwyddu cylarlod olal y Grawys yn Eglwys y

Tabernacl.

e-mail addresses – A number of people nowadays are corresponding by e-mail. It is a quick, cheap

and easy method of sending messages - if you have the necessary equipment of course. If you have an

e-mail address, and are happy for people to contact you, will you pass it on to Barbara Davies for

inclusion in a future newsletter, perhaps. Bardavies@tesco.net

Cyfeiriadau e-bost – Gyda nifer yn llythyru y dyddiau yma drwy’r e-bost pe hoffech gysylltu â Barbara

Davies buasai hi yn hapus i’w gynnwys mewn rhifyn o'r cylchlythyr. Bardavies@tesco.net

Cytûn Brochure – Each spring a leaflet is produced giving the position of the various churches in the

area and the times of their Services. This is taken out by people from churches to hotels, boarding

houses, and places of interest to visitors. This year an attempt has been made to produce a more

modem and interesting leaflet of information. These have been printed and delivered throughout the

area. They have been very well received for they are colourful, eye-catching, and of better quality.

When you are out and about locally do keep an eye open for them!

Pamffledyn Cytûn – Mae’r pamfjledyn uchod eisoes wedi ei gyhoeddi a'i ddosbarthu i westsai, lletyau

ac mannau eraill sy’n denu ymwelwyr o lewn y fro. Eleni maent ar eu newydd wedd, yn lliwgar, yn

taro’r llygad a phroffesiynol tu hwnt ac o’r salon orau.

Newsletter No 21 – February 2002

THE PRESIDENT WRITES – FR ANTONY JONES

Dear Fellow Christian,

I heard it said from every direction that the atmospbere during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was wonderful. And indeed it was. I would like to thank all those who took part in the various services (very much including those who provided the welcome refreshments after them) for helping to create and perpetuate that atmosphere. Among the Churches and Chapels here in Llandudno, the spirit of co-operation and Christian Charity must be second to none.

It was a happy coincidence that the final service of the series was held at Tabernacl, the Chapel of the Rev. Idwal Jones. As you know, he is soon to leave us and continue his ministry in his native Angelsey. It was good to have the opportunity of thanking him for all the good work he has done for the people of Llandudno over the past twenty-three years. We wish him well and every blessing.

At the recent Cytûn Council Meeting the second of our Denominational Presentations was given. You will remember that we decided that each Council Meeting would be preceded by a theological input by one of the denominations, thereby turning the Council Meeting from being purely business into one that would further the cause of' ecumenism by helping us all to understand one another better. This time it was given by the Baptists, and jointly presented by Jean Brown and Chris Griffiths. A synopsis of what was said is printed below. It was profoundly interesting. And as a Catholic, presumably on the far side

Of the Christian spectrum from the Baptists, I found it fascinating. It showed that on this fundamental issue there is little in our mutual understanding of the Sacrament of Baptism that separates us. It proved the value of these Denominational Presentations.

At that same Council Meeting, approval was given to an idea that came up in the Cytûn Fraternal of Clergy - an annual joint service for the renewal of marriage vows. As you may know, National Marriage Week, appropriately enough. is the week in which the feast of St Valentine falls. So we decided to hold the service on the final Sunday of this Week. This year it is 17 February, and the service will be at 4pm. It will be held in the church of the current Cytûn President; so this year it will be at Our Lady's. We decided to conduct it jointly - the Rev Jane Allen and myself.

We live in an age when marriage is under terrible threat and strain, and we must do all we possibly can to support and strengthen the marriage relationships that exist within our parishes. We recognise that some marriages will inevitably break down and for those involved that Church offers her most tender compassion, knowing only too well the pain and stress that accompanies divorce.

But, sadly, everybody's divorce weakens everybody else's marriage. We are social animals. We are subconsciously influenced at every turn by the behaviour of our neighbours. Because divorce is so easy today and so widespread, married people encountering difficulties in their relationships are more ready to head for the divorce courts than ever they would have been in days gone by when divorce was very

much the exception.

The service on 17 February is meant to offer support and encouragement to those who are striving to keep faithful to their marriage vows. It will be a short and happy celebration, followed by a miniature party. I don't expect a crowded church - these things take a long time to get established. But I hope in five to ten year's time it will be a significant event in the calendar of our shared Christian life here in

Llandudno.

God bless you,

Fr Antony Jones.

Llythyr y Llywydd – Tad Antony Jones

Annwyl Gyd Gristion,

Clywais o bob cyfeiriad fod yr awyrgylch yn ystod yr Wythnos Weddi dros Undod Cristnogol yn un arbennig iawn. Ac yn wir yr oedd. Hoffwn ddiolch i bawb a gymerodd rhan yn y gwahanol wasanaethau (gan gynnwys y rhai fu'n gyfrifol am ddarparu'r lluniaeth wedyn) am gyfrannu tuag at greu a pharhau'r awyrgylch hwn. Mae'n siwr fod yr ysbryd o gydweithio a Chariad Cristnogol ymysg Eglwysi a Chapeli yma yn Llandudno heb ei ail.

Cyd-digwyddiad hapus oedd cynnal gwasanaeth olaf y gyfres yn Nhabernacl, Capel y Parch Idwal Jones. Fel y gwyddoch, bydd yn ein gadael cyn bo hir ac yn parhau ei weinidogaeth ar Ynys Mon. Braf oedd cael y cyfle i ddiolch iddo am ei holl waith da dros bobl Llandudno dros y tair blynedd ar hugain diwethaf Dymunwn yn dda iddo a phob bendith.

Cyflwynwyd yr ail o'n Cynf1wyniadau Enwadol mewn Cyfarfod o Gyngor Cytûn yn ddiweddar. Mi gofiwch i ni benderfynu y rhagflaenir pob Cyfarfod o'r Cyngor gyda mewnbwn diwinyddol gan un o'r enwadau. Bydd hyn yn newid y Cyfarfod o fod yn ddim ond cyfarfod busnes i un fydd yn hyrwyddo achos eciwmeniaeth drwy ein galluogi i ddeall ein gilydd yn well. Tro y Bedyddwyr oedd hi y tro hwn gyda chyflwyniad ar y cyd gan Jean Brown a Chris Griffiths. Ceir crynodeb ohono yn nes ymlaen yn y cylchlythyr hwn. Roedd yn ddiddorol dros ben. Fel Catholigwr, sydd mae'n debyg ar ochr bellaf y spectwm Crisnogol o'r. Bedyddwyr, cefais y cyflwyniad yn ddiddorol dros ben. Dangoswyd, ar y mater elfenol hwn, nad oes llawr sylfaenol yn ein gwahanu yn ein cyd-deall o'r Sagrafen Bedydd. Profodd byn wertb y Cyflwyniadau Enwadol.

Yn yr un Cyfarfod o'r Cyngor, rhoddwyd cymeradwyaeth i syniad a godwyd ym Mrawdoliaeth Gwenidogion Cytûn: gwasanaeth blynyddol ar y cyd ar gyfer adnewyddu addunedau priodas. Fel y gwyddoch, mae Wythnos Cenedlaethol Priodas, yn addas iawn, yn wythnos sy'n cynnwys Gŵyl Sant Ffolant. Felly, mae'n fwriad gennym gynnal gwasanaeth ar Sul olaf yr Wythnos honno. Y flwyddyn hon 17 Chwefror yw'r dyddiad a chynhelir y gwasanaeth am 4:00pm. Fe'i cynhelir yn eglwys y Llywydd

Cytûn presennol; felly, eleni, fe'i cynhelir yn Ein Harglwyddes. Penderfynwyd ei gynnal ar y cyd – Y Parch Jane Allen a minnau.

Y Rydym yn byw mewn oes pan fo priodas o dan fygythiad a straen. Rhaid i ni i gyd wneud popeth yn ein gallu i gynnal a chryfhau'r priodasau sy'n bodoli o fewn ein plwyfi. Cydnabyddir y bydd rhai priodasau, yn anochel, yn torri ac i'r rheini mae'r Eglwys yn estyn ei thoSturi eithaf ac yn deall yn iawn y boen a'r straen sy'n dod o ysgaru.

Ond, yn anffodus mae pob ysgariad yn gwanhau priodas pawb arall. Rydym yn anifeiliaid cymdeithasol. Mae ymddygiad ein cymdogion yn dylanwadu arnom yn ddiarwybod o bob cyfeiriad. Gan fod ysgaru ' n hawdd heddiw ac ymhob man, mae pobl briod sy'n wynebu anawsterau yn eu perthynas yn debycach o droi at y llysoedd ysgaru nag erioed o'r blaen, pan oedd ysgaru'n eithriad.

Pwrpas y gwasanaeth ar 17 Chwefror yw cynnig cefnogaeth Id ac anogaeth i'r sawl sy'n ymdrechu i gadw'n ffyddlon Pwrpas y gwasanaeth ar 17 Chwefror yw cynnig cefnogaeth an anogaeth i'r sawl sy'n ymdrechu i gadw'n fyddlon i'w haddunedau priodas. Bydd yn fyr a llawen ac yn cael ei ddilyn gan barti bach. Nid wyf yn disgwyl eglwys 1awn-bydd yn cymryd dipyn o amser i sefydlu pethau. Ond,

gobeithiaf o fewn pump i ddeng mlynedd, y bydd hwn yn achlysur arwyddocaol yng nghalendr ein bywyd Cristionogol yr ydym yn ei rannu yma yn Llandudno.

Pob bendith,

Tad Antony Jones.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH – A PRESENTATION

By Jean Brown and Chris Griffiths

As Baptists, we have a Dedication Service for Infants. The child is held in our Minister's arms and blessed and named, and received as a gift from God. No "God Parents", but the whole Church undertakes the responsibility of helping to guide the youngster as he/she grows. We Also sustain the family by our prayers and try to help them in any way we can.

Baptists believe that Full Immersion signifies the following:

When Jesus Himself was baptised by John in the Jordon, He gave us all an example and we must

follow His lead of Full Immersion. We believe that as we enter the water we signify that we identify with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection. We enter the water in our "dirty, sinful state", are washed clean by our immersion and rise out of the water as a "New creation". Our old life has been washed away and a new life, following the Lord has begun. After baptism we are received into Church Membership, usually at the next Communion Service, and we receive the hand of fellowship. At our Communion Services, we invite all who love the Lord and who have Him as their Saviour, to join us around His table

and share in His Fellowship.

Administration and Financial Arrangements

a) Both the Baptist Union of Wales and the Baptist Union in Great Britain are non-conformist denominations.

b) Within the four main Welsh language con-conformist denominations, it is generally accepted that the Baptist Union of Wales and the Union of Welsh Independents share the greatest common beliefs and practices, the main difference is that the Baptists believe totally in the act of baptism. These two

denominations are to a high degree self-financing at local Church or Circuit level. The Churches are responsible for the appointment, payment of stipends, expenses, etc, of their own Ministers. The local Church Trustees also own the Church and any other associated buildings and non domestic contents.

Coincidentally within Wales the General Secretaries and their offices are both situated in Swansea.

c) The other two denominations, the Presbyterian Church of Wales and the Methodist Church are far less locally autonomous than the Baptists and the Independents.

2. The Welsh and English 'set up' in Wales

a) In theory, locally there is no link between the Welsh language Baptists (y Tabernacle, Llandudno)

and the English counterparts (Zion, Craig y Don). However, we hasten to add that the both congregations have excellent relations with each other. The only 'official' common link we share is the same British Missionary Society, North and West Wales co-ordinator.

b) Currently, there are 484 Churches affiliated to the Baptist Union of Wales. There are 32 English

language Churches in the anglicised area of Pembrokeshire (little England beyond Wales). Quite incredibly, there are 207 so called Welsh language churches who worship through the medium of the English language.

c) Also in Wales there are English Baptist Churches affiliated o the Baptist Union of Great Britain. In the North West area of Wales (The Reverend Fred Halstead is the current President), there are 11 churches, in the Gwent area 44, East Glamorgan area 82 and in the West Wales area 37, making a total of 174 churches.

Chris Griffiths/Jean Brown

EGLWYS Y BEDYDDWYR

Cynhaliwn Wasanaeth o Ymgysegriad ar gyfer babanod, cymer y gweinidog y baban yn ei freichiau gan ei fendithio ei enwi a' i dderbyn fel rhodd gan Dduw ,Nid oes tadau/famau bedydd fel y cyfryw, cymer yr holl eglwys y cyfrifoldeb o gynorthwyo y bychan drwy'r blynyddoedd cyntaf. Mae'r eglwys yn ogystal yn cynna1 a cefnogi y teu1u gyda 'u gweddiau gan ???? cymorth mewn unrhyw ffordd fel bo'r galw.

Ein cred yw bod 'trochiad llawn ' yn arwyddocaol o'r canlynol:

Pan fedyddiwyd yr lesu gan loan yn yr Iorddonen fe rydd esiampl inni y dylem ddilyn gyda

'trochiad llawn'. Ein cred yw ein bod drwy hyn yn uniaethu a'r lesu yn ei farwolaeth, ei gladdedigaeth a'i atgyfodiad. Awn i'r dŵr yn ein cyflwr peç hadurus, fe'n golchir yn lân drwy ein trochiad a chodi o'r dŵr yn 'greadigaeth newydd' Yr ydym yn cychwyn ar fywyd newydd gan ddilyn ein Harglwydd.

Yn dilyn y bedydd fe'n derbynir mewn Gwasaaeth Cymun yn aelodau l1awn o'r Eglwys a derbyniwn wahoddiad y frawdoliaeth. Yn ystod y Gwasaanaeth Cymun estynwn wahoddiad i bawb

a gred yn yr Arglwydd a'i dderbyn yn Waredwr i ymgynnull gyda ni i gymuno.

Jean Brown

Cyflwyniad Enwadol – Y BEDYDDWYR gan Chris Griffiths

Gweinyddiaeth a Trefniadau Ariannol

1. Enwad/au Ymneilltuol

a) Enwadau ymneilltuol yw Undeb Bedyddwyr Cymru ac Undeb Bedyddwyr prydain Fawr

b) Undeb Bedyddwyr Cymru ac Undeb Annibynwyr Cymru

Mae'r ddau enwad uchod yn cydrannu mwy o gredoau cyffi'edin na'r Presbyteriaid a'r Methodistiaid. Y gwahaniaeth mwyaf rhyngddynt yw cred lwyr y Bedyddwyr yn y weithred o fedydd. i raddau helaeth mae'r ddwy Undeb yn hunan-gynhaliol yn ariannol ar lefel Eglwys a Cylchdaith. Yr Eglwysi sydd a'r cyfrifoldeb o benodi, cyflogau a chostau eu gweinidogion. Y mddiriedolwyr yr Eglwysi sydd berchen arnynt yn ogystal ac adeiladau arall ynghlwm â hwynt ynghyd a'r dodrefn. Lleolir y swyddfa gyffredinol a'r swyddogion yn Abertawe.

c) Nid yw'r ddau enwad arall ymneilltuol â Chymaint o huanlywodraeth.

2. Y strwythur yng Nghymru

a) Mae cyd-weithio cyfeillgar cydrhwng Eglwys y Tabemacl ac Eglwys Seion, Craig y Don ond nid oes cysylltiad swyddogol. Yr unig ddolen gyswllt swyddogol yw eu bod yn cyd-rannu Cyd-Gysyl1tydd dros Ogledd Cymru a'r Gorllewin i'r Gymdeithas Genhadol Frytanaidd.

b) Perthyn 484 o Eglwysi ar hyn o bryd i Undeb Bedyddwyr Cymru. Mae 32 Eglwysi Saesneg eu hiaith ym Mhenfro. Coeliwch neu beidio mae 207 o Eglwysi Cymraeg yn addoli trwy gyfrwng Saesneg.

c) Mae rhai o Eglwysi Saesneg y Bedyddwyr yn Gysyl1tiedig ac Undeb Bedyddwyr prydain Fawr. Yng Ngogledd Orllewin Cymru mae 11 o Eglwysi, (y Parchedig Fred Ha1stead yw'r Llywydd presennol). 44 yng Ngwent, 82 yn Nwynsin Morgannwg, a 37 yng Ngorllewin Cymru.

Chris Griffiths

Newsletter No 20 – November 2001

THE PRESIDENT WRITES – A DENOMINATIONAL PRESENTATION

Dear Fellow Christian,

It was my own fault. I landed myself in it. I have no one else to blame! ..It had been my suggestion that the quarterly Cytûn Council meeting should begin with an explanation by one of the Churches of some

aspect of that Chmch' s teaching that others find difficult to understand. As I had suggested it, so I was expected to start it.

The Admin Meeting advised me to deal with the thorny question of why the Catholic Church will not permit Eucharistic hospitality, why she won't allow members of other Christian churches to share Holy Communion. And equally why she won't allow us Catholics to receive Holy Communion in Churches which are not in full communion with Rome.

I approached the task before a full Cytûn Council with sweating palms and a swarm of butterflies in the pit of my stomach. To explain what the Admin Meeting wanted me to explain necessitated my saying things I would much rather not have said.

But there again. that was the whole point of the exercise – that we may come to know one another more clearly. True ecumenism means being absolutely honest with one another. Only then will we come to understand one another more deeply. We will learn to be aware of where we are all coming from. But more important still. we will an gain from the insights of each Church. The Mystery of Christ Among Us is so enormous that no one has a monopoly of insight into the meaning and mystery of the Church. It is just charity and common sense to share these insights with one another.

My sweating-palm reaction was typical of false ecumenism. If we say to one another only what we think the other person wants to hear, then we are not being true to ourselves or to the Church to which we belong. We see this very thing happen in most of om unity services. We search for the lowest common denominator so as not to upset anyone. As a result we make little progress and seldom arrive at the point

where we know what the other Christian really believes, nor have the opportunity of seeing how the other believer approaches God in worship.

So I said what I had to say at the Cytûn Council on 23 October. And as a result I got an email from our trusty Secretary, Mr Patrick Rohde, thanking me for my exposition and suggesting that I include it in my President's Letter, so that a wider audience could mare it. And if future contributors to the series would like to, then let their observations be published as well.

It is a very painful experience for me and for my colleagues in the Catholic Priesthood to have to announce at weddings and funerals that those who are not members of the Roman Catholic Church cannot receive Holy Communion. It is an equally painful experience when we attend the services of Holy

Communion in other Christian Communities and are not able to share the Sacrament ourselves. But it is -not just the priests and people who feel this pain; it is the Catholic Church herself. And she feels this pain perhaps more acutely than any other Church – because she sees herself as the Mother Church.

It is a fact of history that the divisions within Christendom occurred when sections of the Church broke away from the Catholic Church and established themselves as independent entities. This is the Catholic Church's pain: she sees herself as Mother of an extended family where some of her children have gone their own way and left her alone.

If you fail to understand this, you will never understand the heart of the Catholic Church. You will never understand how that heart beats, or, in today's terms, how Catholics tick. The Church sees herself as the original church – and indeed this is a fact of history, not a theological position.

The Catholic Church readily agrees that the Refomation occurred because there was much in the Church that needed reform. But separation from the Mother Church was not the answer. It became a question at times of throwing the baby out with the bath water. It was a breakdown of that essential unity which

must characterise the Chmch of Christ. The result of the Reformation was not a reformed Church but a divided and broken Church.

Holy Communion, or The Mass as Catholics call it, is the central act of Christian worship. It is a Sacramental Sign. It is a celebration of Communion.

The word comes from two Latin words, cum and unio and it means union with. Union with God, obviously. But also union with one another. Holy communion is a sign of our union with God and it is a sign that we are united in faith with one another.

When the various Churches broke away from Rome, their unity with the Catholic Church was broken. The very fact that they separated from the Mother Church is an expression of this. While retaining much that pertained to the Catholic Church, such as the Scriptures and some of the Sacraments, they abandoned various other elements that the Catholic Church has always regarded as essential to the integrity of the Catholic Faith. Thus the Catholic Church can see herself only as in partial communion with the other Christian Churches.

And this is simply why we cannot share Holy Communion. To do so would express a unity that does not in fact exist. The sign of the Sacrament would be compromised. It is not a stubbornness on the part of the Church; it is a fidelity to principle. And we are very sad about it.

The exercise of these Denominational Presentations is not to try to convert anyone to anyone else's point of view. It is simply and importantly an effort to help us understand one another more profoundly. And as the saying goes, to understand all is to forgive all. I think the ecumenical scene here in Llandudno

is very encouraging. In my thirty-five years as a priest. I have never had the pleasure of such warm and well-organised relationships between the Churches. Let us pray that we can go from strength to strength.

God bless you,

Father Antony Jones

Llythyr y Llywydd – Tad Antony Jones

Annwyl Gyd Gristion,

Arnaf i mae'r bai. Rwyf wedi gollwng fy hunan ynddi. Does gen i neb i 'w feio ond fi fy hun!

Fy awgrym i oedd y dylai cyfarfod chwarterol Cyngor Cytûn ddechrau gydag eglurhad gan un o'r Eg1wysi ar ryw agwedd o ddysgeidiaeth yr Eg1wys honno mae eraill yn ei chael yn anodd i 'w deall. Gan mai fy awgrym i ydoedd, disgwylid i mi fynd yn gyntaf.

Cynghorodd y pwyllgor Gweinyddol i mi ddelio gyda'r cwestiwn bachog paham nad yw'r Eg1wys Gatholig yn caniatáu lletygarwch Ewcharistaidd a phaham nad yw hi'n caniatáu aelodau o eg1wysi Cristnogol erai1l i rannu'r Cymun Sanctaidd. A hefyd paham nad yw hi'n fodlon ychwaith caniatáu i Gatholigion dderbyn Cymun Sanctaidd eg1wysi eraill nad ydynt mewn cymundeb llawn a Rhufain.

Wynebais fy nhasg o flaen Cyngor lawn o Gytun gyda'm dwylo'n chwysu a'm bol yn corddi. Roedd eg1uro beth oedd y pwyllgor Gweinyddol wedi gofyn ohonof yn mynd i'm gorfodi i ddweud pethau fuasai 'n wel1 o lawer gen i beidio a'u dweud.

Ond dyna fe, dyna bwynt y peth – i ni ddod i adnabod ein gi1ydd yn well. Mae gwir eciwmeniaeth yn golygu bod yn gwbl onest gyda'n gilydd. Dim ond wedyn y deuwn i adnabod ein gi1ydd yn well. Dysgwn i fod yn fwy ymwybodol o anghenion ein gi1ydd. Ond yn bwysicach byth, cawn fewnwelediad i bob Eg1wys. Mae Dirgelwch y Crist yn ein Mysg mor enfawr fel nad oes gan neb fonopoli ar

fewnwelediad i ystyr a dirgelwch yr Eg1wys. Caredigrwydd a swynwyr cyffredin yw rhannu'r mewnweliadau hyn gyda'n gilydd.

Roedd ymateb fy nwylo chwyslyd yn nodweddiadol o eciwmeniaeth ffug. Nid ydym yn driw i ni'n hunan nac i'r Eglwys yr ydym yn perthyn iddi os dywedwn wrth ein gilydd dim ond yr hyn y credwn mae'r llall eisiau 'I glywed. Gwelwn hyn yn digwydd ym mhob un o'n cyfarfodydd eciwmenaidd, bron. Chwiliwn

am unrhyw beth cyffredin er mwyn peidio â chynhyrfu neb. O ganlyniad, does dim symud ymlaen ac anamal y cyrhaeddwn y pwynt owybod beth yw gwir gred y Cristion arall. Collir y cyfle o weldsut mae'r crediniwr arall yn nesau at Dduw mewn addoliad.

Felly, dwedais fy nweud wrth Gyngor Cytûn ar 23 Hydref. O ganlyniad derbyniais e-bost oddi wrth ein Hysgrifennydd glew, Mr Patrick Rhode, yn dioich i mi am fy eglurhad yn awglymu fy mod yn ei gynnwys yn Llythyr y Llywydd, er mwyn i gynulleidfa changach elwa ohono. Petai cyfranwyr y dyfodol yn dymuno, câi ei sylwadau hwythau eu cyhoeddi hefyd.

Profiad poenus i mi a'm cydweithwyr yn yr Offeiriadaeth Gatholig yw gorfod cyhoeddi mewn priodasau ac angladdau nad yw'n bosibl i bobl nad ydynt mewn cymundeb llawn â' r Eglwys Gatholig Rufeinig dderbyn y Cymun Sanctaidd. Mae'r un mor boenus i Gatholigion, pan yn bresennol yng ngwasanaethau'r Cymun Sanctaidd mewn Cymunedau Cristnogol fethu â rhannu yn y Sagrafen. Ond nid yr offeiriadon a’r bobl yn unig sy’n teimlo’r boen yma; ond yr Eglwys Gatholig ei hunan. Efallai ei bod yn teimlo’r boen yn fwy nag unrhyw Eglwys arall – oherwydd ei bod yn gweld ei hun fely Fam Eglwys.

Mae hi'n ffaith hanesyddol i'r rhwygiadau o fewn y Gwledydd Cred ddigwydd wrth i gmfanau o'r Eglwys dorri i ffwrdd o'r Eglwys Gatholig a sefydlu eu hunain fel cyrff annibynnol. Hwn yw ing yr Eglwys Gatholig: Mae hi'n gweld ei hun fel Mam i deulu estynedig ond bod rhai o'i phlant wedi mynd eu

ffordd eu hunain a’i gadael hi ar ei phen ei hun.

Os na fedrwch ddeall hyn, fyddwch byth yn deall ca1on yr Eglwys Gatholig. Ddeallwch chi byth sut mae ei chalon yn curo, nac, yn nhermau heddiw, beth sy'n gyrru Catholigion. Mae'r Eglwys yn gweld ei hun fel yr eglwys wreiddiol – ac yn wir, fIaith hanesyddol yw i hwn nid safbwynt diwinyddol.

Mae'r Eglwys Gatholig yn Cytûno i'r Chwi1dro Protestannaidd ddigwydd oherwydd diffygion yn yr Eglwys. Roedd angen diwygiad. Ond nid yr ateb oedd gwahanu oddi wrth y Fam Eglwys. Daeth yn gwestiwn o daflu'r llo a chadw'y brych. Roedd yn doriad yn yr undod hanfodol sy'n nodwedd o Eglwys Crist. Canlyniad y Chwyldro Protestannaidd oedd nid Eglwys ddiwygiedig ond Eglwys ranedig wedi'i thorri.

Y Cymun Sanctaidd, neu'r Offeren fel mae Catholigion yn ei alw, yw gweithred ganolig addoliad Cristnogol. Mae'n Arwydd Sagrafennol. Mae 'n ddathliad o Gymundod.

Daw'r gair o ddau air Lladin, cum ac unio – mae'n golygu uniad â. Uniad â Duw yn sicr – ond uniad gyda 'n gilydd hefyd. Mae'r Cymun Sanctaidd yn arwydd o'n uniad â Duw ac mae hefyd yn arwydd ein bod wedi uno mewn fIydd gyda'n gi1ydd.

Pan dorrodd amryfal Eglwysi oddi wrth Rufain, torrwyd eu hundod â'r Eglwys Gatholig. Mae'r ffaith eu bod wedi gwahanu oddi wrth y Fam Eglwys yn fynegiant o hyn. Tra'n cadw llawer sy'n perthyn i'r Eglwys Gatholig, megis yr ysgrythurau a rhai o'r Sagrafennau, go11yngwyd sawl elfen arall mae'r Eglwys Gatholig yn eu hystyried yn hanfodol i hanfod y Ffy'dd Gristnogol. Felly, gwêl yr Eglwys Gatholig ei hunan mewn cymundeb rhannol yn unig â’r Eglwysi Cristnogol eraill.

A dyna pam nad ydynt yn gallu rhannu'r Cymun Sanctaidd. Byddai gwneud hytiny'n mynegi uniad nad yw'n bod mewn gwirionedd. Byddai arwydd y Sagrafen dan fygythiad. Nid ystyfnigrwydd ar ran yr Eglwys yw hyn ond ffyddlondeb tuag at egwyddor. Mae'n achos o dristwch mawr i ni.

Nid pwrpas y Cyflwyniadau Rhyngeglwysig yw ceisio troi neb at safbwynt y nall. Yn syml ond yn bwysig, ymdrech yw'r Cyflwyniadau i'n cynorthwyo i ni ddod i ddeall ein gi1ydd yn wen. Yn ôl y dywediad – deall popeth yw maddau popeth.

Credaf fod y sefynfa ecwmenaidd yma yn Llandudno yn ga1onogol iawn. Nid wyf erioed yn fy nhri deg pum mlynedd fel offeiriad wedi cael y pleser o brofi perthynas mor gynnes a threfnus rhwng yr Eg1wysi. Gadewch i ni wedd1o yr awn o nerth i nerth.

Pob bendith.

Tad Antony Jones

Newsletter No 19 – September 2001

THE PRESIDENT WRITES – FR ANTONY JONES

Llythyr y Llywydd – Tad Antony Jones

Dear Fellow Christian/Anwyl Gydgristion,

I feel it is a great privilege to be serving you this year as President of Cytûn, Llandudno.

Teimlaf ei fod yn fraint i'ch gwasanaethu'r flwyddyn yma fel Llywydd Cytûn, Llandudno.

When I came to Llandudno three and a half years ago, I was mightily impressed by the wonderful

spirit that prevails here among the Christian Churches. The goodwill and sheer Christian charity

that already exists provides a wonderful launching pad for reaching yet greater heights.

Pan ddeuthum i Llandudno dair blynedd a hanner yn ôl, cefais fy nharo 'n arw gan yr ysbryd

rhyfeddol sy 'n ffynnu yma ymysg yr eglwysi Cristnogol. Mae'r ewyllys da a'r cariad Cristnogol

sy'n bodoli yma'n barod yn gychwyn gwych i'n galluogi i gyrraedd uchafion hyd yn oed mwy eang.

It seems to me that the Cytûn Council, which meets four times a year, is the very heart of our work

together. The members of this Council deserve our gratitude for their dedication to the cause of

Christian unity and for the time they devote to it. They represent the Christian communities of the

town and the various organisations whereby the Churches reach out to others.

Teimlaf fod Cyngor Cytûn yn cynrychioli canolbwynt ein gwaith gyda'n gilydd. Mae aelodau'r

Cyngor yma'n haeddu'n diochgarwch am eu cyjlwyniad i achos undeb Cristnogol ac am yr amser y

meant yn ymroddi iddo. Maent yn cynrychioli cymdeithasau Crisnogol y dref a'r gwahanol

drefnyddiaeth drwy'r sawl y mae'r eglwysi'n ymestyn allan i eraill.

As the Council is the beating heart of Cytûn, the more efficient and the more attractive we make it,

the more effective, I believe, Cytûn will become.

Can bod y Cyngor yn galon Cytûn, y mwyaf effeithiol a deniadol yr ydym yn ei wneud; y mwyaf

effeithiol y credaf y bydd Cytûn, yn datblygu.

We decided at the last Council Meeting to introduce a change into our usual procedure. From now

on, the meeting will begin with an explanatory input. For example, a representative of the Baptist

church might explain to the rest of us why their Church insists on adult baptism and is not over

enthusiastic about baptising infants.

Penderfynasom yng nghyfarfod diwethaf y Cyngor i newid ein trefn arferol. O hyn ymlaen, bydd y

cyfarfod yn cychwyn gyda chyfraniad eglurhaol. Er engrhaifft, gallai cynrychiolydd o Eglwys y

Beddyddwyr egluro i 'r gweddill ohonom pam fod eu Heglwys yn mynnu ar fedydd oedolion heb fod

yn orfrwdfydig ynglyn a bedyddio babanod.

The purpose of this will be simply to inform and enlighten. There will be no discussion, no attempt

to persuade or convert anyone. Just an opportunity for sharing and learning.

Pwrpas hyn fydd i gyfarwyddo ac i oleuo. Ni fydd unrhyw drafodaeth neu gais i berswadio new

droi unrhyw un. Dim ond cyfle i rannu ac i ddygu.

No Christian tradition has a complete monopoly of Christian insight. We can all learn a huge

amount from one another. It is a real pity we keep our light so much under a bushel; not sharing

with one another the insights we have into the wondrous mystery of our Faith. By each tradition

explaining some aspect of its own particular understanding of the mystery of Christianity , we will

come to appreciate more fully where each one of us is coming from. And at the same time deepen

our own understanding of our common Faith.

Nid oes gan unrhyw draddodiad Critnogol monopoli llwyr i mewn I ddealltwriaeth Cistnogol.

Gallwn oll ddysgu gymaint gan ein gilydd. Mae'n dosturi garw ein bod yn cadw ein golau gymaint

o dan lestri dim yn rhannu ein dealltwriaeth o ddirgelwch rhyfeddol einffydd. Drwy i bod

draddodiad egluro rhyw agwedd o'u dealltwriaeth unigol eu hunain i ddirgelwch Cristnogol, fe

ddown i werthfawrogi 'n fwyfwy'r sajbwynt o ble y mae pob un ohonom yn dod. Ac ar yr un adeg yn

defnhau ein dealltwriaeth ein hunain o'n Ffydd cyffredin.

As well as this, I would like to see the Council become more and more accessible to the ordinary

man or woman in the pew. I would like it to be the means by which every single one of us can air

views, share ideas and possibly introduce change. For this to work, the Admin Committee (to whom I am profoundly grateful) will need to operate as a Steering Committee.

Yn ogystal a hyn, hoffwn weld y Cyngor yn dod yn fwy o fewn cyrraedd y dyn a dynes gyffredin yn

y cor. Hoffwn iddo fod y dull drwy'r hyn y gall pob un ohonom ddatgan ein barn a rhannu ein

syniadau ac o bosib gyjlwyno newidiadau. Er mwyn i hyn weithio, bydd yn rhaid i'r Pwyllgor

Gweinyddol (i'r sawl yr wyf yn hynod ddiolchgar) weithredu fel Pwyllgor Llywio.

A fortnight or so before the Cytûn Council, the Steering Committee could meet. It would decide

whether proposals submitted by individual parishioners should be included on the Agenda of the

Council. (This is no new idea – it is normal procedure for most council meetings, and has been

operating to an extent already with the Cytûn Council).

Tua pythefnos o jlaen Cyngor Cytûn, gallai'r Cyngor Llywio gyfarfod. (Nid yw hyn yn syniad

Newydd – mae'n drefn arferol i'r rhan fwyaf o gyfarfodydd cyngor). Byddai 'n perderfynnu os

ddylai unrhyw gynigiad gan blwyfolion unigol gael eu cynnwys yn Rhaglen y Cyngor.

This would have a double benefit. It would do away (except in emergencies) with Any Other

Business at the end of the Council Meeting. This slot can be a wearisome period when anyone can

raise anything he or she likes and take as long as he or she wants, at a time in the meeting when

most people have had quite enough already.

Byddai hyn o fudd mewn dau ffordd. Byddai'n gwneud i ffwrdd (heblaw am mewn argyfwng) gyda

Unrhww Faterion Eraill ar ddiwedd Cyfarfod y Cyngor. Gall y slot yma fod yn adeg diflas pan all

unrhyw un godi unrhyw beth a fynnai a chymeryd cyn hired a fynnai ar adeg yn y cyfafrod pan

mae 'r rhan fwyaf wedi cael hen ddigon yn barod.

But the major benefit of this procedure would be to give each and every Christian in Llandudno the

opportunity to have their opinions heard, at least by the Cytûn President and the Steering Committee and probably by the entire Council.

Ond y budd pennaf gyda'r dull yma o weithredu fyddai i roddi'r cyfle i bod crision yn Llandudno i

fynegi ei farn, o leiaf o faen Llywydd Cytûn a'r Pwyllgor Llywio ac o bosib o flaen y Cyngor cyfan.

I would ask the Council Members, particularly those who represent the Church Communities, to

explain this procedure to their congregations. If our people feel that the Council exists for them and

is a vehicle for sharing ideas and a means for getting things to happen, then Cytûn Llandudno will

have taken a further step along that road of excellence it has been treading for some considerable

time.

Gofynwn i Aelodau'r Cyngor, yn enwedig y rhai sydd yn cynrychioli Cymdeithasau Eglwysig, i

egluro'r dull yma o weithredu i'w cynulleidfa. Os yw'n pobl yn timlo lod y cyngor yn bodoli er eu

mwyn ac yn gyfrwng i rannu syniadau ac yn lodd i gael pethau i ddigwydd, yna bydd Cytûn

Llandudno wedi cymeryd cam arall ar hyd y ffordd o ragoriaeth y mae wedi bod yn ei droedio ers

peth amser.

God bless you, Duw a'ch bendithio,

Fr Antony Jones, (President of Cytûn/Llwydd Cytûn)