Date: May 28th 2009

Dear

Please find below several items of Cathedral News:

Congratulations - to members of the choir for completing another live BBC Radio 4 Broadcast this week.  Those who missed the Daily Service on Radio 4 led by John Bell and St Mary's Cathedral Choir on Monday can find it online until at least next Monday here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/realmedia/daily/mon.ram [You need a Real Player programme to hear this online broadcast].

Pentecost - this coming Sunday is the Feast of Pentecost. One of the features of the story that we celebrate on this day (from Acts 2) is that everyone heard the deeds of God in their own language. St Mary's is a place where there are many languages spoken by the congregation (eg Welsh, Swedish, Ebo, Mandarin, English etc). Members of the congregation are invited to pray the Lord's Prayer in their own language on this day.

Diocesan News - the latest copy of the Diocesan Newsletter can be downloaded here: http://www.thecathedral.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/dns-a4-crc-june-09.pdf

Work with Young People - the Vestry next meets on Monday 1 June 2009. One of the topics on the agenda is the Cathedral's work with young people. A discussion paper was circulated to those working with young people a number of week's ago. The points raised in it can be found below. Any member of the congregation who wishes to comment on these suggestions or any other aspect of the Cathedral's work amongst young people is invited to do so by e-mailing the Lay Rep, Anne Jones on annepjones@hotmail.com. Comments on this aspect of our life together can be made at any time. Comments for consideration by the Vestry should be made before next Monday.


Interim Youth Report for discussion

A small review group (Provost, Anne Jones and Paul Holloway) has been discussing youth work in St Mary's and the following report has been given to Vestry members for discussion

• The congregation identifies, appoints and trains several designated people to pastorally support families with children.
• Information for parents to be produced to help them introduce their children to the faith in the context of the church service. [How to be in church with children] Opportunities to be provided for parents to meet with a small group, including Kelvin, for discussion and explanation. Information to be posted on the website.
• The usual practice in this church follows Canon law in welcoming to communion children who have been baptised.  An approach should be made to families with a view to bringing children into communion who are not already communicants.
• Further inclusion of children and young people in Sunday worship e.g. stewarding, interceding, reading, coffee.
• The system of Christian Education' Godly Play' to be implemented in the Cathedral for children of primary school age.
• Group leaders to attend appropriate training courses and have a break from duties after 5 years.
• Develop ways to convey the experiences and drama of Holy Week to younger members.
• There should be an audio link from church to Synod Hall and Meeting Room.
• Young people of secondary school age to be in church for services.
• Further conversation with Suet Teo Winter and Claire Johnson about changing models of ministry with young people.
• The church supports Diocesan and Provincial initiatives and we recommend that the only summer residential opportunities that we support is the Glen Youth Week organised by the SEC.
• At least one young person from the congregation to go to the Provincial Conference in September. [UPDATE - note that the conference is now cancelled]
• We commend the good work of the Treble Choir in attracting so many young people and recommend a conversation takes place with Frikki Walker on how to integrate faith development in the "Voice of Life'
• This report has been drawn up after conversations with adult leaders.  We would now be interested in hearing from parents and children and young people themselves in response to these recommendations.