During April the final touches to the largest skyscraper in Europe
took place. The Shard has 87 floors and stands 310 metres (1,020 ft) high. When
completed it will be an amazing piece of engineering and architecture added to
the London skyline.
However there is another building on the London skyline which
arguably has greater recognition and is able to create much more emotion in
people – the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral. Most people will recognise the
pictures from the second world war of the dome standing above the smoke of
blitzed London, standing as a symbol of faith, defiance and hope.
What many people don’t realise is that when Sir Christopher Wren
designed St Paul’s Cathedral he tried to hide the design of the dome. The idea
of a dome on a church was regarded as not appropriate, and I understand he
tried to keep it hidden for as long as possible. However now, London just
wouldn’t be the same without it!
The first Sunday in May is Vocation Sunday here in the Church in
Wales, when we focus on the Christian vocation to discipleship as well as the
call that some people may feel towards specific ministries within the church.
The letters of St Paul often tell us about all the gifts the
Church needs in order for it to do its work and to be itself. Everyone has
something Jesus Christ has given them which has to be shared with the whole
community. Among these gifts is a cluster of things that all have to do with
taking some kind of responsibility for the Church's growth and the Church's
direction - the apostle, the prophet, the teacher, and so on. And while all
sorts of different people may exercise these gifts in various ways, the Church
has always organised itself on the basis that it needs some visible focus for
this kind of ministry. It has worked on the assumption that the task of taking
responsibility and nurturing the vision of the Church needs to be recognisable
both in and beyond this or that local community, and so it has given some
people the job of doing this in a very public and official way. They tend to be
those in ordained ministries. However as Christians we are called to be witnesses
of the risen Christ and to find ways to live out our relationship with God in
our daily life, which is where for most Christians they find their ministry.
What does this have to do with St Paul’s Cathedral? Within a dome,
each part of the structure supports another. Therefore each is important. It
provides a visible image of how the ministry of the church is meant to work,
whereby each with their own individual gifts and ministries support and
encourage one another for the purpose of building up the church. Of course on
top of the dome is a cross, and we need to remember that the purpose of our
discipleship is to point to the cross and reflect the love of Christ.
Best wishes
Martin
Dates to remember
Please note the details of the Parish Auction detailed elsewhere
in the magazine. Please may I encourage you to support this event. Which promises to be different and fun!
Also Rev Alex Mayes ordination to the priesthood is on Saturday 30th
June at 10am in St Asaph Cathedral. Further details about this will be given
shortly. However please also note that her first Eucharist will be a Parish Eucharist the following day, 1st July.
Vicar's Letter
