Advent means ‘coming’ and is the special four-week period leading up to Christmas. It is a time to prepare for the celebration of Jesus’s birth but also for his coming in glory at the end of time.
Anglicans form the family of Christians closely related to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Whilst tracing their inheritance back to Christ and the earliest Christians and to the ancient Roman Catholic church, the sixteenth century Reformation was a crucial moment for Anglicanism.
Baptism involves declaring faith in God and being washed with water. It means being cleansed from sin, being united to Jesus Christ, receiving his Holy Spirit and becoming God’s children. Sometimes called ‘Christening’.
At Holy Communion blessed bread and wine is shared, by which we receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The congregation gives thanks for Jesus’ life, his death and resurrection and his continuing presence. See also Eucharist.
A lectionary is a pattern for Bible readings for the Church year. This means that churches in the Church in Wales are able to use the same readings on any given day.
Liturgy is a set form of words and action used for worship. In the Church in Wales (and many other churches) these forms follow the same pattern from one congregation to another. Most Anglican liturgies look back in some way to the Book of Common Prayer.
Prayer sustains our human relationship with God and may involve words (formal or informal) or be silent. Prayer can involve adoration (‘I love you’), confession (‘sorry’), thanksgiving and supplication (‘please’).
The Church in Wales is committed to safeguarding and to helping survivors of abuse. Find out more:
Visit our safeguarding pageWelcome to 2024's Church in Wales advent course, O Come Let Us Adore Him. We hope you enjoy this course and use it to draw closer to God this festive season!
Welcome to the Church in Wales Digital Lectionary. The Digital Lectionary is available in both English and Welsh from the same source.
God’s Earth is crying out for our care and if we do not urgently limit greenhouse gas emissions and the destruction of species we will permanently disfigure our common home preventing billions of God’s children from flourishing. The Church in Wales recognises responsible stewardship of creation is integral to Christian discipleship.
The Welsh language is alive and well in the Church in Wales as Christians across the land worship, witness and serve God and their communities. Our hope is to continue to develop our provision so that our mission and ministry in Welsh may be strengthened and be given new opportunities to flourish.
Visit: www.anglicancommunion.org
