“Look at each other through a lens of gentle, accepting love” - Bishop’s Message to Diocese

A call to look at each other through God’s loving eyes was the core message of the Bishop of Llandaff’s address to Diocesan Conference 2023. Bishop Mary Stallard addressed 200 clergy and lay representatives at the conference hosted in Port Talbot Ministry Area on Saturday 30th September.

The theme ‘Rediscovering Christ’s Call’ encompasses Bishop Mary’s desire for all clergy and lay people in the diocese to recall the love that first inspired a commitment to God and show each other the same ‘gentle’ and ‘accepting’ love.

Bishop Mary said in her address, “We have choices about how we face our call and how it speaks to us in times of challenge. We can be despairing, or we can be hopeful: A cloud can offer the threat of rain. Or it can offer the hope of water to bring growth. Fire can burn and destroy, or it can purify, giving warmth and light.”

“It feels so freeing, so full of grace and hope. That’s how God loves each of us. That’s how God calls us to love one another. That’s how God calls us to love the world.

“We need to receive that love ourselves. If we know God’s love, then we need to show love to one another. To look at each other through the same lens of gentle, accepting love. Llandaff diocese is blessed with a spectrum of church tradition and ways of worshipping. Our calling is to live our faith and to practice this Christ-like way of being.”

Bishop Mary encouraged the diocese to look forward to a season of ‘evolution not revolution’ to become who we are called to be and to grow in confidence.

She prayed over the Diocese of Llandaff:

Dduw sy’n ein galw, helpa ni i wrando ar dy lais gyda chalonnau a meddyliau agored. Boed inni fod yn barod bob amser i dderbyn dy gariad a'th faddeuant gyda gostyngeiddrwydd a gobaith. Cynorthwya ni i adnabod dy bresenoldeb yn ein gilydd, fel y gallwn gydweithio i adrodd dy stori lawen, adeiladu dy Deyrnas a helpu eraill i adnabod dy ddaioni a’th ras. Gofynnwn hyn yn enw Iesu ein heddwch. Amen.

God who calls, help us to listen to your voice with open hearts and minds. May we always be ready to receive your love and forgiveness with humility and hope. Help us to recognise your presence in one another, so that together we may play our part in telling your joyful story, building your Kingdom and helping others to know your goodness and grace. We ask this in the name of Jesus our peace. Amen.