THE NEED to ‘flee from oneself’ is the theme of a conference organised by Cynnal later this month in the Halliwell Theatre at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David in Carmarthen.
The speakers will examine negative behaviours and consider how churches can respond and help. They will look at people’s sense of aloneness, hopelessness, lack of meaning, prejudice, hatred and intolerance.
The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, is endorsing the event which takes place at Carmarthen on October 26.
He said: “It is all too easy in today’s hectic world to ‘flee from ourselves’. We move from task to task, activity to activity, on autopilot and are in danger of sleepwalking our way to the grave. Christ warned that we live in poverty if we do not know ourselves. This conference is a chance to highlight such spiritual impoverishment and challenge each other to dwell with ourselves.”
Wynford Ellis Owen, chief executive of Living Room Cardiff and organiser of the seminar, said: “The conference will raise the question of whether the church needs to consider how it can offer recovery and provide guidance. Addiction, in its many manifestations, provides too easy and elusive an answer to this spiritual poverty.
“I believe that it’s one of life’s important lessons which we have yet to learn. By not embracing and accepting the dark side of our souls – we consider some aspects of ourselves to be bad and sinful, rather than accepting them as part of what it means to be human and reconciling them with ourselves – we arm them with a negative force which then strengthens their power over us.”
The speakers include Canon Aled Edwards, Elfed Ap Nefydd Roberts, Sean Loughlin, Denzil John, Aled Jones Williams, Karen Owen and Catrin Williams.
They will consider question such as:
· Is this a blessing and an opportunity for the church to offer love, atonement and forgiveness in an age which has turned its back on religion?
· Is it an opportunity for the churches to respond to those who are searching for an answer to a spiritual problem?
· How can the churches achieve this in a practical way?
Anyone wishing to attend should contact the Living Room Cardiff on 029 2049 3895 to register or send an e-mail to [email protected].
Recovery Sunday
Meanwhile, churches across Wales will be praying for people battling against addiction on Recovery Sunday on October 30.
This will be the fifth Recovery Sunday organised by the Living Room Cardiff to pray for those trapped in addiction to alcohol, other drugs and harmful behaviours.
The service is based on the theme that “brokenness is a factor in everyone’s lives”. You can download the service from the Living Room Cardiff. http://www.livingroom-cardiff.com/
Add Comment