Rear l-r: John Worton-Griffiths (observer); the Revd Mike Graham (Acting Chaplain); John Crothers (observer); Stuart Hillard (Church Warden) Front l-r: Sandy Oram (Church Warden); Anne Lloyd (observer); Jenny Worton-Griffiths (observer)
Delegates and observers from St. Andrew’s returned from a Diocesan Synod which combined business reporting, teaching, and fellowship in an activity packed week in Larnaca.
The theme of the Synod this year was The Five Marks and Liturgy where the Five Marks of Mission were discussed in the context of the Liturgy of the Anglican Communion, of which we are part. These Five Marks of Mission are:
- To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
- To teach, baptise and nurture new believers
- To respond to human need by loving service
- To transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and pursue peace and reconciliation
- To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation, and sustain and renew the life of the earth
Those who attended the Synod were given the opportunity to try different forms of worship from those they were used to, and to report back to group leaders whether they felt these supported the Five Marks.
In addition Synod was blessed by an inspiring speaker in Archbishop Barry Morgan, former Bishop of Llandaff and Primate of the Church in Wales, who gave three talks on Worship and Prayer.
One highlight of Synod was the Diocesan Video whose theme was Rooted and Grounded, showing activities in various parishes and chaplaincies within the diocese which supported the concept of God being the root and ground of outreach into the communities which those congregations serve. Included was the Kurban Bayram initiative caried out by St. Andrew’s.
