Oddi wrth yr Is-Ddeon
Y Deondy, 22 Rhagfyr 2021
Dyma anfon cofion cynnes atoch ar gyfnod pryderus.
Er gwaetha'r pla, mae ein paratoadau i ddathlu Gŵyl y Nadolig yng Nghadeirlan Deiniol Sant yn parhau i fynd rhagddynt wythnos hon.
Rydym eisoes wedi mwynhau perfformiad ysblennydd o Feseia Handel; a chefais fy nghalonogi’n fawr gan ein Defod Gobaith lawen, deimladwy y'i mynychwyd yn dda nos Sul diwethaf.
Ar ben hynny, ar ôl taith anodd o'r fynachlog yn Ffrainc lle cawsant eu cerfio, rwy'n falch iawn bod y ffigurau newydd ar gyfer ein Preseb wedi cyrraedd y Deondy y bore yma, a chânt eu bendithio fel rhan o'r Cymun Canol Nos ar Noswyl Nadolig.
Roeddwn i eisiau cysylltu heddiw i'ch atgoffa o'n litwrgïau dros yr Ŵyl, ac i'ch hysbysu o rai newidiadau.
Defodau'r Ŵyl
Mae’n defodau litwrgaidd ar Noswyl y Nadolig, Dydd y Nadolig a Gŵyl Steffan fel a ganlyn. Ymunwch â ni i ddathlu Duw gyda ni dros y dyddiau neilltuol hyn.
Noswyl y Nadolig | 24 Rhagfyr
o 11.00pm
Carolau | Carols
11.30pm
Cymun Bendigaid ar Gân | Choral Holy Eucharist
Dydd Nadolig | 25 Rhagfyr
8.15am
Holy Eucharist
9.15am
Cymun Bendigaid ar Gân
11.00am
Choral Holy Eucharist
Gŵyl Steffan | 26 Rhagfyr
8.15am
Holy Eucharist
9.15am
Cymun Bendigaid ar Gân
11.00am
Choral Holy Eucharist
Plygain y Nadolig
Ar ôl asesu’r sefyllfa gyfredol, rydym wedi penderfynu gwneud un newid i'n trefniadau. Er mwyn atal teithio pellteroedd maith, an er mwyn blaenoriaethu'n defodau litwrgaidd, ni chynhelir Plygain y Nadolig ar 23 Rhagfyr. Mae hyn yn siom mawr inni, ond credwn mai dyna’r cam doeth dan yr amgylchiadau, ac mae hynny wedi ei atseinio yn ymateb y rhai oedd i gymryd rhan.
Rhagofalon Cofid
Mae'n bwysig inni gymryd rhagofalon synhwyrol i gadw ein hunain ac eraill yn ddiogel yn y Gadeirlan.
Ar gyfer ein gwasanaethau ar 24 a 25 Rhagfyr, bydd y rhagofalon canlynol mewn grym:
- Mae’n ofyniad cyfreithiol gwisgo gorchudd wyneb. Mae’r gofyniad yn gymwys i bawb 11 oed a throsodd onibai bod gennych reswm.
- Mae croeso i bawb ganu, ond gofynnir i bawb heblaw’r Côr ganu y tu ôl i’w gorchudd wyneb.
- Gofynnir i bawb ddarparu manylion Profi Olrhain Amddiffyn rwy lenwi ffurflen neu sganio’r côd QR yn yr ap.
- Byddwch yn ystyriol a pharchus tuag at eraill, gan gadw pellter priodol. Bydd seddi yn yr eiliau yn cynnig mwy o le i ymbellhau.
Dylem hefyd dalu sylw i awgrym Llywodraeth Cymru ein bod yn gwneud llawer mwy o ddefnydd personol o brofion llif-ochrol cyn gadael cartref, yn enwedig pan am fynychu gweithgareddau cymunedol.
O 26 Rhagfyr, yn unol â’r cyfyngiadau newydd a gyhoeddwyd gan Lywodraeth Cymru heddiw, bydd gofyniad pellhau cymdeithasol 2m yn cael ei ychwanegu at ein rhagofalon, a bydd arwyddion a stiwardio yn y Gadeirlan yn ein helpu i gadw at y gofyniad cyfarwydd hwn.
Ar ôl asesu’r sefyllfa, fy ngobaith yw y byddwn yn gallu gweini lluniaeth ar ôl ein gwasanaethau, gan fod hyn yn rhan bwysig o’n lletygarwch. Fodd bynnag, bydd angen i ni eistedd mewn grwpiau bach i fwynhau lluniaeth.
Duw gyda ni
Mae'r rhain yn ddyddiau pryderus wrth i ni fonitro datblygiadau Cofid. Fodd bynnag, mae hefyd yn fendith fawr ein bod yn gallu ymgynnull i addoli Duw dros y dyddiau sanctaidd hyn.
Gadewch imi ailadrodd croeso cynnes ichi ymuno â'n dathliadau yn y Gadeirlan, gan hefyd ategu fy mod yn deall na fydd pawb yn teimlo'n gyffyrddus yn gwneud hynny. Dyma hefyd anfion dymuniadau gorau ar eraill sydd wedi gallu teithio i fod gyda theulu fan arall i ddathlu'r yr ŵyl.
Dyma'ch sicrhau y bydd cymuned gyfan y Gadeirlan, ynghŷd ac ar wasgar, yn ein gweddïau yn y Gadeirlan dros y dyddiadau ddaw; a, ble bynnag fyddwch chi, gadewch imi erfyn eich gweddïau chwithau drosom ninnau hefyd.
Ar ran pawb yng Nghadeirlan Deiniol Sant, gadewch imi ddymuno Nadolig bendithiol a heddychlon i chi.
“Dyma gyfaill haedda 'i garu, a’i glodfori’n fwy nag un. Ffrindiau, dewch, llawenhewch, diolchwch iddo, byth na thewch!”
Canon Siôn Rhys Evans
Is-Ddeon
From the Sub-Dean
The Deanery, 22 December 2021
I hope that this message finds you well, even though these are anxious times.
Our preparations to celebrate the Festival of Christmas at Saint Deiniol's Cathedral continue apace this week.
We have already enjoyed a splendid performance of Handel's Messiah; and I was very encouraged by our joyful, moving and well-attended Ceremony of Hope last Sunday evening.
Furthermore, after a difficult journey from the monastery in France where they were carved, I'm delighted that the figures for our new Crib arrived safely at the Deanery this morning, and will be blessed as part of the Midnight Eucharist on Christmas Eve.
I wanted to be in touch today to remind you of our liturgies over the Christmas period, and to alert you to some changes.
Christmas observances
Our liturgical observances on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Saint Stephen’s Day (the Sunday after Christmas Day) are as follows. Please join us to celebrate God with us over these significant days, and please invite others to come along with you.
Christmas Eve | 24 December
from 11.00pm
Carolau | Carols
11.30pm
Cymun Bendigaid ar Gân | Choral Holy Eucharist
Christmas Day | 25 December
8.15am
Holy Eucharist
9.15am
Cymun Bendigaid ar Gân
11.00am
Choral Holy Eucharist
Saint Stephen’s Day | 26 December
8.15am
Holy Eucharist
9.15am
Cymun Bendigaid ar Gân
11.00am
Choral Holy Eucharist
Plygain y Nadolig
Having assessed the current situation, we have decided to make one change to our schedule. In order to discourage travel across greater distances, and in order to prioritise our liturgical observances, Plygain y Nadolig will not be held on 23 December. This is a big disappointment to us, but it is the wise move in the circumstances, and this has been echoed in the discussions that have taken place with those who were due to take part in the Plygain.
Covid precautions
We must continue to take sensible precautions to keep ourselves and others safe at the Cathedral.
For our services on 24 and 25 December, the following precautions will apply:
- It is a legal requirement to wear a face covering. The requirement applies to everyone aged 11 and over, unless you have a reason.
- While all are permitted to sing, we ask that all except the Choir sing behind their face covering.
- All are asked to provide Test, Trace, Protect details by completing a form or scanning the QR code within the app.
- Please be mindful and respectful of others, maintaining an appropriate distance. Seating in the aisles will provide space for greater distancing.
We should also hear the Welsh Government’s suggestion that we make much greater personal use of lateral flow tests before leaving home, especially for communal activities.
From 26 December, in accordance with the new restrictions announced by the Welsh Government today, a 2m social distancing requirement will be added to our precautions, and signage and stewarding at the Cathedral will help us to abide by this re-introduced requirement.
Having assessed the situation, my hope is that we will be able to serve refreshments after our services, as this is an important part of our hospitality. However, we will need to be seated in small groups for consuming of refreshments.
God with us
These are anxious days as we monitor Covid developments. However, it is also a great blessing that that we are able to gather together to worship God at this holy time.
Let me reiterate a warm welcome to you to join our celebrations at the Cathedral, while also saying that I understand that not all will feel comfortable doing so. We also send best wishes to others who have been able to travel to be with family elsewhere for the festival.
Please know that the entirety of the Cathedral community, gathered and scattered, will be in our prayers at the Cathedral over coming days; and, wherever you are, please pray also for us.
On behalf of all at Saint Deiniol's Cathedral, allow me to wish you blessed and peaceful Christmas.
“We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell: O come to us, abide with us, our God, Emmanuel.”
Canon Siôn Rhys Evans
Sub-Dean