A SINGLE sermon was preached in most Church in Wales services earlier this month, exhorting congregants to play their part in spurring Church growth.

The sermon was written jointly by bishops, and delivered by the Bishop of St Asaph, the Rt Revd Gregory Cameron. It was broadcast in churches via YouTube on 12 May, to coincide with Ministry and Calling Sunday.

Bishop Cameron said that the bishops decided "to give the clergy a Sunday off preaching, and send one message out to all congregations. We believe everyone has a part to play in the Church's ministry, not just those who are ordained.

"We are appealing to all our members to think carefully about how they and those around them are called to serve God, and what gifts they can bring to help the Church grow. We believe that is the way to recapture the spirit of the first apostles, and make the Church more of a movement, and less of an institution."

The sermon suggests that, on the brink of the centenary of disestablishment, "we are beginning to learn that we have to be less of an institution and more of a movement . . . There is not a person sitting in the congregation today who cannot offer ministry in God's name to the world."

The sermon can be viewed at http://bit.ly/11SpsGH.