Bread of Life
Bible readings: 1 Kings 19.4-8 & John 6.35, 41-51
Jesus is repeating that the bread of life He offers is distinct from the Manna that Moses and his people received in the wilderness. Of course there are parallels between the fact that both peoples are being offered spiritual food to sustain them amidst a corrupted or disordered world. However, Moses offers the law received from above to his people, whereas Christ transforms and heals his people through the offer of grace. The bread of life is the grace, the grace which knits God’s law unto our hearts, so instead of following a set of laws, we can now live in enlightened grace. Jesus tells us those who ate manna are dead; we are promised Eternal Life through his bread. Although this is spiritual food, we shall not become mere spiritual gnostics or esoterics by partaking in it. This is the bread of his flesh, sacrificed so we may participate in Life through Him. This keeps us living in God’s earth, being parts of his Body, and binding together corporeal and spiritual action. God’s law has been fulfilled by Christ’s grace, and we are called upon to participate. – Tristan
Weekly newsletter/blog and website
Please send all information for the Sunday newsletter/blog by Wednesday evening to Josie at penleeclusternewsletter@gmail.com and communications@penleecluster.org.uk. If you would like to write the biblical reflection for the newsletter on any particular week, please contact Josie for details of upcoming Sunday readings. Thank you to Tristan for contributing the reflection for this week. – Josie
A Prayer for our Country
May we be united in prayer at this time for our country.
May we pray for our government that they will make wise decisions regarding efforts to counteract the extremism and violence.
May we pray for the bereaved families in Southport, and thank God for the very positive expressions of community among the local people.
May we pray for the extremists seeking to cause public disorder that their behaviour has no place in the values of our country.
May we pray especially for the refugees and asylum seekers housed in hotels throughout the country for their safety and wellbeing.
May we stand up for the rights enthroned in international law that those seeking sanctuary as refugees and asylum seekers receive care and compassion as fellow human beings.
Let us walk in the light of Jesus, treading the paths of justice and peace.
Mary Bradley, Falmouth & Penryn Churches Together Justice and Peace Action Group
Penlee Cluster Kids Summer Holiday Club 2024
for children 6 – 11 years continues! Week Three
Come along to try out lots of exhilarating activities and make new friendships. For those families in receipt of free school meals, it is essential that you book your place on the Time2Move website: https://playwaze.com/penlee-cluster-holiday-club/sgzt6a79okz5/home-communitydashboard This is needed so we can access funding for your child. We also have five heavily subsidised places at £5.00 per day. This covers transport, lunch, trips and activities. But please note you must await confirmation of your child’s/children’s space before making any payments. Please find below a list of each themed week and if you wish to participate then please let me know and I will send over an application form. (Email address molly.blewett@penleecluster.org.uk)
Week 1: Wild About Where We Live – 30th July – 2nd August
Week 2: Wild About Adventure: 5th August – 8th August
Week 3: Wild About Talent: 12th August – 15th August
Week 4: Wild About Exploring: 19th August – 22nd August
9.00am Drop-off: Sea Life Soft Play
3.00pm Collection: Sea Life Soft Play
– Molly
Working towards a sustainable financial future
We would like to encourage you to support St. Mary’s by setting up a standing order for your contributions, which would ensure a sustainable and regular income for the maintenance and work of our church. In addition, please consider making use of Gift Aid, where applicable, as this will allow us to claim back 25p for every £1.00 you donate. Standing Order Forms as well as Gift Aid forms are available in church. The Standing Order Form is to be sent directly to your bank. If you would also like to Gift Aid your contribution, however, please give the completed Gift Aid Form to Keno or Steve.
St. Pol de Leon Church, Paul
Tours of the church on Wednesdays during July and August, from 11.00am to 1.00pm. Come to coffee from 10.00am and then learn about the history of this lovely church. Visitors and locals welcome.
Penwith Deanery News
West Cornwall Drop-in Energy Advice
Community Energy Plus’s specialist outreach energy advisers are on hand with helpful advice on how they can help you save energy and money in your home or how they can help you with the transition to low carbon energy. They will be running a drop-in energy advice sessions at the following venue in Penzance in August: 29th August 10.00am – 4.00pm at The Salvation Army (Queen Street, TR18 4BH)
Debt Advice
The Salvation Army offers debt advice services to people in this area. They are free, confidential and impartial. Please dial 01752 643955 to speak to a Debt Advisor from 10.00am until 4.00pm Monday to Friday or email cornwalldas@salvationarmy.org.uk.
Faith Covenant
There is a proposal to draw up a Faith Covenant between Cornwall Council and Cornwall Faith Forum and Churches Together in Cornwall. This proposal is currently out for consultation and we are seeking for as many people as possible to complete a simple on-line questionnaire, which you can do here: https://letstalk.cornwall.gov.uk/faith-covenant/surveys/faith-covenant-for-cornwall-survey. Closing date 5th September – Churches Together in Cornwall
Celtic Morning Prayer
Each weekday morning on zoom at 8am. The zoom meeting ID is 815 4586 0947. If you would like to attend, please email Keno at admin@penleecluster.org.uk (or call on 01736 331633) for the passcode, which you will need as well as the meeting ID given here.
Julian Meeting
The Julian Meeting will be on zoom this Sunday, at 6pm. Zoom link:
Prayer Requests
If you are concerned about someone and would like their name included in the Prayer Request Group’s weekly prayer list, please do email Mel at mlevesconte@hotmail.co.uk by 7pm on Tuesday evenings. Thank you.
THIS WEEK…
Training for Penlee Cluster Staff – Friday 16th August
Lee and Alice will be offering training on conflict management, de-escalation and having difficult conversations. The training is open to all, and will be held at St Mary’s on Friday 16th August from 11.30am-1.30pm. Please arrive at 11.15am if you’d like coffee! As we reach out to those on the margins of society, there was a concern that not everyone felt adequately equipped to help people suffering with mental ill health, or with those who are angry/upset, unpredictable, or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Dr Diane Carpenter, a recently retired psychiatric nurse teacher, will also be attending to chat about common mental illnesses, how they present, and how best to support people. The training is aimed at those who volunteer for NightChurch and core staff. – Alice
Climate And Other Things
A Selection of Paintings by George Dow – Friday 16th August
St Mary’s are delighted to be hosting an exhibition of George’s paintings, entitled ‘Climate And Other Things’, until Monday 30th September. The exhibition will preview on Friday 16th August from 5.00pm-7.00pm, and will then be open daily from 10am-12pm. After living in London for 40 years working in HR and spending many holidays in St Ives and across Penwith, George moved to Penzance in 2018 and immersed himself in drawing, painting and performance poetry. He is also chair of the national environmental charity Green Christian (www.greenchristian.org.uk) and feels that expressing a deep concern for the planet is often best achieved through visual art rather than the sometimes confusing and dogmatic world of words and statistics. The ten paintings on show use a variety of media, and several specifically focus on the effects of the climate and biodiversity crisis which will hopefully provoke a reflective response in viewers. All sale proceeds will be donated to St Mary’s.
COMING SOON…
Cornwall Faith Forum Peace Walk – Sunday 18th August
Cornwall Faith Forum invites you to join a Sharing For Peace Walk along the Tresillian River. Please gather at Tresilian at 1.45pm for a 2.00pm start and gentle level stroll to St Clement and back. Reflective readings on the theme of water and/or veggie snacks for halfway most welcome. – Andrew Yates
Traditional Summer Fête – Friday 30th August
The Family Workers and NightChurch are working together to put on a traditional summer fête at St Mary’s on 30th August, from 11.30am to 3.30pm. Time-travel back to when 10p was charged on the door for entry, and games (all costing 10p to play) included ‘guess the weight of the cake’, ‘the name of the teddy bear’ or ‘number of sweets in the jar’, all set to the delightful background hum of a tombola with the customary tins of Spam, custard and floral bubble bath. If you would like to be involved, either by creating a game, manning a station, whipping up a dozen butterfly cakes, or raiding your cupboard for corned beef, then please speak to Molly or Alice. Money raised will be going to Cancer Research and Georgia’s Voice, charities chosen by Molly’s families. – Alice
Poverty Forum Meeting at Hayle – 3rd September
Three times a year Cornwall Poverty Forum takes a break from zoom and holds an in-person meeting. The one in ‘the West’ for 2024 will be held on 3rd September at Hayle Salvation Army starting at 10.30am. All Welcome. Do you have lived experience of poverty and are willing to share your story? Or do you want to find out how you could help make Cornwall a fairer and more just place in which to live and work ? Then come along on 3rd September. Contact Andrew Yates Andrewy@cornwallindependentpovertyforum.com for more information, or look at the website: www.cornwallindependentpovertyforum.com
Creation Care Celebration Service
Saturday 28th September
Several churches have qualified for Eco Church and Kernow Green Church Awards this month. Awards will be presented by Bishop Hugh at this year’s Creation Care Service of celebration which takes place at 2pm on Saturday 28th September at St Andrew’s Church in Redruth. There will be musicians, cake and chat!
