William Blake – Giving sight to Bartimaeus.
Last Sunday after Trinity
Bible Readings: Jeremiah 31.7-9 & Mark 10.46-end
In our Gospel reading today, we meet Bartimaeus, a blind man who calls out to Jesus as he and his followers walk past him on the road. He shouts ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ (Mark 10.47). (Bartimaeus’ cry forms the basis of the ancient ‘Jesus Prayer’, which is associated particularly with Eastern Christianity, though often practised in the West.) Some of the crowd rebuke him, urging him to be quiet, but he ignores them and calls out all the more loudly, causing Jesus to stop and ask him what he wants, to which Bartimaeus says that he wants his sight restored. Jesus grants his request, saying ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ (Mark 10.52). At first glance, this is a simple – though no less miraculous, for that – story of Jesus’ capacity to heal. However, what stands out is the fact that Bartimeaus shouts. He’s not polite; he’s not polished, or murmuring his petitions in a reverent manner. No, Bartimaeus is bold and loud, outside and in public, with the determination and, dare we say it, desperation, that comes from real need. His is a faith asserted through the disapproval of those who sought to silence him. But it is this faith, as Jesus says, which has made him well. There’s nothing wrong with reverence, or beautiful liturgy, of course – context is key. But sometimes, we’re on the ground by the roadside and desperate. In times like those, we may need to shout out our needs to the Lord, over and over again. Let us have the confidence to do so; the Lord always stops and listens. – Josie
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.
PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL BE NO NEWSLETTER NEXT WEEK (SUNDAY 3RD NOVEMBER). THE NEXT ONE WILL BE FOR SUNDAY 10TH NOVEMBER . – Josie
A Prayer for Peace
Almighty God,
from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed:
kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all, the true love of peace
and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom
those who take counsel for the nations of the earth
that in tranquillity your kingdom may go forward,
till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen. – The Church of England
News from St. Peter’s Newlyn
Our Charity Cream Tea event on Saturday 19th October was a success, even though it was not widely advertised, due to the fact we were not sure if the work in Church would be finished in time. We raised £265 for Macmillan Cancer Care.
With more lights than the Regent Street Christmas display, on Sunday 20th October we had a Traditional Mass to celebrate Harvest Festival. Special thanks to Rev. Leslie Attwood. At coffee afterwards, Bucks Fizz and cake with clotted cream was enjoyed by the congregation. Much tinned and packet food was donated, and taken by Nigel, to Penzance Food Bank. Thankfully Theo, our resident snorer, did not manage to eat the Harvest Loaf! – Lynda
NightChurch News
The ‘Mystery Pianist of Penzance’, aka Rhys Wynne-Jones, played a concert on 12th October at Central Methodist Church Helston to raise money for various good causes, one of which was our very own NightChurch. We’re delighted to report that £505 was raised for NightChurch! Many thanks to Rhys and to Central Methodist Church Helston.
NightChurch Co-ordinator
St Mary’s Church, Penzance has a vacancy for the NightChurch Co-ordinator for 10 hours a week at £15 per hour to run the project in the church which seeks to provide a holy place of sanctuary and welcome to those who feel marginalised by reasons of isolation, poverty, insecure accommodation, mental ill health or who are wanting to explore spirituality and faith in a low-key way. Please apply via CV, covering letter and with the names of two referees, either by hand or post to The Churchwardens, St Mary the Virgin, Chapel Street, Penzance TR18 4AP or by email to stmaryswarden@penleecluster.com. The full job description may be found here:
https://www.penleecluster.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/NightChurch-Co-JD.pdf
The closing date is 5pm on 29th October 2024. Interviews will be held on the evening of 30th October.
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.
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.
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.
TODAY…
Christians Against Poverty Talk
Sunday 27th October
14.4 million people in the UK are in poverty and the number of people in need of help has surged. St. Mary’s is delighted to invite Alison, from Christians Against Poverty, to give a talk about a Christian response to poverty during our service on Sunday October 27th. For more information on Christians Against Poverty, please see here: https://capuk.org/
Julian Meeting
Opening Reflection taken from a Richard Rohr’s meditation.
In Islam, the muezzin keeps watch for the first crack of light on the eastern horizon, and beckons all believers to the dawn prayer. In Christian monastic fixed-hour prayer…the sacred pause at sunrise is called lauds, the coming of the light, a never ending gift. In response to this unasked-for benevolence, our reciprocity is to ask ourselves, ‘What gift might I bring to this day?’
Thomas Merton, who called the first light ‘a moment of awe and inexpressible innocence,’ as the birds in the bough begin their tentative chirping and an ashen moon departs, railed against inattention to dawn’s beckoning: Here is an unspeakable secret: paradise is all around us and we do not understand. It is wide open. The sword is taken away, but we do not know it: we are off ‘one to his farm and another to his merchandise.’ Light on. Clocks ticking. Thermostats working. Stoves cooking. Electric shavers filling radios with static. “Wisdom,” cries the dawn deacon, but we do not attend.
Sentence
O Lord, let us attend. Let us not lose the taste of its spell, not one droplet of this holiest hour.
Closing prayer
Bless to us, O God,
the earth below our feet.
Bless to us, O God,
the path whereupon we go.
Bless to us, O God,
the people whom we meet. Amen.
The Julian Meeting will be on zoom this Sunday, at 6pm. Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84734636130?pwd=NkMrMDNjTGpzbnorZEUrYVRJUTBkQT09
THIS WEEK…
Pilgrimage walk talk.
Wednesday 30th October
A short talk by Christine Owen about her recent Pilgrimage walk along the Portuguese route on the Camino to the Cathedral at Santiago, at St. Peter’s on Wednesday 30th October, after the 11.00am service. Please join us for coffee afterwards.
*Please note there will be no Psalm Group this Thursday 31st October. The group will meet up again the week after (Thursday 7th November).
COMING SOON…
Littleland Children’s Roleplay
Saturday 16th November
All sessions are FREE ENTRY. Roleplay suitable for children under 5 years of age. Forthcoming dates…
Saturday 16th November 10.00am – 12.00pm
Saturday 7th December 10.00am – 12.00pm
All sessions are FREE and refreshments are provided for the children. Hot drinks and cakes for adults by donation please. Contact Molly on molly.blewett@penleecluster.org.uk.
Quiet Day & Service
Wednesday 18th December
Come along to a quiet day and service led by Chris Kingshott at St. Peter’s Church, starting at 11.00am with the service, followed by lunch and then the quiet day.
