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“The Lord brought forth bread from the earth and wine, to cheer man’s heart. Alleluia.”
Mosaic by Fr Marko Rupnik SJ from the National Shrine of St John Paul II
Photograph by Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P.
Giving thanks for our relationships.
Rev 19: 6-10 John 2: 1-11
This week we focus on the story of the wedding in Cana of Galilee. In this well-known story, we become aware that Jesus’ presence transforms situations. At the wedding feast he provides an abundance of provision and blessing where there once was law and obligation. He transforms the situation. This miracle or “sign”, right at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, points to what’s to come….the abundance of God’s love for all people.
I wonder where we have become aware of God’s overwhelming and overflowing love for us? How does our faith in this God transform our lives so that we too become more loving and more caring people?
We will also be exploring a few of the new prayers published by the Church of England to be used for same sex relationships.
Weekly Blog/ newsletter and website.
As we move forward to the time that Sian and Andrew Yates leave Penlee Cluster a small group of people will be responsible for communications. The group of people have already met and the handover has begun.
So please send any information for the newsletter and blog in by Wednesday evenings.
Send information to: teamleader@penleecluster.org.uk josie.huntley@penleecluster.com and communications@penleecluster.org.uk
Please can you make sure that all dates and bookings for church events or church buildings are sent to Keno admin@penleecluster.org.uk so that they can be put in the cluster online diary. Thank you.
Christian Unity Service in the Penzance Area
Lent, Holy Week and Easter in the Penlee cluster.
Lent resources and groups.
Meeting God in Mark by Rowan Williams.
Each week we will be offering notes and a guided way to reflect on Mark’s gospel. The book costs £9 and can be ordered from The edge of the world bookshop in Pz or on line. But you don’t need a book to take part. The book is a fresh look at the message and meaning of Mark’s Gospel by one of the world’s greatest living theologians. Rowan Williams explores the essential meaning and purpose of St Mark’s Gospel for complete beginners as well as for those who have read the Gospel many times before and want to see it in a fresh light.
Written at a highly accessible level and packed with illuminating spiritual insights, this book would make a perfect gift for anyone thinking about confirmation, while also appealing to people who may simply be curious about Jesus and the Gospels and want to learn more about his significance.
The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe.
Together we will be using part of this book each Sunday to reflect on the Easter story. There will also be a weekly group looking at the play version of this book and thinking through the implications for our daily lives. We will also be holding two school days in Holy Week based around the book.
Christian Aid – ‘Act on Poverty’ a weekly course
Together we’ll enable churches and individuals UK-wide to gain a deeper understanding of experiences of poverty, local and global. We’ll be sharing stories of faith and activism that challenge the status quo. And we’ll be offering inspiration for actions big and small so that we can all take action to tackle poverty together.
Group timetable
Wed 10.15am: Lion, Witch and Wardrobe sessions at St Peter’s
Thurs 11am: Meeting God in Mark by Rowan Williams: St Marys
Wed 6pm: Act of Poverty: Sian and Andrew’s house, Kings Rd
Thurs 5.45pm: Meeting God in Mark: Paul church
Wed 9 am: Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe: St Mary’s school
Sunflower project
This project will begin on Easter Day with the giving of sunflowers seeds. It will be a creative project over many months as the churches, like sunflowers, track the sun and all that is good and of God in this place. Project of creative discernment.
Worship leaders: update, training, and resources
Tue 23rd Jan 6pm to 8pm: St Mary’s church Pz
This is an important time to look at worship resources, build and strengthen teams and plan.
So, if you already help to lead worship or would like to help in the future this is the meeting for you. We will also be beginning the process of drawing up worship rotas for post Easter worship.
Pioneering course: Tuesday 2pm via zoom
We are looking forward to seeing you next Tuesday afternoon for the second of our webinar series where the focus is on the role of values in facilitating culture change in the parish church, to shift the energy outwards towards those who are unconnected.
Please watch this 6-minute video and think about the question Tina poses about the Beatitudes which she reads from the New Living Version of the Bible, Matthew 5:3-10.
http://tinyurl.com/yn9xgmte
Passcode: FuMr4z$b
We look forward to seeing you on the same link as last time:
Diary Dates for 2024
Have you got events that need to go in the Cluster 2024 diary?
It is important to make sure that there are no clashes…and also that there are exciting events and worship to look forward to as we travel through the year. If there are dates and events you wish to go into this diary please send them to both Keno and Sian. We are expecting the diary to be completed by next week.
Pilgrimage, retreats, and time to take stock.
Hilfield Friary: April 9th -12th
Cost : £150 plus contribution towards travel.
There are a few places available on the Franciscan retreat for those who might like to explore the Christian faith through the lens of Franciscan spirituality…living more simply and living with joy and humility. Come and explore the life and prayer beat of a monastic community.
Irish pilgrimage: from St Kevin to St Francis.
16th -19th April: £300 including flights to Dublin from Newquay
A time to explore elements of Celtic Christianity and seeing God in the beauty of creation. Led by Prof Michelle Brown and Andrew & Sian Yates. We will explore the beautiful area around Glendolough as well as parts of Dublin.
Isles of Scilly retreat: Tresco: 26th- 29th April.
Cost (your cost in getting to the island and a contribution towards food).
“Moods of the sea through the eyes of the psalms”. Join us for a few days on this beautiful island. Relax and explore this island in the company of others, reflect and pray through a selection of psalms. For more details and to express an interest in any of the above events contact Sian and Andrew Yates.
Support groups
We have had a wonderful and blessed response from people this week. Enthusiastic and prayerful offers of help to set up and strengthen the support groups so that the work and mission of the Penlee Cluster can run smoothly during the clergy vacancy. If everyone does something then the work of the churches in this place is distributed amongst a wider group of people. If you want to explore ways in which you can offer to help please contact Keno or Sian and Andrew Yates.
- Pastoral Ministers (coordinators in place)
- Worship groups
- Family and children (coordinators in place)
- Night Church (coordinators in place)
- Communication (group now formed)
- Weddings, Funerals and Baptisms
- Penlee Cluster Trustees: to increase the number of trustees
- Church Wardens, PCC members …might you be being called to serve in this way?
Ten years on….Playzone ministry at St John’s Pz
In May of this year the Playzone and soft play at St John’s church will be ten years old! There will be a party on Friday 10th May at 5:30pm.
Pancake Day
On 13th Feb at 3.30pm, Pancake day (Shrove Tuesday) there will be pancakes and a presentation of thoughts, ideas and plans for the next steps on the journey using our church buildings.
Website of the Week
The Welcoming Prayer by Thomas Keating OCSO
Welcome, welcome, welcome.
I welcome everything that comes to me today because I know that it is for my healing.
I welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions, persons, situations, and conditions.
I let go of my desire for power and control.
I let go of my desire for affection, esteem, approval and pleasure.
I let go of my desire for survival and security.
I let go of my desire to change any situation, condition, person or myself.
I open myself to the love and presence of God and God’s action within. Amen.
In this short, powerful and transformative prayer, awareness and surrender come together, creating something new in us where Christ’s spirit illumines our darkness, and we begin to glimpse our true self. Even if we are experiencing physical or spiritual pain, it helps return us to unconditional presence.
Angel Flight Plan Update – Winner’s donation.
An angelic story. After going through all poems that were sent in, the top poem was chosen. I contacted the child’s parents to inform them that their child (Fifi) had come first place and had won the £25 cash prize. Her mum then contacted me to explain how Fifi was thrilled, but instead of keeping the £25 cash prize, she would like to donate it to the RNLI. I have since contacted the RNLI explaining this and the Penzance manager will email me a thank you letter on behalf of the RNLI, that can be sent to FiFi.
Keeping in Touch
If you are fairly new to churches or events organised by the Penlee Cluster churches then you might want to fill in this form which can be found on the Penlee Cluster website (or in paper form in our church buildings). You can opt to receive the blog link and weekly newsletter emailed to your inbox each week alongside other exciting upcoming events. On this form you can also opt to be added to the electoral roll of the churches…important in having your say, being consulted and able to vote at the annual meetings and other consultations that will happen this year.
Movement of Supporting Anglicans for an Inclusive Church
How do we flourish in a church with barriers?
Thursday 29th February 2024
An Evening Conversation on Zoom 7pm-9pm
Keynote speaker: Rob Ponsford O.C.R, F.M.C
“An Introduction to Inclusive Church”
ALL WELCOME
To register and to receive zoom link: https://rb.gy/5bm67c
For more information, please contact your local reps
Devon: Tim Collins revtimpaul@btinternet.com
Cornwall: Andrew Yates paulpriest@penleecluster.org.uk
Truro Diocese Prayer & Intercessions workshop
Thursday 25th Jan at 7pm on Zoom.
This online workshop for Local Worship Leaders will look at why we pray, the difference between private prayer, public prayer and intercession, and how we lead others in prayer through intercessions.
NightChurch Pz dates
24th February, 23rd March, and 20th April.
