Blog
February 2nd
Presentation of Jesus at the Temple by Fra Angelico
Presentation of Christ in the Temple
Bible Readings: Malachi 3.1-5; Psalm 24; Hebrews 2.14-end; Luke 2.22-40
Extract from the Gospel reading
Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, ‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. [Luke 2.27-32]
Weekly newsletter/blog and website
Please send all information for the Sunday newsletter/blog by Wednesday evening to Josie at penleeclusternewsletter@gmail.com. For anything else specifically website-related, please contact Chris at communications@penleecluster.org.uk. If you would like to write a reflection for the newsletter, please contact Josie for details of upcoming Sunday readings.
CLUSTER INFORMATION & EVENTS
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 Prayer Group
Please note that the Julian Group will meet at 6.00pm in Pol de Léon Church this Sunday 2nd February.
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.
Service for Josephine Lawrey at St. Mary’s Church
Saturday 1st March
There will be a celebration of the life of Josephine Lawrey who many of you will know was a faithful member of St Mary’s church for many years before illness prevented her from attending regularly. The service will be on Saturday 1st March at 12 noon at St. Mary’s Church. You are all most welcome to join in this celebration.
St. Mary’s Church – Halo Heating
As part of our review of the heating provisions at St. Marys and the movement to the Halo system we agreed to set a questionnaire for the congregation. This covered a number of areas including heating and we had 30 responses. The top line is we are seen as a very inclusive, holy place that takes the needs of its people seriously along with its environmental issues. The congregation believes:
- as a church we are geared to both the young and people with needs
- that St. Marys takes environmental issues seriously and supports the move to be carbon neutral by 2030
- the church is too cold in winter and that they are often cold. It does not mean they will not go to services but it has an impact on them staying or the church being used to its full potential.
The main reasons for coming to church were for services, events, or lunch:
- Planned services: 28 (93%)
- Events: 17 (57%)
- Lunch: 12 (40%)
- Meeting friends: 8 (27%)
- Private prayer: 5 (17%)
- NightChurch: 3 (10%)
- Other 3 (10%)
90% of the respondents were over 60 years old with just under 1/3 being over 80. This fits with our profile.
World Day of Prayer
Service at St. Mary’s Church – Friday 7th March
The Women’s World Day of Prayer movement, as it was called originally, actually began in the late 19th century in America, and since then has developed and grown, always promoting reconciliation through an ecumenical approach. Although the writing committee will always be female, it has always welcomed gentlemen to get involved too. The monies collected are distributed to a wide range of charities. Each year a service is written by a group from a different country; this year it was composed by the ladies of the Cook Islands. The same service is enjoyed across the globe, and we are delighted to be able to welcome all to join us at St. Mary’s Church on Friday 7th March at 10.30am. It is, as ever, a lovely way to discover more about people’s lives and to have the opportunity to thank God for His provision for us. The scripture chosen for this year is, ‘I made you wonderful! ‘ (Psalm 139, v.14). Do come and join us and be part of this extraordinary generous movement. – Mandy
Calling a Wounded Planet Home
Lent Course at St. Mary’s Church
Calling a Wounded Planet Home is a Lent course offered for the Cluster to be held in St Mary’s Church. It is also being offered across the Diocese where it can be held in local churches. This course is based on Green Christian’s Lent offering which asks ‘What kind of people might we need to be to face the challenges of climate change?’
Here is a space to go deeper together, and a space of contemplation that can resource meaningful action. Covering topics of Love, Truth, Wisdom, Justice and Hope, this course uses Taize worship, prayer, Bible texts and silence to inform reflection and discussion on creation care and the climate crisis, with the potential for positive and grounded outcomes for both community and church. There will be no videos and laptops, with the emphasis being on a simple format of active listening, sharing and encouragement.
The St Mary’s sessions will be from 2.00pm – 3.00pm on Wednesdays 12th, 19th & 26th March and 2nd & 9th April in the Celtic Chapel. All welcome. Any questions to George at georgedow@greenchristian.org.uk.
OTHER INFORMATION & EVENTS
Cornwall Independent Poverty Forum News
The next meeting of the Poverty Forum will be held on Tuesday 4th February at 10.30 am. This will be an in-person meeting and will be held at Church House, Old Cathedral School, Cathedral Close, Truro, TR1 2FQ. Unfortunately the venue does not have any available parking. To find the nearest car parks, please see here: https://www.visittruro.org.uk/truro-car-parks
Creation Care Network Gathering
Thursday 13th February
The next Creation Care Network Gathering will be on Thursday 13th February 13 at 7.00 pm – 9.00 pm. Clare Fussell, Campaign Director, from Operation Noah (https://www.operationnoah.org/)
will be talking more about Operational Noah’s work and campaigns to encourage greater church action on the climate crisis. Register your attendance before the gathering here: https://tinyurl.com/4xf4779w
Royal Cornwall Show Coach Trip
with Age UK – Saturday 7th June
Age UK Cornwall & The Isles of Scilly are inviting anyone from our church communities, aged 50 and over and living in any of the following postcode areas, to join them on their annual coach trip to the Royal Cornwall Show in Wadebridge: TR10, TR11, TR12, TR13, TR14, TR15, TR16, TR17, TR18, TR19, TR20, TR26, TR27.
Thanks to the support from the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association, they will be providing transport to and from the Showground, entry to the Showground and a lovely pasty lunch at the discounted cost of only £15.25 per person. They will provide a marquee throughout the day for any of the group to rest their legs and enjoy conversation. A refreshing beverage will be available from 3.15pm – 4.00pm at no extra cost. Spaces are limited, so please speak to your churchwarden to book a place. They will need your name, landline or mobile phone number, preference of either steak or cheese & onion pasty, and payment, which can be cash (£15.25) or card (£15.60 to include the commission; Keno has added the item ‘Royal Cornwall Show 2025’ to the contactless devices).
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.
January 26th
3rd Sunday of Epiphany Bible Readings: Nehemiah 8.1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12.12-31a; Luke 4.14-21 Gospel reading Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When
February 11th
Sculpture by Michael Franke, photo by Frank Vincentz Changed and Transformed 2 kings 2: 1-12Mark 9: 2-9 This week we read about the experience on the Mount of Transfiguration, the time that Jesus took three of his disciples up onto a high mountain to pray. It turned out to be a defining moment for Jesus
February 4th
The Orion Nebula is an archetypical example of star formation, from the massive, young stars that are shaping the nebula to the pillars of dense gas that may be the homes of budding stars. Bible readings.Proverbs 8: 22-31, John 1: 1-14 “In the beginning….our fragile world” The gospel reading today is one that is often used in
January 28th
The Presentation of Christ A cloisonné enamel work from Georgia. 12X10 cm. Artist unknown. Now on display at the Museum of Fine Arts in Tbilisi, Georgia. Bible readings: Malachi 3: 1-5. Luke 2: 22-40 Today we celebrate the feast of the Presentation of Christ. It is forty days after the birth of Jesus. This festival
January 21st
Image “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 IIPhotograph 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
January 14th
“Come and see” – Epiphany 2 Bible Readings for the week. Rev. 5: 1-10 John 1: 43 – end The gospel reading focuses on the call of the first disciples, Andrew and a friend. St John’s account is very different from that of the other evangelists (Matthew 4:1 8–22, Mark 1: 16–20 and Luke 5:
