Statue of the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth at the Church of the Visitation, Ein Karem, Jerusalem. The wall in the background features the words of the Magnificat in many languages.
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Bible Readings: Hebrews 10.5-10 & Luke 1.39-55
Advent waiting reflection
As the calendar year draws towards its close and the days grow darker and shorter, a new Church year begins, with Advent season, looking ahead for the coming of the light. As always, we begin our Christian year with waiting.
We spend quite a bit of time waiting.
We wait for a GP appointment,
For a train.
For the bus to move out of the way on Paul hill.
We wait for a builder,
For the heating to be fixed.
We wait to be paid,
For promotion.
We wait for the rain to stop,
For the crops to grow.
We wait for results.
We wait to be healed.
We wait for flood waters to subside.
We wait for an apology.
We wait for church leaders to do the right thing.
We wait for a new priest, well he or she is unlikely to be new, more likely second or third hand and well used, but whoever, we will welcome them.
Let us wait with hope. – Chris
Detail from The Madonna of the Magnificat by Sandro Botticelli.
And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’ [Luke 1.46-55]
A Prayer for Christmas
Lord, I smartened myself up (checked my hair, wore my good shoes)
And brought you my Christmas petitions.
I asked for world peace. Again.
My thoughts wandered. I took my shoes off.
You asked me what I really wanted, but I wriggled away.
Because, you know Lord, I do want world peace (obviously),
But I want the rich to be sent away empty possibly more than is decent.
You see, Lord, I’m not full of goodwill when I should be:
I like the idea of your pulling the powerful from their thrones
Maybe…a little too much.
So while I have you, if we’re talking honestly,
I’m rubbish at casting my cares onto you – I hold them tight like treasure –
So could you help me with that?
Do you think you could increase my patience?
Do you think you could fill in my gaps?
And on I go, spinning a litany.
Well. You did ask.
By the time I’m done, I worry I’ve bored you,
That you’ll wander off.
Yet: you’re still there, and it feels impossible, somehow,
As you were in the beginning, are now and ever will be.
My Christmas prayer shifts; you sit beside me.
This, this moment, is enough.
Abide, Lord. Abide. – Josie
Weekly newsletter/blog and website
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS THE FINAL NEWSLETTER OF 2024 AND THAT IT WILL RETURN ON SUNDAY 12TH JANUARY. For details of services/activities between Monday 30th December to Saturday 11th January inclusive, please speak to your churchwarden. May the rest of your Advent be a time of hope and your Christmastide be blessed and joyful! – Josie & Chris
Deanery News
Advent & Christmas Services/Activities
Sunday 22nd December – 4th Sunday in Advent
10.30am: Lessons & Carols service at St. John’s PZ (Playzone this week will start at approximately 11.30am, after the service ends)
10.30am: Communion with RNLI Act of Remembrance for the lives lost on the Solomon Browne lifeboat and Union Star at Paul Church
6.00pm: Julian Prayer Group on zoom
[Please note that there will be no separate services at St. Mary’s PZ and St. Peter’s Newlyn this Sunday]
Tuesday 24th December – Christmas Eve
7.00pm: ‘Early Bird’ Midnight Communion at St. Mary’s PZ
9.00pm: Early Midnight Communion at Paul Church
11.30pm: Midnight Communion at St. Peter’s Newlyn
Wednesday 25th December – Christmas Day
9.00am: BCP Communion by extension at Paul Church
10.30am: Holy Communion and Carols at St. Peter’s Newlyn
Saturday 4th January 2025
7.00pm: Folk Carol Concert in celebration of Twelfth Night and in aid of refugees at Paul Church. We shall be performing our usual mix of moving and beautiful Christmas and New Year music from medieval times to the present day – with mulled wine and mince pies. Do feel free to fling on a bonnet and waistcoat and dress up ‘Poldark style’. The concert is FREE but a collection (cash or card) will be taken for the chosen charity. (Parking: in the football ground nearby. Disabled parking is in the pub car park opposite the church.)
Friday 10th January 2025
7.00pm: Twelfth Night show at St. Mary’s PZ. For the fifth time St Mary’s will be hosting our splendid Twelfth Night Show. If you come along to the church at 7.00pm (until 9.00pm) on Friday 10th January you will encounter (and perhaps participate in) an ‘Open Mic’ extravaganza featuring songs, poems, sketches, stories, show and tell presentations and such like. The ‘performers’ will be members of the 4 Cluster churches – so that could mean you!
If you would like to contribute, please let George know by e-mailing him at georgedow51@btinternet.com and mentioning what you will be offering to the programme, be it song, poem or something else. George will then put together an ‘order of service’, so to speak. Should you prefer not to perform then that is equally fine. Just come along and be entertained. You may witness talents of your fellow congregation members which have so far been hidden. Entrance is free. Wine, beer and soft drinks will be available for purchase at the bar. Hope to see you on 10th January!
Christmas Holiday Club
Monday 23rd December
9.30am – 3.00pm: Generations United – Carols & Christmas activities – Rogue Theatre, Tehidy Woods
Monday 30th December
10.00am – 3.00pm: Cooking; science experiments; arts & crafts; games – St. Mary’s Church
Thursday 2nd January
10.00am – 3.00pm: New year BBQ; Forest school activities; games; walk to Mousehole – Paul Village Hall
Friday 3rd January
10.00am – 3.00pm: Feadon Farm
If you can volunteer, please contact Molly on molly.blewett@penleecluster.org.uk.
Christmas Day Lunch – 25th December
Growing Links will be serving Christmas Day lunch at the John Daniel Centre (Roscadghill Road, Heamoor, TR20 8TP) between 1.00pm – 2.00pm and then a light supper between 5.00 – 6.00pm. All are welcome to join!
Meditation Group Dates
St. Mary’s Meditation Group will continue to meet throughout Christmastide as usual, on Friday 27th December, Friday 3rd January and Friday 10th January.
Psalm Group Dates
Please note that Psalm Group will not be running on Thursday 26th December or Thursday 2nd January. It will return again on Thursday 9th January.
Contemplative Prayer – Monday 30th December
Contemplative Prayer will take place at St. Mary’s at 6pm on Monday 30th December. This group always meets on the last Monday of the month and all are welcome!
St. Peter’s Newlyn
Please note there will be no midweek service at St. Peter’s on Wednesday 1st January. There will be a service on Sunday 5th January as usual.
Littleland Children’s Roleplay – Saturday 4th January
Children’s Roleplay returns to St. Peter’s on Saturday 4th January from 10.00am – 12.00pm. All sessions are FREE and refreshments are provided for the children. Hot drinks and cakes by donation please. Contact Molly on molly.blewett@penleecluster.org.uk for more details.
Core Staff Meeting
There will be a Core Staff meeting at St. Mary’s on Tuesday 7th January at 10.00am.
Creation Care Gathering
The next Creation Care Network Gathering will be on Thursday 9th January at 10.00 am. Polly Eaton from A Rocha Eco Church will be joining and she will run through the new Eco Church Audit and differences we should be aware of. There will be plenty of time for Q&A, so you might want to be prepared with these. Register your attendance for this gathering here:
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.
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.
Julian Prayer Group
Free us, O Lord, from the chatter of our minds and draw us through and beyond all words and symbols into the silence. That we may discover you, the unspoken word, the pure light transforming the darkness that veils the ground of our being.
The Julian Meeting will be on zoom this Sunday, at 6pm. Zoom link:
