First Sunday of Advent
Bible Readings: 1 Thessalonians 3.9-end & Luke 21.25-36
Advent – Christina Rossetti (1851)
‘Come,’ Thou dost say to Angels,
To blessed Spirits, ‘Come’:
‘Come,’ to the lambs of Thine own flock,
Thy little ones, ‘Come home.’
‘Come,’ from the many-mansioned house
The gracious word is sent;
‘Come,’ from the ivory palaces
Unto the Penitent.
O Lord, restore us deaf and blind,
Unclose our lips though dumb:
Then say to us, ‘I will come with speed,’
And we will answer, ‘Come.’
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.
PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL BE NO NEWSLETTER ON SUNDAY 29TH DECEMBER OR SUNDAY 5TH JANUARY – Josie
Advent & Christmas Services/Activities
(for usual midweek services and other events, see Coming Soon and Diary for the week)
Sunday 1st December – 1st Sunday of Advent
9.30am: Morning Worship at St. Peter’s Newlyn
10.30am: Iona Worship at Paul Church
11.00am: Communion at St. Mary’s PZ
1.00pm: St. Nicholas Day event at St. John’s PZ
6.00pm: Julian Prayer Group at Paul Church
Monday 2nd December
10.30am: Wreath-making workshop at St. Mary’s PZ. All materials provided, followed by soup lunch.
Wednesday 4th December
10.00am: Christmas Coffee Morning at Paul Church, with stalls, raffle, coffee and cake!
Sunday 8th December – 2nd Sunday of Advent
9.30am: Communion at St. Peter’s Newlyn
10.30am: Sung Communion at Paul Church
11.00am: Communion at St. Mary’s PZ
6.00pm: Candlelit Poetry at Paul Church
Wednesday 11th December
6.00pm – 8.00pm: Rhys, the ‘Penzance Mystery Pianist’, will be playing carols at NightChurch at St. Mary’s PZ
Sunday 15th December – 3rd Sunday in Advent
9.30am: Traditional Mass at St. Peter’s Newlyn
10.30am: Nine Lessons & Carols Service at Paul Church
11.00am: Communion at St. Mary’s PZ
1.00pm: Intergenerational Bring & Share Lunch at St. Mary’s PZ with carols played by Rhys, games and Christmas activities and meet and greet Father
Christmas!
6.00pm: Evening Iona Service by candlelight at Paul Church
Quiet Day & Service – Wednesday 18th December
11.00am: Advent-themed Service & Quiet Day led by Chris Kingshott at St. Peter’s Church, starting at 11.00am with the service, followed by lunch and the quiet day.
Sunday 22nd December – 4th Sunday in Advent
10.30am: Christmas 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: Christmas Communion at St. Mary’s PZ
9.00pm: Christmas Eve 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
10.00am: Christmas Morning Service at St. John’s PZ.
Friday 10th January 2025
7.00pm: Twelfth Night show at St. Mary’s PZ. Details to follow…
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.
West Cornwall Women’s Aid Event
For the second year running, we freely hosted the vigil run by West Cornwall Women’s Aid, together with other community organisations, at St Mary’s this week. Its aim was to raise awareness of violence against women and girls and to call for accountability, marking the start of 16 Days of Activism Penzance. There were speeches, poems, songs, a dance performance by the Big Dance Company and names read out of women who have lost their lives this year at the hands of a partner, former partner or family member. Free soup was served by Whole Again
Communities. The church was full, with probably 150 people including the Mayor and councillors. In a time of interregnum, it can be difficult to maintain an outward facing church. There are so many internal issues to deal with, which can sap all our energy. So when an opportunity comes along to connect with our wider community, it is vital to seize it. It proved to be a wonderful chance for us to connect with a wider, largely non-church going community and to show that we cared deeply about this subject too. Activities are going on until 10th December, most of which are free. Information on these can be found at www.16dayspenzance.co.uk – Vicky
Women’s Refuge Christmas Party
We are looking for Christmas gifts for an upcoming Christmas Party for the Women’s Refuge. If you’re able to donate toiletries, body care sets, chocolates, or biscuits, that would be very much appreciated. Please contact Molly on molly.blewett@penleecluster.org.uk so she can come and collect them. She will need them by 2nd December. Thank you for your generosity.
Creation Care Gathering
The next Creation Care Network Gathering will be on Thursday 12th December at 7.00 pm – 9.00 pm. This will be the Christmas gathering!! We intend to have some fun and get into the festive spirit. Along with our usual catch up, we shall be inviting you to share:
- Wearing a Christmas hat/headwear/decoration
- Share your Christmas traditions in your family
- Virtual mince pie tasting and judging – bring along with you a mince pie (homemade or purchased)
- Sing a carol together!
We do hope you will join us. Register your attendance for this gathering here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEucuGuqj0rH9KqcGmaGyuTzIaHtGALhT0d#/registration
The date of the January 2025 gathering is Thursday 9th January at 10.00am – 12 noon. – Creation Care Network
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…
Julian Meeting
The Julian Meeting will be at Paul Church this Sunday 1st December. The reflections are below if you are unable to join us and would prefer to reflect at a more convenient time for you.
Opening
I fall to my knees in thanksgiving and praise.
May my eyes ever be open to Your Splendour.
May my ears ever be tuned
to the pulse of life and the song of the stars.
May my heart ever be receptive
to the real and the holy within it –
in pain and sorrow,
in plenty and want,
in joy and gratitude.
Sentence
Awaken to being blessed – Psalm 84
Blessing
Bless God, O my soul,
and remember your awakening
to the power that frees,
the love that reconciles,
the touch that heals,
the mercy that consoles,
the good that uplifts,
the justice that satisfies
the deepest longing. – Psalm 103
(These psalms are from Psalms Redux, Poems and Prayers by Carla A Grosch-Miller)
St. Nicholas’ Day Event
Sunday 1st December
Come along to this family-friendly event at St. John’s Church at 1pm to hear the story of St. Nicholas (whose feast Day is 6th December). Children are encouraged to bring along a toy they no longer need so that another child can enjoy a pre-loved toy. Each child will bring home a chocolate treat. Free entry.
THIS WEEK…
Christmas Wreath-making workshop
Monday 2nd December
Come along to St. Mary’s on Monday 2nd December at 10.30am until 12.30pm to make your very own Christmas wreath! All materials provided, followed by a soup lunch.
Wednesday 4th December
10.00am: Christmas Coffee Morning at Paul Church, with stalls, raffle, coffee and cake!
Littleland Children’s Roleplay
Saturday 7th December
At St. Peter’s Newlyn. Roleplay suitable for children under 5 years of age, on Saturday 7th December, from 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.
