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Dear Friends,
War and Peace
I am writing this whilst the war continues to rage in the cities of Ukraine. There are scenes of devastation with citizens running for their lives, buildings being reduced to rubble and women, children and the elderly fleeing to wherever they can. War is always a failure, its cause often due to apathy, exploitation or a lack of dialogue and communication.
But when Jesus comes into the picture, the vision changes! He confronts this violence in every person taking it on himself. By refusing to respond in the same way, by offering love and forgiveness in the face of hate, he breaks the vicious circle of violent response. This is where life and freedom begin: not from the barrel of a gun, not from pride, but from a determined refusal to hate, and an acceptance that Jesus died for our enemies as well as us. This is not easy. It wasn’t easy for Jesus.
So I must pray for Vladimir Putin, each Russian soldier as well for President Zelenskyy and each Ukrainian soldier, because not so long ago they were all little innocent boys playing football. And in these demanding days of confusion, I must also pray for President Trump and the American administration.
We know from our history books that actions of war have been dressed up in religious clothes as a holy war and defending the faith. It is so in Russia today in the Orthodox Church. It is also in the Bible when Moses killed an Egyptian overseer and Peter drew his sword and nearly decapitated one of the men sent to arrest Jesus. But with Jesus, it is not just a negative “Don’t be violent”, but a positive.
“LOVE YOUR ENEMIES AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU”
‘Yes’ say the cynics. That is great theology, but it doesn’t work in the real world. Perhaps we just haven’t tried hard enough.
At the moment we understand that most Ukrainians wish to be free from being dominated by Russia. The Christians there are people who wish to be free. It is true that Christians are free from having to prove themselves, for they do not have to put themselves right with God, because such a task is impossible. Such a God would never be satisfied anyway because acceptance cannot depend on a person’s own efforts. The sacrifice has been paid by Jesus which is why, during the days before Easter, we remember that Christians people everywhere are gloriously free, both from the chains of the past and from the slave-master. They are also free from what other people may think of them because it is God’s judgement that matters and not those of other peoples. This is a great release and means feeling free because Jesus rose from the dead and therefore we have nothing to fear. Free from the past, from what people think and free from having to prove ourselves. This freedom is a gift and like all gifts it is to be enjoyed, grasped eagerly and used in the service of others. Here is true joy because the past no longer matters. Jesus is alive!
There is no doubt in my mind that a free person is also a joyful person and able to feel free and at peace with themselves and the world. Above all we feel free with new inner spiritual life. We celebrate Easter, not just because our Lord Jesus is alive, but because of what it means for us –
free people, full of freedom, joy and peace.
This is the resurrection in action!
Brian McQuillen
This Week's Services
Sunday 30th March - Lent 4 / Mothering Sunday
Probus 9:30am - Praise and Worship with Rev Caroline
St Erme 9:30am - With Rev Brian
St Michael Penkivel 10am - with Rev Linda
St Crida 11:00am - with Rev Pat
Ladock 11:00am - Holy Communionwith Rev Caroline
Tresillian 11:15am - with Rev Linda
This Week's Readings
Joshua 5:9-12
2 Cor 5:16 - end
Luke 15:1-3 11b to end
Collect for this Sunday
God of love,
passionate and strong,
tender and careful:
watch over us and hold us
all the days of our life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord
Next Week's Services
Thursday 3rd April
Probus 12noon - Holy Communion with Rev Caroline
Sunday 6th April - Lent 5
Probus 9:30am - Connect with Rev Caroline and Anthony
St Erme 9:30am - Holy Communion with Rev Linda
St Nuns 11:00am - Parish Praise with William and Simon
Ladock 11:00am - Holy Communion with Rev Linda
Tresillian 11:15am - Holy Communion with Rev Caroline and Anthony
Next Week's Readings
Isaiah 43: 16-21
Philippians 3:4b to 14
John 12:1-8
Probus'  Song of the Month
is Forever by Kari Jobe. It's a song all about the Easter story, and it'll form part of the Easter Sunday service in Probus.
In an interview Kari talks about how she kept thinking about the word 'Forever' and how forever Jesus will be lifted high, worshipped and glorified - and how she wanted to paint a poetic picture of Jesus coming to earth to die for our sins.
You can listen to the song here
https://youtu.be/s6duzVn5M6E?si=916vj-Pw3GWC1e8K
Little Lights Toddler Group
The stay and play group for preschool children and their families at Probus continues to be a very popular group with upto 25 children as well as their parents / carers attending each week. This week Rev Caroline is joining us to lead a session on The Easter Story for the children. We hope to introduce Bible stories to the children and their families on a regular basis at these sessions.
With the increase in the number of children we are close to running out of small children's chairs for snack time. If you aware of any churches or other locations that have a few small chairs surplus to requirements please let Eleanor know, we can arrange collection.
Probus Church Audio Tour
The team at Probus have now recorded an audio tour of the church to help visitors to the church see the key features of the church.
If you wish to listen you can hear the tour via this link
https://probuschurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/church-history-tour-20250324.mp3
Mothering Sunday and Mothers’ Union
Bringing up children is tough for women struggling against poverty and violence. Members of Mothers' Union worldwide are doing what they can to help. In the Solomon Islands archipelago north-east of Australia, for example, there are more than 16,000 Mothers’ Union members. As a team, they run practical parenting classes that bring happiness to hundreds of parents and children and reduce tensions and violence at home.
Mothers’ Union is a Christian charity that works locally and internationally to give women a voice, challenge gender-based violence and support positive family relationships. Please support our efforts through our Mothering Sunday appeal www.makeamothersday.org
Thank you, and Happy Mothers’ Day, from Mothers’ Union, Diocese of Truro.
Bulletin - please note all items for the following week's bulletin to be sent to bulletin@probus.church by 5pm on a Monday
Thanks - Eleanor
Financially Supporting your church
The Parish Giving Scheme is our preferred method of receiving regular giving within the churches of Probus, Ladock and Grampound. If you haven't already transferred from other forms of giving then do check out how it works through the link here or by contacting your treasurer.
Please do consider whether this is a good time to review your regular giving at the church, or perhaps you would like to plan for a future donation and leave a gift in your will. The Church of England has produced guidance on legacy giving which you can find at https://www.churchofengland.org/faith-life/church-legacy.
  
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