|
Dear Friends,
The Psalm set for Sunday begins,
I cry aloud to God, aloud to God, that he may hear me.
In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord; in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying; my soul refuses to be comforted.
I will call to mind the deeds of the LORD; I will remember your wonders of old. (Psalm 77:1-3)
I wonder what crosses your mind as you read these words? For me they are a reminder to give thanks and to remember all the blessings that I have ever been granted so that I might be encouraged and know that God has not forsaken or forgotten me. This is particularly necessary when things seem to be pretty tough, we can often forget that God walks with us each day and each night. We fall into the trap of believing that we are all alone and, if not careful, we can plummet into feelings of despondency or despair.
The traditions of the Jewish faith teach us that we have to actively call to mind the good deeds of the Lord, that we share these with one another and by doing so we do not give up hope. (This is why we share the Lord’s Supper, celebrate the birth of Christ and hold onto other festivals throughout the year.) We have learnt, our previous experience shows us that God is for us, God is with us and that God goes before us. Our hope in God is not mis-placed. We know that God is faithful because we have evidence from our own lives that demonstrates this. We know that God loves and cherishes us because we have experienced his love and provision, grace and mercy day by day.
An ancient practice for Christians has been the Daily Examen. Each day we are encouraged to remember all the times when we have been mindful of God’s Presence with us, to give thanks and to cherish each precious moment. We are also encouraged to contemplate the times when we have not been aware of God’s presence and to pause and to think about why that might be, there may be a multitude of answers possible here, but we remember that we are loved completely and so each day we offer those times to God our Father in heaven and ask for forgiveness and wisdom for the day ahead that we might grow becoming more self-aware and also more God-aware.
As we go into this week let us be mindful of God’s presence with us, and seek to be with God throughout each day.
Grace and peace,
Caroline
Pause for thought with Rev Brian
Who? Me?
Fifty years ago this Sunday I was made a Deacon in Birmingham Cathedral. Nervous and a little naïve I knelt before the Bishop, who laid his hands on my head and loudly pronouncing my name gave me charge to read and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I almost felt my wrap-round clerical collar glow!
The obvious point of wearing a clerical collar is that it points to someone who believes. In some observer’s eyes it highlights someone different, a little more approachable and possibly gullible. I knew I was in for it recently when I was out shopping and a young girl approached, with a smile.
“Can you help me?” she enquired.
“Of course” I said. (I would have straightened my tie if I had one!)
Her smile broadened as she announced “We are doing a survey ……… (for something or other)…….
I answered her questions as politely and with as much patience as I could. When all was completed I asked, “What happens with all this information?”
“Oh” she replied rather dismissively, “It’s all fed into a computer for analysis ……” My hearing aids fluttered as I lost interest.
That is the point. My kind contribution was really point-less! Such surveys, whether for a product, political party or group are only interested in my point of view, a number. They are never interested in me as a person. Which is entirely opposite to God’s view of everyone - as a person. This is why Matthew revealed who all the disciples were by name and particularly who Jesus was, and still is. You can see them as real people fascinated by this new rabbi who called them by name and knew who they were. You can watch them grow and develop as people as the story evolves and they listen to the words and miracles of Jesus. The same is true for you and for me.
We are a gregarious species but we are living in an age of individualism fortified by modern communication techniques, which many are experiencing every day. That allows each individual to remain separate from others as they communicate. This current age of rapid communication is as revolutionary as the time of the invention of the wheel, or the printing press or railway transport, which rapidly changed societies. Likewise our world is being changed now through necessity and it will be very different when we eventually emerge from the crisis, but the human spirit will still prompt people to gather together. It is in our DNA, probably from when we were evolving in herds.
So if God, who drew us out through the process of evolution, knows “each hair of your head”, you are known and needed by him for the work only you can do. “I called you by name” he said. Which means through all these changes you are still highly valued for the person you are.
Entirely opposite to those interested in you only for your capacity to consume.
Brian McQuillen
This Week's Services
Sunday 29th June
Together @ Ten - St Michael Penkevil 10am
This Week's Readings
Zechariah 4:1-6; 12b-end
2Timothy 4:6-8;17-18
Matthew 16: 13-19 |
|
Collect for this Sunday
Faithful Creator,
whose mercy never fails:
deepen our faithfulness to you
and to your living Word,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Next Week's Services
Thursday 3rd July
Probus 12noon - Holy Communion with Rev Linda
Sunday 6th July
Probus - 9:30am Connect - Probus festival day with Rev Caroline - proceeded by breakfast at 8:15
St Erme 9:30am - Holy Communion with Rev Linda
St Nuns 11:00am - Parish Parish with William / SImon
Ladock 11:00am - Holy Communion with Rev Linda
Tresillian 11:15am - Morning Prayer with Claire / Billa
Probus Family Breakfast
On the 1st Sunday of every month we will have breakfast on offer from 8:45 before the connect service. An opportunity to spend time together before worship. We are hoping this may be something we can invite families to and as well as social time, and food it also offers a chance for those unfamiliar with the worship songs to listen to the music group practice and become more familiar with them....... but the band need breakfast too so they won't play the whole time!
Upper Fal Prayer Ministry
We now have a small but dedicated group of people who are willing to pray for the needs of others as and when there is need. You are welcome to make requests for prayer, these will be said in private by those interceding and will be held confidentially -the idea being that no one will discover who any of the pray-ers are, so there will be no reference made back to you about your prayer request except by the person the request was made to! This proviso is made so that when prayer is answered that we might encourage the prayer team. You are also welcome to ask for prayer for family, friends or neighbours, please let them know that the Church will be praying for them in their time of need. This will be encouraging for the wider community as they already suspect that the Church prays but don’t necessarily know how or what! No request is too small or too large. If you or, someone you know, is concerned or anxious about something let us know and we will pray for you/them.
If you would like to find out more about or join this prayer group please get in touch with me, Revd Caroline (01726 337730).
Probus Community Hub
Wednesday 2nd July- Move More class 10:30-11:30 - falls prevention for the over 65s
Thursday 26th June - Little lights stay and play for the under 5s 9:30-11:30
Community larder - supermarket surplus available for all to take away to save waste - open Monday 4-4:30, Wednesday 2:30-3:30, Friday 9-10, Saturday 9:30-10:30
Refreshments served each weekday morning except Thursday 10-12
CELEBRATING ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL
You are invited to share your photo's using the tag #great and small
on social media to promote and increase our understanding of caring for all of creation.
The C of E says:
Whether it’s a snapshot of some local wildlife, pets who have paid your church a visit, or depictions of animals in stained glass windows, paintings and carvings, we want to hear from you. Do you have a beekeeping project, some livestreamed peregrine falcons, or perhaps some bats? Have you made your building service-dog friendly? Have you built a bug hotel?
We’d also welcome reflections on humans and other animals, humans as custodians, on the natural world and our role within it.
Every summer, churches, dioceses and members of the public get involved in sharing their photos on social media – why not give it a go?
Top tips
§ We will be sharing #GreatAndSmall posts from 21 July – 31 August 2025.
§ As per the Church of England social media policy, any post that contains a web link to a church service, event, or website won’t be shared, but when we share posts, we will link to AChurchNearYou.com for the public to find their nearest church. Make sure your ACNY pages are up to date!
§ Any post that contains derogatory or inflammatory language will not be shared.
§ Credit the person who took your photo as part of your post.
§ Our team will see all your creations, however we cannot commit to sharing every post that is submitted.
§ If you have any further questions on #GreatAndSmall, reach out to us: digital@churchofengland.org.
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
Generosity and Stewardship Matters
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 here
COME AND SING EVENSONG WITH ANDREW LUMSDEN
TRURO CATHEDRAL
SUNDAY 13TH JULY
REHEARSAL 2.30PM
SERVICE 4PM-5PM
Can you sing? Are you in a choir? Were you in a choir when you were younger? Are you visiting us on holiday? Have you ever dreamed of being part of a choir that sang in a cathedral?
Come and Sing Evensong in Truro Cathedral with Andrew Lumsden, former director of Music of Winchester Cathedral, on the 13th July. There will be one rehearsal for this service, but we will send links to teaching tracks so that you can practice in your own time beforehand.
Rehearsal starts at 14:30. The service will be at 16:00 and last approximately an hour. We will meet in the cathedral Nave this year (as we are expecting quite a few people this time).
We will be singing some fantastic music:
O Nata Lux - Thomas Tallis
Byrd Responses
Psalm 121 - Walford Davies
Brewer in D
Balfour Gardiner Evening Hymn
If you would like to participate we would love to hear from you! Please contact Acting Precentor Canon Sue suewallace@trurocathedral.org.uk to register your interest and for more information.
Under 18 are welcome at this event as long as they remain in the care of their parent/guardian.
 |
