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Dear Friends,
On Sunday at the team service we sang that wonderful hymn 'The church's one foundation' which prompted me to think about the calling of the Church. I am currently reading a book called "water to wine" by Brian Zahnd, he is an American pastor and theologian who has been caused to rethink his understanding of what it means to be a Christian, he shares some of his story in this thought provoking book. He explores 5 key themes summed up as 'cross, mystery, eclectic, community, revolution'.
Zahnd talks about how we talk about the cross and in our modern way tend to reduce its meaning to a pithy sentence and expect everyone to understand the shorthand we've used. He suggests that we need to meditate on the cross, from his experience quoting the last words of Jesus he says '" Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Christianity looks like that- Christianity looks like love absorbing sin and death, trusting God for resurrection.'
Christ also calls us to live with mystery, Zahnd says 'The Bible is not a scientific text or even an end in itself, the Bible is the Spirit- inspired sign that points us to the true Word of God- the Word made flesh, the greatest of all sacred mysteries.' Zahnd explores how it has become our habit to want to explain and understand everything, we have forgotten how to live with mystery and yet Christ tells us that it is not for us to know everything...we are not being infantised here, rather he is helping us to remember that our senses have been created to gape and wonder at the beauty and diversity of creation, there are many other mysteries for us to discover!
Eclectic, I thought, was a strange word to use to describe the Chirstian understanding of faith and calling, but then I remembered part of my own journey and the discovery that parts of my spirituality and understanding of the Christian tradition has actually been informed by the many different churches I have been part of as well as from my own experience of God. Eclectic might be described as diversity in practice, understanding and experience of God and knowing that this is ok, Jesus did not call his disciples in one particular way nor did all his trips and visits look the same. We are called to respond to God through the wonderful diverse ways we each of us do.
We are also called to live in community together. When one church suffers so do we all, remember the passage from Corinthians 12, Romans 12 and Ephesians 4 where Christ calls us to be members of his Body. We become a better witness for Christ when we serve one another and support each other. Zahnd takes this further and explains how we are fragmented and broken when we think we can be a Christian 'on our own' because, we are called to be in community with one another. Christian people gathering to worship, Christian communities supporting and helping out each other too. In the Cof E we are part of a group of churches called to work together modelling collaboration and cooperation. We are also part of the Truro Diocese, wider network of churches seeking to serve the communities where we live. And, we are part of the national and global Church. We are connected to Christians across the world no matter which denomination or expression of faith and tradition we or they follow. This is a wonder and a marvel, a privilege and a joy that God has called the likes of us to serve His purposes in this world as He seeks to reconcile us to our Father in heaven
And finally, revolution. Many of us have forgotten the call to live radically for the kingdom of God, perhaps we have become so caught up in worldly affairs that we have lost our sense of urgency and passion for reaching the lost, the isolated, the broken hearted, the thirsty. Zahnd reminds the reader ' the politics of Jesus is without coercion. The kingdom of God persuades by love, witness, Spirit, reason, rhetoric, and if need be, martyrdom- but never by force.'
I am enjoying this book as it causes me to question, ponder and contemplate my own reaction, my understanding of faith and how following Jesus might look like in todays world, in this particular part of Cornwall. As we approach the lazy days of summer, I wonder if you might also read a book that challenges and encourages you in your faith journey...I will look forward to hearing some of your 'good reads' over the coming weeks and months.
Grace and peace,
Caroline
This 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
Collect for this Sunday
God our saviour,
look on this wounded world
in pity and in power;
hold us fast to your promises of peace
won for us by your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Next Week's Services
Sunday 13th July
Probus - 9:30am Holy Communion with Rev Caroline
St Erme 9:30am - Holy Communion with Rev Linda
St Crida11:00am - Holy Communion with Rev Linda
Ladock 11:00am - Holy Communion with Rev Brian
Tresillian 11:15am - Holy Communion with Rev Caroline
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
Monday 7th July - 10-12 - Pain clinic
Wednesday 9th July- Move More class 10:30-11:30 - falls prevention for the over 65s
Thursday 10th July - 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.
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