the coracle, september 2013
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News from the Diocese of Truro
SEPTEMBER 2013 30p
Contents:
Be Moved To Make Music
Join In The Festival
Is Way 2 4U?
Warm Affordable And Green
Cornish Blessing Competition
Prayer And ‘Prederi’
Out & About
Our Vision (pull out)
On Seeing God As A Parent
Walking Ancient Pathways
Random Acts Of Kindness
Windows Into . . . Reaches 10
Discovering God’s K ingdom
thecoracle
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that gets us to go beyond our normal restraints, and music is a channel for that charismatic and instinctive response. Thus church music has developed over the centuries, and continues to develop.
On 12 October, at Truro Cathedral and Truro Methodist Church, there will be a Music Day devoted to the flourishing of church music. Leading church musicians – locally and nationally, including Graham Kendrick and Geraldine Latty among many others, as well as leading musicians in Cornish church life – will be giving workshops on a huge range of music-making; from encouraging those with little experience of singing in a church choir to leading worship through the ministry of music and much else besides.
The day will conclude with an act of worship in the nave of the Cathedral, and this will be followed by a concert, again in the Cathedral, given by Graham Kendrick.
The organisers of the Music Day hope that this will be an encouragement for many churches up and down the Diocese to develop their existing musical provision or explore new forms of expressing their worship praise in music.
Of course, what form some of that worship took is shrouded in mystery, although there are several ancient texts that give us some clues about what characterised the worship that took place. One abiding feature of much of it, crossing all sorts of cultural expressions, is the presence of music. It seems that, from the first, humanity was unable to worship God without making music – whether it was by banging a gong, blowing down a sea shell or bursting into song.
I am sure there is a psychological reason for this somewhere. Deep down though, I expect, music-making in worship – as music-making seems to be in general – is done because it is entirely instinctive. We do it because it is enjoyable and we can’t really help ourselves.
Of course, Christian worship-in-music has taken a huge variety of forms; from early chants, to full-blooded polyphonic vocal music, to the development of the church organ, to Anglican chant and hymnody, to worship songs and Gospel. This variety, though, is underpinned by one constant norm; simply offering worship in spoken word alone is a constraint.
Such is the power of what we do in worship that we have to break that constraint and burst into song, or raise the roof with the church organ. It seems that worshipping God is something
WORSHIPPING God is as old as civilisation. That is a bold thing to say. It is, however, a claim that is borne out by archaeologists and historians who have discovered, over the centuries, plenty of evidence to suggest that, from the first stirrings of civilisation, human beings have not only believed in God (or gods); but have also built temples, shrines and churches to worship him, her or them (depending on whom you were worshipping at the time).
Be moved to make music
The Diocese of Truro seeks to appoint
A Discipleship Coordinator (Short-term contract)
17.5 hours per week, including evening
and weekend working.
Applications to be received by
9am 16th September
Further details available at: www.trurodiocese.org.uk/about-us/vacancies/lay-vacancies/
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Chartered Surveyors and Historic Building Consultants
The genius of music (and musicians come to that) is that it can be expressed in a huge variety of forms – you don’t need sizeable choirs performing Stanford in C in order to make an impression; a solo voice leading the congregation in a responsorial psalm can be just as effective and moving.
And we all know the stirring power that collective hymn singing can induce; although, get the hymn tune wrong and you soon know it, as I discovered when, for my first Remembrance Day service in Redruth nearly 20 years ago, I chose the wrong tune for O Valiant Hearts … “Make sure you get the right tune next year, Vicar!”.
‘Moving’, actually, is not a bad word to use when describing music in worship. Music has the ability to move us in the sense of stirring our emotions. But it can also denote the awareness that the Holy Spirit is moving in and through our worship, stimulating his people to be drawn closer to God and each other.
Being a sometime preacher of the Gospel, I am not denigrating the power of the spoken word in worship. But music can amplify our worship in ways that are many-faceted. It is something our ancestors knew, and that primal instinct still informs our approach to worship today.
Roger Bush Dean of Truro
Music Day 12 OctoberBook online at [email protected] or download the booking form from
www.trurocathedral.org.uk , or call 01872 276782.
Tickets are £10 for the Music Day or £10 for the Graham Kendrick concert; but it’s £17 if you want to do both.
He will have with him his ‘primatial’ cross, which always precedes him at significant events. This cross was a gift from the people of the Diocese of Truro to Archbishop Benson who was the first Bishop of this diocese.
It is entirely appropriate that the symbol of the cross should precede the Archbishop. We all follow the cross of Christ. As disciples we are called to follow and to live out our lives making sense of what that cross means for us.
We shall be inviting representatives of every parish and benefice to the service to be with the Archbishop, and I would like to
AS PART OF his three-day visit to the diocese later this year (15-17 November), the Archbishop of Canterbury will be in Truro Cathedral on the afternoon of
Saturday 16 November, writes Bishop Tim.
invite you to consider creating a cross that can then come to the Cathedral with your representatives.
It would be marvellous to have a collection of crosses in and around the Cathedral on that afternoon as we all focus on what Christ did for us. This will also be a good way of showing our own discipleship and focus our minds on how we can live out our lives as disciples of Christ.
By now, you will know that the Way of Life has symbols for the different directions which form a version of the Celtic cross. Perhaps you can create your own version of the different areas of discipleship to form together to make a cross of some sorts. Your own imagination and creativity can run wild!
As we welcome the primatial cross – originally a gift from this diocese – back to Cornwall, I hope you can all take part in this Festival of the Cross and help us focus on what Christ did, and does, for us; and how we respond to God’s generosity in our own discipleship.
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Join in the festival
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Is Way2 4 U? Revd Dr Peter Knibbs writes…
‘WAY2’ is an initiative to establish a lay religious community in the former vicarage at Stithians, founded on the ‘Values’ and ‘Twelve Marks’ of new monasticism, and using the ‘Way of Life’ model to shape personal discipleship,.
We aim to provide an opportunity over two years for young people to explore vocation to Christian ministry or religious community, whilst gaining experience in authentic rural parish ministry.
Encouraging young people, aged 18 to 30 years old, to consider exploring ‘Way2’, we are saying to them would you like to:
• be equipped for a life of service to God;
• find a personal way of life and ways to sustain a relationship with God;
• discover a deeper understanding of the Christian life;
• have an opportunity to live in a rural parish and as a small community living in a vicarage;
• gain practical experience of parish ministry and opportunities to reflect on ministry;
• discern God’s calling on your life, and
• discover and use the gifts God has given to you.
The ‘Way2’ community will be based in the former vicarage on the outskirts of Stithians village, situated in the Eight Saints Cluster of Churches, and it is hoped it will be up and running by the beginning of 2014.
There are places for four young people and applications are invited now.
Full details of ‘Way2’, including an introductory leaflet, can be found on the diocesan website at www.trurodiocese.org .uk/vision-strategy/discipleship/way2 or you might wish to contact either Revd Dr Peter Knibbs on 01209 842005 or at [email protected] or Revd Fr Simon Bone on 01209 822862 or at [email protected]
For more information and to book a place at any of these events, contact Epiphany House, Kenwyn, Truro TR1 3DR Tel: 01872 272249 E-mail: [email protected]
Epiphany House www.epiphanyhousetruro.co.uk
Saturday 14 September ‘CALLED TO CARRY’ Meditative Intercession
Quiet Day led by Rt Revd Martin Shaw
Friday 27 September ‘WRITING AN ICON’ Icon Workshop
Led by Jacky Botterill, retreatants will be guided through the ‘writing’ of their own icon as a means of deepening prayer. Suitable for beginners and those with some experience.
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Those present heard that the regional project, EcoChurch SouthWest, has successfully installed more than 200 solar panel schemes on church properties in Devon, Gloucestershire and Somerset. Churches in Cornwall and the Cotswolds are seen as amongst the first carbon-neutral in the country.
Churches are encouraged to carry out energy audits or benchmarking to determine both the use of their buildings and also energy demands, with a view to making more efficiencies in the future. The new national energy-measuring scheme aims to ‘grade’ our churches in the same way that fridges are categorised, and to improve each year from F towards A ratings.
Bringing together those interested in better church heating and sharing good ideas has inspired us to take further steps towards ‘greening’ our churches and, in the longer term, to make financial savings. If we can reduce carbon, we can save energy and, therefore, save money, and provide more comfortable churches for future generations.
EIGHTY participants, from churches all over the South West, took part in a pioneering conference to look at heating their buildings more effectively, writes diocesan social responsibility officer, Revd Andrew Yates.
The conference, chaired by Archdeacon Bill Stuart-White, was held at the recently re-ordered St Stephen’s Church in Exeter. Delegates heard presentations on making churches ‘Warm, Affordable and Green’; and information was shared about greater energy savings by using practical measures ranging from draught excluders or secondary glazing to roof insulation and more efficient boilers.
Examples were cited of using renewable energy, such as solar electricity, to provide power for the church, burning wood pellets or wood chips from local sources, and drawing on heat from the ground.
New electric heating ideas were exchanged. These included Infra-back Light Heating and the use of ultra-efficient convectors which produce and circulate effective warm air currents, with heat stored in ceramic plates; and an under-pew heating system promoted by a company from Tolvaddon near Camborne.
Warm, affordable and green
01566 785440
• Sound Reinforcement
• Induction Hearing Loops
• Video Projection
• Established 1985
• Over 40 Churches, Chapels and a Cathedral installed
• Exceptional after-install service
Further details of the conference and its follow-up can be found at www.exeterstf.org.uk
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A LITTLE while ago, Bishop Chris contacted me to ask if I could provide him with a Cornish Blessing, writes Revd Jane Kneebone.
I soon realised that, in fact, while there are some lovely Celtic blessings from other Celtic areas, I could think of none which are specifically Cornish. Even in the Mediaeval Cornish texts which have survived, there are no blessings as such.
So, I turned to and wrote something which was usable, but it gave Bishop Chris the idea of running a competition to write a Cornish blessing. From the
best of these, we could produce a book of Cornish Blessings – in both English and Cornish – for anyone
to use.
So, the competition is live and open for anyone to enter. There will be two categories – one for children up to and including 11, which will
b e run through our 44 Church Schools; and one for young people (aged 12 and over) and adults.
The closing date for entries will be 31 December 2013, and judging by a panel will take place in January 2014. The winners will be announced and prizes presented during St Piran-tide in March.
We’re looking for something original which expresses your love of Cornwall and ‘Cornishness’. What makes it special for you? Your blessing may be inspired by the landscape, by the people of Cornwall, by the heritage of the saints, or anything else Cornish – but please remember that we have more here than sea, cliffs and seagulls, wonderful as they are!
The blessing may be a ‘stand-alone’ one, such as these well-known blessings:
The protection of St Michael of the bright
wings surround you;
the merry heart of St Piran of the shining tin
gladden you;
the holiness of St Petroc of the white stag
inspire you;
and the blessing of the Holy Three in One,
the Father, the Son
and the Holy Spirit …
If you would like to include a drawing or photograph with your blessing to illustrate it – and which we might be able to use in the book of blessings – that would be brilliant.
Or it may be the first part of the general blessing:
Entries should be sent via e-mail to [email protected] or by post to 34 Henver Road, Newquay, TR7 3BN. And remember the closing date is
31 December 2013.
Cornish Blessing Competition
competition
cornwall
specialblessing
love
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields;
and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you.
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FOR QUITE some time, we had been considering the possibility of a Prayer Spaces in Schools (PSIS) event, but weren’t quite sure how to set one up, writes Julie Swann.
However, following a conversation with diocesan discipleship project officer, Shelley Porter, a training day was arranged at Diocesan House. Following a truly inspirational session, we went away full of enthusiasm for the possibilities that PSIS could not only open up, but also be used to build upon existing work with local schools.
Here at Mullion, we were particularly pleased to have a date in the diary already as part of a special Personal, Social, Health & Economic (PSHE) education week at the Primary School – all the more so when we were told that this would be the first one of its kind to take place in Cornwall.
It was the most amazing week; but especially
exciting was the fact that many children said their favourite things had been “prederi” (a Cornish word for “to think upon”) which we felt would connect well with local culture.
It was thrilling to find that after their initial visit, children came back many times throughout the week to give thanks, say sorry, talk about their fears and sorrows, or just to be still.
In total we had 11 activities including ‘Fizzy Forgiveness’, ‘Thankful Dough’, ‘Hopes and Dreams’, ‘Big Questions’, ‘Pray for the World’, ‘Sorry and Worries’ acetates, ‘Handwritten’. But the most popular area was our sensory room (renamed by Year 3 children as “the room where you take your worries”) containing a ‘Bubble Tube’, ‘Thankful Ribbons’, ‘Cardboard Home’ (to link with a visit at the start of the week from St Petroc’s, the Cornish homeless charity) and ‘Be Still’, a tented area for quiet reflection.
Prayer and ‘prederi’
“This feels like a very spiritual place.”
(Teaching Assistant)
“Things can last forever.” (Teacher)
“‘Fizzy Forgiveness’ lifts a weight from my
shoulders.”
We were blown away by many of the comments made not only be children,
but also staff:
And from the pupils:
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In addition to these there were many amazing conversations about God, life and spirituality and children and adults were able to talk about worries and sadness with team members.
The school was absolutely thrilled with the event and is now planning a permanent ‘space’ – somewhere where children can go to reflect, or have someone with whom to talk. We hope too that “prederi” can be offered to other schools across our area during the forthcoming academic year.
For more information, visit www.prayerspacesinschools.org or contact Shelley Porter at [email protected]
“I believed in God before but now I’ve been around here
I believe in Him a bit more.”“God doesn’t just see
a little bit of the room, He sees the whole room.”
“It’s no fault of their own that people are homeless … circumstances have transpired (sic) against them!”
“When I look at the bubbles it makes me think of going
up to God.”
“I feel safe and that nothing can harm me.”
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ST AUSTELL Deanery Readers meet monthly during the year for edification (each taking their turn at leading the studies), fellowship and prayer, write Alan Coode & Wendy Earl.
Our July meeting is usually a ‘social’ – a ‘bring and share’ barbeque to which our spouses are invited. This year we were blessed with an exceptionally lovely, warm sunny evening and a good time was had by all. We heartily recommend the practice to other deaneries!
AS PART of its 60th anniversary celebrations, the National Churches Trust has revealed some of ‘The UK’s Favourite Churches’, as chosen by 60 top people from the world of politics, entertainment, journalism and academia.
Naming St Endellion Church, near Port Isaac, as his favourite, former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams wrote: ‘The mixture of rock and space always gives me the feeling of sea-light, of something wide, ungraspable; very much a North Cornwall and West Wales and West of Ireland feeling, opening out on to a deep and broad horizon. An appropriate sensation for a church, I think’.
Since 1953, the National Churches Trust has helped to keep churches of all Christian denominations open by funding over 12,000 grants and loans – worth over £85 million at today’s prices – to pay for urgent repairs and the installation of modern facilities.
An independent charity, the National Churches Trust is funded entirely by voluntary donations. For more information, visit www.nationalchurchestrust.org
Out & about Making Reader ministry special
St Endellion named as favourite
On 21 July, during a patronal Eucharist at St Sampson’s, Golant, Bishop Tim presented Wendy Earl (third from right) with a certificate marking her 25 years as a Reader in various parts of the world.
The response to our ‘Can You Knit’ appeal has been fantastic, writes Miss Jean Baker.
Pullovers of all colours and sizes have arrived from every corner of the diocese, and are still coming in. In July, Canon Pat Robson and I filled our cases with the first consignment and we shall take some more on our Christmas visit.
Do keep sending the woollen garments to me until the end of November. And thank you very very much on behalf of all the young people that we care for through the White Cross Mission.
Big thank you from White Cross
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BISHOP Tim recently presided at a Confirmation service in All Saints Church, Bryher. It is believed to be the first-ever such service held on the island. A packed congregation, gathered from all five islands comprising the Isles of Scilly, joined together for the historic occasion.
WRIGGLERS meet every Friday morning in term time at St Piran’s Hall, Goldsithney, writes Revd Annie Holland.
We have just celebrated the end of our second year with a Teddy
Bears Picnic on Perranuthnoe beach. We sang our favourite songs, played our instruments joyfully, danced circle games and ended with a delicious picnic in the sunshine.
Confirmations on Bryher
Beach birthday Wrigglers
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THIS YEAR the sun shone, write Readers Claire Salzmann and Sue Wilcox
And Delabole, the North Cornwall village, part of the Camel-Allen
Cluster, butt of many Doc Martin jokes and famed for its slate quarry, celebrated in style.
The week-long annual event began with the scarecrow competition. One of the 21 entries, ‘Lost Sheep Found’, was made by the Cluster Readers and stood by the gate of St John’s Parish Church. It was hoped that those with ‘eyes to see’, would do so.
Sunday morning saw the Carnival Service, held in a marquee and led by folk from every village faith group – Methodist, Anglican, Celebration and the House Church. We focused on Jesus’ forgiveness of Peter’s denial, [John 18 & 21]; and through Bible reading, drama, a game finding the missing 153 fish, prayer activity and hymns and songs, we
SATURDAY 20 July saw the re-dedication of the former Dobwalls Methodist Church as Dobwalls United Church, writes Bob Crouden.
The congregations of Dobwalls Methodist Church and St Peters Anglican Church first came together in 2001 to worship at one time and in one place after St Peters found it difficult to continue in its circa 1836 property. We gradually moulded together in an acceptance of each other, such that in 2009 a Local Ecumenical Partnership Agreement was formalised, confirming the fellowship and love that had evolved.
Thus Dobwalls United Church was born.
The Service of Re-dedication was led by Revd Steve Wild and Bishop Chris, together with
other clergy and lay members r e p r e s e n t i n g the Circuit, the Diocese and the local church – the Sunday School Tradition and its long history being represented by Mr Fearnley Haley wearing his medal and attendance bars.
The past year and recent months have seen much prayerful support, discussion and most of all trust, in asking God if this was the correct way to proceed.
Much goodwill has been forthcoming and we thank our neighbours and friends for that. We have enjoyed having a team of tradesmen and managers
working together on site for months with such a good attitude and we appreciated their expertise and TLC.
We have to thank those who appealed for financial support from all sources on our behalf, and especially to those who responded. Gifts have come from sources large and small; so thank you all.
We will always be grateful for the words, “I will cover that expense,” when they occurred; and the hand on the shoulder, “It’s alright, carry on” at difficult moments – much of it recorded only between them and God.
shared the truth that Jesus also wipes clean our sinful slates.
It was an opportunity for the village churches to work together in a positive, informal and ‘real’ way. It was, perhaps, the most important service of the year when folk who, for whatever reason, never cross the physical threshold of a church building, come and meet with our Lord in a tent. In a tent? Whatever next?!
As Carnival week progressed, church members served at each of the 22 different events, culminating in the one-hour Grand Parade with the ecumenical ‘Open the Book’ team’s entry, ‘Joseph and That Coat’, complete with a life-size camel trundling through the village.
Delabole is ‘big’ on community; where in working together, out and about in the world, supported and strengthened by the Holy Spirit, the churches are a real part of the village, with actions that can speak far louder than words...
Come rain or shine, it was carnival time
Church built on trust
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I BELONG to a reading group of retired Methodist ministers. The time before last we ‘did’ John Humphrys’ (“Yes, that John Humphrys”) book, In God we Doubt. A good book it is too. He’s very sympathetic towards Christianity and scathing towards Militant Atheists like Richard Dawkins. But he can’t quite believe.
One of the things that holds him back is the idea of God being omnipotent. We thought this was interesting, as few of us believed that God was omnipotent and none of us thought that it was a core Christian belief. It is, though, a stumbling block to John Humphrys.
Since reading the book, I’ve noticed how often we use the word ‘Almighty’ in worship and I can see how he gets the idea that this is a central Christian doctrine.
Last month, I was honoured to preach at a friend’s funeral; and I tried to tackle the big question of how Christians can believe in a God of light and life and love − as my friend did to the end − in the face of suffering and untimely death. I pointed out that some Christians have no problem with this, and so we hear things like “God must have done this for a purpose”, or “God knows best, and there’s a reason for everything that happens to us”.
At this point we’re back with the ‘omnipotent’ and ‘almighty’ question. So I then said that I can’t see any reason for cancer or fatal road accidents, or believe that there is a plan and purpose which maps out our lives and plans for things like that. If there was an almighty or omnipotent planner of such things, I wouldn’t call it ‘God’. Some stuff just happens.
In the sermon, I also suggested that − strange though it sounds − there is suffering and untimely death in our world because God is good; these things happen because
God is love. We can see this in the Bible’s picture of God as a parent.
Parents love, but parental love does not control. It cares, it encourages and it gives space for children to grow and become themselves. That space can be dangerous for children and distressing for parents, but it’s an essential space for parents to give their children.
No genuine love controls and neither does God’s. God’s love gives space for creation to grow − we call that space ‘evolution’ − and suffering comes in the same space. If we take the Bible picture seriously, and I do, God does not control, and words like ‘Almighty’ are dangerous because they suggest that he does.
In fact, ‘Almighty’ is hardly a Bible word for God at all. There is no Hebrew word for God which puts ‘All’ and ‘Mighty’ together. Modern translations which have ‘Almighty God’ in their Old Testaments follow the old Greek translation which used the Greek words for ‘All’ and ‘Mighty’ for two Hebrew names for God (‘Mighty God’ and ‘Lord of Hosts’). It was a bad decision then, and modern translators should know better. The word only occurs 10 times in the New Testament − nine of those in Revelation and the other in a quote.
So I come back to worship and the words we use. I’m sure we don’t actually mean to suggest that God controls everything when we refer to ‘Almighty God’ − our liturgical language is after all poetry and not prose − but we need to be careful. Calling God ‘Almighty’ is misleading because ‘Almighty’ suggests control, and love and God do not, and cannot, control.
Stephen Dawes Canon Theologian
On seeing God as a parent
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THREE YEARS AGO I had a vision in which I saw people of all ages, walking two and from Budock Church via ancient pathways, writes Revd Geoffrey Bennett.
In their faces I saw animation, joy and purpose and, while I sensed this was significant, I was not sure why. So, reluctant to interpret the vision publicly, I simply wrote a short reflection in my journal.
Sometime later, I plucked up courage to share this vision with the wider church – explaining that it might be a revelation concerning our church; because people come to be spiritually refuelled through the Eucharist, teaching and fellowship; and return via those same pathways back to their homes and workplaces, to live out their faith.
This year, in preparation for Walk Cornwall2 and following a time of prayer, it was suggested that we should have some sort of ‘prayer walk’ around the parish. Hardly able to contain myself, I began to remind everyone of my vision about walking the ancient pathways and asked them to pray further about this possibility.
As any good 21st century researcher would do, I ‘Googled’ the phrase ‘Ancient pathways in Budock’ only to meet with moderate
success – but was far more intrigued that this search led me to a Scripture passage that was relatively new to me...
‘This is what the Lord says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”’ [Jeremiah 6.16]
For me this was confirmation enough and, although some prayerful thinking needed to be applied to the verse – both in its historical and contemporary context – I sensed it was a verse with which we might be encouraged to live with for some time.
Before long, a plan was hatched to make Sunday 30 June the day on which we would bring this vision to fruition – at least in part. Our Reader and resident geographer carried out much more professional research on the pathways linked to Budock Church and produced a map we could all follow.
Then came the day. Around 50 people – men, women and children, carrying banners – set off on the various walks (six in all leading to Budock Church) praying as we went and reading Scripture.
It was an inspirational time as people had an opportunity to talk together along the way, about things that were important to
them, and to reflect upon the significance of what we were doing. Others who were unable to manage the walk either met us part way or waited for us to arrive and provided us with hospitality.
In some way this whole process has caused me to consider how we discern which the ‘Good Way’ is and how we help others find a means of walking in it. It is a process to which I shall return.
Walking ancient pathways
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WE ALL KNOW that the world feels like a less friendly place these days, writes Andy Brelsford from Volunteer Cornwall.
People often live in streets or communities where they don’t know their neighbours. We travel around in sealed metal boxes on wheels and go from self-service shop to shop – just one shopper in a ‘sea’ of shoppers.
Thankfully, Cornwall fares better than most places when it comes to ‘community spirit’ or ‘good neighbourliness’, but even here there is room for improvement. That’s why we want to bring Random Acts of Kindness to the streets and communities of Cornwall between 25 – 31 October.
Shops and offices, businesses large and small, schools and colleges, charities and community groups – anyone and everyone can get involved. And this year, we invite you to become involved in memory of someone special in your life – living or departed.
So what are Random Acts of Kindness?
According to the Mental Health Foundation publication, Doing Good Does You Good, they are simply things that might be
described as polite manners, old-fashioned neighbourliness or simply being a good citizen.
For example, calling a friend or relative you haven’t spoken to for a while, sending flowers to a friend out of the blue, offering to pick up groceries for an elderly neighbour, having a conversation with a homeless person, picking up some rubbish in the street, smiling and saying “Hello” to people you may pass every day but never speak to, or praising a colleague for something they have done well.
These are all things that anyone and everyone can do whether at home, at work or out in the community. And the theory is that such acts are contagious. Not only do you feel good when you have been kind to someone else, but that person is more likely to be kind to others. And it doesn’t cost you anything.
Your local Volunteer Centre or Time Bank may be involved in specific events too, so keep checking www.volunteercornwall.org.uk for more news nearer the time. If you require more information now, call me at Volunteer Cornwall on 01872 265308.
Random acts of kindness
5-STEP GUIDE
Step 1. Decide what act of kindness you are going to practise and when. It might be on a specific day or for the whole of the week. If you need inspiration, visit our website, www.volunteercornwall.org.uk/random-acts-of-kindness-2
Step 2. Get your family, friends, neighbours or colleagues to join in with you.
Step 3. Tell Cornwall what you are doing and who has inspired you on the Random Acts of Kindness Facebook Page: www.facebookcom/raok.cwl and by using #raokcornwall on Twitter
Step 4. Have fun doing your kind acts (but remember to stay safe and respect people’s right not to get involved)
Step 5. Post your pictures and stories on the Facebook Page to let us know how it went.
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Canon theologian, Stephen Dawes writes…
THERE WILL BE a celebratory event at 1pm on Monday 16 September in the Pearson Room at the Cathedral Offices to launch the first session of the 10th Windows Into… course – Windows into the Lord’s Prayer
During the last three years, the Diocese and the Cornwall Methodist District have been producing a series of short courses as part of our general ‘education for discipleship’ programme. Each course has been written by a subject specialist, edited to a common format, reviewed by a panel and then trialled.
The end products have been very well received locally and we have now reached double figures in the number of courses available – and we are beginning to publicise them farther afield.
The series is called Windows Into... the Christian Faith and each of our 10 courses is a six-week PowerPoint course lasting two hours per session. They are designed for use in groups with a local leader and everything that is needed is supplied on a single disk – including teaching notes and handouts.
The sessions offer teaching, opportunities for discussion, some ‘activities’ and coffee in the middle; and feedback
indicates that the format is flexible enough to be used with six people in someone’s front room or 60 in a church hall.
Windows into . . . reaches 10
One of the questions I am asked most often is, ‘What is the best short introductory course to Theology?’ This question is not as easy to answer as you might think. Some courses are simply too complex; others don’t delve deeply enough. Some just deal with the Bible; others just with Ethics. Most are designed for individuals. This course, however, seems to fit the ‘Goldilocks’ criterion of being ‘just right’! It is challenging without being too hard; thought-provoking without leaving its participants behind – and best of all it covers many of the key areas that you would hope a course like this might cover
Dr Paula Gooder, theologian, lecturer and author
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For more information or to download a brochure, visit
www.trurodiocese.org.uk/ministry /windows-into or for a taste,
see our clip at www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9NLnHyJetI
Each course pack costs £25, available from Shelley Porter at Archdeacon’s Office,
4 Park Drive, Bodmin, PL31 2QF (01208 892811
or [email protected]).
The Windows Into… courses are a very good tool for teaching information about the Christian faith and equipping people to ask questions for themselves and deepen their understanding. I do commend them as a very good means to increase knowledge and, just as importantly, challenge assumptions and broaden understanding
Bishop Tim
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Currently there are Windows Into…
• the Old Testament
• the New Testament (with a supplementary Windows into the Gospels)
• the English Bible
• Church History
• Christian Ethics
• Christian Doctrine
• Christian Spirituality
• Other Faiths
• the Lord’s Prayer
• the Apostles’ Creed
In the pipeline are Windows Into…
• the First Holy Week and Easter
• St Paul
• Your Confirmation
• Christian Worship
• Christian Mission
• Anglicanism & the Church of England
Windows Into… AUTUMN, WINTER & SPRING COURSES
Windows Into… the Lord’s Prayer
- Sept 16, 23, 30, Oct 7, 21, 28
Course title to be confirmed
- Nov 4, 11, 18, 25, Dec 2, 9
Windows Into… the Apostles’ Creed
- Jan 6, 13, 27, Feb 3, 10, 17
Windows Into… the First Holy Week and Easter
- Feb 24, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
All in the Pearson Room at the Cathedral Office Monday afternoons 2-4pm and repeated on Monday evenings 7.30-9.30pm.
£10 for each course. No booking necessary
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COMING UP
THE half-term weekend, from 25 – 27 October, sees the first North Cornwall Book Festival, a three-day feast of book-related talks and workshops, including a festival-within-a-festival devoted to younger readers.
Thanks to Arts Council backing and the support of Devon and Cornwall libraries, an exciting programme has already taken shape and can already be found on both Facebook and the Endelienta website, www.endelienta.org.uk
The hope of the festival’s chairman, Cornwall-based novelist, Patrick Gale, is that catering for the thirst and hunger of all the festival-goers will provide an opportunity for the local parishes in the Cluster to raise valuable funds – whether by baking cakes, concocting soup or manning the wine bar.
To find out more, to book tickets or if you simply want to help, visit www.endelienta.org.uk or call 07787 944935.
IT MIGHT BE difficult to believe, but knowledge of the Christmas Story is fading. Just 12 per cent of adults know the nativity story; and 36 per cent of children do not know whose birthday is being celebrated during the festival. Christmas is being lost to secularism and the trend is for this to get worse.
Some 51 per cent of people now say that the birth of Jesus is irrelevant to their Christmas. This is a tipping point.
A movement made up of some of the nation’s leading Christian groups, including the Church of England, the Evangelical Alliance, and the
Children’s Society, is coming together because they recognise something must be done.
The ‘Christmas Starts with Christ Campaign’ will run from 1 December to Christmas Day. Resources available include a new free-to-use logo, specially produced Christmas cards, a
chocolate advent calendar with a copy of the Christmas story in the box and a
national advertising campaign using posters and radio ads.
The logo is available for use free of charge, and the more
churches that use it, the greater the chance that we can cause the
51 per cent of people who say “the birth of Jesus is irrelevant to my Christmas” to think again!
If you would like to download resources for your church, find out more about the campaign or help save Christmas, visit www.christmasstartswithchrist.com
North Cornwall book festival
Christmas starts with Christ
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MANY international students come to the West Country to study at our universities. What will they do for a homely break if home is too far away?
For 26 years, national charity, HOST, has been linking students with volunteer hosts, who invite a student to spend a day, a weekend, or Christmas in their home.
Chatting, eating together, playing games, seeing the area, joining in with the local community, making friends – a HOST visit lays down wonderful memories to be re-lived in China, India, the USA and other parts of the world. And hosts learn from their guests too.
If you could make a student welcome, contact HOST through www.hostuk.org or call local organiser, Margaret Stevens, on 01736 719090.
COPIES of the innovative ‘Responsible Caring’ pocket guide will be on their way to incumbents, parish safeguarding co-ordinators and PCC secretaries across the diocese during the next few weeks, writes diocesan safeguarding officer, Sarah Acraman.
The Diocesan Safeguarding Committee is providing the pocket guides, in the first instance, to help those trained people responsible for disseminating and enforcing the message of safeguarding in all our communities.
The ‘Z card’ construction of the ‘Responsible Caring’ pocket guide has been cleverly designed to contain all the basic ‘what-to-do-if-I-am-concerned’ safeguarding advice – concerning both children and vulnerable adults – as well as some useful contacts. Its durable cardboard cover offers further protection to a format that will easily fit into a purse, wallet or back pocket.
The contents of the ‘Responsible Caring’ pocket guide can be viewed on the Safeguarding page of our website, www.trurodiocese.org.uk/about-us/safeguarding-children-and-vulnerable-adults .
After the end of August, clergy, safeguarding co-ordinators and PCC secretaries who require additional copies of the pocket guides, or further advice on their distribution, should contact Sarah Acraman at [email protected]
Christmas hospitality
Safeguardingpocket guide on its way
YOUR POCKET GUIDE TO . . .
Responsible Caring
20
COMING UP cont/d
FOR this year’s harvest festival, St Lalluwy’s Church, Menheniot, will be showcasing its farms, writes Jasmine Williams.
Over the three days of Friday 20 to Sunday 22 September, local farms will be displaying their histories, products and services in the church until 4pm on Sunday.
Farmhouse teas will be available in the church on Friday, and in the Old School (opposite the church) on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Farmer’s breakfasts
will be served in the Old School from 9am to 2pm on Saturday.
The main Harvest Service will be led by Bishop Chris at 11.15am on Sunday, and this will be followed by pasty lunches in the Old School (two courses: £7.50 for adults; £3 for children). To book lunch, ring Hilary on 01579 342927.
WONDERFUL banners, designed and made by the ladies of the ‘banner group’, will be on display at St Mewan Church on 13 & 14 September (10am-5pm) and Sunday 15 Sept (2-5pm), writes Revd Marion Barrett.
They depict the Life, Festivals and Seasons of the Church Year and this is an opportunity to see them close up and admire the skilled workmanship.
Admission is by programme £1 and refreshments will be served in the hall.
Celebrating farming heritage
Banners on display
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The Revd Deborah Ann Grigg at present Assistant Curate of the Benefice of Liskeard and Saint Keyne, to be Assistant Curate to the Bodmin Team. She will be licensed by The Bishop of St Germans at Lis Escop on Tuesday 13th August at 10am.
ST ENDELLION CHURCH Sunday 8th September 6pm Evening Worship with Taize chants by candlelight. Sunday 13th October Evening Worship with Taize chants by candlelight.
SERVICES IN CORNISH Gorsedh Evening Prayer Sunday 8th September St Gluvias Church at 3pm Preacher: The Bishop of St GermansHarvest at Treslothan Church Sunday 29th September at 3pm
Explore and develop… TrinityWRAP: God at Work, Rest & Prayer Holistic Christian living – mind, body and spirit – through contemplation, meditation and intercession.Contact Revd Dr Peter Johnson, [email protected]
Announcements
What’s on
Inaugural History Lecture St Germans Priory Trust
‘THE HISTORY OF ST GERMANS PRIORY’ to be given by Cornish historian and author,
Stephen Tyrrell Saturday 14 September at 7pm
in St Germans Priory Church People welcome from 5.30pm onwards
Free entry but donations to St Germans Priory Trust invited.
Windows Into… THE LORD’S PRAYER led by Revd Stephen Dawes
Mondays 2-4pm repeated 7.30-9.30pm September 16, 23, 30, Oct 7, 21, 28
Pearson Room £10 for the course. No booking necessary.
FLOWER FESTIVAL
St Michael & All Angels, Bude Haven
Flower Festival
‘BUDE PAST & PRESENT’ Friday 27th - Sunday 30th September
10am till 5pm Coffee & Cake, Ploughman’s Lunches
& Afternoon Teas
Sunday at 6pm SONGS OF PRAISE
with Bude Town Band
Ac rn LandscapesSpecialists in
Beautiful Cornish Garden Makeovers
Visit our website www.acornlandscapescornwall.co.uk for full list of garden servicesCall Julian NOW on 07789 887419 or email [email protected]
Patios - Fencing - Walls - Clearance
PHILIPPI TRUST Introduction to Counselling Course allows you to test out whether being a counsellor is for you, as well as providing basic listening skills. Also provides access to the one-year Intermediate course. Monday mornings 9.30am -1.30pm from 23rd September to 25th November 2013 (excluding half term 28th October) Venue: Helston For enquiries and booking contact: Philippi Trust, Cornwall, telephone 07791 753777 or e-mail [email protected] For course details see www.philippi.co.uk Total course fees £220, including £95 deposit to be paid by 23rd August.
Truro Theological Society WHAT IS THE CHURCH?
Contemporary Greek Orthodox perspectives on the nature of ecclesial communion.
Dr Norman Russell, Cambridge 7 for 7.30 (NOTE CHANGE OF START TIME)
Wednesday 18 September Chapter House, Truro Cathedral
£4 (under-18s free, f/t students £2)
22
PASTORAL VISITORS, BEFRIENDERS & MEALTIME COMPANIONS Do you have a smile, a listening ear and loads of common sense? We are seeking volunteers to fill/combine these three vital roles at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske. Full training is given and travel expenses can be claimed. If you are interested, call Chaplaincy on 01872 252882 or Voluntary Services Dept on 01872 253737.
GOOD HOME FOR HYMN BOOKS 5 full score copies and 31 melody copies of Hymns for Today which are no longer required at St Piran’s Church, Perranarworthal. No payment necessary. Contact Ian Halford on 01872 864554.
GOOD HOME FOR MORE HYMN BOOKS St Peter’s Church, Coverack, has 50 hard back Mission Praise word books, plus 5 large print copies up to No 798 and 2 music copies up to No 282. Free to any church or group. Contact churchwarden, Jane Redrup on 01326 280 964.
St Ives Parish ChurchADDITIONAL SINGERS REQUIRED
For thriving traditional style, SATB robed choir Weekly
Mass and monthly choral Evensong Traditional
Anglo-Catholic liturgy and music.Details from Neil Shepherd
01736 759944 or visit www.stivesparishchurch.co.uk
The content of this publication is believed to be correct at the time of going to print, but its accuracy is not guaranteed and does not form part of any offer
or contract.
September DatesTruroCathedral
Friday 6 1.10pm. Ian Ball (Worcester) free lunchtime organ recitalSaturday 7 12 Noon-2pm Messy Table Fun for families and children. Free.1pm. Free lunchtime concert with St Stythians Male Voice Choir.7.30pm. The Queen of Heaven Tour. Harry Christophers directs the Sixteen as it takes you through the musical evolution of the Allegri’s Miserere. Also music by Palestrina and Macmillan’s Miserere. Tickets HfC 01872 262466, www.hallforcornwall.co.uk Sunday 8 10am. Sunday Eucharist with Installation of Choral and Organ Scholars and Head Choristers. 8pm ‘Open to Question’ – informal reflection on issues of faith with Canon Stephen Dawes in Pearson Room.Wednesday 11 10am. Friends’ Coffee Morning in Pearson Room (10-12 Noon). All welcome.Friday 13 1.10pm. Nicholas Sutton (Doncaster Minster) free lunchtime organ recital. 5.30pm Solemn First Evensong of Holy Cross Day.Saturday 14 10.30am. Cornish Wrasslin’ on Cathedral Green plus stalls and refreshments.6pm. Diocesan Confirmation Service.Monday 16 2pm & 7.30pm. ‘Windows into the Lord’s Prayer’ – 6-week course (Sept 16, 23, 30, Oct 7, 21, 28). Pearson Room at Cathedral office. £10 per course. Wednesday 18 7pm for 7.30pm. ‘What is the Church? Contemporary Greek Orthodox perspectives on the nature of ecclesial communion’ Dr Norman Russell (theologian, translator and novelist University of Cambridge). Tickets £4 on the door.Thursday 19 2pm. MU Meeting in Pearson Room, speaker Canon Peter Walker ‘The Isles of Scilly’ All welcome.Friday 20 1.10pm. Philip Davey (Truro Methodist Church) free lunchtime organ recital.5.30pm. Solemn First Evensong of Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist.7.30pm ‘125 years of the Little Giant’. Recital with Luke Bond celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Father Willis Organ. Music from the era. Wine and nibbles during interval. Tickets £7 (Students £5, U18s free).Saturday 21 11am-2pm. Messy Table. 1pm. Free informal lunchtime concert with Riverside Singers.5.30pm. Solemn Evensong of Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist attended by the Old Choristers Association.Sunday 22 11.30am. Fairtrade Table in North Transept after Morning Eucharist.Friday 27 1.10pm. Mike Edwards (Cornwall) free organ recital.Saturday 28 1pm. Free informal lunchtime concert with Mabe Ladies Choir. 7.30pm Sacred Chants and Songs of the Ukraine. The Boyan Ensemble, clad in traditional costume, performs an exciting mix of Eastern Orthodox Church music and thrilling Ukrainian folk songs. Tickets HfC 01872 262466, www.hallforcornwall.co.ukSunday 29 10am. Solemn Eucharist and celebration of 50 years in the priesthood of Canon James Edwards and Canon Peter Larkin. 6pm. ‘A Night of Colour’ with Daniel Cozens (founder of Through Faith Missions) tells his life story and what Jesus means to him through a collection of his paintings. Part of Walk Cornwall 2. Free.
My Credo - A True Perspective48pp A5 - Price £4.35 + £1 if postedand
Busking For Jesus with CD and words of 8 songs 36pp A5 - Price £7.45 + £1 if posted
Both booklets are essential reading for Disciples of our Saviour Jesus
Mike Williams Publicity & Promotion Perrowford, Trefusis Road, Redruth, TR15 2JN. 01209 213912
For Sale
Wanted
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A multi-choice workshop day designed to encourage and equip all who want to see
music �ourish in their church worship.with Graham Kendrick, Geraldine Latty, Nigel Groome, Christopher Gray, Perran Gay, Philip
Davey, Andrew Nicholson, Andrew MariesTickets £10 (save £3 on Graham Kendrick Evening Concert-
combined price with Music Day £17)Apply: [email protected]
or phone Truro Cathedral O�ce: 01872 276782Download full colour brochure www.trurocathedral.org.uk
Leaders -
DIOCESE OF TRURO
a MUSIC DAY forCORNWALL
in and around Truro Cathedral
SATURDAY OCTOBER 12th 201310.30am - 5.00pm
CORNWALL
MAKE MUSIC TO THE LORD!
TruroMusicDayPosterOct2013.indd 1 21/05/2013 09:22
Autumn Roadshows 2013 Programme
Printed and Distributed by Nationwide Print. Holmbush Ind. Estate,
St Austell, Cornwall PL25 3JL.
Design: Karen Jackson Design, Falmouth www.karenjacksondesign.com
The Coracle is published with the authority of the Bishop of Truro.
Editor & advertising: David Watson [email protected]
Diocesan House, Kenwyn, Truro TR1 1JQ Telephone 01872 274351 www.trurodiocese.org.uk
Last day for copy to Editor 29th August
(for October issue)Cthecoracle
Date and Deanery Venue
Thursday, 26th September Stratton & Trigg Major
Thursday, 10th October St Austell & Bodmin & Trigg Minor
Tuesday, 15th October East & West Wilvelshire
Thursday, 17th October Powder & Pydar
Tuesday, 22nd October Kerrier & Penwith
Thursday 24th October North & South Carnmarth
Tregadillet Church Hall, Prout Way, Tregadillet, Launceston PL15 7HT
Kea Church, Kea Cottage, Truro TR3 6AE
Hayle Community School, 3 High Lanes, Hayle TR27 4DN
Dracaena Centre, Dracaena Avenue, Falmouth TR11 2ES
Liskeard School & Community College, Luxstowe, Liskeard PL14 3EA
The Shire House Suite, Mount Folly, Bodmin PL31 2DQ
From 6pm COFFEE & TEA in the MARKET-PLACE
7- 7.15pm OPENING WORSHIP
7.15 - 7.35pm INTRODUCTION TO ‘OUR VISION’ and the ‘3 Strands’ with Bishop Chris
7.35 - 8.45pm HAVE YOUR SAY A chance to have your say at round table workshops to discuss each of the 3 Strands and what they mean to you in your parish.
Each session will be preceded by a 5-minute presentation:
• Discipleship led by Archdeacon Audrey
• Accompanied Ministry Development (AMD) led by Bishop Chris
• Doing Church Differently & Bishop’s Den led by Archdeacon Bill
8.45 – 9pm ANY QUESTIONS? Your chance to ask Bishop Tim and his colleagues questions about our diocese.
9pm BLESSING & Homeward Bound