I write to tell you about the Mabe Emergency Group which has been set up to support the members of Mabe Civil Parish during this difficult time. We are a small committee of people from Mabe parish council, St Laudus Church Mabe and MYCP and in contact with Volunteer Cornwall and Penryn Foodbank. This group is for volunteers, people in need and anyone in Mabe during this difficult time.The situation is of course developing all the time. At the moment the group is supporting a number of people with things like picking up shopping and delivery of take-away meals for people who are shielding / self-isolating. We are also shortly going to be able to take referrals for the Penryn Food bank. You can help, please, by:Volunteering with the Mabe Emergency group (to help deliver shopping etc)Referring anyone you know of (with their permission) for food bank or other help.Donating to the food bank either financially or in terms of food. Please leave food donations at the vicarage and we shall arrange for it to be taken to the food bank. To make a monetary donation please use the food bank web page https://penrynfalmouth.foodbank.org.ukAnd please go on praying for the sick, for those caring for them and their families; pray for all key workers and all who are volunteering in any way. Thank you and God bless you!
So… I’ve texted, whatsapped, zoomed - and even telephoned everyone I know. I’ve cleaned the kitchen from top to bottom, my office has never been so tidy, we’ve even cleared that wild area at the bottom of the garden. Given the awful state of the reality of the world at the moment, it’s tempting to retreat into the universe of virtual reality but I know that would only be another distraction. I’ve done everything I can think of - all the really good escaping/deflecting behaviours my mind can come up with. Now maybe it’s time for a different kind of retreat… On several occasions during my life I have gone to a ‘Retreat’ for a week or so as a guest in a monastery or convent. Nothing to do with war or running away, this kind of retreat is actually the very opposite. It certainly means stopping and turning round, but is really about taking time out to have a good long look at yourself. Examining your life, your attitudes, your relationships; facing up to past mistakes so you can learn from them; taking stock of the things you like about yourself – and the things about you that you might not like or want to think about.Retreats are about honestly coming to terms with, and accepting yourself for who and what you are. About looking to the future, wondering what life might bring, which direction you’re going to take, and who, and what, and how, you choose to be. Ways of approaching this differ: writing a journal or blog, reading one of those ‘self-help’ books to help guide your reflecting; using music or silent meditation as an inspiration. Individual aims will differ too, depending on who you are: maybe learning to listen to life rather than just to commentate on it; or perhaps learning to cope with the particular challenges you face in life. Whichever way you do them and whatever your particular aims, retreats aren’t easy. They’re challenging and require courage and persistence – but then so does every adventure – and it strikes me that that’s what a retreat is – an adventure into life. Your life, if you’re up to it!Today I find myself on another kind of retreat. This time it’s not actually my choice, it’s not as the guest of a religious community and it’s definitely going to be for more than just a week or so. I’m finding, I admit, that just like on my spiritual retreats, for the first few days I want to be doing things because the last thing my mind wants to do is something much more important - actually confront who I am, who I am being… So I’ve been (as well as sleeping quite a lot!) busying myself, losing myself in doing things, - some of them useful and maybe even important! - but doing anything rather than the one thing I know will be the most challenging, uncomfortable, but by far the best thing I could do with this free time I’ve suddenly been given: retreating from all the ‘doing’ distractions of life and instead, looking at and listening to life; and having a go at really being.Rev Steve Smith
Dear All,As you all know, because of the corona virus emergency, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have prohibited all public church services, so here is this Sunday’s ‘Worship-at-Home’ service! It’s available as a Word document but I’ve also included the full text in the body of this email.Please consider printing it and popping a copy through the letterbox of people without email - including, if you think it appropriate, those of neighbours who might not normally attend church services but who might like to be included in our life and fellowship as the church of God.Obviously you can use this service at any time but you might like to say it at 9.30am on Sunday when we are used to being together as the worshipping community. This could help us, despite perhaps having to ‘self-isolate’ or keep ‘social distant’, to remember that we are not alone. Also, do remember all the hand-washing and other hygiene guidance and do everything to keep yourself and everyone else safe and healthy. I shall be in touch regularly - please do email or text or phone me if you’d like - even if it’s just for a chat because you’re by yourself! And finally, please, please, continue to pray unceasingly for our poor world and all it is enduring.With love, as alwaysSteve
Dear All,In the light of the Covid 19 emergency I have this morning suspended all church services and events at St Laudus Church, Mabe and St Michael’s Church, Ponsanooth until further notice. This decision is to protect elderly and vulnerable people and will be under regular review, dependent on any future guidance/instruction from government. We are looking at putting worship material online and updates will be posted her and/or on our facebook page www.facebook.com/mabechurchesMeanwhile please pray for everyone worldwide who has contracted the virus, for those who are anxious about contracting it or have otherwise been affected by it, and for all the medical and other staff around the world desperately working to put an end to the pandemic. I have been in touch with the Parish Council at Mabe who have embarked on plans to support people in the village, and plans in Ponsanooth are underway. Importantly, we must remain calm and positive, encouraging and prayerful! Please feel free to disseminate all of this to those without emailMuch love to all,Rev Steve Smith
