Dear Friends,Reading: “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” – Mark 6:31The summer holidays have officially arrived. For parents, grandparents, and businesses in our community, it is a bustling, high-energy season. But for many, the holidays represent a deeply ingrained human need: the desire to break the routine, pack a bag, pack up the car, and escape the daily grind. We long for a change of scenery and a chance to pause.This urge to step away is not a modern luxury; it is a spiritual necessity designed by God.In Mark’s Gospel, we find Jesus and his disciples in the middle of an intense, chaotic period of ministry. People were coming and going in such huge numbers that the disciples did not even have time to sit down and eat. It sounds a lot like modern life.Jesus looks at his exhausted friends and does not give them a lecture on productivity. Instead, he issues an invitation: “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”Jesus knew that human beings cannot pour from an empty cup. He understood that to sustain a life of love, service, and faith, we must regularly practice the sacred art of stopping. He models this throughout the Gospels, frequently slipping away to lonely mountainsides or quiet lakeshores to recalibrate and connect with his Father.The secular world often views rest as something we must earn—a reward at the finish line of burnout. But the biblical concept of Sabbath flips this entirely on its head. In Genesis, God creates humanity on the sixth day, meaning our very first full day on earth was a day of rest. In God’s kingdom, rest is not a reward for finished work; it is the foundation from which all good work flows.Whether you are going away on a grand trip this August, enjoying a quiet staycation in our beautiful Cornish surroundings, or simply trying to survive the school holiday rush, Jesus extends that very same summer invitation to you today.True rest is not just about stopping physical activity; it is about changing our focus. It is about letting our souls catch up with our bodies. This summer, give yourself permission to step back. Turn off the mental to-do list. Spend five minutes sitting quietly in the garden, walking on the beach, or sitting in the stillness of our ancient churches.As the pace of the world changes around us this month, let us accept the Saviour's invitation to find a quiet place, pull up a chair, and rest awhile in His presence.Prayer:Lord God, thank you for the gift of summer and the blessing of holiday seasons. Quiet our busy minds, ease our heavy burdens, and help us to find our true rest and refreshment in you this month. Amen.If you need to know more about. This I would recommend reading “The ruthless elimination of hurry” by John Mark Commer.August brings an influx of holidaymakers and visitors to Cornwall. This seasonal rush presents us with an opportunity to reflect on the warmth of our own church welcome. Let us all make a conscious effort to ensure that anyone visiting or stepping into our services for the first time feels completely at home and included in our different church families.Looking back at July, I want to extend a massive thank you to everyone who supported the Church Fete at Madron and the Cream Tea and table-top sale at Gulval. Both events were highly successful, drawing in many visitors from our communities and sparking rich conversations which we hope will lead to further engagement.This month also signals a season of profound transition and new chapters for our ministry team: Farewell to Kay Alexander: On Sunday 30th August at 11:00am, we will gather at Gulval Parish Church for a special Benefice Communion Service. Kay, our wonderful Reader, will be preaching her final sermon before she relocates to Scotland to be with her husband, Hugh, as they begin an exciting new chapter in their lives together. Kay has been an absolute pillar of support, leading ministry across all three of our churches and faithfully serving Night Church at St Mary’s in Penzance. Please join us to celebrate her incredible ministry and wish them both well. A New Chapter for Revd Jo Thomas: After seven years of dedicated service across our three churches, Revd Jo is moving on to take the lead at the churches of Towednack and Zennor. These two departures represent a time of significant change for our entire benefice, and it will likely result in adjustments to our regular service patterns in the future. We hold both Jo and Kay in our prayers as they step into these new callings. Because August is traditionally a time for doing things a bit differently and stepping back to rest and recharge, please note that there will be no Heart to Praise services or Families@4 during this month.However, there are two fantastic upcoming events in the wider Penwith Deanery to add to your summer calendar if your other commitments allow: Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary at St Hilary Church (Thursday 13th August at 7:00pm): We are honoured to welcome the Bishop of Truro, The Rt Revd David Williams, who will serve as President and Preacher. A light buffet supper will follow. To assist the organisers with numbers, please RSVP directly to Churchwarden Roger Calfe at roger.calfe@btinternet.com. Sancreed Evensong & BBQ (Sunday 23rd August at 5:00pm): Led by local Lay Reader Richard Westcott, this special service will welcome the local community. It will be followed by a community BBQ. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own alcoholic or soft drinks, alongside a contribution to the BBQ. As we navigate these times of change and celebration, I wish you all a safe, restful, and joyful August.Warmest blessings,Chris
Dear Friends,A great deal has happened since I last wrote for the magazine, but one particularday stands out vividly: Friday 15th May. I was privileged to arrange a tour on behalfof the Penwith Deanery for the new Bishop of St Germans, James Treasure. Thegoal was simple yet profound: to introduce him to the remarkable people who areworking tirelessly across our area to make a real difference.Our day began at 10:00 am at Madron Rectory, setting the stage for a journey rooteddeeply in community and care. First of all, we arrived at the Penzance ChurchesTogether Food Bank. There, we met the dedicated volunteer staff and listened tomoving accounts of the families and individuals who rely on their resources. Just asinspirational was hearing where the food donations come from and learning aboutthe immense generosity of both individuals and businesses. The food bank operatesout of very minimal facilities, and it was incredibly clear that to ensure all stock isorganized and accessible, every volunteer involved understood their role perfectlyand knew how important it was to work as a team.After the food bank, we drove the short distance to the Lescudjack Centre where wemet Crin Whelan, the Director of Trelya. She spoke passionately about the manydifferent projects which are based there. This amazing community centre sits right atthe heart of one of our most economically challenged neighbourhoods. Among manyother life-changing initiatives, it proudly hosts the West Cornwall Legal Aid Centre.Interestingly, one of the tenants in the building is our local MP, Andrew George, whoarrived by bike just as we were standing by the entrance! He kindly invited us tomeet his team upstairs, where it transpired that Bishop James had actually been anMP’s research assistant in the past.At 12:00 noon, Lynne Dyer welcomed us to the Growing Links Community Gardenon Posses Lane in Gulval. While the project focuses heavily on supporting homelessindividuals, the garden itself serves as a beautiful, peaceful sanctuary for anyonecombating loneliness and mental health challenges. Bishop James asked whetherthe clients find the garden to be a spiritual place; Lynne was keen to concur andwarmly offered the facility for any of our church groups to use in the future.We returned to Madron at 1:00 pm for lunch with a number of deaneryrepresentatives, including two Lay Ministers. It was a wonderful opportunity forBishop James to hear firsthand about the diverse ministries and quiet servicehappening right on our doorstep.At 2:00 pm, we shifted our focus to the younger generation with a visit to MadronDaniel Church of England Primary School—distinguished as the most westerlychurch school on the UK mainland. It was the end of a long SATS week, and wefound the Year 6 children from both Madron Daniel and St Mary’s Primary Schoolsunwinding beautifully together at Forest School.We joined them around an unlit fire pit for a moment of reflection. Each child wasasked to think about three concepts: Up, Out, and In. In was a personal reflection on something that had impacted them internally. Out focused on their interactions and kindness toward others over the pastweek. Up encouraged them to think about something bigger than themselves thatthey appreciated, felt challenged by, or blessed by.It was an incredibly moving experience that stayed with both of us long after we left.Following this, the Year 6 children from Madron gave Bishop James a personal tourof the school, particularly wanting to share the school's core values as well as thespecial prayer corner set up in the school hall.To crown an already inspiring day, we gathered in the evening for a joyfulConfirmation Service in Madderns Church. Bishop David presided over the service,with Bishop James participating alongside him. It was a beautiful and lovelyconclusion to a day that gave a real insight into the very best of our deanery—fromour helping hands and community gardens to our schools and spiritual life.All those present could not help but notice how both of our Bishops made genuinetime for each person there, showing a wonderful warmth and certainly not wanting torush off! (You can see a photo of Bishop David with Jennifer & Couvin below.)Thank you to everyone who made Bishop James feel so welcome and whocontinues to make our church communities such a beacon of hope.Every blessing,Chris
The period between Ascension Day (Thursday the 14th May) and Pentecost (Sunday 24th May) is a time in our church calendar when we remember the disciples waiting for the gift of Holy Spirit. During this time we remember the 10 days when the first disciples gathered in the Upper Room, caught between the joy of the Resurrection and the unknown future of the Church. They were told to wait for 'power from on high,' and in that waiting, they found unity in prayer. To guide us through these 10 days, I am delighted that we have booklets written by our new Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally. Many of you will know that before her ordination, Archbishop Sarah had a long and distinguished career as a nurse, eventually serving as the Chief Nursing Officer for England. As you look through the list of Easter services included in this magazine, you’ll see the rich variety of worship across our benefice—from the reflection of Holy Week to the dawn celebrations of Easter Sunday. While we all love to see our church services full of people, the real heart of our mission is shared experience. We often hesitate to invite others, worrying we might be 'bothering' them, but an invitation is simply a way of saying, 'I value your company'. Perhaps this year, rather than just suggesting a service, you could invite someone to 'come with me'. For those who haven't stepped through our doors in a long time, or those new to our communities, your friendly face might be the bridge they need to re-encounter the love of God in Christ.”As I write this, I am struck by the signs of new life appearing in our own churchyards and across the hedgerows of our benefice. The daffodils are coming to an end but what a display of primroses, and the first hints of green are returning to the trees that have stood watch over our communities year after year. There is a profound parallel here to the season of Easter and Ascension. Just as we see the 'miracles' of fresh leaves and waking earth, we are reminded of the 'vibrant vigour' of the Resurrection. In the quiet corners of our parishes—perhaps in those wilder, overgrown parts of the churchyard where the birds find their habitation—we can find the space to reflect. In a world that often demands we move faster, this season calls us to slow down. Whether you are walking through the village or sitting quietly in one of our church buildings, I encourage you to look for these 'signs' of change. Each budding flower is a metaphor for the hope we hold: that even in the 'brown, barren' ground of our daily worries, God’s grace is constantly tending our souls. As the earth reawakens, let it be a time for us to reconnect with our own purpose and to be surprised by the new growth God wants to see in each of us.Archbishop Sarah Mullally often speaks about how her faith and her nursing vocation are intertwined, centred on compassion, healing, and 'person-centered'. This perspective is evident in her writing; her reflections for 'Thy Kingdom Come' this year focus on the theme 'God With Us'—the God who meets us in the ordinary, messy reality of our everyday lives. These booklets will be available after Easter, and I truly hope they serve as a gentle daily companion for you to enjoy during a quiet moment of reflection during the day.This year, as we join the global 'Thy Kingdom Come' movement, we are invited to do the same. The challenge to pray for five specific people is not about 'recruiting' or pressure; it is an act of love. Think of five people in your life—perhaps a neighbour you wave to, a family member, or a friend going through a difficult season—who might find comfort in knowing the hope we celebrate at Easter. By holding them in our prayers, we aren't just asking for them to attend a service; we are asking for God’s 'transformative presence' to be active in their daily joys and sorrows.In summary, this coming season is more than just a list of dates on a calendar; it is an invitation to witness and participate in God’s ongoing work of renewal. From the 'Thy Kingdom Come' prayer initiative to the simple act of inviting a friend or neighbour to share in our Easter joy, we have countless opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ to our communities.By the time you read this Sarah Mullally will be the new Archbishop of Canterbury, (Wednesday 25th March), let us take her theme of 'God with Us' to heart. May we find Him in the everyday—in our sorrows, our joys, and everything in between. I look forward to seeing many of you at our services in the coming weeks. Until then, may the peace of the Risen Christ be with you, your families, and our entire community.With every blessing,Chris
