Vicar's Message for May 2025

MAY DAY AND MAYDAY

Dear Friends

Here in Cornwall when we think of May Day our thoughts probably leap to things like the Padstow Obby Oss and, a week after the 1st May itself to Helston Flora Day. Both ancient festivals which, among other things, celebrate the beginning of summer. They are times of great fun and happiness as we look forward to the warmth and joy of the season.

However, if we hear the word mayday or words mayday mayday mayday our minds move far from thoughts of partying to the cries of those in need. The distress signal mayday came into being in the 1920s and is in fact a corruption of the French m'aidez meaning help me!

All of us have times of celebrating the May Days of our lives and times when we need to reach out and ask for help in our maydays. As a Christian I believe that God is with us in all of these times even when it does not feel like it and that we can ask him to be with us in moments of joy and of distress, we are never alone. I invite everyone to think about that as we travel through the month of May.

With grace, peace and every blessing

Revd Canon Paul Arthur

Priest in Charge of Par, Charlestown and Treverbyn