Moorland and Egloskerry Benefice and St Stephen’s Church came together for a lovely, joyful service at North Petherwin Church on the afternoon Sunday 11th February to wish Reverend Nicki Farr well as she leaves to take up her new post in charge of the Camel-Allen Benefice. Helen Uglow welcomed everyone to the service and started it off with the first prayer. Representatives of many of the churches were involved in the service doing readings. Ray Harvey thanked Rev’d Nicki for all she had done with the churches in her time as curate and wished her well in her new Ministry. She has had an deep impact on many of us and will be missed. Nicki`s husband, Andy, was also thanked for his support and input. As Ray said, not "Farewell" but "Au Revoir"! Olivia Colwill brought up the gift for Rev’d Farr from the Benefice, which was a clerical stole, beautifully made to order by Juliet Hemingway Clerical Textiles, depicting nets full of fish and fields of sheep. Then Lynn Cove Frostick gave Rev’d Farr a very mysterious present from Trewen Church!Rev’d Jess Lancaster led sending prayers and David Miller, Minister of Central Methodist Church, Launceston spoke moving prayers as a number of the congregation came up to join in a laying on of hands for Rev’d Nicki and her husband. Jo Faull played the organ for the service, and the team of bellringers, led by Tower Captain Bill Willis, rang the bells to welcome everyone to the church.There was a good spread laid on for the tea afterwards, and everyone enjoyed the food and the opportunity to chat to people from other churches.A picture of the gifted clerical stole can be seen by clicking the Download button.PLEASE NOTE. This and all other entries in 'News and Notices' are usually listed in order of date published or amended.
A wilderness fit for LentDear FriendsLemon & sugar, chocolate spread or blueberry compote - how do you like your pancakes? Shrove Tuesday will soon be upon us, when traditionally, pancakes are eaten to use up all the goodies before moving into the austerity of the season of Lent.Lent takes us on a journey through to Holy Week and The Passion of Christ before we move into the glorious season and events of Easter. Lent is a time of preparation towards that great and glorious day of the resurrection. Some of the characteristics of Lent are: self-examination, patience, self-denial, study and preparation. So often we hear people proclaim the ‘things’ they have given up for Lent; I wonder if chocolate sales fall or if the lure of early Easter eggs in the shops is too big a temptation.Lent in the Christian calendar resonates with Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness where he was tempted on 3 occasions, but each time he resisted and drew on the strength of his relationship with God to help him through. This testing time was the start of Jesus’ ministry, the start of the good news of Christmas coming into action.The wilderness days were a tough time for Jesus and sometimes we find ourselves in that place of wilderness and temptation. It can feel like an endless desert and we don’t know where to turn. And yet the story of Jesus shows us there is hope, not just a light at the end of the tunnel but the assurance that he is with us in the tunnel. His story is not one of niceties and easy living but a tough story of healing & reconciliation, a story of love & hope and a story of strength in our weakness and joy in our sorrow.So as we walk this path of life in Lent 2024, let us be guided by the wisdom from the book of Proverbs. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.Proverbs 3:5-8If you wish to start your journey through Lent with an act of penitence and reflection, everyone is welcome to join us for a Service on Ash Wednesday, 14th February at St Stephen’s Church, Launceston at 7.30pm.Yours in ChristRevd Nicki
What is Lent?"Yes, just what is Lent?"Well, look up the derivation of the word 'Lent' and you will find that it gains its meaning from the adjective 'lenten', meaning frugal, meager, austere and other similarly depressing words. So, when we talk about the season of Lent, we are describing a period when we should be frugal in how and what we spend, when our activities and essentials should be meager, so no luxury food or binges for all you party-goers out there, and when our lives should be approaching a state of voluntary austerity."Really?"No, not really. But we should be seriously looking at how we can get as near as we can to these conditions. But there is no need to be OTT about it."So when does this season of Lent begin and when does it end?"If by some chance you don't have access to a calendar, which will tell you precisely when it is, you can usually get a pretty good idea, because it begins when the snowdrops have had their day and crocuses and daffodils are beginning to flower by the roadside and in our parks and gardens. This varies considerably of course, depending upon where you are, but in our part of the World, the middle of February is a pretty good assumption. But, on the calendar, it tells you precisely that it begins this year on the 14th February."So...".Hang on. But for obvious reasons, the Church needed to be much more precise than simply using flowers to set the beginning of Lent. And so it was decided a long time ago that it should be 40 days before Holy Saturday - the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. However, Easter's placement in the calendar varies considerably because it actually depends on the Moon. It is set to coincide with the "first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon, the first full moon after the vernal equinox". This sounds very complex, I know, and especially if you don't possess a calendar or have a degree in Astronomy. But you can usually, although not always, tell roughly when this is because Springtime is beginning to fill our lives with joy after the deprivations of Winter"But why does the timing of Easter depend on the Moon?"Well, It is rightly based on the Lunar calendar because that is what they used in the time of Jesus. It is set by the cycles of the Moon around the Earth, and not our modern calendar, which reflects the time it takes for the Earth to travel once 'round the Sun. This is why there is a considerable variation each year."That sounds awfully complicated but I think I understand. But why does Lent have to be 40 days?"There are two related reasons for this. The first is that the count of 40 is generally accepted as being typically a time of trial, penance, purification and renewal. Secondly, and most importantly, it is the time Jesus spent in the wilderness before he began His ministry. This would have been a time of great trial for Jesus, with no shelter, meager rations and hour upon hour spent in solitary prayer and meditation, to prepare himself for the hugely important time and events to come."Are we supposed to do what Jesus did for these forty days?"Our celebration and observance of Lent is meant to mirror all this. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, when, as Christians, we are asked to show on our forehead the sign of the cross, made from the ashes of the burnt palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday. And then, as I related earlier, throughout the 40 days of Lent, we are asked to be frugal in our spending and meager in what we eat and how we live. No, we are not asked to virtually starve ourselves or spend 40 days alone in the wilderness, as Jesus did, although we could, with Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor close at hand! But this is most definitely not needed nor recommended!"That's alright then. Is there anything else I could do?"Yes, you could also attend a Lent Study Course, such as the one Caroline Stone is leading in the Moorland & Egloskerry Benefice. Would you like to join me?Ken.FootnoteAfter nearly three years of writing articles for the St Paternus website, including 'What's in a Word', 'A Layman's Point of View' and a series of eight on the plight of Ukraine and it's citizens, I have decided to call it a day, at least until I feel refreshed enough to think of something new. Thank you to all those who have read them. Your interest and support have been much appreciated.PLEASE NOTE. This and all other entries in 'News and Notices' are usually listed in order of date published or amended.
Christmas 2023 at St PaternusThe Parish Church hosted North Petherwin Primary School’s Christmas Concert, and Rev’d Nicki Farr welcomed the school, along with parents and guardians. Our thanks to Mr Philpott and all the staff for their dedication and hard work in organising the wonderful performances by the children, who were amazing and were thoroughly enjoyed by all. The children put on a lovely show, making it a memorable occasion.At the Candlelit Service of Nine lessons and Carols we were delighted to hear Olivia Colwill sing unaccompanied, the first verse of ‘Once in Royal David’s City,’ while processing with a candle. Thank you to all our readers and organist who led us in the readings and carols, taking us on a historical journey of God’s promise to Abraham to the birth of Jesus. The ‘St Paternus Singers’, Ken, Ray, Ruth, Nicki and Jo, sang ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ (arr. Ken Potter). Sincere thanks to all who helped with the refreshments following the service. The Christingle Service was a wonderful occasion with the church being filled with happy faces, except for ‘The Grumpy Innkeeper’ and even he was a changed man when he saw ‘the baby Jesus’ lying in the manger. Thank you to Bonnie and Olivia and to our Parish Councillors who ‘volunteered’ to help re-enact this wonderful version of The Christmas Story. Special thanks to the children in the congregation who reflected those long-ago happenings in the wonder on their faces as they received their Christingles and brought the figures to the crib. The service brought so much joy and happiness – a real celebration of the birth that changed the world forever.We thank the many people involved in every aspect of preparing, planning, cleaning, advertising, Christingle-making and arranging all that needs to be done to help the services run smoothly and enabling worship to happen.One thing that shines out is the love that exists within the Parish for our church. This year, as well as the beautiful cross on the tower, and star in the Lych Gate, two Christmas trees lit the entrance. Thanks to all those who lock and unlock the church each day throughout the year. Many people appreciate being able to go in and pray and find a peace that the world is not always able to give.On Christmas Eve we were guided along the church paths by candles kindly placed by the Taylor family. The attached video (see the first download button) takes you through the Lychgate and along the candlelit pathway towards the bell tower. Listen to the bells!Yes, we heard the bells, calling us to worship and we were delighted that three new ringers (Suzy, Lyn and Linda) were able to join the team for the Christingle Service. We are very grateful to our ringers and appreciate them ringing throughout the year, including these special services and the King’s Coronation in May.Now moving inside the church - it has been cleaned and beautifully decorated with wonderful arrangements in windows, on the font and throughout the church. Grateful thanks to all who quietly do this all year round.This year, there were two Christmas Trees inside the church – the large tree at the back having been given by the Hawke family and beautifully decorated by the children, and a ‘woolly tree’ at the front. Many thanks to Jo and Dorothy for the idea and to all those who made the squares, it was a wonderful way of bringing the community together on a shared project.Thank you to everyone who supported the services and who contributed to the collections, enabling the following donations:St Petrocs - £125.00, Unicef - £175.00, Childrens Hospice Southwest -£175.00Church funds - £125.00.This year, we were especially aware that several were not able to join us for various reasons (illness, recovering from operations, no longer living in the area). We would like this summary of Christmas events help you to know that you were missed and thought about, and we share our final blessing with you: May the Blessings of Christmas be with usMay the Christ Child light our way May God’s holy angels guide us And keep us safe each day. Amen.Article compiled written by Helen and The Christmas Team - with help from Nicki in proof reading.A collage of some of the wonderful photos taken over the Christmas period is available to download from this post by clicking on the second download button.PLEASE NOTE. This and all other entries in 'News and Notices' are usually listed in order of date published or amended.
