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Dear Friends,
Pause for thought with Rev Brian
Three into One will Go!
In his book ‘Priestland’s Progress’, Gerald Priestland tackled the annual problem some Christians have with the doctrine of the Trinity. He wrote that this doctrine was like a piano kept in the front parlour which nobody played anymore but didn’t want to throw out in case it might become useful.
The British tend to be a practical people, not too worried about the finer points of religion but enthusiastic about what good can come from them. When I left college, I was given a book by the great Methodist minister Colin Morris on preaching, who recommended when the minister was faced with preaching on Trinity Sunday it would be best for him to go down with a bout of laryngitis!
I am less concerned about how the three persons of the Trinity relate to one another than to what we can learn from this doctrine. Why should we believe in three persons in one God? This belief arose because God first revealed himself as a Father; then Jesus lived out his life as a Son in relation to this Father, and the resurrection revealed this relationship to be an eternal fact. After the death of Jesus his disciples experienced God’s continuing presence as a loving power within them and their community life. After many centuries of thinking about this experience, the church realised this wasn’t just God expressing himself in three different ways but that he is forever, in himself, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
I know and believe this, not just because this is what I have been taught, but somehow, I feel it. For example, there can be no such thing as a solitary individual. Speaking to someone earlier this year they proclaimed that they are able make decisions, even die, without influencing anyone else. But I pointed out that although I might not know them intimately, even not much about them, they will have influenced someone else who possibly affected my life. “No one is an island” wrote John Dunne. My mind is always in relationship with other minds, so when we think of God as a personal and infinite mind we naturally think of a loving relationship as somehow contained within God. That is as far as I can go, the rest is a mystery.
Our Christian experience is that God is a trustworthy Father on who we can depend. He is not cold or remote, and in His Son, He knows the human condition from experience. Although beyond us as the one with whom we can relate, he is also present within the core of our being as a Spirit, giving strength beyond our normal human resources.
So, we can live with the mystery of God and sing - ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty’
Brian McQuillen
Parish Nursing Update - Can you help?
Dear Friends,
As you are aware I have been involved with several conversations around the possibility of introducing a parish nurse across the Upper Fal Parishes to help us in ministry and mission and outreach into the community and hopefully creating a link into church and faith.
The parish nurse would work for us (and not the local NHS, therefore would not be involved in doing the NHS work for them as such. But would benefit from working with social prescribers. They would also help to alleviate or, at least, bring people together to alleviate isolation and distress, they could be involved with health and well-being activities and this could be directed for people of different ages. The parish nurse (PN) would be a qualified nurse and would know and understand the NHS system and recognise when people need to access medical support/interventions and make the relevant referrals.
To support this venture we would need to raise some capital. To employ a registered nurse for one day a week would we would need to set aside £12k and each extra day would cost an additional £12k. This would include their pension etc. In addition to this we would need to pay for expenses and equipment. It has been suggested that the first year for setting up might be in the region of £16k however, the surgery might be willing to support with various items if they are able.
The fact that we have a surgery based in Probus does not mean that the PN would be focused solely in Probus, but would be employable across the whole patch.This could mean that we could run a particular event for a targeted group of people i.e. a parent and toddler morning at St Erme, or a coffee morning in St Nun's (whatever we felt was needed)...the PN would help us with our endeavours to reach more people and to bless our local communities as well as share our stories of faith and hope with those we come into contact with. The PN would be known as a person of faith.
In order to fund this we would need to apply for various grants, my understanding is that there are trusts and foundations that would be willing to support us, and perhaps even local parish councils.
Bodmin Way have offered to support us in a 'line management/HR' capacity, they are hoping to do this for all Truro Diocese as a way to support smaller parishes which lines up with their vision of service.
I need to ask if there is anyone in our parishes who would be willing to create a small working group to oversee this piece of work and to keep each parish informed (through the bulletin) about progress, I would also like to ask if someone might volunteer to seek out and apply for funding. If you are interested please speak to either myself or Eleanor McCartney at Probus (bulletin@probus.church).
grace and peace,
Caroline
This Week's Services
Sunday 15th June - Trinity Sunday
Probus 9:30am - Connect with Ant
St Erme 9:30am - Holy communion with Rev Caroline
St Nuns 11:00am - Holy Communion with Rev Pat
Ladock 11:00am - Holy Communion with Rev Caroline
Tresillian 11:15am - Holy Communion with Rev Linda
Thursday 19th June
Probus - Holy Communion with Greg and Joyce
This Week's Readings
Proverbs 8:1-4; 22-21
Romans 5: 1-5
John 16: 12-15
Collect for this Sunday
Almighty and eternal God,
you have revealed yourself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
and live and reign in the perfect unity of love:
hold us firm in this faith,
that we may know you in all your ways
and evermore rejoice in your eternal glory,
who are three Persons yet one God,
now and for ever.
Next Week's Services
Sunday 22nd June
Probus 9:30am - Holy Communion with Rev Lind
St Erme 9:30am - Morning Prayer with John / Johnny
St Crida 11:00am - Matins with Rev Pat
Ladock 11:00am - Holy Communion with Rev Linda
Lamorran 3pm - BCP Evensong - with Rev Linda
Probus 4pm - Cafe Church with Scott
Ladock 6pm - Evensong with Greg and Joyce
Next Week's Readings
Isaiah 65: 1-9
Galatians 3: 23-end
Luke 8: 26-39
Probus Family Breakfast
On the 1st Sunday of every month we will have breakfast on offer from 8:45 before the connect service. An opportunity to spend time together before worship. We are hoping this may be something we can invite families to and as well as social time, and food it also offers a chance for those unfamiliar with the worship songs to listen to the music group practice and become more familiar with them....... but the band need breakfast too so they won't play the whole time!
 Probus Song of the Month
This month it's been chosen by Revd Caroline after she heard it sung at Grampound, and it has occasionally popped up during the Connect services.
Goodness of God was written by some of the well known names in contemporary Christian music who collectively are Bethel Music.
It won a GMA Dove award in 2020, but became more well known a year later when CeCe Winans covered it taking it from a country vibe to a more gospel sound.
https://youtu.be/9sE5kEnitqE?si=-KMG628jTfRMJjD0
Pastoral Care across the Upper Fal Parishes
I would like to start a small prayer net drawing on those who feel that they can pray for and on behalf of others. This is a calling, a spiritual gift. If you are available to pray for someone at any time, would you be prepared to commit to belonging to the prayer net -this will be a small dedicated team of people who will pray for people known and unknown to them, in the comfort of their own home or take a few moments to utter a quick prayer wherever you might be. The success of this group will be when church folk feel able to use the prayer net for prayer cover for emergency situations, or ask the prayer group to pray for friends and neighbours who may need prayer. The other success measure will be that no one in the group will discuss what is being prayed for with anyone else, not even the person being prayed for!
it will be possible to join this group if in the first instance you have a smart phone so that messages can be shared using whatsapp, or email, it is even possible to join only using telephone however, you will most likely just have one call as agreed for the latest requests. It will be my hope that we will also share good news and so receive feedback from the people we have been praying for.
I also expect any person in the church to submit prayer requests having first asked permission to share basic details i.e. first name and nature of prayer request. There would be no need to go into detail as God will know and understand what is needed.
If you are interested please speak to either myself or your church warden or local leader. This will form part of the discernment process.
Grace and peace,
Caroline
It was lovely to receive a photo from the family of Samuel who was baptised at St Crida recently
Probus Give to Go Green 3rd May to 13th June
Over this 6 week period all money raised will be match funded by a Church of England - Give to Green Grant up to a total of £10,000 to support our development of more efficient heating for the church. With a few days to go we have reached a fantastic £21,200
If you would like to donate towards the campaign you can do so via the link below, tapping on the giving machine in church or by speaking to Andy.
https://givealittle.co/c/2Q2imebcxEX0wNb92bmF2c
Probus Community Hub
Monday 16th June - Digital Support hub - drop in support and advice with all things IT, laptops and tablets available to use
Wednesday 18th June - Move More class 10:30-11:30 - falls prevention for the over 65s
Wednesday 18th June - Community support and information hub - come and get advice from a range of professionals (see flier below)
Thursday 19th June - Little lights stay and play for the under 5s 9:30-11:30
Community larder - supermarket surplus available for all to take away to save waste - open Monday 4-4:30, Wednesday 2:30-3:30, Friday 9-10, Saturday 9:30-10:30
Refreshments served each weekday morning except Thursday 10-12
Bulletin - please note all items for the following week's bulletin to be sent to bulletin@probus.church by 5pm on a Monday
Thanks - Eleanor
Generosity and Stewardship Matters
Financially Supporting your church
The Parish Giving Scheme is our preferred method of receiving regular giving within the churches of Probus, Ladock and Grampound. If you haven't already transferred from other forms of giving then do check out how it works through the link here or by contacting your treasurer.
Please do consider whether this is a good time to review your regular giving at the church, or perhaps you would like to plan for a future donation and leave a gift in your will. The Church of England has produced guidance on legacy giving which you can find here
COME AND SING EVENSONG WITH ANDREW LUMSDEN
TRURO CATHEDRAL
SUNDAY 13TH JULY
REHEARSAL 2.30PM
SERVICE 4PM-5PM
Can you sing? Are you in a choir? Were you in a choir when you were younger? Are you visiting us on holiday? Have you ever dreamed of being part of a choir that sang in a cathedral?
Come and Sing Evensong in Truro Cathedral with Andrew Lumsden, former director of Music of Winchester Cathedral, on the 13th July. There will be one rehearsal for this service, but we will send links to teaching tracks so that you can practice in your own time beforehand.
Rehearsal starts at 14:30. The service will be at 16:00 and last approximately an hour. We will meet in the cathedral Nave this year (as we are expecting quite a few people this time).
We will be singing some fantastic music:
O Nata Lux - Thomas Tallis
Byrd Responses
Psalm 121 - Walford Davies
Brewer in D
Balfour Gardiner Evening Hymn
If you would like to participate we would love to hear from you! Please contact Acting Precentor Canon Sue suewallace@trurocathedral.org.uk to register your interest and for more information.
Under 18 are welcome at this event as long as they remain in the care of their parent/guardian.
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