PARISH OF MAWNAN Churches of St Mawnan and St Michael Nurturing the searching; discipling the faithful GRAPEVINE December 2017/January 2018 1
Da thymi nesse the Dhu (It is good for me to draw nigh to the Lord) December Services (see also page 4 ) Sundays Parish Church, Old Church Road. Dec 3 Dec 10 Dec 17 Dec 24 Dec 31 St Michael s Dec 3 Dec 17 Dec 25 10.30am Morning Prayer 10.30am Holy Communion 10.30am Service of Lessons and Carols 11pm Midnight Service 10.30am Holy Communion 8am Holy Communion 8am Holy Communion 10am All age Holy Communion for Christmas Day The Crib Service on Sunday Dec 24, Christmas Eve, is at the Methodist Chapel at 11am Morning worship every Wednesday at 10am There is an informal time of prayer in the church office from 9am 9.15am every Friday to which all are invited. Home Groups Hebaskva, Sampys Hill meets every Monday (except 18th December, Christmas and New Year's days) from 2pm until 3.30pm, finishing with tea and biscuits. All are welcome. The Thursday Morning Home Group meets in different houses each week. For more information please contact Libby Reed on 250676. Nurturing the searching; discipling the faithful 2
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Christmas it s in the balance How are you feeling about Christmas this year? I am already excited, but I know that s not always true. I am not sure that vicars are allowed to admit to having mixed feelings about the season. Of course, we celebrate the wonderful coming of Jesus as a baby to bring new life and freedom to us all. But the celebration itself can be a mixed blessing. We can have such strong expectations that the reality can leave us feeling something is lacking. There s the presents. Sometimes we find just the perfect gift, and it is in our price range! But we can t always afford the things our children want, even when it seems that all their friends have parents who can. Choosing is hard too, particularly if we hope that our offering will be received as a token of deeply felt emotion. We can suffer from such anxiety about finding the right thing that shopping gets left to the last moment. Then the adrenaline fuelled dash round the stores can produce some suboptimal outcomes. I don t think my friend has quite forgiven her husband for the year he presented her with an inexpertly wrapped ironing board. Parties and gatherings can be a source of joy or stress. Will we know anyone? Make sufficiently dazzling conversation? Be forced to stay up way past the point we would rather be under the duvet? Look sufficiently glamorous? Worse still if we are overseeing the catering. Magazines and television are full of encouragement to commit hours of effort and expense to producing a feast that, if everything goes well, will be consumed in a matter of minutes. And if it doesn t go well, or isn t to everyone s taste, can leave us feeling we have spoilt people s enjoyment. For most people the biggest factor in how we feel about Christmas celebrations is who we will spend the day with. For some it will intensify the pain of missing lost loved ones. Family breakdown means that not all parents of even young children will get to see them. There are all sorts of reasons why we might be apart from those we love most. Unfortunately, even when we do get to see them, things often do not go smoothly. Our hope and excitement leave us vulnerable to feeling let down. Now I am sounding like a prophet of doom, and I really don t mean to. Christians around the world will be filled with joy remembering how God shows his love in sending his son Jesus to us. That joy will be expressed in all sorts of wonderful celebrations. But the joy produces the celebrations, not vice 4
versa. If we take on too much responsibility for making others happy by our skill in decorating, shopping, cooking, or just looking good, then the pressure we put ourselves under can undermine our best efforts. Jesus did not come to find us in a world wrapped in tinsel. He was born in to dirt and poverty, to a couple far away from their families and friends. And as for the presents he was offered: no squeaky giraffes, amber bracelets, or even a handknitted bootee. Gold, frankincense and myrrh are unlikely to find their way onto any colour supplement s most wanted list. I hope your Christmas will have all the glitter and sparkle you could wish for. But whatever it might lack, know that God is with you. Jesus came to a world in need. No amount of deprivation can keep him away now. I pray that if you don t pull a single cracker or eat a single Brussel sprout, the knowledge of his love and presence will still fill you with his joy and peace. With every blessing Johanna A Prayer for Advent God of hope, who brought love into this world, be the love that dwells between us. God of hope, who brought peace into this world, be the peace that dwells between us. God of hope, who brought joy into this world, be the joy that dwells between us. God of hope, the rock we stand upon, be the centre, the focus of our lives always, and particularly this Advent time. John Birch www.faithandworship.com 5
Money Matters Figures for October. A simple version of the parish finances is printed each month in the Grapevine for your information. If you would like more information please contact our Treasurer, Mrs Christine Richards. Receipts Payments Collections 137 MMF (Parish Share) 2470 Planned Giving 1408 Insurance 238 Donations 398 Electricity 52 Trading 90 Church Running Costs 846 Interest 9 Repair & Maintenance 78 Water 16 Trading 60 TOTAL 2042 TOTAL 3760 Shortfall to date: 4717 Coffee Collection for September to the Farming Community Network: 52.91 Thank you to everyone for their donations. Coffee Collection for December will be in aid of St Petrocs (Truro). Our Harvest Collection this year raised 317.09 in aid of the Farming Community Network. We have received 20 from the Memorial Hall and 33.70 from the collection after the Armistice Day Service which will be included in our donation to the Royal British Legion. Please see page 10 (Noticeboard) for information about TRUST 130 CAMPAIGN 6
Our grateful thanks go to all who very generously enabled us to raise over 200 for Truro Women s and Men s refuges at the recent MU coffee morning It was good to see so many there and also to celebrate the birthday of one of our members. The donations of duvets, blankets and warm clothing will be much appreciated by St Petroc s as it supports the homeless in Cornwall. Advent Sunday 3rd December The MU travelling nativity set will begin its journey during Advent visiting families around the village and returning to St Michael's on Christmas Day. Our thanks once again go to Mrs Joan Sherratt who has spent many hours knitting a large flock of sheep so each family has one to keep. If any family would like to borrow the set for a night or two please contact Mary, 250726. Wednesday 6th December Christingle service with Mawnan School at 9.30 am in St Michael's Wednesday 13th December MU Carol Service," Come to the Manger", at 2.00 pm in St Michael's. This will be followed by refreshments and everyone is welcome. Thursday 21st December Ready, Steady, Christmas! - a morning of Christmas activities, fun and games for children from reception age to year 6 in the Memorial Hall from 9.30 am - noon. Permission forms are available from Mawnan School or contact 250726. Wednesday 10th January AGM at 2.30 pm in the Methodist Schoolroom. There will be a bring and buy stall. Wednesday 31st January MU Communion at 10.00 am in St Michael s Thank you very much to everyone who has supported the work of the MU 7
in many ways during the past year as we focussed on faith in action and in March welcomed the World Wide President to our diocese and to Mawnan. The MU theme for 2018 is In Mary Sumner s Footsteps. As we look to the future we want to build on our heritage, and in particular, the life and vision of Mary Sumner, her faith and resolve to follow God s call to make a difference to families and society. If you feel you would like to help make a difference please come and join us. 8
Liz Moore It was with great sadness that we learned last month of the passing of Liz Moore of Constantine. Liz has been a stalwart of the church and the community in Constantine for many years. Her contribution there is incalculable. She always attended our joint communion services at Mawnan and was hugely appreciative of our welcome and fellowship here. She also joined us at some of our choir practices in what seems the very recent past. Her funeral was held on Saturday 25th November at Constantine Parish Church. Mawnan Guides Mawnan Guides would like to thank everyone who gave so many lovely items for the shoeboxes they put together for the Samaritan s Purse. Also, thanks to Mawnan Mothers Union for all their support to the unit. The girls loved selecting the gifts, writing notes to their recipients, and packing it all up together, and we made up a very grand total of ten boxes. The gifts are going to Romania, to the children who have been fostered out of the orphanages. The Guides wish you all a very Happy Christmas. Alison Benney 9
noticeboard Christine Richards has three Epsom colour cartridges: T1283, T1282, T1284 which need a new home, free to anyone who is interested. Tel. 250613 TRUST 130 CAMPAIGN Our insurance company Ecclesiastical Insurance has an initiative to promote more business to the mutual benefit of both the company and to the parishes they insure, this campaign lasts one year. We receive 130 for each new customer signed up, we have already received our first 130 commission and hopefully more will follow. Details may be obtained from the Churchwardens or Treasurer. Falmouth and Penryn Churches Together Falmouth Live Nativity on Sunday 10 December. There will be a marquee on the Moor with the usual stable scene and animals. There will be children s crafts and free refreshments in Falmouth Methodist Church. 10
January Services Sundays Parish Church, Old Church Road. Jan 7 Jan14 10.30am Morning Prayer 10.30am Holy Communion Jan 21 10.30am Sunday s Special Jan 28 NO SERVICE see St Michael s below St Michael s Jan 7 8am Holy Communion Jan 21 8am Holy Communion Jan 28 6pm Holy Communion Wed 31st Jan 10.00am MU Holy Communion Morning worship every Wednesday at 10am There is an informal time of prayer in the church office from 9am 9.15am every Friday to which all are invited. Please could you send any contributions for the February Grape-vine to the Editor by Monday 8th January. Please note, this is very early!! Many thanks. Ann Benney, Lower Penpol Farm, Budock Vean, Mawnan Smith TR11 5LJ 01326 250283 ann.benney@btinternet.com 11
Please remember in your prayers the family of Elizabeth Tregenza who was called to eternal rest in November For further details about our Parish please see our notice boards at the Parish Church and at St. Michael s Church, Grove Hill, Mawnan Smith. Also our website: http://www.achurchnearyou.com/mawnan-st-mawnan/ Our Churchwardens are: Mr Mike Cockeram 01326 250726 Mr Stuart Annan 01326 250534 For information about Baptisms, Weddings etc. please contact Parish Office Carwinion Road Mawnan Smith Cornwall TR11 5JG email stmawnan@gmail.com 01326 250370 (Rev Johanna Clare) 12