Lent & Ash Wednesday

The end of February marks the beginning of Lent, starting with Ash Wednesday on February 22nd. Historically, Christians have marked this change of season with a traditional service of ashing. During the service, one’s forehead is marked with the sign of a cross in ashes, symbolically recreating the ancient practice of putting ash on one’s head as a sign of lament. As the ash is applied, these words are spoken: ‘Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.’

We do not often talk about death or bereavement in our society, and unlike other cultures around the world, we British are famed for our emotional reserve and stiff upper lip. Yet all of us experience loss; not only through the death of a loved one but in a hundred other ways throughout our lives. Lent is a time in which we allow ourselves to acknowledge our own mortality and the frailty of our earthly lives. In admitting our fragility, we learn to embrace God’s provision and protection. In confessing our sinfulness, we throw ourselves onto God’s mercy. The season of Lent prepares our hearts for the joy of Easter. Walking through its shadow, our hearts yearn for the bright light of Christ’s resurrection.

How will you journey through Lent this year?

Rose Jones
Ash Wednesday services will be held on 22nd February at 10am in St Minver and 7pm in St Endellion. The Cluster Lent course will run Wednesday mornings from 1st March,10.30 – 11.30 in St Endellion Hall.

Licensing Service for
Revd Craig Marshall

Revd Craig Marshall will be licensed as our new incumbent by Bishop Philip at St Endellion church on Tuesday 28th February. Due to limited space, attendance at the service will be by invitation only. Please be praying for Craig as he prepares to move, and for his first weeks with us as he settles in.

FIKA Generosity Day – Sat 4th Feb

9.30 – 1pm, coffee from 9.15 at St Endellion Hall
FIKA is a Swedish term meaning to gather together for sharing, discussion and cake! Truro Diocese Generous Giving Advisor Jenny Wreford will be helping us explore God’s generosity through the Bible and around the world. Using films, articles and activities and allowing reflection and discussion, this relaxed time will help us to cultivate the abundant, generous life God desires for us. This half-day will help to ground our personal and church approach to finance and stewardship. All are welcome.

Next Steps in Curacy Land! Parish Nursing

The end of curacy (training as a priest) is a bit of an odd place to be to be honest! Mixed with emotion, relieved that the training is over, and all those essays are done! But also, sad to lose colleagues and hand over to others much loved projects. It’s also the place of overwhelming opportunity & invitations from other areas of Christendom. While some curates have always been sure of their calling as a Parish Priest, I have never really known where I would end up. I think that’s because of being bi-vocational, a nurse and a priest and because my journey has always been a step by step one. What on earth am I going to do next? Was a recurring question.

It was the Rural Dean, Paul Holley, who came to the rescue, knowing that it was an unusual set of gifts being both a nurse and a priest. Paul invited me to consider a role as a Parish Nurse in Bodmin, Camelford and Delabole. It didn’t take too much discernment because it was a perfect role for me.  Paul went about sorting out some funding and I began my new role in November 2022, training as a Parish Nurse and setting up a professional service. The blessing for me is that I still get to minister in the churches in the area and within the deanery. Win win!

So, what does a Parish Nurse do you may ask? A parish nurse serves a church that has a vision and mission to reach out into the community. The service is a professional one, parish nurses are registered nurses who are trained and accredited by Parish Nurse Ministries UK and validated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council. The service is set up and run by a registered nurse who is a Christian, focusing on wholistic health, wellbeing, and healing, who targets the health needs of the local community and is inclusive of all faiths and none.

Parish Nursing sits within the existing wider healthcare system between primary care and family based personal healthcare and is a community-based service which promotes health and extra healthcare to support people in times of need. Parish Nurses do not give medical treatments or direct nursing care and they do not replace NHS, local authority nurses or services or specialist nursing charities such as MacMillan nurses. Neither do we preach or convert people! We do offer health education, health screening, health support, spiritual care, and support at the end of life.

Why set up a service like this now? Timing is everything and since the pandemic there has been so much change and stresses on healthcare services, I am hoping that parish nursing in Cornwall will flourish, bless the local primary care services whom I will be working with, the churches and the local communities, “For such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14).

The new service is both exciting and daunting and I ask for prayer and support at this time and look forward to seeing how our God of surprises works in the coming year. Please do not hesitate to contact me on gezzalou@aol.com if you would like to know more about Parish Nursing Ministries or see https://parishnursing.org.uk/

With Every Blessing.
Rev’d Geraldine

St Peter’s Church

The numbers attending services in December were back to what we had pre Covid and it was very pleasing to see people having to look for spare seats. At the Christingle Service on Christmas Eve it was lovely to see children and adults of all ages standing around the Font with their lighted Christingles.

Port Isaac School returned to St Peter’s Church for their Christmas Carol Concert and it was excellent to be able to accommodate both parents and grandparents. The school added hundreds of twinkling lights to the church decorations to create a magical atmosphere.

January has been very quiet in comparison, the inclement weather putting off visitors to the village and St Peters. The Heritage Group have mounted a new exhibition which is very interesting and worth a visit.

I have included a picture of a Twiddlemuff which I have made. These have proved very therapeutic for those suffering from dementia and twiddling the different objects has helped to stimulate patients. Various object are attached to the colourful muffs and I am fast running out of items to sew on.

I have plenty of wool, but would welcome exciting button, beads, buckles, bells etc to attach to the muffs and any fancy wools and narrow ribbon to be knitted into the body ofthe muffs. Please contact me on 880969 if you have anything suitable

Pat Pearson
Chapel Warden

Cluster Retreat

from Tuesday 9th to Thursday 11th May
This year there is a new venue at Sheldon Retreat Centre near Exeter. You can view it on line at www.sheldonretreat.com. There are only 11 residential places so please book as soon as possible with Judith who will provide details.

Lent Course

Journey through Lent with others as we gather to explore Rowan Williams’ book ‘God With Us: The Meaning of the Cross and Resurrection Then and Now’. Each week we will explore a different chapter together. Join us every Wednesday morning 10.30 – 11.30 in St Endellion Hall, starting 1st March and finishing 29th March.

ENDELIENTA
Arts and Spirituality in North Cornwall

Will Page

Saturday 11th February, 7.30pm
St Endellion Church, £15
Well known as the fiddle playing front man of Americana band, Noble Jacks, Will Page is a folk singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Sussex. With Noble Jacks, he has toured to sold out shows across the UK and beyond, with notable festival performances at Glastonbury and Isle of Wight Festival. Will is now recording and performing as a solo artist, showcasing his more traditional folk-style writing and playing style. Expect heartfelt vocals accompanied by guitar, harmonica and fiddle!

Tickets available at: https://endelienta.org.uk

Fabulous Fables with Peter Ursem

Saturday 18th February, 10am-1pm, St Endellion Church, £10
Ever since Aesop’s fables, wise and funny stories, featuring animals as protagonists, have been a part of the literary genre. Artist and writer Peter Ursem recently published The Bigger Picture, a new collection of ‘friendly fables’ in which a colourful group of winged, horned and hoofed friends make the most of living together along the riverside. In this creative writing workshop Peter will help you create a short but thoughtful fable. In fables nothing is impossible, as long as it makes you think and smile.

Tickets available at: https://endelienta.org.uk

Endelienta Arts Make Club: Painting to Music

Endelienta Arts Make Club – Painting to Music, Saturday 25th February, 10am-12pm, £5 per family. St Endellion Hall
In this Kandinsky inspired workshop we will be listening to music and responding through painting.
Each month we have new creative ideas to keep you busy. The Make Club is a fun space to explore, create and get messy. The workshops are led by inspirational artists and makers. There will be materials available for parents as well. The Make Club is only £5 for any family.

Tickets available at: https://endelienta.org.uk