The Parable of the Rich Fool 1585 print by Ambrosius Francken
Luke 12
“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
7th Sunday after Trinity
Bible readings:
Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14, 2:18-23;
Psalm 49:1-12;
Colossians 3:1-11;
Luke 12:13-21
Weekly newsletter/blog and website
Please send all information for the Sunday newsletter/blog by Wednesday evening to Josie at penleeclusternewsletter@gmail.com. For anything else specifically website-related, please contact Chris at communications@penleecluster.org.uk. If you would like to write a reflection for the newsletter, please contact Josie.
CLUSTER INFORMATION & EVENTS
Celtic Morning Prayer
Each weekday morning on zoom from 8.00am-8.30am. If you would like to attend, please email Keno admin@penleecluster.org.uk for zoom details.
Julian Prayer Group
Please note that the Julian Group will meet in Pol de Léon Church at 6.00pm this Sunday, 3rd August.
Prayer Requests
If you are concerned about someone and would like their name included in the Prayer Request Group’s weekly prayer list, please do email Mel at mlevesconte@hotmail.co.uk by 7.00pm on Tuesday evenings. Thank you.
Paul Church Talk
‘Tragedy and Triumph: an illustrated talk’
with Mark Cottle
Tuesday 5th August
Roald Amundsen, Robert Scott and the Race to the South Pole: With the help of the evocative photographs of Scott’s photographer, Herbert Ponting, and some of Edward Wilson’s water colours, this session focuses on the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration, in particular, the journeys by Scott and his rival, Amundsen, to be first at the South Pole. Doors open at 7.00pm. Talk starts at 7.30pm. £5.00 entry, includes nibbles. Drinks on sale before and afterwards.
Holiday Club Summer 2025
Penlee Cluster Holiday Club for children continues, as we move into Week 3. We have been awarded funding for 16 days for 20 children from Time2Move, but in addition are able to accommodate between 5 -10 extra children on some days. Molly has planned a summer packed with activities for the children. We start most days at St John’s Church, using this as our base. Both our Family Workers plus a team of helpers, junior leaders and volunteers help this much needed provision to take place.
Week 3: Wild about Wild about Adventure – Mon 4th Aug – Thurs 7th Aug
Trips to Hayle Pitch and Putt, Lappa Valley, Godolphin and Tanglewood.
Week 4: Wild about Exploring Cornwall – Tues 12th Aug – Fri 15th Aug
Out and about at Falmouth, Portreath, Isles of Scilly and Newquay Zoo.
Day 16: Thurs 21st Aug
Surfing at Gwithian, transport and surfing supported by The National Trust.
Help needed! Thank you to the generous donations so far, biscuits, ingredients for cooking and the gift of time from volunteers and those helping with activities. Our Holiday Club is unique. Only 3 church groups in Cornwall offer this through working in partnership with Time2Move. This provision is needed more than ever.
Although we receive a grant, this does not cover everything. If you are able to make a donation to Holiday Club please leave this at St. Mary’s clearly marked Holiday Club or see Keno. Might you be able to bake a cake/biscuits for the children to share? Please mark with ingredients used (as some children have allergies) and leave at St Mary’s or St John’s. Thank you in advance for your generosity. – Hilary, St. Mary’s
St. Mary’s Church Questionnaires – results
As part of funding for the recently installed Halo heating system, St. Mary’s was required to send out 2 questionnaires to all those that use St. Mary’s Church. The first was sent out before installation last winter; the recent one was sent out about 6 weeks ago when the world was warmer. These are the results from the second survey: we had 33 responses (previous 30). The top line was that those replying said that St. Mary’s is very welcoming, very inclusive, very holy and took the needs of the community seriously. They also felt that St. Mary’s and the congregation took environmental issues seriously. The scores for inclusivity and holiness moved from ‘inclusive’ to ‘very inclusive’ and ‘sometimes holy’ to ‘very holy’ compared to the previous results.
- Whilst support for being carbon neutral remained positive, it dropped from ‘agree’ to ‘slightly agree’
- With regards to being geared to the needs of young people the dial moved from ‘no view’ to ‘slightly agree’
- There was no change to how we are geared for those with special needs – the congregation ‘slightly agree’
- The installation of the heating had moved people’s view slightly that it would improve things for their use of the church with a resounding view that it would make St. Mary’s able to use the whole church. – Tim, St. Mary’s
OTHER INFORMATION & EVENTS
Cornwall Independent Poverty Forum
Tuesday 5th August
The forum this month will take place on zoom. Please email Rosey.Sanders@truro.anglican.org for the link. For more information, please contact Andrewy@cornwallindependentpovertyforum.com
Art Exhibition at Redwing Gallery, Alverton Street
George Dow will have an exhibition of 7 large abstract oil and acrylic paintings in Redwing Gallery on Alverton Street from 9th to 15th August, 10.00am to 4.30pm. Redwing is a great community-centred venue – gallery, cafe and performance space – which we have supported as a church.
Annual Eucharist for the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary
St Hilary Church
Thursday 14th August
Father Jeff Risbrudger invites friends across the Deanery of Penwith and beyond to St. Hilary’s annual Eucharist for the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a very special service in the life of St. Hilary Church. The service will be at 7.00pm on Thursday 14th August, the Eve of the Feast Day, and the President and Preacher will be The Rt Revd David Williams, the new Bishop of Truro.
The service will be followed by a light buffet supper, and Fr Jeff would be grateful if you would let Churchwarden Roger Calfe (roger.calfe@btinternet.com or 01736 763311) know nearer the time approximate numbers attending from your churches for catering purposes. Clergy and Lay Readers are invited to robe (alb and white stole for clergy) and be part of the procession and Fr Jeff would appreciate, for seating purposes, if clergy and readers would let him know if you intend to do this, in addition to notifying Roger Calfe regarding catering.
Message from the Rt Revd Hugh Nelson, Bishop of St. Germans
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, it was announced today by Downing Street that the King has approved my nomination as the next Bishop of Worcester. As you can imagine it will be a bitter-sweet move, as it means leaving all of you wonderful, faithful, brilliant people and the glory of God’s creation that is Cornwall, and it means not being able to serve with Bishop David, who is such a gift to this diocese. In the Diocese of Truro, we have a clear vision for a fruitful and sustainable future, with so many faithful and godly people serving their church and their communities, often in creative and sacrificial ways. And with a new focus on children and young people, and Bishop David leading you on, you can be full of hope for the future. I will not be starting in Worcester until the New Year, so there’s lots of time for me to say the things I want to say to you all. Please do pray for my family and I, as we certainly shall for you.
With my love, in Christ – The Rt Revd Hugh Nelson, Bishop of St. Germans
Can these bones live?
Disability, Wilderness, Hope & God – 14th Annual Conference on Disability and Church in partnership with St. Martin-in-the-Fields and Inclusive Church at St Martin-in-the-Fields and on zoom – Saturday 18th & Sunday 19 October 2025
Like the prophet Ezekiel, disabled people can feel overwhelmed by the places we inhabit. Surrounded by bones – by the difficulties of life and by the hostility and injustice of our culture – we can easily lose hope. But God asks us the question, ‘Can these bones live?’ Can we believe that hope will take root and new life grow? Registration details and content coming soon….
Debt Advice
The Salvation Army offers debt advice services to people in this area. They are free, confidential and impartial. Please dial 01752 643955 to speak to a Debt Advisor from 10.00am until 4.00pm Monday to Friday or email cornwalldas@salvationarmy.org.uk.
