Photo by Dominic Kurniawan Suryaputra on Unsplash
Trinity Sunday
Bible readings: 2 Cor 13: 11-end & Matthew 28: 16-20
Gospel Reading [NRSVA]
The Commissioning of the Disciples
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’
Updates…
Please send all information for the newsletter/blog/website by Wednesday noon to Keno at admin@penleecluster.org.uk.
CLUSTER INFORMATION & EVENTS
Celtic Morning Prayer – Each weekday morning on zoom 8:00am – 8:30am. Please email Keno for zoom details.
Psalm Prayer Group – Every Thursday at 11:15am we read, pray and meditate on a Psalm. Come and join us at St Mary’s. Josie
Meditation Group – Every Friday a Meditation group meets at St Mary’s church at 10:30am. This is a welcoming and supportive space for everyone in the community. Vicky
Christian Meditation and Contemplative Prayer – Last Monday of the month at St Mary’s at 5:30pm. We look forward to being together in silent worship. Vicky
Julian Prayer Group – The Julian Group meets at 6:00pm at St. Pol de Leon church on the first Sunday of the month, and online via zoom other Sundays. If you would like to attend, please email Mel at mlevesconte@hotmail.co.uk for zoom details.
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 by 7:00pm on Tuesday evenings.
If you would like to join the group and could spend a little time each week praying the list in your personal prayer time, please do contact Mel at mlevesconte@hotmail.co.uk who will add you to the circulation list. Information is not shared and members’ names are not circulated within or outside the group.
The licensing of Revd Jacky Wise
The licensing of Revd Jacky Wise will take place on Monday 6th July 7pm at St Mary’s Church, followed by Refreshments. You are all most welcome to us as we welcome Jacky to the Cluster! Let’s give her a real Cornish welcome!!
There will be a sign in sheet in all our churches – please let us know if you plan to join us – it will be helpful for catering purposes!! Derath
The Rainbow Project – Breakfast and Breathe
This group for parents and carers meets every Monday at St Mary’s at 9:30am. We share breakfast, friendship and information, we have craft activities available and also have an optional gentle faith-related activity. Please let Family Worker Jenny know if you are coming to this so we know numbers.
The Rainbow Project – Little Lights
There will be no Little Lights in June as we need to do Rainbow Project ‘housekeeping’ sorting resources at both St John’s and St Mary’s and also Jenny has some annual leave.
Act on Poverty and The Rainbow project
Sustainable Sunday
Thank you to all those who helped, baked cakes and gave donations to this event.
We welcomed 17 people to the church and families enjoyed the Messy Church Pentecost craft activities. One family asked for a copy of the prayer to have at home.
We raised £70 and this will be divided between Christian Aid and The Rainbow Project.
We are getting ready for the next event which will be Sustainable Saturday on Mazey Day, Saturday 27th June – more details next week.
We are continuing to collect for Christian Aid throughout June at St Mary’s. Please pop in and give a donation to this Charity which makes such a difference to people’s lives. Hilary
Night Church Penzance
Each week at NightChurch, we gather in the chapel for a reflection, a time to pause and consider faith, community, and the world around us.
A Better Story
We are living in divided times.
Recently, I was asked what I thought about the rise in Christian nationalism and the far-right demonstrations in London. What stayed with me was not the shouting or politics, but hearing about a group of Christians from different churches called A Better Story.
Instead of turning up to argue or spread hate, they chose to listen. To have conversations and understand why people felt angry or afraid enough to take part. They spoke with dignity, even where there was deep disagreement. It made me wonder how different our world might be if more of us chose that way.
We are surrounded by stories that encourage fear and division, stories that teach us to label one another, dismiss one another, and separate people into “us” and “them.” One of the hardest things to do is to truly listen to someone we disagree with, especially when emotions run high and fear is involved.
Another thing that struck me during the demonstrations was seeing the cross being used in ways that felt hostile rather than welcoming.
For me, the cross speaks of something entirely different. I see love poured out. Compassion, forgiveness and solidarity with human suffering. I see a God who moves toward people in pain, loneliness, confusion, and failure.
I reflected on the Trinity; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, of perfect unity. Relationship existing from the very beginning, relationship at the very centre of God’s being: community, love, and self-giving, flowing outward toward the world. All of us are given an invitation to belong and be storytellers of God’s love.
That feels very different from the “Unite the Kingdom” march and the message of fear, division, or “us and them.”
Again and again, Jesus challenges the instinct to divide people into worthy and unworthy, insider and outsider. He calls people instead toward love not only for neighbours, but even for enemies. This is not an easy love. It does not ignore harm or pretend injustice does not matter. It is a courageous love that refuses to give up on another person’s humanity. This is part of the “better story” so many people are longing for.
Every one of us knows what it feels like to be misunderstood, judged, rejected, or spoken to harshly. And every one of us also knows moments when we become reactive, defensive, or hurtful toward others.
Corrie ten Boom, who survived a concentration camp where her sister died, later wrote about meeting one of the guards responsible for her suffering. She described forgiveness not as something she could simply produce by strength alone, but as something she had to choose, moment by moment. Not because the past was excused or forgotten, but because she refused to let hatred have the final word.
“The end is reconciliation; the end is redemption; the end is the creation of the beloved community. It is this type of spirit and love that can transform opposers into friends. Agape, which is understanding goodwill for all men. It is an overflowing love which seeks nothing in return. It is the love of God working in the lives of men.” Martin Luther King Jr.
Community is not built because we are all the same or because we always agree. Community is built when people choose patience, forgiveness, and respect. It grows when we continue to see one another’s humanity, even in difficult times.
We are human, loved by God.
A better story begins there.
Victoria Hodgkinson
Project Coordinator
Night Church Penzance
