The road to Emmaus by James Tissot
The Third Sunday of Easter
Bible readings: Acts 2.14a, 36-41 and Luke 24.13–35
Gospel Reading [NRSVA]
Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, ‘What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?’ They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, ‘Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?’ He asked them, ‘What things?’ They replied, ‘The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.’ Then he said to them, ‘Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?’ Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.
As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Updates…
Please send all information for the newsletter/blog/website by Wed 22nd April 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 Group – Every Thursday at 11:15am we read 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
Little Lights Group returns to St Mary’s Church on Thursday 23rd April, 1.30-2.30. A new Little Lights group will be starting in St Peter’s Church, Newlyn on Wednesday 22nd April, 9.30-10.30. Please share with anyone you know who has children aged 0-3 years. Many thanks. Jenny
Julian Prayer Group
The Julian Group will meet online via zoom at 6:00pm on Sunday. 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.
St John’s Church and Playzone
St. John’s church Penzance – has now re-opened for worship only initially. We are grateful to be back in St John’s where we belong! So a huge thank you to Betty for enabling the service to continue during the closure. Do join us for our 11am Fridays services from now on! We are also pleased to announce that the Civic Service will be held at St. John’s as usual this year, on Sunday 21st June at 11am following the procession from St John’s Hall to the church.
We will announce when the church will re-open for children’s play in due course. Revd. Derath Durkin
Following a review and expert advice, the St John’s PCC made the difficult decision to close the main area of the church just before Christmas due to changes to fire and safety regulations.
Since then, we have worked with specialists to identify the work and investment needed to reopen safely. We can now reopen the church for worship and meetings.
However, the cost to reopen the soft play area is significantly higher than we can currently afford. We will therefore launch a fundraising campaign (via our website and the Penlee Cluster of Churches Facebook page) to raise the necessary funds and grants. We remain committed to making St John’s a safe and thriving space for families once the required work is completed, and we will keep you updated on progress.
Night Church update
NightChurch will be paused until the end of April. This time allows for Easter leave for our staff and volunteers, followed by an additional period to invest in further training and development so we can better serve everyone.
NightChurch is about creating a safe, welcoming and well supported space inspired by the love of Jesus, and his promise of life in all its fullness. We want to make sure we are doing that in the best way possible for everyone who walks through our doors.
We understand this may be disappointing, but please know this decision has been made with care and wellbeing at heart.
NightChurch will reopen on Wednesday 29th April, refreshed and ready, and we look forward to welcoming everyone again.
If you need support during this time, please reach out via email and we will do our best to signpost you to the right help. Nightchurchpenzance@gmail.com
Thank you for being part of the NightChurch community. Victoria
Paul Tuesday Talks
History, secrets, books and bees!
A talk by Jane Johnson
Tuesday May 5th
Jane Johnson is a Cornish writer and publisher. She is the author of many works of historical fiction, some set in Cornwall, others in Morocco; and in her day job is a Publishing Director at HarperCollins Publishers, where she is responsible for publishing many bestselling writers including George RR Martin, and was for many years the publisher of JRR Tolkien’s work.
Her latest novel is SECRETS OF THE BEES – set *very* locally, including even scenes at Paul Church! She will also talk a little about the novel she’s currently working on – HEART OF SAFFRON, an historical thriller set partly now and partly in the 18th century set in the Lizard Peninsula, and she will bring some books for sale. Doors open 7pm, talk starts at 7.30pm. £5 entry includes nibbles.
Experience Easter!
In Holy Week, 150 children from 3 schools attended Experience Easter!, a series of prayer stations taking them through Holy Week and Easter.
Their Palm Leaves with their hopes for the future are attached to the trellis on the front of the altar – some very thoughtful, but one that says ‘I hope for sausage pasta with cheese!’ Each prayer station was led by a volunteer, we were also ecumenical by having Jakki from High St church hosting one station. Thanks to all who volunteered, for your preparation time and delivery on the day. Jenny
On Palm Sunday,
we had another Sustainable Sunday event – 18 people came, a mixture of families we support, parishioners, and passers by. At the end of the afternoon, the 3 children who attended asked to light a candle in the church and spontaneously said the prayer that they use in school for the end of the day.
Thank you to all who supported Sustainable Sunday in any way – by donating cash, items or refreshments and by supporting on the day. Jenny
Holiday Club
We have been oversubscribed for holiday club this Easter – in the first week of the holidays we spent one day in Penzance, in Morrab Gardens and the Gardener’s House, and one day at Paradise Park. Everyone enjoyed both days! Thanks to everyone who donated food or money to help make this a memorable time for the children. Jenny
MODERN MONEY THEORY
Cornwall Trades Council are holding an open meeting on-line on Monday April 27th at 7pm.
The speaker will be Tamsyn Widdon who is a former Green councillor, an economics teacher and a member of the Modern Money Lab which challenges the mainstream economic theory that money is always a scarce resource. She will be presenting on Modern Monetary Theory as it relates to government finances and to the Cornwall Trades Union Council. Her presentation will help us set out some practical points and questions we can put to our councillors and MPs.
All Welcome to join
Zoom details: Meeting ID is 88404653270 Password 349713
Estonia Mission Trip
Thank you everyone for your encouragement, support and prayers for the Estonia Youth Mission Trip 2026.
This was not something I simply did on my own, it was something we shared together. You were a big part in making this trip possible.
I returned last Wednesday evening and I am still processing all that happened.
Estonia is a beautiful country. We were hosted by the Majakas Noored youth group, part of Toompea Kogudus Church in Tallinn. The main focus of the trip was working with young people, as well as prayer walking in areas where there is hope for future church planting.
A place that really stayed with me was the Village of Hope. It was started by a priest and runs a two-year Christian rehabilitation programme for people recovering from drug addiction. There, they learn life skills, and many come to faith.
We met an 18-year-old girl who was a year into the programme. Both of her parents died when she was young, and she had been living on the streets and using heroin. She shared something very moving; her and her best friend had made a promise that whoever died first, the other would have a teddy bear made in their memory. Her best friend sadly passed away. Now, her dream is to help others who are living as she once did, and to bring them to Jesus.
I also had the opportunity to give a talk on Good Friday called “Love That Stayed.” I spoke about how Jesus remained faithful, despite being lonely and abandoned in the garden, denied by Peter, and betrayed by Judas and how we might live out that same kind of faithful love in our own relationships. Before I gave the talk, something unexpected happened. The whole youth group gathered around me and prayed. It really moved me and giving the talk pushed me out of my comfort zone.
Throughout the trip, we helped lead three youth groups, prepared for the children’s holiday camp, led Bible studies and took part in young leader training. We even did some street evangelism, inviting young people to come along to the youth group in the evenings.
We travelled to Narva, a town on the Russian border, where we prayer walked and listened for how God might already be at work, in preparation for a future church plant. We attended two Sunday services, one in Estonian and one in Russian, with a shared meal in between.
But more deeply, this trip has grown my faith, and my understanding of community and service. Spending time in Christian community with other young people was faith-building, we encouraged one another, prayed together, and shared life together. I feel I’ve begun to understand more about what it means to live in a missional community.
A surprise for me was how warm and welcoming people were. I had been told the culture might feel quite reserved, but that wasn’t my experience at all. I formed strong friendships with both the UK team and the Estonian young people.
A challenge was the early starts! On travel days, we were up around 4.30am in the morning to get into the city to catch the early train to where ever we were going that day. This was definitely a stretch for me!
But more deeply, this trip has grown my faith, and my understanding of community and service. Spending time in Christian community with other young people was faith-building, we encouraged one another, prayed together, and shared life together. I feel I’ve begun to understand more about what it means to live in a missional community.
We have been invited back to help and I’m hoping to return in the summer with some of the UK team, for a Christian festival in July.
The trip has been amazing and I know I don’t leave it behind. I bring these experiences home with me and I would like to continue to help make a difference in seeing more young people come to Jesus.
So thank you again for making this possible.
We are all part of that ripple effect.
Theo.
