Archangel Michael, Coventry Cathedral.
St. Michael and All Angels
Bible Readings: Revelation 12.7-12 & John 1.47-end
Michaelmas
Michaelmas gales assail the waning year,
And Michael’s scale is true, his blade is bright.
He strips dead leaves; and leaves the living clear
To flourish in the touch and reach of light.
Archangel bring your balance, help me turn
Upon this turning world with you and dance
In the Great Dance. Draw near, help me discern,
And trace the hidden grace in change and chance.
Angel of fire, Love’s fierce radiance,
Drive through the deep until the steep waves part,
Undo the dragon’s sinuous influence
And pierce the clotted darkness in my heart.
Unchain the child you find there, break the spell
And overthrow the tyrannies of Hell.
[used with kind permission by Malcolm Guite]
Today we celebrate the Festival of Saint Michael and All Angels, holding in mind those great spiritual beings we see acting as God’s agents and messengers throughout the scriptures. In Penzance, we are in sight of Saint Michael’s Mount, from where Saint Michael the Archangel has been said to watch over the British Isles; indeed, Saint Michael (whose name means ‘who is like God’) is one of Cornwall’s three patron saints. In our first reading, we see him pitched in battle against the Devil, a passage which has inspired the iconic image of the archangel with sword in hand, holding the serpent or dragon beneath his foot. The passage is also dramatised by Milton in Paradise Lost. Devotions to Saint Michael grew early in the Church and he is said to have a particular care for soldiers, the sick and the dying. Today, may we ponder the angels – and not least the mighty Saint Michael – and allow them to point us towards the glory of God. – Josie
Traditional Prayer to Saint Michael
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray: and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen
Saint Michael weighing souls in the balance at the last judgement, 15th century.
Weekly newsletter/blog and website
Please send all information for the Sunday newsletter/blog by Wednesday evening to Josie at penleeclusternewsletter@gmail.com and communications@penleecluster.org.uk. If you would like to write the biblical reflection for the newsletter on any particular week, please contact Josie for details of upcoming Sunday readings. – Josie
Penzance Orpheus Ladies Choir with Rhys Wynn-Jones
An amazing evening was had at St. Mary’s on Sunday 22nd, with £771.65 raised from the retiring collection for NightChurch!
Climate And Other Things
A Selection of Paintings by George Dow – Final week!
St Mary’s are pleased to continue hosting an exhibition of George’s paintings, entitled ‘Climate and Other Things’, until Friday 4th October. The exhibition will be available to view daily from 10am-12pm. The ten paintings on show use a variety of media, and several specifically focus on the effects of the climate and biodiversity crisis which will hopefully provoke a reflective response in viewers. If you haven’t already, please come and see these beautiful works in this final week of the exhibition. All sale proceeds will be donated to St Mary’s.
St. Peter’s Newlyn
Church closure for September maintenance works
St Peter’s Newlyn have been meeting on Wednesday mornings in Duke Street café to keep in touch during the temporary closure of the church. Next week we’ll also be sharing an informal Communion there together as well as having tea or coffee – all welcome at 10.30am Duke Street Cafe. – Derath
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.
Celtic Morning Prayer
Each weekday morning on zoom at 8am. The zoom meeting ID is 815 4586 0947. If you would like to attend, please email Keno at admin@penleecluster.org.uk (or call on 01736 331633) for the passcode, which you will need as well as the meeting ID given here.
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 7pm on Tuesday evenings. Thank you.
THIS WEEK…
Julian Meeting
The Julian Meeting will be on zoom this Sunday, at 6pm. Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84734636130?pwd=NkMrMDNjTGpzb norZEUrYVRJUTBkQT09
God is the friend of silence. See how nature grows in silence; trees, flowers, grass. See the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence … The more we receive in silent prayer, the more we can give in our active life. We need silence to be able to touch souls. (Richard Rohr)
Sentence
In his love he wraps and holds us.
He enfolds us for love
And he will never let us go. (Julian of Norwich)
Closing prayer
Thank you for sunlight and starlight
And the shining of the moon.
For darkness and shadow and earth’s subtle turning
For tides and the seasons.
For the cycling of fallow and fertile
Thank you for the rhythm of sleeping and waking
Of being and making – thank you. (Psalms Redux for the earth)
Paul Church Talk
‘A Magical Mystery Tour’
The English Miniature from the Tudors to the Victorians’ – Mark Cottle – Tuesday 1st October
Mark is a regular contributor to ourtalks. He has a wide range of interests and research, professionally presented and always fascinating and unexpected. This year’s promises to be no exception, providing a tour through three centuries of wonderful portraiture and the ages they represent, seen through the eyes of its miniaturists. £5.00 entry. Nibbles/wine 7pm, talk at 7.30pm, followed by debate and more nibbles/wine.
Psalm Group – Thursday 3rd October
The psalms have been called the ‘prayerbook of the church’, an extraordinarily rich resource of texts covering the full range of human emotion and religious experience. They are notable for their depth and their honest engagement with struggle, despair and joy. Starting on 3rd October, following the Thursday morning communion service at St. Mary’s, you are invited to a group where we’ll take one psalm per week to read and discuss. Some weeks it may be a meditative experience and on others it may be a general discussion: we’ll be led by the group and the psalm itself. Everyone is welcome. – Josie
The Fisk Jubilee Choir in Cornwall 1894
Talk by Lynne Mayers with songs by the Red River Singers, directed by Hilary Coleman – Thursday 3rd October
Refreshments available & FREE ENTRY! Retiring collection to cover costs and in aid of Black Voices Cornwall, at St. Elwyn’s Church, Hayle, TR27 4JT, at 7.00pm.
COMING SOON…
Churches Together in Penzance – ‘Hymn Along’ – Saturday 26th October
‘Make a joyful noise unto the Lord’ (Psalm 98.4): ‘Hymn Along’ at High Street Chapel, Penzance from 10.00am – 11.00am. For more information, please email Mandy, at elaineamandapearce@gmail.com.
Christians Against Poverty Talk – Sunday 27th October
14.4 million people in the UK are in poverty and the number of people in need of help has surged.
St. Mary’s is delighted to invite Alison, from Christians Against Poverty, to give a talk about a Christian response to poverty during our service on Sunday October 27th. For more information on Christians Against Poverty, please see here: https://capuk.org/
