The woman from Samaria at the well – James Tissot
The Samaritan Woman
Bible readings: Romans 5.1–11 and John 4.5–42
Gospel Reading [NRSVA]
So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.
A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink’. (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?’ (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink”, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?’ Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.’
Jesus said to her, ‘Go, call your husband, and come back.’ The woman answered him, ‘I have no husband.’ Jesus said to her, ‘You are right in saying, “I have no husband”; for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!’ The woman said to him, ‘Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshipped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.’ The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming’ (who is called Christ). ‘When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am he, the one who is speaking to you.’
Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, ‘What do you want?’ or, ‘Why are you speaking with her?’ Then the woman left her water-jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, ‘Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?’ They left the city and were on their way to him.
Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, ‘Rabbi, eat something.’ But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat that you do not know about.’ So the disciples said to one another, ‘Surely no one has brought him something to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say, “Four months more, then comes the harvest”? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, “One sows and another reaps.” I sent you to reap that for which you did not labour. Others have laboured, and you have entered into their labour.’
Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I have ever done.’ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there for two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, ‘It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Saviour of the world.’
Updates…
Please send all information for the newsletter/blog/website by Wed 11th March 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
Feast for Families will be on Friday 13th March at St Mary’s, 3:30-5:30pm. Free food, crafts and games. All welcome.
Sustainable Sunday at St Mary’s on Sunday 29th March, 2:30-4:30pm. Free activities, clothes, toys, book swap.
Little Lights Group for children aged 0-3 years and their carers at St Mary’s church on Thursdays 1.30-2.30. Stories, music, play and refreshments. Please spread the word to anyone you know who would like to bring young children along. Jenny
Lent Lunch and Stations of the Cross
St Peter’s church invites you to a Lent Lunch on Saturday 7th March at 12 noon. Stations of the Cross on Wednesdays at 11.30am. Lynda and Diane
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 will remain closed until further notice. The regular Friday Morning service of Holy Communion usually held at St John’s church, has a new temporary home! So same time (11am) but different place. Same hospitality!! Please ring Revd Derath Durkin on 07962 168440 or email her for details derathdurkin@penleecluster.org.uk.
Wellbeing Vending Machine at St Mary’s– Snacks for the Soul
Participants aged 2 to 102 shared stories and ideas that inspired “Snacks for the Soul” for the world’s first wellbeing vending machine—playful, practical items such as “Thankies” gratitude hankies, a kazoo to encourage calming breath and humming, resilience-themed mini books and zines, “Zesties” lemon stress balls that also spark active games, and “Wonder Specs” to help people see the world with fresh eyes. Get your free token !
Contact Sally Crabtree at sally@artconnexion.co.uk.
Penwith Deanery Synod
Submission of Interested Party – Information Form
We are seeking volunteers to join our Deanery Synod Implementation Team. The proposal is to have three task groups or ‘arms’ that specifically concentrate on each of the priority areas that resulted from the Away Day consultations, and which are detailed below. (NB: bullet points are given for guidance in thinking about each priority area, they are not set!)
We will be pleased to receive submissions of interest, (a maximum half page of A4), detailing what experience and skills you can offer to support the work of the Deanery Synod in this way. Please email to penwithdeanery@gmail.com. To be received no later than Tuesday 31st March.
1. Intergenerational Church Growth
Focussing on the ability to bridge age gaps and to foster “whole-body” community.
- Cross-Generational Mentoring: Experience in facilitating “spiritual parenting” or peer-to-peer mentoring between different age groups.
- All-Age Worship Planning: Skill in designing services that engage children, youth, and seniors simultaneously without isolating any group.
- Age-Specific Sensitivity: Understanding the unique spiritual needs of Gen Z, Millennials, and Boomers.
- Conflict Mediation: Ability to navigate traditional vs. contemporary preferences in a healthy way.
2. Better Use of Resources
Focussing on stewardship, efficiency, and maximizing the “assets” of the church.
- Facility Management: Experience in maximizing building use for community outreach or energy efficiency improvements.
- Efficient use of resources: what available resources, both people and material, do we already have, that can be shared or ‘loaned’ more widely?
- Financial Stewardship: Proficiency in budgeting, fundraising strategies, or grant writing for ministry projects.
3. Improved Patterns for Ministry
Focussing on what we do, when and where? Leadership flow, and sustainable practices.
- Volunteer Management: Skills in identifying, training, and deploying lay leaders effectively.
- Strategic Planning: Where are the gaps? Setting clear missional visions, creating actionable 1-5 year growth plans.
- Change Management: Skill in leading a congregation through transitions or “mid-mortem” project evaluations.
- Collaborative Leadership: Ability to work within team-based ministry models rather than top-down structures.
Holy Week at Paul Church
Sunday 29th March. 11am Eucharist. Palm Sunday.
Wednesday 1st April. 9am Eucharist.
Thursday 2nd April. 7pm Maundy Thursday.
Friday 3rd April. 10.30am. Good Friday.
Sunday 5th April. 7am. Sunrise Service. Easter Sunday.
Sunday 5th April. 11am. Eucharist. Easter Sunday.
Truro Diocese Lay Ministry Development Day
for commissioned Worship Leaders, Pastoral Ministers, Pioneers and Local Leaders
on Saturday 21st March, 9:30-4:30 at Truro Lifehouse, All Saints Church, Highertown, TR1 3LD. The day will start with worship together before we offer several workshops across the day to help you develop new skills, find out about new ideas, and enjoy fellowship together. We are planning workshops on different styles of worship, pioneering and support for pastoral care. Nearer the time you will be asked for your preferences on workshops to best plan the day. To information and booking link contact Revd Derath Durkin derathdurkin@penleecluster.org.uk
Night Church Penzance
Together we are creating a place where everyone is valued, listened to and loved. We also want to say a heartfelt thank you to the NightChurch team who give their time, care, and compassion so faithfully. Our volunteers and supporters come from across different Christian traditions, united by one shared purpose: to share the love of Jesus through welcome, presence, and kindness. It is encouraging to see NightChurch growing, both in our team and in the number of guests we welcome, as we continue to walk this journey together. “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:35. Victoria
Lent Lunches
CTiPA weekly lunches will start at 12 noon. Money raised will go towards Christian Aid and CAFOD projects.
Sat 7th Mar – St Peter’s church, Newlyn
Sat 14th Mar – Chapel Street Methodist
Sat 21st Mar – Roman Catholic Church, Penzance
Sat 28th Mar – St Thomas’ Church, Heamoor
On Good Friday 3rd April CTiPA Walk of Christian Witness. All are welcome to join us. We gather at 11:30am at the bus station where the procession will “Follow the Cross” up Market Jew Street followed by a short service and refreshments at the Salvation Army Hall, Queen Street.
