Falmouth and Penryn Parish News
11:59am Wednesday 19th March 2008
FALMOUTH
SUPPORTERS OF WESTOVER & WOODLANE SURGERIES: The supporters held their AGM at the Green Lawns Hotel on March 11. In her report the chairman, Jean Woodroffe, stated that the past year had been both enjoyable and frustrating. The committee members had worked hard and had seen the Christmas fayre, quiz, coffee morning at Bay Court and the visit to the Minack bring in a good return of funds, but the outdoor functions had been thwarted by the weather.
Thanks to the funds raised, the donation from the Docks Choir and memoriam donations left to the surgeries, a blood pressure monitor, ophthalmoscopes and various disposable instruments had been purchased.
Jean thanked all committee members for their hard work including Daphne Campbell and Enid Hosken who had to retire from the committee.
Jean ended her report by saying that according to the treasurer we now had sufficient funds to purchase a Hyfractor and that with the exciting programme of events being planned for the forthcoming year more equipment will be forthcoming.
Dr Tom Stacpool thanked everyone for their support and for the equipment purchased for the surgeries. He explained that the Hyfractor was a cautery device to be used in minor surgery to control bleeding and would be a welcome replacement to the somewhat outdated equipment being used at present.
The Church of King Charles the Martyr: At the Morning Service last Sunday there was a large congregation. Many of those present were there to see the baptism of Lewis William David O'Neil and to welcome him into the church.
There will be the usual service of Holy Communion (1662) at 10.30am on Maundy Thursday, March 20. The celebrant will be Father Ian Froon. Charlie's Angels are taking a two-week break and will meet again on April 3.
On Friday, March 21, Good Friday, the Reverend Barrington Bennetts will take a service at KCM of Matins, Litany and Ante Communion at 9am. The annual Walk of Witness will leave from Emmanuel Baptist Church at 10am finishing at KCM, where coffee will be served in the church hall in New Street. Breakfast will be served at 8.30am followed by Communion. At 2pm there will be a Devotional Service and at 7.30pm the Service of Music, Hymns and Readings for Good Friday will be held.
On Easter Day, Sunday, March 23, there will be Holy Communion (1662) at 8.30am when the Reverend Barrington Bennetts will celebrate. The Reverend Stephen Tudgey will celebrate Sung Eucharist at 10.30am and the day will finish with Sung Evensong at 6pm.
FRIENDS OF PRINCESS PAVILION: On Thursday, March 13, Harry Safari, the very talented singer, song writer, guitar and banjo player and comedian, provided an excellent afternoon entertainment and his friend did a little dance on a board. The audience participated in the singing when Harry played well-known tunes. In spite of the poor weather, the patio bar was filled to capacity and the afternoon was enjoyed by all. The friends would like to thank everyone for their support and for bringing raffle prizes and buying tickets.
The group's annual general meeting will be on Wednesday, March 19 at 2pm. Allan Horne, managing director of Carrick leisure will update the group on future plans for the pavilion. After the AGM business, a free cream tea will be served to paid-up members, so remember to bring membership cards. Non members welcome, but a charge of £3.25 will be made for cream tea. Mr King, a member of the Friends, has kindly offered to entertain by playing the keyboard while tea is being served.
On Thursday, April 24, Les Graham will be providing the entertainment playing keyboard and singing.
MOTHERS' CLUB: Members and friends spent the evening together at the Green Lawns hotel. They really enjoyed the meal and thanked Wendy, manageress, chef and staff for looking after them so well.
This month Dr Murphy wrote a letter of thanks for the second donation for the Merlin Project towards the centre to be built for multiple sclerosis sufferers in Cornwall, building to start very soon.
The speaker for the evening was Mr D King from Carnon Downs. His talk was entitled "painting on glass" but what a big surprise the members had with his beautiful works of art. Mr King said he would like to come to the club coffee morning for the Children's Hospice South West Precious Lives appeal on Saturday, June 28, to show off his lovely work and then to give a donation to the appeal. Members look forward to meeting him again and thanked him.
On April 13, the guest will be Alan Cox with more of his slides, an evening not to be missed at Bosvale community hall at 7.30pm.
WEST CORNWALL LADIES' LUNCHEON CLUB: The group met at the Royal Duchy Hotel, Falmouth, on March 13, strangely enough, the 150th anniversary of the death of Henry Scott Tuke, the artist, who died on March, 13, 1929, and who was the subject of the talk given by guest speaker, Dr Anthony Phillips.
After lunch, chairperson Denise Carty welcomed 113 members and six guests before introducing Dr Phillips, who, in his talk, told the members that the Polytechnic's collection now numbers 277 of Tuke's paintings and that his retrospective exhibition will be held from the May 3 to July 12 at The Falmouth Art Gallery, The Royal Cornwall Museum, The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society and in London.
The vote of thanks was given by Kathleen Jones. Next month's speaker will be Lesley Coles (with Jane Grendon) who will give a talk on "A Mongolian Patchwork Adventure".
METHODIST CHURCH: Ray Baker (senior steward) led worship for the Falmouth Methodist church anniversary when the preacher was the Rev Canon Dr Anthony Phillips. In welcoming Canon Phillips, Ray said this was a multiple choice anniversary as 217 years ago the first chapel was built on the Moor site in 1791, it is 132 years since this building was erected in 1876 and 52 years since the building was re-opened following restoration after war damage. Canon Phillips' family association goes back to 1887 when his grandmother's name appears on a memorial stone at the front of the church in connection with the laying of a foundation stone for an extension to the building, and his grandfather's cousin, Aunt Henrietta, having taught in the Sunday school for many years, was married here in 1883 and performed the opening ceremony for the extension in 1888. During the service, the choir (conductor, Denman Dunstan; accompanist, David Collins) sang the anthem As water to the thirsty. When he spoke to the junior church, Canon Phillips told of a scrappy boy whose family lived in poverty and had no food.
In his address, Canon Phillips asked what is our concept of God?
Morwenna Bennett led the worship for Palm Sunday when her call to worship was Mark 11 vs 1-11. Her story to the junior church was about two animals in an old stable. The choir (musical director, Denman Dunstan; organist, David Collins) sang anthems and two choruses from Olivet to Calvary. Interspersed between these and the congregational hymns, Morwenna read the account of holy week to Good Friday from Mark 14 vs 21-50 and Mark 15 vs 1-41.
ST MARY'S CHURCH: On Sunday evening, March 9, the stations of the cross were prayed in a church with no floral decorations and the statues covered in purple cloth. On Tuesday morning the society of St Vincent de Paul held their regular meeting. In the evening the choir had a practice to prepare for the Easter celebrations in which they have an important part.
As the school term drew to an end, congratulations were due to St Mary's school pupils for their successes in the Falmouth/Penryn cross-country event. Harriet Boulton was the winner of year six girls and Tyler Richardson of year six boys' races. Sam Bullen of year three also produced an excellent performance.
On Wednesday, prayers were said in the church throughout the day. In the evening the stations of the cross were prayed before the penitential service. Four priests from different parishes came to help Father Jon Bielawski for this. On Thursday evening, the fourth Lenten Bible study session looked at the New Testament, especially the four Gospels. Readings from early manuscripts provided evidence about the writers and the probable date at which they wrote, with historical accounts of early persecutions.
On Friday, parishioners were able to attend the Lenten lunches in Mawnan. In the evening the confirmation group met for their regular session. On Saturday morning the altar servers met to prepare for the important role they have during the Easter celebrations.
March 16 was Palm Sunday. After a storm-swept week, the sun shone on the celebrations which began in the hall, where palm crosses were give congregation went in procession to the church. The scripture reading for Palm Sunday was the story of Christ's passion as told in the Gospel of St Matthew. Following tradition, the spoken words in the story were read out by different speakers. The narrator was Clive Morris and Father Jon Bielawski read out the words of Jesus. The congregation read the words spoken by groups. Baby Jenifer (12-days-old) made her first visit to church on the day, and was much admired.
After mass, the stall selling religious items was in the hall, with Easter cards and attractive picture books, especially for children. Holy week posters were given out to those who could display them.
The St Patrick's day lunch was held at the Falmouth Beach Resort hotel, with entertainment by Andy Christophers.
INNER WHEEL CLUB: At the March meeting held at the Green Lawns hotel, president Jean warmly welcomed Deborah Moore, the development manager of Spectrum, who gave a talk about this charity. President Jean gave the vote of thanks and said she had found Deborah's talk particularly interesting as she had worked with autistic children herself.
At the following business meeting, it was agreed to propose Pam Byford as the chosen candidate for the position of association president. The following members were elected for 2008-2009 for Falmouth's own club: president, Pat Eccleshall; past president, Jean Curnow; correspondence secretary, Valerie Reilly; treasurer, Pam Price; overseas organiser, Rosemary Ball; correspondent, Winifred Bennett; committee members, Sheila Brown, June Furlonger, Tessa Martin and Joan Pearce.
Overseas organiser Margaret Sanders, thanked Rosemary Ball for taking over her duties while she was on holiday. She reported that ShelterBox volunteers had spent February packing non-stop and that 175 boxes had been sent to Mozambique, 157 to Swaziland, 400 to Afghanistan, 200 to Bosnia and 224 pre-positioned in Panama. Tessa Martin was congratulated on the success of her pasty lunch which raised £260 for Mary's Meals. This charity was formed in 2002 in Scotland and is run from a tin hut where costs are kept to a minimum. Mary's Meals are now found in many countries and they are able to produce a hot meal of rice and maize for one child for one year at a cost of £5.31.
President Jean closed the meeting with a reminder of the district meeting to be held at the Penventon Hotel.
PENRYN
METHODIST CHURCH: Palm Sunday service was conducted by Gordon Dyer. The selection of Easter hymns were accompanied by Myra Bennett. His call to worship was taken from Psalm 118.
Mr Dyer demonstrated how to make Palm Sunday crosses to the Sunday Club, which were distributed to the congregation.
The readings were taken from Zechariah, chapter 9, v 9-12, Lst Corinthians, chapter 1, v 18-25 and Matthew, chapter 21, v 1-11.
Mr Dyer opened his sermon by talking about the donkey Christ rode into Jerusalem.
ST GLUVIAS CHURCH: The fifth and final lecture in this year's Lent Course, "What can we see through paintings? A Shared Experience" was introduced by Father John Savage. Several people had brought paintings and each one gave a brief outline on what it meant to them personally. Fr John ended the session with a talk on "St John of the Cross", a painting by Salvador Dali.
The evening ended with Compline led by Father John Harris followed by refreshments. The two "Fr Johns" were thanked for what has been a very thought provoking lead up to Holy Week and Easter. The course has been attended by a goodly number from several different churches in the area.
The coffee morning and mini market held on Friday for The Children's Hospice South West Precious Lives Appeal raised a massive £720, a wonderful result.
The Celebrant at the Mass for Palm Sunday was Fr John Harris. The service began with the blessing and distribution of palm crosses. The processional hymn All Glory Laud and Honour was sung as the congregation made their way around the church carrying their palm crosses.
The Epistle was read by Gloria Carter and the "Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ" according to St Matthew was narrated by Roger Clarke, Trevor Wright and Fr John. Chalice assistants were the Rev Christopher Firth and Richard Hopper. The organist was John Winter.
Following the Mass, Conor David Macdonald was welcomed into the church through Holy Baptism.
In the afternoon there was a donkey and palm procession from Penryn town centre to St Gluvias Church with a short service led by Marcus Jones who is the Ecumenical Children's Officer for Falmouth and Penryn.
Services for Holy Week and Easter: Maundy Thursday, 7.30pm, Solemn Eucharist of the Last Supper, Pedilavium, Procession to the Altar of Repose, Stripping and Washing of the High Altar with Watch until midnight; Good Friday, 10am, Stations of the Cross for adults and children followed by hot cross buns; 12 noon-1.30pm, Silent watch by the Cross; 1.30pm-3pm, The Liturgy; Holy Saturday, 8pm, Ceremonies of the Easter Vigil, Blessing of the New Fire and Paschal Candle, with Renewal of Baptismal Vows and Solemn Eucharist; Easter Day, 8am, low Mass; 10am, Procession and Solemn Eucharist with Blessing of Easter Garden and distribution of Easter Eggs; 6pm, Solemn Evensong and Benediction.
Forward event: International Musicians Seminar Spring Concert at St Gluvias, Saturday, April 5, 7.30pm. Tickets at the door.