Helston

10:33am Thursday 27th March 2008

HELSTON

ST MICHAEL'S CHURCH, HELSTON: The wind may have been blowing from the north, accompanied by icily cold rain, but St. Michael's Ringers gave a joyful welcome to a near-capacity congregation for Easter Day Family Communion with Holy Baptism and, inside the church, flowers and candles glowed against the pristine back-drop of the recent redecoration.

Many ladies in the congregation defied the weather and added to the colour with their beautifully decorated Easter bonnets, worn in memory of Helen Roach and Liz Lindsay.

The Rector, Canon David Miller, set the scene by demonstrating with a chocolate egg made at Good Friday's Holiday Club how new life breaks out of its protecting shell. Then the Rev. Dorothy Noakes demolished some of the daft alternative explanations for Easter, before saying that if you choose faith in the Risen Christ then it will inform all other decisions in your life. Following the sermon, the Rector baptized Stephan Barrie Tonkin. Mrs. Betty Booker, lay Reader, assisted at the service, Sheila Hawes read the lesson and Michael Thomas led the prayers. These included a reading of the names of the people commemorated by the Easter lilies arranged around the church. The organist was Richard Berry.

METHODIST CHURCH: The Rev Andrew Hill led two services on Good Friday to remember the crucifixion by reading from chapter 19 of St Matthew's Gospel, interspersed with silent reflection and prayer.

On Saturday over 100 people braved the very cold weather to join the Churches Together Walk of Witness through the town, singing hymns accompanied by musicians and praying on the way. This was followed by refreshments at the Methodist Church.

The church had been beautifully decorated by the ladies for the Easter Sunday Communion service. There were several visitors present. Additional posies of flowers were brought by the congregation and were placed on the cross. Mr Hill led the worship, during which he welcomed Barbara Hill, Ronnie Jenkin and Chris Hopper from Lowertown and Harold and Lilian Stevens from Burras as members of this church. Nigel Dower was the organist.

In the evening the Easter celebration was led by the Rev Sylvia Burgoyne.

League of Friends of Helston Community Hospital: The league committee would like to thank everyone who gave so generously of their time and money at the Easter coffee morning kindly hosted by Joy and Stuart Michell at their lovely home at Breage.

A total of £220 was raised towards the work of providing the little extras that make a patient's stay at our lovely hospital that bit more comfortable.

DARBY & JOAN: Freda Curnow showed slides of her Asiatic holiday. She is no stranger to the club and is always willing to give her time and knowledge to entertain members.

She took members to Hong Kong, where they saw small boats in Habberdoan Harbour, in which people were living, rather than be deported.

On the River Yanski members saw the oldest dam in the world, built in 241 BC, also the hotel where President Nixon signed the Treaty with China. She showed the paddy fields, beautiful gardens, the Temple of Heaven and The Great Wall of China.

Next, in Singapore the audience saw the famous Raffles Hotel, waxworks and museums. On to Thailand where they saw the Royal Palace, the Tower of Victory (360 feet high) and finally the Taj Mahal, a truly wonderful building with beautiful gardens.

Everyone enjoyed the afternoon as Freda is so good at explaining all the different places she visits. She gave members a great afternoon of entertainment.

WEST CORNWALL BRANCH OF THE ASSOCIATION OF WRENS: Fifteen members met for the AGM on March 17 at the Culdrose Community Centre. A new committee was formed and a programme for the coming year was presented. Members discussed their aims as a group in maintaining friendship and care amongst members.

Members were grateful to Warrant Officer Julie Wilde from Culdrose, who came to discuss ideas and ways of furthering the development of the association amongst women of the Royal Navy when they leave the service; to raise awareness that since Wrens became Royal Navy, they are part of the association too. It is not just for one time Wrens!

The next meeting will be taken by Peter Greenslade, RNLI of the Lizard Lifeboat, on April 21, 2pm, at the Culdrose Community Centre.

DEGIBNA

DEGIBNA PRAYER CHAPEL: Miss Pat Jory led the chapel anniversary service on Sunday morning.

She challenged the congregation to "come and see" and "go and tell". She also encouraged the congregation to move forward with their vision for Degibna prayer chapel www.degibnaprayerchapel.com. The organist was Mrs Joyce Oliver.

As part of the vision for the chapel, the Emmaus Worship Group led the Easter praise in the afternoon. The Rev Andrew Hill gave a powerful message urging us to move from survival to revival.

Forthcoming events: Morning worship, Sunday, 11am; Day of prayer, April 1, 7am-7pm.

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