The Newsletter of the Camelford and Week St. Mary Circuit 12/20 Bethel, Boscastle, Bossiney, Camelford, Delabole, Living Water, Maxworthy, Rehoboth, St. Breward, St. Tudy, Tintagel, Tremail, Tresparrett, Treveighan, Week St. Mary 1 Dear Friends ‘All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin’. These words have been sung in many of our Circuit churches in recent weeks as we have celebrated Harvest Festivals. The winter storms began weeks ago, certainly before all was safely gathered in. Autumn brings with it a sense of the growing year coming to an end, leaves falling as trees have their winter sleep, nuts harvested by mice, hibernation as part of the life cycle for other animals. The time changes and the dark nights close in. There is an air of despondency for those who suffer from light deprivation. Truth be told many of us would enjoy hibernating or at the very least having duvet days when contentment is curling up with a book in front of the fire. The smells of autumn leading into winter such as wood smoke, fallen and decaying leaves or certain country aromas are all around us. We are reminded again of Genesis 8:22 “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease”. God has kept his promise for yet another year. Advent is almost upon us. This is the time to consider the great themes of the Christian faith: prophetic promises, sin, death, the second coming, followed by Christmas itself with the news of God’s great gift of his son, Jesus. The 4th Sunday in October and several Christmas films (old reruns of course) were being shown. Cards have been on sale in charity shops since June. Once again, our minds turn to preparations for the great festival, except there are people for whom it’s the most difficult season of the year and the thought of carols for a month of Sundays does not bring delight. The birth of Jesus 2 occurs just after the longest night, the sun is beginning to rise earlier and the symbolism of light in darkness is not far away. Watch the seasons change, be aware of the wonder of our world and the handiwork of God, the creator and sustainer of life. Take time to watch – and pray – for the world we so often take for granted. Life itself is not all light, but neither is it all darkness. There are ups and downs for all of us. God is there in both the good times and the bad. It’s often said he is only a prayer away, but it can feel like he is too distant and remote to possibly be interested in our problems. Remember your name is written on the palm of his hand, he cares for you and is always there. Linda Heavenly Father, We come today to ask for your love and care, We ask for forgiveness for anything which has upset you. We pray for our friends and neighbours. We ask for a blessing for our families. We think of the world situation and we ask for your wisdom and love for those in office and government who are trying to sort out the world's problems. Amen. Barbara Marsh The next meeting of the Bethel Good News Train will be on November 20th at 2pm when Robin and Jean Heywood will speak and bring along a Christian Bookshop 3 The theme of Boscastle Messy Church this month was ‘Being In A Team’ and how we can all be in God’s team. It got me thinking about how many teams I’m privileged to be part of in my role as Children and Families worker. In this past week I have been part of 5 teams, working alongside 23 adults. Then it got me thinking about how many adults and children I have had contact with during the week. If my calculating is correct, apart from all the pupils at Camelford and Brazacott schools and their teachers, I’ve had contact with 16 parents and about 30 children. This total includes 1 parent and 1 child who now attend Tea and Toast plus Messy Church. I was recently asked by someone from my previous employment if I’m still enjoying my work. My answer was to say I love what I do. I love the people I meet, I love being part of God’s team with Jesus as our team leader. I love working alongside the great people who share my desire to get God’s message out to as many adults and children as possible both in the more direct approach of Messy Church and Open the Book and in a demonstrative way, caring for people at Tea and Toast, kids club and the youth club. I realise I’m one of many people in our circuit who give their time either in a practical or prayerful way. Thank you to everyone who continues to be part of the team. Alison 4 Creating Safer Space Advanced Module Leadership Mandatory Training for Presbyters, Deacons, Local Preachers, Worship Leaders, those in voluntary or paid employment which includes leadership within The Methodist Church, and involves direct work with children, youth or vulnerable adults. This also applies to Circuit and Church Safeguarding Officers. We have a confirmed date now for the Advanced Module Leadership Training evening which will take place on Wednesday, 27th November 2019 at Camelford Methodist Church. Our District Safeguarding Officer, Mr Dave Cross .will lead the evening session, presenting it in an informative, comprehensive and informative way. Dave would like us to be all present and ready to commence the session promptly at 6pm. St Thomas Church Camelford Holly Wreath Workshop for a loved one’s grave or for your door. Saturday November 16th Saturday December 14th 10.00 am – 12.00 noon Meeting at the Church’s Monthly Coffee Morning For more details & to book a place, ring Val Bluett on 01840 212157 Cost £7.00 per person 5 Week St Mary Chapel have monthly cafe style morning services which have been given the name Rendezvous. In September this was arranged to coincide with the village’s Revel Weekend and Harvest Festivals. At Rendezvous on the 22nd September we welcomed the Harvest Queen, Mia, with her family and attendants. The Harvest Queen and attendants The theme was based around being stewards of the earth and doing all the good we can – a phrase attributed to John Wesley. As usual with Rendezvous services, there was a variety of activities, led by Jeremy. These included a film about providing seed potatoes to Ethiopia (preceded by a game of pass the hot potato) a topical quiz on environmental problems, prepared by Peter, to illustrate how humankind are not acting as good stewards of God’s world, a short talk about John Wesley’s saying (do all the good you can, for all the people you can, in all the ways you can, etc) and the renovation of New Room in Bristol songs and hymns, including one written by Hilary Daniel with a chorus using the words of Wesley’s saying Bible readings from Luke and Isaiah 6 a message on the theme prayers, including one for the pebbles in the prayer basket There were also activity sheets on the tables for younger (and older) members of the congregation on the harvest theme. Peter Daniel The service about to start Mary’s Meals Cream Tea The Circuit MWiB hosted a Cream Tea and Stall at Delabole to raise money for President Jill Nute’s charity,Mary’s Meals Introduced by Sue Ede, Jill told us about the start of the charity (in a shed) and how it provides one good meal to some of the world’s poorest children every school day. £13.90 is all it costs to feed a child for a whole school year and we managed to raise £263.00 - which will feed nearly 19 children. 7 The theme of our celebrations was 'Colours of the Rainbow'. We recalled the promise in Genesis 9 that God would never again destroy the earth by flood and recalled how He set the rainbow in the sky as a sign of this covenant. Yellow Orange Green All the colours of the rainbow were presented in seven individual flower arrangements and displays of the chapel's history were mounted on the walls. We were joined for worship on Sunday October 13th by friends from the Circuit and elsewhere, including a visit from Barbara Marsh and three of her family who brought her down from Bristol. We had a most enjoyable service of thanksgiving and were urged not just to look back but to plan for the way ahead. In the evening we enjoyed a visit from the Arscott Ladies Choir and this was followed by a buffet supper in the schoolroom. 8 On Sunday 6th October Bossiney Harvest Festival Service's were led by Mr Philip Parsons from The Launceston Circuit at 11:00am with a thought provoking message on Harvesting People to come to worship and on the agricultural side of his experience of harvesting bales in Wiltshire for his friend. Then at 7:00pm we had Mr Mark Pellow, Chairman who gave appropriate Bible references relating to what the group were singing, Youthful Spirit from The Launceston Circuit gave us an indulgence of harvest pieces and various worship songs and to conclude with extracts from the Joseph's Amazing Technicolour Dream Coat musical which left us wanting them to sing more musical items.