If you’re viewing this page on a phone or tablet, please turn to view in landscape mode, thank you. If you can’t see the list of services on the right hand side please use the connecting links or scroll down for these and other events and information.

New and events summary

Firstly, we are delighted that Rev. Laura has been able to return to the parish this week on a part-time basis. Laura has many items to attend to so please continue to contact your churchwardens for any matters or use the general email stgermanspriory@gmail.com

Thy Kingdom Come – we celebrate Our Lord’s Ascension and wait on the coming of the Holy Spirit in this period from Ascension Day (Thursday 18th May) to Pentecost (Sunday 28th May). We will be holding three services on Zoom in this period:
Ascension Day – Thursday 18th May – Night prayer/Compline at 7pm
Monday 22nd May – Morning Prayer at 10am
Thursday 25th May – Night prayer/Compline at 7pm
Links for the services will be distributed nearer the time to all those who attended the online services during lockdown. Please email if you think you might not be on that list.
Pentecost – Sunday May 28th – United Service of Morning Worship at St Germans at 10am.

Booklets and leaflets will be available shortly.

Ordination of Steve Guffick
Steve will be ordained Deacon on Friday 23rd June at 7.30pm in Truro cathedral and all are welcome to attend and support him as he takes this big step forward.
Steve’s last service with us with be on Sunday 4th June when we will be having an united service of Holy Communion at Downderry at 10am.

The parish is now in transition (interegnum)

• • The main contacts for the St Germans Group parish now become the parish wardens.
  • Prayers for Rev. Laura please as she continues her ministry with us.
  • Pray for those working hard on the parish profile
  • More information about transition can be found by following these links:
  • General information
  • An overview document

• • A prayer for the parishes in transition:

Dear Lord, our God and Father, in this time of transition, give us eyes to see Your presence in our lives, ears to listen to Your will, lips to speak Your words, and hands to do Your work. Grant us grace and go before us, as we seek Your Holy Spirit’s counsel, as we live in community during this time, and as we prepare for the arrival of a new priest in our midst. In Your name we pray, in sure and certain hope of Your promises to us. Amen.

Ukraine

We continue to pray for the people of Ukraine, and also for those in Russia at this critical time. Let’s also remember the countless other people in Yemen, Syria and so many other countries in our troubled world.

Click here for a letter from our Archbishops.

Click here for a form of prayer from the 24-7 Prayer group (Lectio 365)

Our Worship

Details of our regular Sunday worship can be found here.

(Photo by Joshua Eckstein on Unsplash)

Next steps for On The Way

Deanery Synod – the next meeting will be on Thursday 18th May, 7pm for 7.30 at Bishop Cornish school. Current and new (post July 1st) Deanery Synod reps are invited to attend.
The meeting will cover updates for the On The Way Process and we are very pleased to welcome Bishop Hugh who will be speaking at the meeting.

The Diocese has just approved a 10 year plan that links the Deanery On The Way plans with Diocesan plans. You can read this by clicking this link: https://trurodiocese.org.uk/2023/05/diocesan-ten-year-plan-approved/

The Deanery Website will continue to carry the latest news for On The Way. Here’s the link to the website:

https://sites.google.com/view/east-wivelshire-deanery/on-the-way

Alpha Course

A new Alpha Course started on Thursday May 4th around 7pm at Richard Laugharne’s home and continues on a Thursday evening for the next few weeks. Speak to Richard Laugharne for details.

Pub theology successfully returned to the pub, now meeting at the Halfway House, Polbathic. The meetings run from 7.30 – 9pm on the fourth Monday

• St Nics lunches Next event….June 7th

• Click here for details of the events briefly described above.

Safeguarding Update for PCCs

All PCC members are required to complete the Basic Awareness Course every three years, the link for the course is here: https://safeguardingtraining.cofeportal.org

Churchwardens must also complete the Leadership level every three years, please do check if you are in date, courses can be booked here: https://trurodiocese.org.uk/resources/safeguarding/training-safeguarding/leadership-training/

DBS checks are now valid for three years, while each Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) will keep an eye on this please do check your own certificate and ask the PSO for help to renew it if it was issued prior to 2019.

PCCs will also need to check they are compliant with the new Safer Recruitment procedures. https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2019-10/ParishSafeGuardingHandBookAugust2019Web.pdf

Home/Small Groups

Home Groups will be launching in the Benefice this September.  Those of you who have previously been involved in such groups will know that Home Groups are an important part of nurturing a church community, they keep the fire of faith burning between Sundays and therefore raise the spiritual temperature that we start from on a Sunday – we’ve already seen this effect through the weekday Zoom services.

The groups will meet weekly at a time to suit the group members and each group would have 6-8 people. The groups can use the time to discuss that week’s sermon, for prayer and fellowship.

Home Groups need a leader and a host, this may be the same person or it may be two people who pair up to run a Home Group.  Hospitality (Gospeltality!) is a key part of this; however it doesn’t need to take place in someone’s home.  Zoom could also be used to help accessibility for a group – although that does make offering coffee and cake slightly harder!

Thank you to those who have responded, we do have space for more groups though.  Once our leaders are in place, we will be looking for group members.  If leading is not for you, at this moment, do keep an eye out for information on how to join a group.

Newsletter

Our newsletter has been replaced by a diary of weeklyish events, which will be reflected here

• Covid restrictions – we are currently reviewing our policies in the light of the forthcoming removal of restrictions.  We remain mindful of the government emphasis on all of us taking care of our own well being and safety. Our policies are designed to respect those in our congregations who are more vulnerable, and those who wish to continue with the restrictions. Mindful of the anxieties from our congregation and visitors, the churches have a responsibility to support public health. We will therefore continue to strongly encourage all our visitors to sanitise hands and practice social distancing. Wearing of masks is optional.
  • Our worship patterns will remain the same.
  • Holy Communion will continue to be in one kind (the bread) only. We will continue to remain in our seats for the sharing of the peace.
  • We will continue our strict cleaning regimes.
  • All our churches are open to visitors as places of interest, prayer and reflection.
  • We will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation and may change our advice as deemed necessary.

Online options

There are many options for worship and prayer online….

Or you could still listen to one of the many radio options – Radio 4, Radio Cornwall offer services on a Sunday around 8am.

Or you could look at: Church of England website that now has more services to join – or at many churches and cathedrals up and down the country who have other offerings

A very good resource is https://www.churchofengland.org/more/media-centre/church-online

Browse a whole range of prayers you can choose from to read – or listen to:

Or using your computer, tablet or phone (as you prefer) and from your web browser access morning and evening prayer using this link:

Click here and choose what you need.

To read or hear the prayer for today, click on this link: http://cofe.io/TodaysPrayer

Browse around the various pages and you’re sure to find something that interests you.

Alternatively download an App for your tablet or phone. Church House Publishing or provide a number of these Apps and these can be downloaded from https://www.chpublishing.co.uk/apps/daily-prayer

Parish Contacts

Parish Priest: Rev. Canon Lynn Parker has now retired. The main point of contact for all matters are the parish wardens. For weddings, funerals, baptisms and church services please make contact using the list below.

The general email for the parish is stgermanspriory@gmail.com

Curate: Rev. Laura Bushell-Hawke

Parish Wardens: Paul Gribble (pgribble55@gmail.com) and Rosemary Stevenson (RosemaryEStevenson@gmail.com)

Readers/Licensed Lay Ministers: Richard Laugharne, Margaret Sylvester-Thorne, David Watters, Matt Frost

For weddings, baptisms, funerals and church services:  David Watters and Margaret Sylvester-Thorne

Children’s work:Evelyn Reed, David Watters, Margaret Sylvester-Thorne, Rev Laura Bushell-Hawke

Messy Church: Evelyn Reed

For buildings and general parish enquiries: the Parish Wardens:   Paul Gribble and Rosemary Stevenson

For Safeguarding:  Rev Laura Bushell-Hawke

Pastoral Visitors Team:  Pat Paxton

Parish Giving Scheme:  Paul Gribble

Finances: the Treasurer, Paul Gribble

Electoral Roll: Rosemary Stevenson

Enquiries about individual churches:

Downderry:  Andrew Pidgen

Hessenford: Fran Moore

St Germans: Richard Laugharne

Tideford: Evelyn Reed

Deanery Synod Reps:  David Watters,  Rosemary Stevenson and Paul Gribble

Cashiers: Peter Daw – St Germans; Tim Pullin – Downderry; Hugh Parker – Tideford and Fiona Bristow – Hessenford.

Additional PCC Members from May 2021

Tim Pullin, Stephen Guffick, Tilly Thompson, Yvonne Byles, Hugh Parker, Susan Booth, Dawn Couling, Fiona Bristow, and Bill Woods.

Hire and other info on St Germans Priory Church for events:

The St Germans Priory Trust:   www.stgermanspriory.info

Hire of the Church Hall in Hessenford:  http://www.hessenford.net

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~   News and Events in the Parish   ~

St Nic’s Lunches

Thanks to Sandra Pearce and her in getting the lunches and other events going again. The next event(s) is/are:

TBA….

Contact Rosemary (RosemaryEStevenson@gmail.com) or Paul (pgribble55@gmail.com)
to book a space

As always, no charge, but donations welcome.

Pub Theology

Now running monthly, and back in the pub!

Now meeting at the Halfway House, Polbathic.

Next meeting will now be on the fourth Monday, next meeting February 23rd discussing the Book of Revelation

A chance to discuss ideas and thoughts about all matter of things theological.

After a short introduction of 5 minutes (or more), the conversation is open.

Topics:       TBA….please let Richard have any suggestions

For enquiries or suggestions, ring Richard Laugharne (01503-230333) or email on richard.laugharne@nhs.net

All welcome! Click here to go back to top.

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2023 Events at St Germans Priory Church

TBA

Bell ringing practice every Thursday evening

Events in the Benefice