A Pastoral Letter
From Brian SwabeyI was as excited as Pam when she made the announcement in church last month. I was privileged to meet them both on a couple of occasions and I was very impressed indeed. So much so I hardly dared hope for their positive decision, hence the above 'blow me down' comment. Even the most enthusiastic can become just a little forlorn as interregnums drag on and the Lord does not seem to bring someone forward.
I am a firm believer that churches need a leader simply because the Bible is full of guidance, advice and encouragement for leaders; as well as advice on how we should support them in prayer, our time and our commitment. I am really looking forward to their arrival.
So why is it we doubt God so much? Why after all that prayer and trusting and seeking did I still feel a sense of surprise and shock when the Lord actually answered my prayers? Again and again we say that "God seems to work 'despite' us" with an accompanying rueful grin or embarrassed smile! Surely we should be up there, in the world's face, and saying clearly, "Put your trust in the Lord because 'WE KNOW He answers prayer."
Well, maybe it is because we are human: we are weak and we doubt God and that is why we stray from His pathways into all sorts of mess-ups. So may I encourage all of you who may struggle on occasions with trust and doubt in the Lord's love and care, that He does care.
In a recent sermon that she preached, Jane Redrup pointed us all to Isaiah ch 46. v3-4 where the Prophet said," Listen to me---- you whom I have upheld since you were conceived and 'HAVE CARRIED SINCE YOUR BIRTH'. Even to your old age and grey hairs (or ever decreasing hairs in my case!) I AM HE WHO WILL SUSTAIN YOU. I have made you and I WILL CARRY YOU, I WILL SUSTAIN YOU and I WILL RESCUE YOU." These are not the words of a 'fair weather friend,' they are the words of The Creator and Saviour of each one of us and who longs for our trust in return. Crumbs! I know I am going a bit deaf but if God shouted any louder that He loves us He would blow our heads off.
I think it is time for the worm to turn and for us to have the courage to stand up and tell people about this powerful, loving and caring Lord, don't you?
Until our new Vicar, Peter Sharpe, takes up his apponitment, please contact the Churchwardens:
Pam Swabey or Norma Ward.
If you need a priest urgently then please call
Revd Mike Archer, Revd Deirdre Mackrill, or Revd Brian Swabey.
of
St. Keverne
and
St. Peter`s
The Deadline
for March issue is Monday 13th February.Submissions are very welcome, they can be given to a Beacon representative, put into the box at the back of the church, or e-mailed to the editor
HELP!
We need a few more volunteers to go on the rota to fold The Beacon once it is printed. More details from Trudy Lewis or the editor.Material for The Beacon.
The Beacon team would be very pleased to receive all articles of a Christian flavour for the magazine. The deadline date for each issue is always given in every edition of The Beacon please see above for contact points, which include the boxes at the back of both churches.The Book Page
Maker and Craftsman
The Story of Dorothy L. Sayers
Alzina Stone Dale
Published in paperback by iUniverse, Inc
Best known for the Lord Peter Wimsey detective stories that have charmed and fascinated fans for several generations, she also wrote plays for the BBC and the West End, translated Dante's Divine Comedy and still found time to write and speak forthrightly in defence of her beliefs, the arts, and women's rights.
"...Dale has chosen a subject who is a women of her place and time, and yet far exceeding both ... she writes with scholarship, and a vigour and expansive enthusiasm, a gale of life not unlike Dorothy's own."
Anne Perry, British Mystery Author
This book can be obtained - new or secondhand - from Amazon or from your local library and your favourite bookseller. Presently available used from Amazon for £7.86p + £2.80 postage.
(Contact details above right.)
Recipe of the Month
- 450gm/1lb spaghetti
- Salt
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 100gm/3.5oz streaky bacon cut into small strips
- 4 egg yolks
- 6 tablespoons single cream
- 55gm/2oz Parmesan cheese freshly grated
- Freshly ground black pepper
Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Add the bacon and fry lightly until the fat has melted. Remove pan from the heat and set aside keeping it warm.
Whisk the egg yolks in a bowl. Whisk in the cream and half the parmesan cheese. Season generously with pepper.
When the spaghetti is firm to the bite (al dente) drain it, transfer it to the pan with the bacon. Place over a medium heat and pour the egg mixture over it. Stir quickly and serve immediately with the remaining Parmesan cheese shared separately.
Goes well with a light red wine!
East Lizard Helpline.
Offers help, support and essential transport.
also Carers & Bereavement Support Group
Support Carers, the Bereaved and any in need,
and to
Transport to the Health Centre and Hospitals, etc.
(Drivers from St. Keverne particularly needed)
To request help Call
Norma 280226, or Verna 281480
Helping to care in our rural community.
Annette hangs up her Beacon bag
We now need one or more volunteers to take over from Annette. If you feel that you would be able to help out in any of the above areas, then please contact Annette or Pam Swabey — or any member of the Editorial Team (see above right for contact details). We would be very grateful for your assistance. Meanwhile, copies of The Beacon are still available from St. Keverne Church and The Post Office.
On behalf of the Editorial Team and all those to whom Annette has delivered, I should like to say a huge THANK YOU to her for all her hard work. Editor.
Nikki And Me
I am not a runner, but I am in training, and Guide Dogs assure me that as long as I keep moving, I can run, walk or crawl the distance!!! Some of you may well see Nikki and me out on the quiet lanes or the School Playing Field as I prepare for this event. By the time the Beacon goes to print you will have seen sponsor forms around the village. If you would like to sponsor me, please fill in your details on a sponsor form or I have a web page where you can donate on line at: www.justgiving.com/sue-bray All donations will go to Guide Dogs.
Nikki is still in very good health at nearly seven and a half years, and she enjoys all the attention given to her when I go to different groups to speak about the work of Guide Dogs. I hope she will be my Guide for a long time yet. In September we were at Manaccan WI. October we were at a regular lunch club in Falmouth, and in November at the Camborne Memory Café and Porthleven Wives' Open Evening. This coming April, we are booked by St. Keverne WI and, in May, Year 10 at Penaire School, Truro. As well as the opportunity to speak to people about the work of Guide Dogs, we meet many wonderful people of all ages.
We have also been on two lengthy car journeys. The first to South Wales, via Bathford, then on to mid-Wales for a few days retreat in the beautiful countryside of Pembrokeshire. Just before Christmas we covered 1,100 miles - visiting family in Suffolk and Hertfordshire, and then coming home via Bournemouth to visit our eldest granddaughter at `uni'. At all times, and in all of these different places, Nikki has kept me safe, and has been my constant companion.
I thank God on a daily basis for the gift of this wonderful animal that has made such a difference to my life.
Sue Bray
January 2012.
Roger and Olive
Olive trees can be grown in this country, but in my view there are reasons why it's not worth the bother. The trees themselves are rather ordinary, the flowers are insignificant and the fruits require processing to be edible as they are not pleasant straight from the tree.
Olive oil is obtained from fully ripe fruit - it is a culinary wonder. No kitchen can thrive without it, but beware of the range of yellowish, oily substances purporting to be olive oil. Consider the price range in the local supermarkets, 0.30p to £1.29p/100grams.
How can we know what we're getting for our money? Good olive oil is time-consuming to make and, unfortunately, cheap and easy to doctor.
The FSA in Britain is only required to perform chemical tests to check it's not harmful to health and I read that it hasn't done any checks for years. The EU requires oils to pass taste and aroma tests, but bad stuff still gets through.
So all we can do is ensure the bottle is labelled 'extra virgin', other descriptions such as 'pure', 'light', 'first pressing', 'cold pressed', guarantee nothing. Today most oil is centrifuged from fruit paste and 'extra virgin' comes first, so - extra virgin on the label and the most expensive you can afford. Not very satisfactory, but there you are.
Roger Pearce
Parish Of St. Keverne 'Pastoral Care Team'
Do you or someone you know and care about, need a confidential listening ear? Maybe the 'Pastoral Care Team' can help. For more information, please contact::-
Sue Bray, the Pastoral Care Team Coordinator on 01326 280459 or the Church Warden on 01326 281168.
Sound and loop system comes closer
Plans for a sound and loop system for St. Keverne Church are moving on! The 28 day period for objections to the proposed plan expired on 25th January. At the time of writing (just prior to this edition of The Beacon being printed), no objections had been made, and if no objections are forthcoming then the Diocesan Chancellor will issue a Faculty (the legal document required for such works) authorising the installation.
In the meantime, I have contacted Microcomms Ltd (the contractors who will install the system) asking for a formal contract, so that once the Faculty has been granted, and as soon as the contract has been signed, we can proceed.
Bob Bevan
St. Keverne Church Development Co-ordinator
Request from the Health Centre
- Allow 48 hours (2 working days) for collecting prescriptions. It is up to you to order your repeat medicines in good time. Repeat prescriptions are not taken over the telephone.
- Collect prescriptions between the hours of 10am-1pm and 2pm-4pm, thus avoiding busy surgery times.
- Please could you also keep telephone calls to the Surgery in office hours between 9am–5pm, but bear in mind we are closed between 1pm-2pm.
The Surgery is a very busy practice, dispensing in the region of 5,000 prescriptions per month and your co-operation would be much appreciated.
Thank you.
PS. We would like to thank everyone who very kindly gave us Christmas presents and sent cards with such lovely messages. We wish all our patients a very happy and healthy New Year.
News From The Bandroom
The Senior Band's new CD - the first for 10 years and entitled 'Horizons' - has been released and is on sale at St. Keverne stores. We will be performing many of the tracks on this recording during the summer.
The St. Keverne Youth Band has been invited to compete at the National Finals in Manchester on 22nd April. This is a great honour for the Band and an opportunity not to be missed; so we will be doing a good deal of fund raising in the coming weeks to finance this trip. If anyone who shops via the internet would like to support the Band they can do so simply by registering with www.easyfundraising.co.uk and choosing St. Keverne Band as their good cause. It is very simple and doesn't cost a thing.
The Band AGM will be on 24th April at 7pm.
Caroline Hosken - Chairman St. Keverne Band
Alpha in the Bandroom
Alpha in the BandroomSteve McGurk looks back on a successful course
Almost 25 people from across the parish were involved: in catering, leading, helping and praying for the group. Most of the team were able to participate in the celebration on 7th December, which included a buffet supper, a Bible quiz, worship songs and prayer.
The Alpha team is currently praying and planning for the next Alpha Course to be held this Autumn. Look out for details in a future edition of The Beacon!
FELICA children are doing well
Nicole Fraser brings us up to date with the work of Dr Cathy Loua and FELICA, in GuineaDear Friends of FELICA
Most importantly, the children we are supporting are doing well and most of those we are directly sponsoring continue to live in the family home (Alphonse, Cathy, David, Elisabeth, Engel, Henri, Juliette, Maxime, Richard, Saly, Sankoumba, Tonio, and Ousmane), but the 13 year old Catherine and 10 year old David are at boarding school, and 9 year old Sankoumba continues to stay elsewhere with a relative. All children go to school and some do exceptionally well. Dr Cathy is ambitious for each child to fulfil his/her potential, academically or through an apprenticeship. The children continue to have extra tuition in the evenings which Dr Cathy finances from our contributions. The house is now finished and your support has covered 60% of all building costs. Dr Cathy's vision for the house to become an orphan assessment centre with services linking orphans to foster families and care is still there.
It is almost seven years since I was able to give Dr Cathy our first contribution. Since then we have collected and sent thousands of pounds every year. As the children have grown up and have left home -some to get further education - others have come into the FELICA family as new members.
I am cautiously optimistic about the developments in Guinea, although progress on better governance remains very fragile. There are tensions regarding the dominance by certain clans and political appointments based on ethnicity. But Guineans want to keep peace, having learnt from their neighbours what a civil war costs society, and having hosted many refugees.
In the past decade, Africa has been the fastest growing continent economically. However, according to FELICA, the main problems in Guinea remain unaffordable staple foods and an almost complete lack of electricity. But I want to believe that Guinea will participate in the African renaissance, and that our FELICA children with their special upbringing will grow up to become leaders and help guide the people of Guinea.
