Sunday 30th April was a Benefice service at St Teath church, led by our Parish Nurse Rev’d Geraldine, assisted by our wonderful lay readers, Sue and Claire. Geraldine spoke of the need to build fellowship to support each other, and through that be open to the needs of those around us. She shared some beautiful illustrations of that fellowship through a series of meditation starters from a table left out for us during communion. Our choir led us in sung worship and John led us in a thought provoking time of prayer. Looking forward to the next times we worship together as a whole Benefice, on Ascension Day and then at Jeffrey’s Licensing.
We welcome Geraldine as both registered nurse and ordained priest, working in Camelford and Delabole as part of her role in Bodmin. Here’s a report from the service in Bodmin this weekend:
The churches making up the Bodmin Team Ministry gathered in St. Hydroc’s for a joint service led by the Rt. Rev’d Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Truro.
On a glorious spring morning Bishop Philip drew our attention to the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert. He expressed some sharp contracts, close parallels and rich resonances of this account with the Garden of Eden, Moses’ 40 days on Mount Sinai and the 40 years God’s people wondered in the wilderness.
The bishop expressed these accounts as callings. It was only Jesus, God’s beloved Son, who chose to obey and fulfil his vocation from God when he was put to the test. Jesus was obedient even to death. After his resurrection he was given all the kingdom, power and glory from God the Father. Today, the Church is the body of Christ and just like Jesus we need to be obedient to God’s call. For those yet to know God, the good news is everyone can come to him. It’s only through Jesus’ unflinching obedience to his Father, and his faithfulness to his calling, that his Kingdom and our salvation, will come.
The service also was a Commissioning of Rev’d Geraldine Ashton Bodmin, Camelford & Delabole’s Parish Nurse. Rev’d Geraldine is both a nurse and a priest and she is fulfilling her calling to serve God and those around her, within the protocols of parish nursing.
None of us believed Angela was old enough to retire but she assures us she is! Sunday morning communion at St Teath was her last service. We extended a warm welcome to our church and chapel friends from Delabole, Lanteglos-by-Camelford and Advent. Rousing singing of well known tunes was interspersed with readings and a short talk by Angela, all reflecting her ministry among us and
encouraging us in our future journey. Our choir sang “May the Road Rise to Meet You” by Bob Chilcott, and organ music before and afterwards included some of Angela’s favourite choruses.
At the end of the service our Curate, Rev’d Jeffrey Terry, thanked Angela for her support in his training period. Churchwarden Gareth Stubberfield spoke of Angela’s constant demonstration of humility, gentleness and patience, and read a poem especially commissioned by Pearl for the occasion. Reader Claire Salzmann finished our farewell remarks by speaking of the great joy Angela had brought us. Archdeacon Kelly was delighted to join us for the first time in St Teath and assured us she’s keen to worship with us again!
The groaning tables in the Church Hall beckoned us for a bring and share lunch (many thanks to Barbara and Anne for preparing things whilst we were in the church). This gave us an opportunity not only to say goodbye to Angela, but to meet Rev’d Geraldine Ashton (more on Geraldine’s role next month) who along with Jeffrey and Claire will be assisting in our services whilst our next Priest is appointed. Between them, it will be as close to “business as usual” on Sundays. Archdeacon Kelly is keen to get the interview process for a new Priest going and told us all about it at a recent meeting (more on that later in the year).
In the meantime, if you need any help, please don’t hesitate to contact Jeffrey on 07562 700170 or Claire on 01840 212713, or the Warden of your local Church.
