It is with great sadness that we announce that our Superintendent Minister, Rev Robbie Bowen, died on Sunday 25th October after a long illness. He was a much loved minister and friend. Robbie served the Church in Sierra Leone and in the Gambia, both in West Africa, before returning to the UK and taking up Circuit Ministry in Yorkshire, Cheshire, then finally, Falmouth and Gwennap.
Visit by the Vice President of the
Methodist Conference: Carolyn Lawrence
A Sense of Peace…
Services took place at FMC and at Mawnan Smith today, the first since lockdown for Mawnan Smith, with the addition of an online service for the Falmouth and Gwennap Circuit which was led by Revd Andrew with Bruce and Shirley Keer the link is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIhf3cmYLAk
In the attached photographs you will be able to view just a small selection of some of the items brought to church for our service yesterday. The service was entitled ‘Something Precious’ and all these things, and quite a few more were shown by their owners, who explained why they were precious. Many had memories of people attached to them, others had significant events associated with them.
The church beautifully decorated with a range of colourful floral arrangements, windows filled with tinned goods and packets of food for the local Food Bank and artificially created vegetables made by Tracy and co, real ones not being permissible this year, our socially distanced Harvest service began.
For our first 'Alternative' Service, we created a psalm for today (see below). After listening to Psalm 80, we thought about aspects of FMC that we valued from its past and present, things that we regret about our church, and our concerns for the church and society. Animated discussion took place (socially distanced, of course!), and the feedback was collated by Deacon Jane, who transformed the comments into a modern-day psalm.
With some things remarkably familiar and some things quite different we gathered today for the first service back in our church building since lockdown. With at least two chairs between each of us the service began. Hymns were played beautifully by David our organist, but no one sang. Andrew our Minister had to guess if people were smiling at him as we were all wearing face masks. And we offered a friendly wave to each other instead of shaking hands as a sign of the peace during a socially distanced communion.
On Sunday 6th September at 10.30am we will be holding our first Sunday service in our church since March. It will be a service of Holy Communion. We will be taking all appropriate measures to ensure the safety of all those attending, including wearing face coverings, using hand sanitiser, and maintaining social distancing. We rejoice in being able to gather once again, even if we are unable to sing hymns or share refreshments yet.
Pictures and reports will follow!
Lockdown with the Leggos
Most of us would say that we are blessed to live in such a wonderful place as Falmouth. Many of us have found a solace and comfort in nature this year and one of our members Nick, shares his experience and love of water with us.
Well Being
Our Lord made it, walked on it and uses it to explain things.