All Saints' Parish Church, Falmouth (From Swindon Advertiser)

All Saints' Parish Church, Falmouth

11:43am Monday 13th May 2013 in npower League Two Table & Results

The church hosted the deanery mass for Ascension Day on Thursday and members of churches in the South Carnmarth Deanery came together to celebrate this important day in the Christian calendar. They were also able to welcome the new Archdeacon of Cornwall, Ven Bill Stuart-White, as preacher on his first official visit to the area.

The sung mass for the Sunday after Ascension drew an enlarged congregation. Ben and Sophie Wagland brought their infant son, Jake Thomas Paul for the sacrament of baptism. In this they were supported by a large number of relatives and friends.

President of the mass and preacher was Father Stephen Drakeley, priest-in-charge. The service began with the introit hymn “Thine be the glory,” after which Fr Stephen greeted the congregation and warmly welcomed visitors to the church. Doreen Barnicoat read the lesson from Acts chapter 16 v 16-34. This tells how Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison for performing a miracle and whilst there experienced an earthquake that shook the prison to its foundation opening all the doors and loosening everyone’s chains.

Fr Stephen proclaimed John’s gospel chapter 17 v 20-26. Jesus prays to God the Father on behalf of all believers from that time and all time “that may all be one.” The theme of Fr Stephen’s address was “The road ahead, but not just yet.” Here he was alluding to the fact that the apostles were restrained from preaching the gospel after the ascension of Jesus until they were prepared on the day of Pentecost by the Holy Spirit.

Celebrating at the eucharist that followed he was assisted as chalice administrators by Helen Bancroft and Barbara Jenkins, who also led the pre and post communion prayers. Servers for the mass were Jane MacLennan and Jacob Clarke. Sidespersons were Ken Eagles and Doreen Barnicoat, Mathew Seaton was organist. After the singing of the recessional hymn “Fight the good fight”, brought the mass to a conclusion by playing one of his own compositions “A hymn for Ruth.”

Forthcoming events: Friday, 4-7pm, University Jazz Group; Sunday, Pentecost sung mass, 10am.