New Year - Looking Back

After setting the scene for entering the New Year last Sunday with encouragement from Joshua chapter 1, this week we start 2024 with a two-part series - ‘New Year in Focus’.

As you look back on the last year, how do you feel: content, thankful, confused, disappointed? As you look forward to a new year, the months and seasons to come, how do you feel: tired, full of anticipation, bored, excited?

There can be no doubt that we live in fast moving times, with a rapid introduction of artificial intelligence and an increasing use of new technologies. We live in troubled times, with the ongoing war in Ukraine and the terrible events in Gaza. We live in unsettled times, with a general election likely this year in the UK and a presidential election in the USA. We live in challenging times, including the cost of living crisis and rising levels of deprivation. We live in argumentative times, with ongoing culture wars, no platforming and cancel culture.

As one author recently commented, “The world in which we live seems to be entering a new, chaotic, uncharted and dark era.” Whether you are optimistic about the future or feel disturbed by many modern developments, there can be no doubt that we often feel confused and disorientated. There can be no doubt that our grandparents’ parents would hardly recognise the world we live in today.

During this new series we are going to reflect on our ‘cultural moment’. We are going to look back this week and then, next week, we are going to look forward. Where can Christians find their moorings in the midst of our changing world? What should our attitude be as we seek to worship God together? During each of these two weeks, Marc Baker (our oversight minister) is going to help us unpack some of these questions as we look to God’s word.

Refreshments will be served before and after the service, a live stream will be broadcast, groups for children and young people start again, we will celebrate Communion and prayer ministry will be available after the service as well.

ENABLE continues in 2024

ENABLE returns next week with an all-together meeting on Thursday 11th January at 7:30pm. At this session we will introduce the third part of ENABLE where our focus will be on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. To help individuals attend this session, especially those with younger children, we are hosting the meeting online. During the evening there will be time for small groups to ‘break out’ into their own groups to talk and pray together. You can access this meeting on Zoom using the button below and entering these details:

Meeting ID: 886 1513 5891 - Passcode: 536788

Gardening and Working Party

Join us on Saturday 13th January when we will meeting to look after our beautiful Churchyard - no gardening experience needed. Please wear sturdy footwear and bring gardening gloves and pruning equipment if you have them. There will also be some other jobs to do in the church, such as taking out some of the staging to allow more flexibility with the space in the south transept, so if you can spare a couple of hours to help with this it would be really appreciated.

St Kea Fellowship evening

Join us on Wednesday 17th January to share fellowship over food and drink, to praise God together in song, to hear updates, give thanks to God and to commit our ministry as a church family, and that our our mission partners, to the Lord.

Even if you haven’t joined us at one of these evenings before, maybe 2024 is the time to start?

Church Office Leadership Assistant role (maternity cover)

With Vicki heading off on maternity leave in February, we are seeking a new member of staff for the church office. 

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with good organisational and administrative skills to join our vibrant church and dynamic staff team.

The successful candidate will be able to:

• Provide consistent support to the Oversight Minister of St Kea, particularly in his role as Rural Dean (RD), support other ministers in the congregations and support the local missions of St Kea Church congregations

• Work alongside the St Kea Church Administrator to implement the mission vision within St Kea Church and across Truro

• Assist the Oversight Minister and ministers of St Kea and other CofE churches in Truro in developing communications, systems and events  

This role is part time maternity cover, 8 hours across 2 or 3 days per week based in Kea Church Office. 

Find out more about this post including job description and application form on our website. 

Save the date

We are really excited that Andy Fenton from Music Ministry is travelling down in February and has offered to run a workshop for musicians and singers. This will be held at St Kea Church and is open to both those who already serve in leading our sung worship and those considering getting involved. Andy is a very experienced church musician and is involved in in teaching and practical training across the UK. Please do set aside the evening of 6th February from 7pm. You can book in to the event by clicking the link below:

Key Dates

Enable all together meeting on Zoom - 11th January - 7.30pm

Churchyard Gardening and Working Party - 13th January - 9.30am - 12.30pm

St Kea Fellowship Evening - 17th January at 7.30pm

Women’s Breakfast 2024 - 3rd February 8.30-10am

Andy Fenton Music Training - 6th February at 7pm

Weekly Prayer Points

Each week there will be a few things for our church life and church family that we can join together in praying for:

1. As we start the new year we pray that we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. We look to Him for our hope, joy, and peace. Give us the courage to do all that You ask of us in 2024.

2. We praise you, Almighty God, for your worldwide church. We lift to you Compassion UK and all the church partners who faithfully serve their communities by coming alongside children, young people and their families. We pray that church families around the world would joyfully live out their faith
with love and graciousness that brings glory to you.

3. Father God please bless the congregation at Kenwyn Church as they begin a new year. We also continue to pray for Andy Boorne for wisdom as he lead them.