All-age family communion on Mothering Sunday was an overwhelmingly joyful experience for everyone present.

The Rev Alastair Mansfield, Chaplain at RNAS Culdrose, presided and preached, although his talk was exciting than a sermon.

Marjorie Searle had read the story of Moses’ infancy, so Mr Mansfield took a number of children to the font, which had been completely disguised as reed mace, more commonly known as bulrushes, to look for baby Moses. When that was unsuccessful, an ever-increasing crowd searched round the church, until a tiny figure was found. Mr Mansfield then took the story to when the adult Moses was called by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, focussing on when the Red Sea waters parted to allow the escapees to pass, before rolling back in to drown the Pharaoh and his army. The key word was water, for we are all born out of water and our baptism in water is the way to freedom as children of the living God.

The reverends Dorothy Noakes and Jane Bradbury with Betty Booker, lay reader, assisted at the service and Maureen Grattan-Kane led the prayers. Music of many varieties was supported by Richard Berry, organist and Ken Murphy, guitar; and the anthem “The Lord bless and keep you” by John Rutter was directed by Chris Bradbury.

After communion, bunches of fragrant narcissi were given out to all the congregation and the service ended fittingly with the hymn “Now thank we all our God”.