FALMOUTH: FALMOUTH PARISH CHURCH: On Sunday there were three services at the parish church. The Rev Barrington Bennetts was the celebrant at Holy Communion at 8.30am using the Collect and Lessons for the 14th Sunday after Trinity.

At 10.30am there was a service of thanksgiving and commemoration to mark the 67th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. The Rev Brian Mavers, who is Chaplain at St Mawgan, was the guest preacher. His sermon was thought provoking. He discussed the concept that the Battle of Britain Service could be a time for renewal. Lessons were read by David Smith and Bill Pike. The choir sang the anthem, With A Voice of Singing, before Jim Downie read the Commemoration and Air Vice Marshall John Tetley The Act of Re-Dedication. Lance Foy was the guest organist who ended the service with a rousing performance of the RAF March Past.

At Sung Evensong, Peter Coomber and Barbara Martin read the lessons, while the Officiant, the Rev Stephen Tudgey preached using as his text Isaiah, chapter 43 v 8-13. Finally the congregations' attention was drawn to some forthcoming events: Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Evening in Church, Wednesday, September 12; Christian Aid Tea Party, St Ruan, Friday, September 21; Harvest, Sunday, October 7.

U3A CARRICK: Chairman Tony Herring opened the meeting at Perranwell village hall and welcomed all and new members. There will be a special music lecture given by Judith Bailey on September 24. The National Third Age Trust is having it's AGM at Tremough Campus on September 18, and many members are stewarding the event. All members are entitled to attend the AGM but will need to show their membership cards.

Ian Searle asked for members to act as stewards on Friday for the arrivals of members not going on the cruise ship. There is to be a parliament outreach team coming to the Kingsley Village Conference Centre, Fraddon, on October 4, sessions at 10am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3pm to explain the processes of the parliamentary system.

Philip De la Hayes presented this month's prizes for the draw. Marion Tapp gave information about the activities and the restart of some of the groups this autumn and information about the open day. Mike Tapp gave information of two coach trips one in October and one in November. Angela Beale is starting new computer classes beginners, intermediate, and advanced. Richard Strafford demonstrated the www.u3acarrick.org.uk website and showed how information and pictures were displayed across the world wide web and asked for more input by members.

Brian Body showed a photographic group power point presentation compiled by Gilbert Rimes after a trip to the Holmans test mine and King Edward museum by the group.

Next Meetings: 10am to 12 noon, October 17, St Mary's Hall, Falmouth, Subject Cornwall Hospice Care; October 3, Perranwell Village Hall, open morning and find out more about the group and meet many of the leaders who will be giving information about the groups.

FALMOUTH GARDENERS' CLUB: August's visit was to Trerice, an Elizabethan manor house near Newquay, owned by the National Trust. Members and friends were greeted and, in extremely pleasant weather conditions, were given a guided tour of the gardens by the recently appointed head gardener Tam and her volunteer assistant Sue. They jointly gave an extremely interesting and detailed talk on the history of the house and the various gardens, the current layout of the estate and the trust's visions for the future.

On Wednesday, September 19, there will be the final coach outing of the summer season to Killerton House, Broadclyst, Devon.

Anyone wanting more information regarding the club and membership details can contact chairman, John Wescott, on 01326 311328 or secretary, Rosemary Swain, on 01326 311186.

WOMEN'S INSTITUTE: The welcome back evening was a treat missed by many members as a disappointingly low number made up the audience. The entertainment was by the wonderful choir Cantabile who inspired with a varied programme that included folk songs, semi-classics and old favourites from the shows. The voices performed close harmony with practised ease and to add to the pleasure there were solos sung, played on the piano by the two accompanists and finally calypsos with guitar accompaniment.

It was a privilege to have a visit from this group and the thanks at the end from Heather Thomas adequately expressed the pleasure of all.

Gertrude Vincent celebrated her 90th birthday earlier in the week, her daughter holding an open house at her home which many members attended. A collection had been made for the ShelterBox charity by her guests and raised the magnificent sum of £280.

ST MARY'S CHURCH: Sunday, September 2, began a busy week for the parish. On Tuesday the Society of St Vincent de Paul held its first autumn meeting. In the evening the first session of circuit training was held in the hall. The funeral of John Claringbold was held at St Mary's Church on Wednesday morning and on Friday morning the funeral of John Gaunt was held in St Edward's Church, Mawnan. Prayers were said for Michael Lowandowski who died this week.

On Saturday, Sister Veronica was sponsored for the day spent at St Mary's Church on behalf of the Cornwall Historic Churches Trust. She recorded all the people who visited the church by walking, jogging or cycling to as many churches as possible for this annual event. Sister Veronica expressed her thanks to the generous sponsors of Nicholas Buscombe's sky dive, and to the small change collectors who made it possible for her to send a donation to St Michael's School.

On Sunday, September 9, the parish welcomed Father Stephen Bulambo from Malawi. St Mary's parish had sponsored his studies for four years. Canon Bede Davis and three parishioners visited Malawi three years ago to attend his ordination and received warm and generous hospitality. After Mass on Sunday, Father Bulambo expressed his thanks to the congregation and presented Father Jon Bielawski with a small gift illustrating life in Malawi.

After Mass the re-launched edition of the new look diocesan newspaper, Catholic Southwest, was available for parishioners. The family of baby Tate Benjamin Hopwood gathered for his welcome into the church in Christian baptism and followed this with a celebratory party.

Events next week: Wednesday morning, Mass at St Mary's School for the new term; Thursday evening in the hall; talk on the message of Fatima and its relation to Lourdes and La Salette; Saturday afternoon at St Mary's, the wedding of Kelly Lord and Andrew Thomas. Congratulations to them and may God bless their life together. Sunday at Falmouth Beach Hotel the parish harvest lunch.

ALL SAINTS PARISH CHURCH: The sung parish mass began with the introit hymn At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow. Father Stephen Drakeley welcomed the congregation before inviting all to join in the prayers of confession and penitence. The kyrie and gloria were sung to the setting by Thorne from his St Thomas mass. The first reading from the Lamentations of Jeremiah, Chapter 18 v 1-11 was ready by Derek Smith. James Davies then read from the shortest of Paul's epistles: a letter to Philemon v 1-21. Father Stewart Turner proclaimed the Gospel from Luke Chapter 14 v 25-33. The intercessions were led by Father Stewart. Father Stephen celebrated the Eucharist attended by Helen Bancroft and Claire Drakeley.

Servers for the mass were David Fittock and Claire Drakeley. Sidespersons: Paul Jenkins and Ted Goldsmith. Organist: Roger King.

The mass ended with the hymn I danced in the morning.

PENRYN: INNER WHEEL: President Anne opened the meeting by welcoming members back after the summer break. The guest speaker for the evening was Owen Penney from the British Heart Foundation. Mr Penney gave a very informative insight into how monies donated to this charity is used, the importance of ongoing research and equipment needed to combat the increasing rate of heart disease in this country. In thanking the club for past donations and making the BHF the club's main charity for this year, Mr Penney left members with some very informative booklets on lifestyle choices and heart disease.

Hilda Maundrell had made a report on the July Assembly and it was noted that the Christmas shoeboxes were needed, and the overseas Operation Sunshine require children's shoes and clothes, women's shoes singles and pairs. Mary Scarrott's charity lunch, following the visit to Culdrose air station, was greatly appreciated and successful. Penryn's annual fair day was well attended and the club had their tombola stand well supported. President Anne is to accept the mayor Mary May's invitation to attend the harvest festival service at Penryn Methodist Church. The district meeting for Inner Wheel will be attended by five members on September 19 at Launceston.

The rest of the business meeting was spent in making final arrangements for the Charter Evening celebration at The Greenbank Hotel on October 13.

PENRYN METHODIST CHURCH: The Reverend Arthur Cowburn conducted the harvest festival service and welcomed Penryn town mayor Mary May, deputy mayor Beverley Hulme, the town clerk Kevin Paul and dignitaries and representatives of neighbouring councils and organisations.

Mr Cowburn used some of the Sunday club members to illustrate the point that some people achieve results by doing tricks. The reading from the Old Testament from Genesis chapter 8 vs 15-22 was read by the mayor. The New Testament lesson read by the deputy mayor came from the Gospel of St John chapter 6 vs 24-35.

Mr Cowburn's sermon asked "Is there such a thing as a free lunch". Myra Bennett led the harvest hymns on the organ.

The bridal display over the bank holiday weekend raised the sum of £517.18 to be shared by the church and Motor Neuron disease funds.