To obtain a copy of The Estuary Magazine please visit St Margaret's Church or The Topsham Bookshop.
Dear FriendsAs we start the autumn season, we can feel a change in the weather. We may yet see times of sunny weather but we brace ourselves for cold, rain and wind. It is no good fighting it, so embrace it. Walk in stormy weather wrapped up in warm coats and come home to hot dinners by the fire-side. With longer darker nights this poem/song comes to mind when facing darker times in our lives:Shadows around me,Shadows above me,Never conceal my saviour and guide;He is the light, in him is no darkness, Ever I’m walking close to his side.(’Heavenly Sunlight” by Henry J Zelly)God is described in Jeremiah as the Potter. He calls us not just to admire his work, but to yield ourselves to it. Today, the question is not simply “Do you believe in God?” but “Will you let him reshape you?”God blessRev PeterLouise has a new email address: vicartopshamwear@gmail.comDuring her leave of absence until mid September, the account will be monitored by a member of the leadership team.SafeguardingFor any safeguarding concerns, please contact :Katie Gray: safeguardingtopshamwear@gmail.comFor issues with rough sleepers:Elizabeth Reed: reedelizabeth04@gmail.comPlease send all contributions for the newsletter to Gill Yates by Thursday evening.gyates@uwclub.netServices and calendar for the week Sunday 7th September 10am… Holy Communion…St Margaret’s 10am…Holy Communion…St Luke’sMonday 8th September 10am…Mini Messy Church…St Margaret’s7pm…Compline…ZoomTuesday 9th September 9am…Morning Prayer…St Luke’sWednesday 10th September10am…Morning Worship…Zoom1.15…Lunchtime Concert…St Margaret’s2.30pm…Tea and Cake…St Margaret’sThursday 11th September 10am…Mini Messy Church…St Margaret’s Friday 12th September 9am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’s Sunday 14th September 10am… Holy Communion…St Margaret’s 10am…Holy Communion…St Luke’s3pm…Forest Church…Point-In-View Chapel (one month only) 6.30pm…Evensong…St Margaret’sThe Zoom links and meeting IDs for all the Zoom events are on our pages on ACNY (A Church Near You)BookingsSt. Margaret’s bookings are managed by Caryll Ingerslev.Contact:Bookingstopshamwear@gmail.comSt. Luke’s Church and Church Rooms bookings are managed by Sandra Greedy.churchwardenwear@gmail.com or phone 01392 271458St. Luke’s church is open on Wednesdays afternoons between 2.00 and 4.00.St. Margaret’s will be open between 9.00 and 5.00 from Saturday 6th September.St. Margaret’sDream Big Fundraising is continuing steadily, and in the last week there was a cheque for £500 left in the wall safe, and the Just Giving account is now approaching £1000. Cables come in by the bagful. Sincere thanks to all who have contributed by any route. The “Please help us” leaflet should have reached everyone in Topsham, but if you did not get one, please pick one up from church, or from the Topsham Bookshop. Asking friends and neighbours if they have received one might also give you the opportunity to pass them around. The leaflet was specially directed at people who may donate from their phones via the QR code.Quiz Nights. We hope that the Old Firestation’s charity fund will donate to Dream Big within the next few weeks. We will advertise it so St Margaret’s can have at least one table each night we are being supported. We will have a particular need for someone is good on pop songs. Please admit to this skill so you can strengthen our tables!News and NoticesParish WalksThe next walk will be on Monday September 22nd. Carolyn Keep has offered to do a walk round Woodbury. The vicar of Woodbury may join us.2.00 meet at St. Swithun’s Church, Woodbury. Further details to follow.This will be quite a short walk, so accessible to most.If you have not already expressed an interest in these walks and would like to be added to the list please email Gill Yatesgyates@uwclub.netMini-messy ChurchMini-messy church will be meeting on Mondays and Thursdays at 10.00 a.m. in St. Margaret’s.Coffee and CakeWednesday afternoon at 2.30 p.m. - coffee, tea, cake and a chat ! ♥️ 🧁Lunchtime ConcertWednesday September 10th at 1.15 - “Cello for Two”: Jane Greenwood and Annabel Rooney present music for two cellos.Exmouth Food BankThis month we would welcome donations of the following items:Tinned meat meals (e.g. stew, meatballs)Tinned cold meat (e.g. ham, corned beef) Porridge oats & instant porridgePastaStir in pasta/pasta bake sauces Tinned fruitFruit squash/juiceLonglife whole milkThank you so much ❤️For further information email: info@exmouthfoodbank.org.uk 07787758511PrayersFor those who are ill or in need of our prayers:Jill and Adrian, Kirsten, Jan, Roger, David Byrne, Marlene Gardner, Pam Wormald, Mary, Peter, John Heal, Rosemary Henry, Gail Miller, Carol WalkerHousebound or in nursing/care homes:Alfred Wonnacott, Janet Mutter, Georgina LearPlease pray for Anne Plested supporting the work of Bethlehem Bible College, and Ben and Katy Ray in Tanzania, St. Luke’s CMS mission link.Anne spent ten weeks at Bethlehem Bible College earlier this summer. During this time she acted as chaplain to their annual summer course in Peace and Justice studies, which included several visits around the country, and also taught an English language course. AnniversariesReg Trerice, Colin RoachMargery Rew, Maureen Welchman, Emily Luscombe, Philip Malim,Recently departedDave Crozier, Molly Fricker, Patrick BeasleyGospel Readings for the coming weekSunday 7th September Luke 14: 25-33Monday 8th September Luke 6: 6-11Tuesday 9th September Luke 6: 12-19Wednesday 10th September Luke 6: 20-26Thursday 11th September Luke 6: 27-38Friday 12th September Luke 6: 39-42Saturday 13th September Luke 6: 43-endSunday 14th September John 3: 13-17Collect and reading for Sunday 7th SeptemberAlmighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray and to give more than either we desire or deserve: pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.Luke 14: 25-3325 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’31 “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33 In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.This email was sent from Mission Community of Topsham and Wear using iknowchurch. If you wish to update contact preferences, please email: gyates@uwclub.net
Dear all I haven't forwarded anything from Bethlehem recently but this request for prayer arrived a few days ago. A few weeks ago a group from the College spent a couple of weeks in Jordan running a summer camp for refugee children from the conflict in Syria. Munther Isaac is one of the best Christian advocates for the Palestinians at the moment. Anne and I heard him speak in Bristol last summer, and he caused some controversy a while back when Justin Welby didn't have time to see him during his visit to the region. Justin apologised later. Margaret and I are hoping to have lunch with Anne Plested the week after next. Will try to keep you in touch, but meanwhile thank you for your prayers. God bless David As we recruit students for the upcoming academic year, please join us in praying that the Lord opens doors for those wishing to study at Bethlehem Bible College. May He guide His children to the right fields where they can continue building His kingdom on earth. We are grateful for the success of our summer community training programs. Over two weeks, we welcomed 26 adolescents and 5 young leaders to our summer camp, along with more than 70 local and international students in our language courses. Please pray that these programs do more than fill their time; may they instill the love of Jesus Christ and highlight the significance of our Holy Land. We ask for your prayers for Rev. Munther Isaac, who has been traveling this summer to share about our College, its impact on the community, and the ongoing conflict in our Holy Land. May the Lord bless and protect him. Due to the water shortage caused by the occupation, please pray for families suffering from a lack of water for days and weeks. Congratulations to our recent high school (Tawjihi) graduates! We wish them blessings as they decide on their next steps!