The Magazine is attached but can also be obtained in hard copy at St Luke's.To obtain a copy of The Estuary Magazine please visit St Margaret's Church or The Topsham Bookshop.
As we enter the first week of August, the countryside is alive with colour, warmth, and wonder—an open invitation to notice the fingerprints of God in nature. Whether it’s golden fields, quiet woodlands, or birdsong at dawn, summer offers space to pause and pray. This Sunday’s gospel reminds us of Jesus’ teaching on prayer—simple, sincere, and rooted in trust. Just as the natural world reflects God’s beauty and provision, so, too, does our quiet time with Him open us to His presence. We look forward to welcoming you as we explore how to pray, see, and be still with God.PeterIf you are needing to contact Louise, please use either email or mobile phone, text or call.louisegrace45@gmail.com or 07779585908 SafeguardingFor any safeguarding concerns, please contact one of the following:Revd Louise Grace: 07779585908 louisegrace45@gmail.comKatie Gray: safeguardingtopshamwear@gmail.comFor issues with rough sleepers:Elizabeth Reed: reedelizabeth04@gmail.comTHIS WEEK only - Please send all contributions for the newsletter to Gill Yates by 5.30 on Wednesday 30th Julygyates@uwclub.netServices and calendar for the week Sunday 27th July 10am… Family Holy Communion…St Margaret’s 10am… Morning Worship…St Luke’s 6.30pm…Evensong…St Margaret’s Monday 28th July 10am…NO Mini-messy church…St Margaret’s (cancelled) 7pm…Compline…Zoom Tuesday 29th July 9am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’s 11am…Memorial Service (John Bradbury) Wednesday 30th July 10.00am…Morning Worship…Zoom 1.15…Lunchtime Concert…St Margaret’s 2.30pm…Tea and Cake…St Margaret’s Thursday 31st July 10am…Mini Messy Church…St Margaret’s Friday 1st August 9am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’s Saturday 2nd August 8am… Prayer Breakfast…St Margaret’s 12noon…Wedding…St Margaret’s Sunday 3rd August 10am…Holy Communion…St Margaret’s 10am…Holy Communion…St Luke’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: C.I.churchbookings@outlook.comSt. Luke’s Church and Church Rooms bookings are managed by Sandra Greedy. kenneth.greedy@sky.com or phone 01392 271458St. Luke’s church is open on Wednesdays afternoons between 2.00 and 4.00.St. Margaret’s church closure The church has been temporarily locked this week, apart from events, planned sessions and services.This is to address some local concerns to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all members of our community.We hope to be fully open again within the coming week. Thank you for your patience.For Your ConvenienceYou may have noticed the arrival of a portaloo outside St. Margaret’s. There is no longer any need to enter the church rooms. Vergers will have the number for the padlock.Leave of absence The leadership team fully support Revd Louise Grace taking some additional leave over the summer, in addition to annual leave.It's been a busy and fulfilling year with important projects such as The Dream Big project, developments in safeguarding in its widest context, the ongoing successes of having a family worker to development our already flourishing children’s work and other ongoing parish services and activities. This busyness and juggling of projects creates its own challenges and Louise's need for extra recuperation is also recognized by senior diocesan leadership. Louise will return fully on 19/9.Contact details will be the leadership team and Katie Gray, Parish Safeguarding RepresentativeNews and NoticesConfirmationMany people associate confirmation as a rite of passage for teenagers, and that often is the age bracket of candidates. However, there are increasing numbers of adults exploring confirmation (literally, confirming our baptism promises for ourselves), and enjoying the exploration that preparation sessions offer.There's already one adult in our worshipping community asking for confirmation. I would like to see if there are others. The service would likely be late autumn/early winter, and preparation would involve attending four preparation sessions.Please let me know if you are interested.louisegrace45@gmail.comSt. Margaret’sCoffee and CakeWednesday afternoon at 2.30 p.m. - coffee, tea, cake and a chat !Lunchtime ConcertWednesday July 30th at 1.15 - Nicola Howard, soprano, accompanied by Alex Wilson, songs by Porter, Bernstein, Weill etc.Flower Festival 2025Huge thanks to all who contributed in any way to the success of this annual event. £1400 + was raised.Cable Recycling Peter Lockwood is very kindly collecting again:charger cables, chargers with obsolete connectors, cables from old computers/printers, mains cables, unwanted plugs , adaptors etC. Electric wire, telephone/TV cabling, items made of copper, aluminium, bronze.NO FERROUS METALThere will be a box at the back of the church.Proceeds to the Dream Big Project.Please find attached a list of positions vacant andSt. Luke’s monthly newsletterExmouth 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, Dave, 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 is now safely back in Somerset after 3 months teaching in Bethlehem.AnniversariesDorothy Eastwood, Mollie Cann, Elsie Williams, Timothy Orpen, Sven HerzogRecently departedTerry MayGospel Readings for the coming weekSunday 27th July Luke 11: 1-13Monday 28th July Matthew 13: 31-35Tuesday 29th July Matthew 13: 36-43Wednesday 30th July Matthew 13: 44-46Thursday 31st July Matthew 13: 47-53Friday 1st August Matthew 13: 54 - endSaturday 2nd August Matthew 14: 1-12Sunday 3rd August Luke 12: 13-21Collect and reading for Sunday 27th JulyMerciful God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as pass our understanding: pour into our hearts such love toward you that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through 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 11.1-13And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.Give us day by day our daily bread.And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?This email was sent from Mission Community of Topsham and Wear using iknowchurch. 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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!