August is the holiday season for many. Indeed, we have many visitors to Topsham and the area. Summer is a time to relax and enjoy the sunshine in the garden. Last week in Daily Reflections we looked at times God calls us to take courage for he is with us. God also knows our need to rest from our labours and rest in the presence of God. Even God took a day of rest after 6 days of creation. May we take times to be still and know that we can trust our lives to a God who promises to be with us whatever we have to face this week.
Peter
Louise has a new email address: [email protected]
During her leave of absence until mid September, the account will be monitored by a member of the leadership team.
Safeguarding
For any safeguarding concerns, please contact :
Katie Gray: [email protected]
For issues with rough sleepers:
Elizabeth Reed: [email protected]
Please send all contributions for the newsletter to Gill Yates by Thursday evening.
Services and calendar for the week
Sunday 17th August
8am…BCP Holy Communion…St Margaret’s
10am…Joint Holy Communion…St Luke’s
Monday 18th August
7pm…Compline…Zoom
Tuesday 19th August
9am…Morning Prayer…St Luke’s
Wednesday 20th August
10am…Morning Worship…Zoom
1.15…Lunchtime Concert…St Margaret’s
2.30pm…Tea and Cake…St Margaret’s
Friday 22nd August
9am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’s
Sunday 24th August
10am…Family Holy Communion…St Margaret’s
10am…Morning Worship…St Luke’s
6.30pm…Evensong…St Margaret’s
The Zoom links and meeting IDs for all the Zoom events are on our pages on ACNY (A Church Near You)
Bookings
St. Margaret’s bookings are managed by Caryll Ingerslev.
Contact: [email protected]
St. Luke’s Church and Church Rooms bookings are managed by Sandra Greedy.
[email protected] or phone 01392 271458
St. Luke’s church is open on Wednesdays afternoons between 2.00 and 4.00.
St. Margaret’s church
A Message from St Margaret’s PCC
St Margaret’s PCC is aware of concern and speculation in the town regarding three unrelated situations involving the church and churchyard over the past ten days.
The temporary daytime closure of the church followed the discovery of a male rough sleeper who had been staying overnight undetected for several nights.
Having been in constant communication with the Police over a period of time, the advice from them, and from the Diocesan Safeguarding Team, is for anyone with any concerns to make the police aware as soon as you notice anything untoward.
The Vicar and PCC do not "welcome" or "encourage" rough sleepers to come to Topsham. However, the church has a longstanding tradition of being open to the public during the day, and most visitors treat the space with respect. We have now been advised not to provide rough sleepers with facilities like coffee or phone charging.
We hope that this period of concern is now coming to an end, however, in the meantime we have been advised by the Diocesan Safeguarding Team to continue to keep the Church closed other than for services or pre-arranged events. The Archdeacon has been informed and we look forward to receiving further guidance.
For Your Convenience
You 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.
Weekly Reflection and Update
As we continue journeying through the summer months, may we remain grounded in prayer, unity, and service. We’re reminded that even in quieter seasons, God is always at work in and through us.
Starting this August, our 9 a.m. Tuesday Morning Prayer will now be held at St Luke’s instead of St Margaret’s. All are welcome to join us as we gather in the peace of the morning to pray using Common Worship: Daily Prayer.
Let us continue lifting each other up, sharing the load, and celebrating the joys and challenges of our walk together in faith.
“Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
Please get in touch with Jackie Crozier on [email protected] for more details.
Parish Walks
The next walk will be towards the end of September.
St. Margaret’s
Songs of Praise
If you love singing come along to our Songs of Praise 🎶 🎹
Sunday August 31st at 3 pm. This will be followed with tea and cakes.
🎂 🥮 🍥 🥞 🍵
We look forward to welcoming you.
Mini-messy Church
The Monday and Thursday sessions are taking a break during August and will start again in September. The children’s area will remain accessible to children and caregivers, serving as a "stay and play" space where everyone is welcome to use the toys and resources. A reminder that the area will be checked regularly, but help in keeping the area tidy would be very much appreciated. We are anticipating starting again in September and will email those interested in the formal sessions. Please keep an eye on your emails. Wishing everyone a very peaceful and restful summer break.
Coffee and Cake
Wednesday afternoon at 2.30 p.m. - coffee, tea, cake and a chat !
The Wednesday afternoon Coffee and Cake 2.30 - 3.30 pm, is a weekly ongoing event and therefore the poster needs to stay. ♥️ 🧁
Lunchtime Concert
Wednesday August 20th at 1.15 - Mark and Nicky Perry, Kirstine and David House: flutes and pianos
Dream Big is progressing, with discussions happening about choices of floors and surface coverings, and important details like design and colour of taps etc. Fundraising is continuing, though our “big push” in the local community is still held up by our Just Giving account not yet being activated. Once it is, we plan a leaflet drop throughout the town.
Charter Day is in a fortnight, and there will be children’s activities in the churchyard, and drinks and cake in the church. Do come with friends or family, because the profits from the tea room are kindly being passed to Dream Big. By the way do you, or any small people you know, have a really brave teddy bear? Would they try the zip wire from the top of the tower? Matt Pym, our Tower Captain is organising this. Again, proceeds will come to Dream Big. And don’t forget the cable recycling – bags of cables are appearing every week, even with the church doors closed: thanks so much. All in all, we are still on track for work to start in January and finish by Easter, though things don’t always work out quite according to plan when building work is being done!
Exmouth Food Bank
This 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 porridge
Pasta
Stir in pasta/pasta bake sauces
Tinned fruit
Fruit squash/juice
Longlife whole milk
Thank you so much ❤️
For further information email: [email protected] 07787758511
Prayers
For those who are ill or in need of our prayers:
Jill and Adrian, Kirsten, Jan, Roger, Dave White, Dave Crozier, David Byrne, Marlene Gardner, Pam Wormald, Mary, Peter, John Heal, Rosemary Henry, Gail Miller, Carol Walker
Housebound or in nursing/care homes:
Alfred Wonnacott, Janet Mutter, Georgina Lear
Please 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.
Anniversaries
Arden Dee Shapland, Leslie Coombs
Jack Wood, Winifred Weaver, Susan Peter, Gordon Salmon
Recently departed
Patrick Beasley
Gospel Readings for the coming week
Sunday 17th August Luke 12: 49-56
Monday 18th August Matthew 19: 16-22
Tuesday 19th August Matthew 19: 23-end
Wednesday 20th August Matthew 20: 1-16
Thursday 21st August Matthew 22: 1-14
Friday 22nd August Matthew 22: 34-40
Saturday 23rd August Matthew 23: 1-12
Sunday 24th August Luke 22: 24-30
Collect and reading for Sunday 17th August
Almighty God, who sent your Holy Spirit to be the life and light of your Church: open our hearts to the riches of your grace, that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit in love and joy and peace; 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 12.49-56
I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.
Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
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