The week after Easter Sunday can be a time, like the disciples, wondering in awe, what life is how to be lived in the light of Jesus rising from the dead.
On Tuesday I was reflecting that God is and will have the last laugh by proving that violence is no solution and to offer us peace and a life in all its fullness. His way is the winning way because you can’t kill his love and everlasting life.
On Wednesday I was reflecting how angels, I believe, who were there at his birth were there smiling at his rebirth from the grave like a father watching his child unwrapping a present.
I think Jesus must have loved appearing and disappearing to the disciples in upper rooms, locked rooms and on a walk to Emmaus. It was his way to stop the confusion in the hearts and minds of the disciples before finally ascending to his father in heaven. As church we also must learn to be with the risen Jesus and to walk with him though we can’t see him.
I am reminded of Jesus’ words “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”(John 20.29)
I pray that we may enjoy of the blessing of believing even though we have not seen with our eyes but know our hearts burning within us as we read the scriptures.
Peter
Times of change, particularly unanticipated change, can be disorientating; and naturally can invite curiosity as to why those changes are happening. However, it can become problematic in community when that curiosity tips over into speculation, and the community circulates misinformation, even damaging gossip.
If anyone needs to talk through any of the changes we are experiencing within our church communities, please do approach myself or one of the wardens, who are now Jackie Crozier and Sandra Greedy (it doesn't matter that Jackie and Sandra worship at St Luke's, they are available across the benefice); or if you are needing more information around the safeguarding issues and audit that have been to the forefront recently, please do contact Katie, our parishes safeguarding representative. Their contact details are below, as are mine.
It is important to keep to the fore that misinformation and damaging gossip, including and especially in written form, is not acceptable behaviour for any group or organisation, workplace or voluntary, and especially not for a church. We are called to even higher standards of mutual respect than regularly expected.
Louise
Louise: [email protected]
Sandra: [email protected]
Jackie: [email protected]
Katie Gray: [email protected]
If you are needing to contact Louise, please use either email or mobile phone, text or call.
[email protected] or 07779585908
Safeguarding
For any safeguarding concerns, please contact one of the following:
Revd Louise Grace: 07779585908 [email protected]
Katie Gray: [email protected]
Caryll Ingerslev – St. Luke’s: [email protected]
Jane March-Mcdonald – St. Margaret’s - [email protected]
For issues with rough sleepers:
Elizabeth Reed: [email protected]
Please send all contributions for the newsletter to Gill Yates by the end of [email protected]
Material for A Church Near You to Tony Raven: [email protected]
Services and calendar for the week
Sunday 27th April
10am…Family Friendly Holy Communion…St Margaret’s
10am…Morning Worship…St Luke’s
Monday 28th April
10am…Mini Messy Church…St Margaret’s
7pm…Compline…Zoom
Tuesday 29th April
9am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’s
Wednesday 30th April
10.00am…Morning Worship…Zoom
1.15pm…Lunchtime Concert…St Margaret’s
2.30pm…Coffee and Cake…St Margaret’s
Thursday 1st May
10am…Mini-Messy Church…St Margaret’s
7pm…Deanery Synod Meeting…St Luke’s
Friday 2nd May
9am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’s
Saturday 3rd May
8am…Prayer Breakfast…St Margaret’s
Sunday 4th May
10am…Holy Communion …St Margaret’s
10am…Holy Communion…St Luke’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 is always open from approx. 9am, but closure times depend on the season. The church is now being closed at around 5pm.
Electoral Roll
Applications to join the new electoral roll will close formally on Wednesday 30 April in preparation for the APCM on Wednesday 21 May. After that, new members can join at any time.
St. Luke’s Church Rooms Christian Aid Big Brekkie
On Saturday 3rd May , you are invited to come along to enjoy anything from a slice of toast to a full English breakfast, with fruit juice and tea or coffee. The ‘Brekkie’ is free but donations to Christian Aid will be requested.
There will be two sittings from 9am to 10am and then from 10am to 11am. Please let Jill Allen know to which ‘sitting’ you will be coming. You can sign up for which sitting you would like your ‘brekkie’ on a list which will be at the back of St. Luke’s Church, or you can contact Jill by email [email protected] or phone 01392 877195.
Revd. Tony Raven will be our Chief Cook, assisted by his wife, Dorothy, and Ken Greedy.
This year our contribution to Christian Aid will be more important than ever, considering governments’ reduction of help to the world’s poorest people. We need to step up and do our bit!
See our A Church Near You for further information.
Coffee and Cake
Do come along to St. Margaret’s on a Wednesday afternoon for coffee, tea, cake and a chat! From 2.30 p.m.
Lunchtime Concert
This coming Wednesday at 1.15.
“Any Old Iron!” - community singing with Tony Yates
Retiring Collection for St Margaret’s “DreamBig” project.
Sponsored by Wilkinson Grant
Walking Group
The first walk this year is coming up on Monday April 28th in the afternoon.
The plan is:
2.00 Meet at St. Margaret’s for a short prayer time.
2.15 Walk through Topsham with Gill pointing out a few points of interest, then round the Goat Walk, where there will be space to chat or enjoy the peace, then back to St. Margaret’s.
3.15 ish Refreshments in St. Margaret’s
4.00 end
Please let Gill know if you will be joining the walk.
Exmouth Food Bank
We are currently focusing on replenishing our core stock so that we can continue to feed those in need.
In particular we would welcome donations of :
• Cereals
• Porridge oats & instant porridge
• Pasta• Stir in pasta/pasta bake sauces
• Tinned fruit
• Tinned vegetables (sweetcorn, mixed veg)
• Fruit squash/juice
• Longlife milk
In addition toiletries such as hair shampoo, conditioner, body wash and deodorant would also be helpful. Also bags for life.
Thank you for your support. You are AMAZING !
For further information email: [email protected] 07787758511
Please find a list of Positions Vacant attached.
Addition this week: organiser for the coffee rota
Please find monthly newsletters for St. Margaret’s and St. Luke’s attached.
N.B. The 8.00 a.m. Communion on May 18th will be taken by Louise.
Prayers
For those who are ill or in need of our prayers:
Jill and Adrian, Fay, Kirsten, Jan, Roger, 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, Peter Gwynne
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 hoping to fly to Bethlehem during April to spend some time with the Community there.
Perhaps pray that her physical presence at this time will help to give the College staff and students a real sense of solidarity with Christians in the UK.
Anniversaries
Mike Dee Shapland, Bruce Doust, Bert Twigg, Hilda Crabb
Sylvia Shortis, Peter Mathewson, Joan Wheeler, Anne Davies,
Recently departed
Gladys McCartney
Gospel Readings for the coming week
Sunday 27th April Acts 5: 27-32
Monday 28th April John 15: 18-21
Tuesday 29th April Mark 13: 5-13
Wednesday 30th April John 3: 16-21
Thursday 1st May John 14: 1-4
Friday 2nd May John 6: 1-15
Saturday 3rd May John 6: 16-21
Sunday 4th May John 21: 1-19
Collect and reading for Sunday 27th April
Almighty Father, you have given your only Son to die for our sins and to rise again for our justification: grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness that we may always serve you in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Acts 5.27-32And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
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