A SPECIAL MEETING OF PARISHIONERS FOR THE ELECTION OF A CHURCHWARDENNotice is hereby given of a special meeting of parishioners to be held on Monday 3rd November 2025 at 7.30pmin St Margaret’s Church to elect a churchwarden.The brief formal meeting will be followed by refreshments.
To obtain a copy of The Estuary Magazine please visit St Margaret's Church or The Topsham Bookshop.
MISSION COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER 14.12.25Dear All!As we approach the heart of our faith, the Nativity, the Incarnation, Emmanuel God with us, it is also good to remember our fellow worshippers in the great Abrahamic faiths: Islam and Judaism.We share a family tree and have a lot in common.A small group of us visited Exeter mosque this week, and it was an enriching and humbling encounter. Imam Ahmed was incredible in his knowledge and appreciation of Christianity, as well as being an example of deep faith embodied. We received generous hospitality and were invited to be alongside the men who came to worship at midday; they were from all different backgrounds and occupations, making time to be still before God, waiting expectantly. The synagogue in Exeter is arranging an open day for folks who wish to connect and support in a similar way, and details of that visit should be with you in the new year.Anne Plested, our longstanding link to Bethlehem, via our support for Anne and the Bible college there, will be preaching at St Luke's on Sunday at 10am, and will deliver a short talk with photos in the church room at St Luke's straight after the service at 11.15am. Anne will also be joining the 10am Wednesday morning zoom service this coming week. Plenty of opportunity to engage with how the people of the three great Abrahamic faiths are trying to find a way forward, despite political violence and warfare.LouiseLouise’s email address: vicartopshamwear@gmail.comSafeguardingFor any safeguarding concerns, please contact :Katie Gray: safeguardingtopshamwear@gmail.comFor issues with rough sleepers:Elizabeth Reed: homelessoutreachtopshamwear@gmail.comPlease send all contributions for the newsletter to Gill Yates by Thursday evening.gyates@uwclub.netServices and calendar for the week Sunday 14th December10am… Holy Communion…St Margaret’s10am…Holy Communion…St Luke’s (with Anne Plested)3pm…Nativity Trail…St Nicholas Methodist ChurchMonday 15th December10am…Stay and Play…St Margaret’s7pm…Compline…ZoomTuesday 16th December 9am…Morning Prayer…St Luke’s11am…Study Session…Watermeadow GrangeWednesday 17th December10am…Morning Worship 2.30pm…Tea and Cake…St Margaret’sThursday 18th December10am…Stay and Play…St Margaret’s11am…Holy Communion…Watermeadow GrangeFriday 19th December 9am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’sSaturday 20th December 10.30am…Carol Singing…Chapel PlattSunday 21st December8am… BCP Holy Communion…St Margaret’s10am…Joint Holy Communion…St Luke’s 6.30pm…Carol Service…St Margaret’sThe Zoom links and meeting IDs for all the Zoom events are on our pages on ACNY (A Church Near You)Christmas Events and Services in DecemberSunday 14th 10.00 a.m. Holy Communion at St. Margaret’s and St. Luke’s3.00 p.m. Nativity Trail at St. NicholasSaturday 20th 10.30 a.m. Carol Singing on Chapel PlattSunday21st 8.00 BCP Holy Communion at St. Margaret’s10.00 a.m. Joint Crib and Carol service at St. Luke’s6.30 p.m. Carol Service at St. Margaret’sMonday 22nd 7.30 p.m. Carols by Candlelight at St. Margaret’sWednesday 24th 3.00 p.m. Crib and Carol Service at St. Luke’s6.00 p.m. Community Carols at St. Margaret’s11.00 p.m. Midnight Mass at St. Margaret’s and St. Luke’sThursday 25th 8.00 a.m. BCP Holy Communion at St. Margaret’s10.00 a.m. Holy Communion at St. Margaret’s and St. Luke’s28th December 10.00 a.m. Family Holy Communion at St. Margaret’s10.00 a.m. Christingle at St. Luke’s3.00 p.m. Songs of Praise at St. Margaret’sBookingsSt. Margaret’s bookings are managed by Caryll Ingerslev.Contact: bookingstopsham@gmail.comPlease book in for any use of the church including church meetings and events.St. Luke’s Church and Church Rooms bookings are managed by Sandra Greedy:Contact: bookingswear@gmail.comSt. Luke’s churchwardens can be contacted on:churchwardenwear@gmail.com or phone 01392 271458Our St Luke’s Churchwarden, Mrs Jackie Crozier, is currently not available for her warden duties. Mrs Sandra Greedy will respond to emails sent to the above email address.St. Luke’s church will re-open on Wednesday afternoons in the New Year.St. Margaret’s is open every day between 9.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m.News and NoticesOffertory at St. Margaret’sWe are happy to return to the presentation and blessing of gifts during the Offertory hymn. Please place your collection in the bowls provided as you come in, and thank you for your kind support.Ecumenical Events - Carol Singing on Chapel PlattThe traditional ecumenical carol singing on Chapel Platt will be held on Saturday 20th December at 10.30 am, with coffee and mince pies (with donations invited) to follow at St Nicholas.Christmas!Countdown to Christmas: there are three ways to engage with the themes of Advent1. Elders in the Christmas story. Elders in the Christmas story. The second session on Tuesday 16th, we will look at Simeon and Anna, who greeted the Holy Family in the temple after the birth of Jesus.Watermeadow Grange will these sessions, beginning at 11 a.m. It's essential to register that you will be attending. please let me know on vicartopshamwear@gmail.com 2. There will then be a Carol Communion on Thursday 18th December at 11 a.m. when we will have chance to join the Watermeadow Grange congregation.3. Anne Plested, for whom the benefice has been praying, and who has been supported for many years now, will return to give us first hand witness accounts of the great needs of Christians and other vulnerable groups in that area; and equally important the signs of hope amongst the dispossessed, so clearly linked with our Advent and Christmas stories. Anne will preach at St Luke's on 14th December at 10 a.m. and will hopefully join one of our midweek Zoom worship services.Watch this space for when exactly.Coffee and CakeEvery Wednesday at St Margaret's Church everyone is welcome to look in between 2.30-3.30 - not just for coffee, tea and an array of cakes, but also for friendly chat and a warm welcome. There's no charge, and we'd love to see you, whether you're Christian, or of a different faith, or of none at all! ♥️ 🧁Project NewsDream Big should start in January. We have had quotes in and hope to be interviewing two contractors next week. The quotes are a bit higher than we had expected so there is still some fundraising needed. There will be opportunities to contribute over Christmas, especially if you were not around for our original gift day in early 2023.Give to Go Green – the infra-red heating in the north transept should be installed in the coming week, if the contractor can get the equipment delivered in time.Exmouth Food BankEach winter the Food Bank sees a 20% rise in people seeking support with food. On average we expect to distribute 90 parcels a week in December. The majority of parcels will be for families with four or more members. This year the 10% increase in the energy price cap, plus the withdrawal of the winter fuel allowance for pensioners, will place a further demand on our services.I f you are thinking of donating to the Food Bank this Christmas we would really appreciate core food items that are needed for our year round parcels as this will help us meet the surge in demand over the festive period and into 2025. We would welcome tins of: soup, tomatoes, baked beans, spaghetti, tuna, stews, meatballs, cold meats, fruits, custard and rice pudding. We would also welcome packets of spaghetti and rice…. as well as a few festive goodies!Donations will need to be with us by Friday 13 December if they are to be distributed ahead of Christmas.Thank you ❤️ For further information email: info@exmouthfoodbank.org.uk 07787758511Please find the winter newsletter attached.PrayersFor those who are ill or in need of our prayers:Jill and Adrian, Kirsten, Jan, Jeremy, 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 Plested visited us at the end of September. Please pray for Gaza in the light of the latest news: she said for Christians there it is now a matter of just survival. Also for a new course at Bethlehem Bible College this autumn in trauma counselling, with 23 students signed up.AnniversariesJack Ingham, Joan NewmanMarjorie Parkhouse, Eileen Hatfield, Muriel Ritchie, Mary Darnley-Smith, Marjorie Edwards, Jena Cuninghame, Winifred Molland, Kate GascoigneRecently departedGospel Readings for the coming weekSunday 14th December Matthew 11: 2-11Monday 15th December Matthew 21: 23-27Tuesday 16th December Matthew 21: 28-32Wednesday 17th December Matthew 1: 1-17Thursday 18th December Matthew 1: 18-24Friday 19th December Luke 1: 5-25Saturday 20th December Luke 1: 26-38Sunday 21st December Matthew 1: 18-endCollect and reading for Sunday 14th DecemberO Lord Jesus Christ, who at your first coming sent your messenger to prepare your way before you: grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready your way by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in your sight; for you are alive and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.Matthew 11.2-11Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.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
