Dear Brothers and Sisters,St Luke’s and St Margaret’s have the privilege unique to Church of England churches of being there for everyone who lives in the parish regardless of whether they are regular churchgoers or not. The parish church is still the place where we can mark the most important events in our lives and ask God to be part of them. On Thursday St Margaret’s was packed for the funeral of Angela Raddon who had been christened and married in the church as well as bringing her grandchildren to Messy Church (she also had the distinction of being the barmaid who served Queen Elizabeth II at the Bridge Inn!). Maintaining a physical sacred space where people can encounter Jesus Christ is an important part of our calling as parish churches within our communities. So thank you to all the welcomers, cleaners, flower arrangers, coffee pourers and boiler fixers who allow us to continue to ‘proclaim the Gospel afresh in each generation’.Every blessingMaggie(Please note Louise will be on leave from 26th August to 20th September)If you are needing to contact Louise, please use either email or mobile phone, text or call. I do answer the landline if I am in and on duty, but you are more likely to catch me through the other methods: louisegrace45@gmail.com or 07779585908 Please send all contributions for the newsletter to Gill by the end of Thursday and material for A Church Near You to Tony Raven: tony@theravens.orgServices and calendar for the weekSaturday 14 September 3pm…Concert…St Luke’sSunday 15 September 8am…Holy Communion…St Margaret’s10am…Joint Holy Communion…St Margaret’sMonday 16 September 10am…Take 5…St Margaret’s7pm…Compline…ZoomTuesday 17 September 9am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’s10.30am…Coffee and Chat…St Luke’s church rooms2.30pm…Funeral for Liz Pascoe…St Margaret’sWednesday 18 September 10am…Morning Worship…Zoom10.30am…Prayer Course…St Margaret’s1.15pm…Lunchtime Concert…St Margaret’s2-4pm…Open Church…St Luke’sThursday 19 September 10am…Mini Messy Church…St Margaret’sFriday 20 September 9am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’sSaturday 21 September 4.30pm Exeter Philharmonic ChoirSunday 22 September 10am…Family Friendly Holy Communion …St Margaret’s10am…Morning Worship…St Luke’s 6.30pm…Evensong…St Margaret’s..........................................................................................................................................Take 5 and Compline on Zoom are back on Mondays!The Zoom links and meeting IDs for all the Zoom events are on our pages on ACNY (A Church Near You)St. Luke’s church is now open on Wednesday afternoons between 2.00 and 4.00.All are welcome...To look aroundTo sit quietly for a whileTo light a prayer candleTo pray.Bookings - St. Margaret’s bookings are managed by Caryll Ingerslev.Contact: C.I.churchbookings@outlook.comNews and NoticesConcert at St. Luke’s TOMORROW!!On Saturday 14th September at 3.00 p.m. An afternoon of classical music, tea and cake! Sarah Palfreman-Kay, soprano and Ian Davis, piano.Tickets £12 or £15 on the door. In aid of Rainbow Living.See poster attached for details..St. Margaret’s church opening timesThe church is always open from approx. 9am, but closure times depend on the season. The church is now being closed at around 6pm. This will move back to 5pm when the clocks go back.Go Green grantWe're excited to announce that St. Margaret’s is one of just nine parishes in Devon to receive a Go Green (G2GG) matched funding grant this year—a positive step in making our church more energy efficient and sustainable. We will be installing energy-saving heaters to allow us to warm the north transept for meetings during winter without heating the entire church. Every pound donated will be doubled by the Church of England up to a target figure. The fundraising will be concentrated in a six week period so that we do not risk affecting our routine giving for church expenses. Any suggestions or help in fundraising will be warmly received – please speak to Paul Jakeman or any PCC member.Lunchtime Concerts1.15 – 2.00 on Wednesdays. Free. Donations for St. Margaret’s Dream Big Project.Wednesday 18th September: Matthew Wright plays Bach, Mozart and others.Concert – Saturday 21st September at 4.30 in St. Margaret’s. One hour followed by refreshments. Free!This is a pre-tour of Spain concert by the Exeter Philharmonic Choir. English sacred choral music across the centuries.Fairtrade Fortnight takes place from Monday 9 September – Sunday 22 September 2024. This year, the Fairtrade Foundation is urging everyone to Be the Change, by picking up Fairtrade products and speaking up for fairer trade Fairtrade Fortnight - Fairtrade. Both St Luke’s and St Margaret’s are signed up as Fairtrade Places of Worship which means that we use only Fairtrade coffee, tea and sugar and other Fairtrade products wherever possible. At our Mission Community joint service on Sunday 15th September there will be a Fairtrade display in the St Margaret’s social area for you to browse over coffee.Coffee MorningSt. Luke’s are holding a coffee morning for Macmillan on 28th September at 11.00 in St. Luke’s Church Rooms.Midweek study and fellowship groupsAt St Margaret’s we have now started ‘The Prayer Course’, an 8 week journey through the Lord’s Prayer, meeting on Wednesdays from 11am-12pm (coffee from 10.40). This will run through until 30th October. If you miss a session you can catch up online at Sessions | The Prayer Course - The Prayer Course. This Wednesday we will be looking at Session 2 ‘Adoration’. All are welcome.Harvest - St Margaret’s Harvest Supper will be at 6pm on Saturday 5th October. Please sign up on the list at the back of the church or let Anita Beasley know if you would like to come.Pilgrim Prayer WalksFrom late October the mission community will be offering a monthly pilgrim prayer walk. We intend to explore some of the well-trodden pilgrim pathways that are local to us in Devon. To register interest please contact Louise on louisegrace45@gmail.comPosbury LecturePlease find attached information about this year’s lecture at the university on Monday 7th October at 7.00. “Radical Hope: the roots of courage in inevitable climate change.”Exmouth Food BankSupplies We Are Short Of This Month - September 2024 Harvest Festival is approaching and if you are kind enough to be planning to donate to the Exmouth Food Bank this autumn, please could you focus on the following items:Tins of soupTinned tomatoesTinned baked beans and spaghettiTinned meat meals such as stews,meatballs or curryTinned cold meats such as ham or corned beefTinned tunaTinned fruit or custardPlus bags for life/large carrier bags to enable people to carry their food home Thank you so much for your generosityFor further information email: info@exmouthfoodbank.org.uk07787758511Bread Of Life are seeking volunteers to serve the homeless and vulnerable housed in their soup kitchen on Thursday and Friday evenings. This would be at Crosslines, near Lower Summerland street in Exeter. This would include preparing and serving hot meals and giving out practical items.If you feel called to serve please contact Scott on mobile 07949 402369or email: breadoflifeinjesusname@gmail.com Many thanks ❤️🙏PrayersFor those who are ill or in need of our prayers:Lucy, Pauline, Jill and Adrian, Michael, Fay, Kirsten, Chris Whitehead, Anne, Tony Bradford, Marlene Gardner, Pam Wormald, Mary, Peter, John Heal, Rosemary Henry, Gail Miller, Carol Walker, Peter HelmHousebound 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.AnniversariesVictor Bowler, Paul Bax, Karel Edworthy, Vera TroutRecently departedLiz Pascoe, Angela RaddonGospel Readings for the coming weekSunday 15th September Mark 8: 27-endMonday 16th September Luke 7: 1-10Tuesday 17th September Luke 7: 11-17Wednesday 18th September Luke 7: 31-35Thursday 19th September Luke 7: 36 - endFriday 20th September Luke 8: 1-3Saturday 21st September Matthew 9: 9-13Sunday 22nd September Mark 9: 30-37Collect and reading for Sunday 15th SeptemberO Lord, we beseech you mercifully to hear the prayers of your people who call upon you; and grant that they may both perceive and know what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to fulfil them; 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.Mark 8. 27-endPeter’s Declaration about JesusJesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’ And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.Jesus Foretells His Death and ResurrectionThen he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’This email was sent from Mission Community of Topsham and Wear using iknowchurch. 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Big Dream moves forward, bit by bitThe Archdeacon of Exeter and his architectural advisor came to the church to discuss final details on the plans for our redevelopment of the rear of the church. They were very encouraging and made some helpful suggestions. By the time you read this, the updated plans will have been submitted and we have been told the legal permission should be issued around Christmas. Before that, there will be a formal notice on the church railings for 28 days to let everyone know about the plans and the process for approval.Give to Go Green We're excited to announce that St. Margaret’s is one of just nine parishes in Devon to receive a Go Green (G2GG) grant this year—a positive step in making our church more energy efficient and sustainable. We will be installing energy-saving heaters to allow us to warm an area for meetings during winter without heating the entire church. This will significantly reduce our carbon emissions, lower energy costs, and enable us to reinvest those savings into community initiatives, including funding for our new Families Worker.This project won’t just benefit the church—it will also provide a warm, bookable space for community use as well. If you're passionate about tackling climate change and supporting community efforts, we invite you to join us in this project. Could you help by giving or fundraising – maybe a charity coffee morning for your neighbours? Your contribution will be doubled by the Church of England, so every penny counts and will bring us closer to a greener future! Start making plans; details of the fundraising campaign will be in next month’s Estuary magazine.
The Magazines are attached but can also be obtained in hard copy at each church.The Estuary Magazine is the front cover only. To obtain a copy visit St Margaret's Church or The Topsham Bookshop.
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!
