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 NEWSLETTERw.b. 19th April 2026Hello All!As our eyes turn to the spring and summer ahead, it is good to be planning for gatherings as family and reconnecting with friends. Cherishing one another, and providing support is essential - strong community is a bedrock of showing God's love to one another, as well as spurring us to serve others beyond our family boundaries.It may also be a time of spring clean with the chance to let the light into our homes by clearing out what is no longer needed. This is as true for our churches as for our home and hearth. Great thanks go to Sandra, and Ken, as they sort out the vestry at St Luke's, for example, ready for major repairs there; and also to Helen, ably assisted by Paul and others from St Margaret's, as the movement of of all the resources to enable the building project there will need sorting out before re-storing. If you can help in any way in our spring clean-ups within our churches, please do let wardens Helen and Sandra know.Deep gratitude for keeping our churches places of beauty and calm.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 19th April8am… BCP Holy Communion…St Margaret’s10am… Joint Holy Communion…St Luke’sMonday 20th AprilTuesday 21st April Wednesday 22nd April10am…Morning Worship…Zoom2.30pm…Tea and Cake…St Margaret’s6.30pm…PCC meting…St Luke’sThursday 23rd AprilFriday 24th April9.00am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’sSaturday 25th AprilSunday 26th April10am…Family Holy Communion…St Margaret’s10am…Morning Worship…St Luke’s 6.30pm…Risen with Christ…St Margaret’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: 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 churchwarden can be contacted on:churchwardenwear@gmail.com or phone 01392 271458St. Margaret’s Churchwarden can be contacted on:churchwardenstmargarets@gmail.comSt. Luke’s Church is open on Wednesday afternoons until Wednesday 30th September.St. Margaret’s is open every day between 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m.N.B. The riverside door may be unavailable from time to time because of the building works.The door on Fore Street will remain open during the usual hours.Risen with Christ – Sunday 19th April at 6.30 p.m.An Easter Devotion for choir and congregation – hymns, carols and readings.The readers are from our local churches.Do come and join in!The Dream Big ProjectThe project is going well and we are on schedule for completion of the whole project by the end of April. Thank you for your patience while access to the church has been restricted. Bookings of the social area are already being accepted for May!The Musical Lunchbox – Wednesdays at 1.15Free lunchtime concerts are back!The first will be on Wednesday April 29th. Joyce Clark is back to give another piano recital.Cook Book!A few unsold copies of Tried and Tested, the recipe book which was produced during Covid to raise funds for the church, have been donated to the Dream Big project and are available for a suggested donation of £7.50 (or more). If you missed out before, or have joined the church since they were last on sale, there is now a final opportunity to get hold of a St Margaret’s classic! Please contact Paul or Niki Jakeman, who can deliver copies within the EX3 postcode.Coffee and CakeWednesday Coffee and Cake will continue throughout the building works and be hosted in the front entrance Foyer of the Church. We look forward to welcoming you 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! 🎂 🥮Exmouth Food BankIf you are kind enough to be planning to donate to us, we would be grateful to receive the following priority items: Crisps/savoury snacksBottles of squash e.g orange squashJams/peanut butterTins of soupTinned meat meals such as stews, meatballs or curryTinned cold meats such as ham, chicken or corned beefTinned tunaTinned fruit, rice pudding or custardHair shampoo & conditioner Thank you for your Kindness ❤️We are also really short of clean, large 'bags for life'For further information email: info@exmouthfoodbank.org.uk 07787758511PrayersFor those who are ill or in need of our prayers:Jill and Adrian, Kirsten, Jan, Jeremy, Rob,Marlene Gardner, Pam Wormald, Mary, Peter, John Heal, Rosemary Henry, Gail MillerHousebound or in nursing/care homes:Alfred Wonnacott, Georgina Lear, JohnPlease pray for Anne Plested supporting the work of Bethlehem Bible College, and Ben and Katy Ray in Tanzania, St. Luke’s CMS mission link.AnniversariesSydney Newman, Dot Rowe, Bob Greenham, Jim Green, Leslie Clouting, Pat SwaffieldGeorge Thomson, Rita Shell, Sheila Crouch, Margaret SmytheRecently departedJan Bhanji, Brenda Joan WebbJanet MutterGospel Readings for the coming weekSunday 19th April Luke 24: 13-35Monday 20th April John 6: 22-29Tuesday 21st April John 6: 30-35Wednesday 22nd April John 6: 35-40Thursday 23rd April John 15: 18-21Friday 24th April John 6: 52-59Saturday 25th April Mark 13: 5-13Sunday 26th April John 10: 1-10Collect and reading for Sunday 19th AprilAlmighty Father, who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples with the sight of the risen Lord: give us such knowledge of his presence with us, that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life and serve you continually in righteousness and truth; 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 24.13-35And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.And they talked together of all these things which had happened.And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.Positions vacantSt Margarets’ Topsham and St Luke’s Countess Wear are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders and volunteers are expected to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to acceptable pre-appointment checks, including a satisfactory DBS check of the appropriate level for the role.We are currently wishing to appoint suitable people to the following volunteer roles in our parishes:Sacristan for St Margaret’sWe are looking for a new Sacristan to join our team and to prepare for the service on the first Sunday of the month. The successful applicant will need to spend approximately twenty minutes on a Friday or Saturday to make the required preparations in the vestry, in readiness for the Sunday morning service. Then on Sunday you would be required to arrive at 09:30 to lay everything out on the altar and spend time after the service putting things away.Email: recruitmenttopshamwear@gmail.com for an application form and full Role DescriptionVolunteer in Forest church.We hold a monthly service that needs volunteer support to assist in delivering activities alongside established leaders. A requirement will be to arrive early to help with the set up and read the plans for the session. You would then be expected to help in the clearing up afterwards. You would be needed from 2.30 pm until 4.00pm every Second Sunday of each month. The activity takes place at St Luke’s Church.Essential requirement: experience of working with families.Email: recruitmenttopshamwear@gmail.com for an application form and full Role DescriptionVolunteer for St Luke’s IntercessionsSt Luke’s Church is looking for volunteers to lead the intercessions during the 10 o’clock Sunday Service. Volunteers take turns to lead the prayers once a month on a rota.The successful candidates will need to liaise with the incumbent and leadership team. They will need to give approximately one hour preparation time in the run up to each service. Prayer resources are encouraged to be used.Key skills: clarity and appropriate communication, confidentiality, awareness of current affairs and needs for prayer further afield as well as local, team player, humility and ability to convey pastoral care.Email: recruitmenttopshamwear@gmail.com for an application form and full Role DescriptionVolunteer Second Lead for the Parent and Toddler Groups at St Margaret’s ChurchSt Margaret’s Church is looking for a volunteer Second Lead to help run our friendly ‘Mini Messy’ Parent and Toddler Groups which will recommence weekly in May (with some flexibility during school holidays).St Margaret’s Church is seeking a warm, energetic, and compassionate individual to join our team as a Second Lead for our thriving Parent and Toddler groups. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys interacting with young children and fostering meaningful connections with parents and caregivers.The Second Lead will support the running of our sessions, working closely with our group leader to create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for all attendees. These groups play a key role in our church’s mission to provide community support, foster spiritual curiosity, and offer encouragement in a non-judgmental and respectful environment.Are you energetic, great with children, and love connecting with parents and caregivers? Join us in creating a welcoming space where everyone can feel part of a community, explore Christian values, and have meaningful conversations — no matter their beliefs.Must be happy to chat, play, and support!Email: recruitmenttopshamwear@gmail.com for an application form and full Role DescriptionThis email was sent from Mission Community of Topsham and Wear using iknowchurch. 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