Anna Chaplains are named after the widow, Anna, who appears with Simeon in Luke’s gospel; both are good role models of faithful older people. Anna Chaplains are there for people of strong, little or no faith at all.The vision is to see an Anna Chaplain in every small- and medium-sized community in the country, and for the Anna Chaplain name to become synonymous with spiritual care for older people.
To obtain a copy of The Estuary Magazine please visit St Margaret's Church or The Topsham Bookshop.
MISSION COMMUNITY NEWSLETTERw.b. 21st June 2026Hello All!As we celebrate this Sunday those men who have shown us fatherly love, either to ourselves in our lives or to our children, here is a prayer that you may want to use to help lift them up before God. The world sorely needs good men who reflect and channel the father love aspect of God:Heavenly Father, thank you for fathers. Grant them strength, wisdom, patience, and your love as they guide their children. Help them be present, loving role models. Comfort those who long to be fathers, heal broken relationships and bring peace to those who grieve. May all fatherhood reflect your perfect love. Amen.LouiseLouise’s email address: vicartopshamwear@gmail.comSafeguardingFor any safeguarding concerns, please contact :Katie Gray: safeguardingtopshamwear@gmail.comFor issues with rough sleepers:Louise Grace: vicartopshamwear@gmail.comPlease send all contributions for the newsletter to Gill Yates by Thursday evening.gyates@uwclub.netPastoral Principles for Living Together Well CourseThis course is published by the Pastoral Advisory Group of the Church of England. The description of the course says ‘As communities of Christians we are held together in the love of Christ. Our many differences are gifts that can build us up in trust and mutual affection … or they can mar the image of Christ that we are called to reflect through our life together. In this course we are invited to think about six things that can impair relationships: prejudice, silence, ignorance, fear, hypocrisy and power. These can hinder our personal growth as Christians, hurt other people, and create barriers that stop our churches from growing into Christian communities of welcome and belonging. They are opposite of the fruit of the spirit.Our safeguarding audit last year highlighted the need for us to intentionally focus upon building up our culture in this way, and as such it is a focused invitation to all those who hold roles in the church to take part, as we in turn model the principles of the church community, and hopefully express its values in all that we do.However, the course is open to the whole church community, and a warm welcome awaits all participants.The course continues on the evenings of Tuesday Tuesday 23rd June and then Tuesday 7th July. The training takes place at St Margaret’s Church Topsham. Refreshments are served from 17:45, with the course starting at 18:00.Please let our safeguarding lead Katie Gray know if you will be attending so that resources can be prepared in advance for you. safeguardingtopshamwear@gmail.comServices and calendar for the week Sunday 21st June10am…BCP Holy Communion…St Margaret’s10am…Joint Holy Communion…St Luke’sMonday 22nd June7pm…Compline…ZoomTuesday 23rd June5.45pm…Pastoral Principles Course…St Margaret’sWednesday 24th June10am…Morning Worship…Zoom1.15pm…Lunchtime Concert…St Margaret’s2.30pm…Tea and Cake…St Margaret’sThursday 25th JuneFriday 26th June9.00am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’sSaturday 27th JuneSunday 28th June10am…Family Holy Communion and baptism…St Margaret’s10am…Morning Worship…St Luke’s6.30pm…Evensong…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.co St. 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 between 2.00 and 4.00 until Wednesday 30thSeptemberSt. Margaret’s is open every day between 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m.The Dream Big ProjectPlease note that the new facilities will need us to take a few special precautions. 1. We do not want to scratch the new floor, so all the blue chairs are wearing special plastic socks. Only these chairs should be used in the social area or the back of the nave, please. The new toilet roll holders are “centre pull”. If you need paper, please pull firmly but gently – jerking makes the paper tear inconveniently close to the dispenser. The Musical Lunchbox – Wednesdays at 1.15Free lunchtime concerts!The next one is on Wednesday 24th June. Tony Yates and Matthew Wright give a concert of songs by Purcell, Finzi and Britten.Donations for St. Margaret’s and the Dream Big Project.A Message from our new Family Worker!I am excited to be the new Family Support Worker. For those whom I haven't met yet, I am a primary school teacher, and until recently, I ran the local community café, Nook, here in Topsham. I am passionate about community and supporting local children to thrive, and I am looking forward to getting to know everyone.Pippa WilliamsPippa has done a grand job sorting children’s resources and doesn’t need any further help for the moment.Mini-messy church will be re-starting at the end of June.Watch this space for details!Rainbow Living VolunteersPeter and Caryll Ingerslev are delighted to have been invited to a ceremony with The Lord Lieutenant at Winslade Manor honouring this organisation!Winners of the King's Award for Voluntary serviceThe Flower Festival – Thursday July 16th – Saturday July 18thThe theme this year is “Dreams”.If you have taken part before you will soon hear from Valerie Holland.If you would like to do a display this year for the first time, please contact Valerie Holland:vholland@btinternet.comCoffee and CakeWednesday Coffee and Cake will return to the Social Area this week. 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 07787758511It's Not Just Policy, It’s Personal – Church of England Safeguarding Campaign'It's Not Just Policy, It's Personal' is a campaign to raise awareness of how to recognise and report safeguarding concerns. The campaign will run from 1st June - 14th June 2026.Two key recommendations from the Makin Report, published in 2024, focused on how the Church can have confidence that abuse, both current and non-recent, is being reported. The Church of England has given careful consideration to how this could best be achieved, and are running a two-week pilot campaign to raise awareness of how to report safeguarding concerns.Safeguarding guidance and codes of conduct are statutory and must always be followed, but this campaign reminds us that these are not simply processes to be followed. At the centre of every safeguarding concern is a person who has taken the difficult step of disclosing harm or risk. Creating a safe space for people to report, and how we respond to them, matters.Please read the message below from the Bishop responsible for Safeguarding and the posters attached.Statement from Bishop Robert, Lead Bishop for SafeguardingSafeguarding in the Church of England is not simply about compliance with guidance or completing the right forms. It is about people and for those of us who seek to follow Jesus, it is about how we live our faith. It’s Not Just Policy, It’s Personal is a timely reminder that at the heart of every safeguarding concern is a human being who has taken a brave and often costly step in speaking about harm.The Makin Report has rightly challenged us to be confident that abuse, whether current or non‑recent, is being recognised, reported and responded to well. That confidence is built not only through clear processes, but through the quality of our human response when someone discloses a concern. How we listen, how we explain what will happen next, and how carefully we handle what is shared can make a profound difference to whether people feel believed, respected and protected.The four Rs - Recognise, Respond, Record and Refer - are not tick‑boxes. They are a framework that helps us act justly and compassionately, ensuring that concerns are taken seriously and passed to those who can help keep people safe. Doing this well serves both the person at the centre of the disclosure and the wider community.I commend this campaign and its resources to dioceses, parishes and all church officers. I hope they will support us all to approach safeguarding disclosures with clarity, care and courage, so that our practice reflects not only our policies, but our Christian commitment to dignity, truth and protection for all.PrayersFor those who are ill or in need of our prayers:Jill and Adrian, Kirsten, Jan, Jeremy, Rob, Tom RichardsonMarlene Gardner, Pam Wormald, Mary, Peter, John Heal, Gail Miller, David ByrneHousebound 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.AnniversariesEva WensleyNancy Rose, Mary DudbridgeRecently departedGospel Readings for the coming weekSunday 21st June Matthew 10: 24-39Monday 22nd June Matthew 7: 1-5Tuesday 23rd June Matthew 7: 6, 12-14Wednesday 24th June Luke 1: 57-66, 80Thursday 25th June Matthew 7: 21 - endFriday 26th June Matthew 8: 1-4Saturday 27th June Matthew 8: 5-17Sunday 28th June Matthew 10: 40 - endCollect and reading for Sunday 21st JuneAlmighty God, you have broken the tyranny of sin and have sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts whereby we call you Father: give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service, that we and all creation may be brought to the glorious liberty of the children of God: 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.Matthew 10.24-39The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.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 paid role in our parishes:CleanerSt Margaret’s Church Topsham is looking for a cleaner to work in our newly refurbished social area. The area includes a new toilet area, kitchen servery and communal area.You will be employed to work for 2 hours a week (1 hour early in the week and 1 hour towards the end of the week). There may be an opportunity for additional hours after specific larger events.This is a paid, contracted role at £15 per hour (holiday pay will be paid). All required health and safety training, products, equipment and PPE will be provided.If you take pride in your work, have an eye for detail and want to be an essential part of our community creating a welcoming space for all, then we would welcome your application.Email: recruitmenttopshamwear@gmail.com for an application form and full Role DescriptionWe are currently wishing to appoint suitable people to the following volunteer roles in our parishes:Cleaner for Main Body of ChurchSt Margaret’s Church Topsham is looking for more volunteers to join our team who clean the main body of the church not the new social area.The role involves spending an hour every four weeks (or less frequently if we can recruit enough cleaners), working in a group of two. The work involved includes:Vacuuming the carpets in the entrance, in front of the altar, and in the little side chapelSweeping the aisles and the pewsDusting the woodwork (pews, choir stalls and any other woodwork)It should not take more than an hour each time and you can arrange a time to suit your team.Please do think about joining the team. Our group of volunteers is becoming smaller and some of the members have mobility issues and may not be able to continue for much longer.If you take pride in your work, have an eye for detail and want to be an essential part of our community to create a welcoming space for all then we would welcome your application.Email: recruitmenttopshamwear@gmail.com for an application form and full Role DescriptionSacristan 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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