MISSION COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER
w.b. 13th September 2026
Dear Friends,
Autumn is a time of changes with a new term in schools and colleges for our young folk. It is a time to prepare for winter for the rest of us. Louise is on leave this month.
Our monthly ‘Forest Church’ continues to meet using the St Luke’s Church, churchyard and the church rooms. We will be enjoying a story/drama about the disciples in the storm and associated activities including painting a storm, putting stickers on a boat and taking part in a treasure hunt to learn that Jesus cares for us in the storms of life.
The Sunday services continue at St Margaret’s and St Luke’s Churches.
God’s blessings sometimes surprise and delight us. Let us trust in the journey He takes us on in our lives and be thankful for all His blessings.
Have a great week.
Revd Peter
Louise’s email address: [email protected]
Safeguarding
For any safeguarding concerns, please contact :
Katie Gray: [email protected]
For issues with rough sleepers:
Louise Grace: [email protected]
Please send all contributions for the newsletter to Gill Yates by Thursday evening.
Services and calendar for the week
Sunday 13th September
10am…Holy Communion…St Margaret’s
10am…Holy Communion…St Luke’s
3pm…Forest Church…St Luke’s
6.30pm…Evensong…St Margaret’s
Monday 14th September
2.30pm…Julian Contemplative Prayer…St Margaret’s
7pm…Compline…Zoom
Tuesday 15th September
10am…Mini Messy Church…St Margaret’s
Wednesday 16th September
10am…Morning Worship…Zoom
1.15pm…Lunchtime Concert…St Margaret’s
2.30pm…Tea and Cake…St Margaret’s
Thursday 17th September
Friday 18th September
9.00am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret
11am…Holy Communion…Armada Court
Saturday 19th September
9.00am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’s
Sunday 20th September
8am…BCP Holy Communion…St Margaret’s
10am…Joint Holy Communion…St Margaret’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]
Please 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: [email protected]
St. Luke’s churchwarden can be contacted on:
[email protected] or phone 01392 271458
St. Margaret’s Churchwarden can be contacted on:
St. Luke’s Church is open on Wednesday afternoons between 2.00 and 4.00 until Wednesday 30thSeptember.
St. Margaret’s is open every day between 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m.
Does anyone know the whereabouts of St. Margaret’s wheelchair?
The Musical Lunchbox – Wednesdays at 1.15
Free lunchtime concerts!
The next one is on Wednesday 16th September – The RTSV trio - Melanie Mehta, soprano, John Draisey, piano, and Stephen Myers, recorders
ORGAN AND BAROQUE CELLO RECITAL AT HOLY CROSS CHURCH, TOPSHAM
David Davies (organ) and David Shead (baroque trumpet)
Sunday 4 October, 4 - 5 p.m., followed by refreshments
Tickets (free) are available through the events page of the Holy Cross website (www.holycrosstopsham.org). There will be a retiring collection to cover the costs of the concert, and to raise money for St Petrock’s, Exeter, and Médecins Sans Frontières.
Coffee and Cake
We look forward to welcoming you on Wednesdays 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 Bank
If you are kind enough to be planning to donate to us, we would be grateful to receive the following priority items:
Crisps/savoury snacks
Bottles of squash e.g orange squash
Jams/peanut butter
Tins of soup
Tinned meat meals such as stews, meatballs or curry
Tinned cold meats such as ham, chicken or corned beef
Tinned tuna
Tinned fruit, rice pudding or custard
Hair shampoo & conditioner
Thank you for your Kindness ❤️13-20
We are also really short of clean, large 'bags for life'
For further information email: [email protected] 07787758511
Prayers
For those who are ill or in need of our prayers:
Jill and Adrian, Jan, Jeremy
Marlene Gardner, Pam Wormald, Mary, Peter, John Heal, Gail Miller
Housebound or in nursing/care homes:
Alfred Wonnacott, Georgina Lear, John
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.
Anniversaries
Philip Trigger
Margaret Boyce, Victor Bowler, Paul Bax, Karel Edworthy
Recently departed
John Milford
Gospel Readings for the coming week
Sunday 13th September Matthew 18: 21-35
Monday 14th September John 3: 13-17
Tuesday 15th September Luke 7: 11-17
Wednesday 16th September Luke 7: 31-35
Thursday 17th September Luke 7: 36 - end
Friday 18th September Luke 8: 1-3
Saturday 19th September Luke 8: 4-15
Sunday 20th September Matthew 20: 1-16
Collect and reading for Sunday 13h September
God, who in generous mercy sent the Holy Spirit upon your church in the burning power of your love: grant that your people may be fervent in the fellowship of the gospel that, always abiding in you, they may be found steadfast in faith and active in service; 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 18. 21-35
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
Positions vacant
St 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:
Cleaner
St 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: [email protected] for an application form and full Role Description
We are currently wishing to appoint suitable people to the following volunteer roles in our parishes:
Cleaner for Main Body of Church
St 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 chapel
Sweeping the aisles and the pews
Dusting 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: [email protected] for an application form and full Role Description
Sacristan for St Margaret’s
We are looking for a new Sacristan to join our team and to prepare for the service on the second 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: [email protected] for an application form and full Role Description
Volunteer 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: [email protected] for an application form and full Role Description
Volunteer for St Luke’s Intercessions
St 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: [email protected] for an application form and full Role Description
Volunteer Second Lead for the Parent and Toddler Groups at St Margaret’s Church
St Margaret’s Church is looking for a volunteer Second Lead to help run our friendly ‘Mini Messy’ Parent and Toddler Groups and the ‘Kids Matter’ parenting programme.
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: [email protected] for an application form and full Role Description
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