Dear Friends,
Pentecost Sunday marks a pivotal moment in the life of the Church — the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, empowering them to boldly proclaim the Gospel. It is often called the “birthday of the Church” because it ignited the mission to spread Christ’s message to all nations. This outpouring of the Spirit brought unity among diverse people and languages, reminding us that the Church is built not by human effort alone, but by God's grace and guidance.
As we celebrate Pentecost, we are invited to renew our openness to the Holy Spirit, to be strengthened in our faith, and to continue building up our parish community in love, service, and witness. May the Spirit inspire us to live as faithful members of Christ’s Body, the Church.
Have a great weekend.
Revd Peter
If you are needing to contact Louise, please use either email or mobile phone, text or call.
[email protected] or 07779585908
Safeguarding
For any safeguarding concerns, please contact one of the following:
Revd Louise Grace: 07779585908 [email protected]
Katie Gray: [email protected]
Caryll Ingerslev – St. Luke’s: [email protected]
Jane March-Mcdonald – St. Margaret’s - [email protected]
For issues with rough sleepers:
Elizabeth Reed: [email protected]
Please send all contributions for the newsletter to Gill Yates by the end of [email protected]
Services and calendar for the week
Sunday 8th June
10am…Holy Communion …St Margaret’s
10am…Holy Communion…St Luke’s
3pm …Forest Church…Countess Wear Community School
6.30pm…Evensong…St Margaret’s
Monday 9th June
10am…Mini-messy church…St Margaret’s
2.30pm…Julian Contemplative Prayer…St Margaret’s
7pm…Compline…Zoom
Tuesday 10th June
9am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’s
3.30pm…Anna Friends Support Group…St Margaret’s
Wednesday 11th June
10.00am…Morning Worship…Zoom
1.15pm…Lunchtime Concert…St Margaret’s
2.30pm…Coffee and Cake…St Margaret’s
Thursday 12th June
10am…Mini-Messy Church…St Margaret’s
Friday 13th June
9am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’s
Sunday 15th June
8am…BCP Holy Communion …St Margaret’s
10am…Joint Mission Community Eucharist…St Luke’s
10.30am…Joint Service with St Nicholas…St Nicholas
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]
St. Luke’s Church and Church Rooms bookings are managed by Sandra Greedy.
[email protected] or phone 01392 271458
St. Luke’s church is open on Wednesdays afternoons between 2.00 and 4.00.
St. Margaret’s church is always open from approx. 9.00 a.m. but closure times depend on the season. The church is now being closed at around 7.00 p.m.
Confirmation
Many people associate confirmation as a rite of passage for teenagers, and that often is the age bracket of candidates. However, there are increasing numbers of adults exploring confirmation (literally, confirming our baptism promises for ourselves), and enjoying the exploration that preparation sessions offer.
There's already one adult in our worshipping community asking for confirmation. I would like to see if there are others. The service would likely be late autumn/early winter, and preparation would involve attending four preparation sessions.
Please let me know if you are interested.
Walking Group
Next date: Saturday 21st June
We have had a lovely suggestion from Father Steven:
9.30 a.m. Gather at at St Giles Northleigh
Walk to Colyton – less than 2 hours
12 noon midday prayer and refreshments at St. Andrew’s, Colyton
...those who wished could stay in Colyton and go to a pub for lunch.
Further details will follow.
If you are interested and are not already on the list of walkers, please contact
Spotlight on Scripture week
During the Alpha course, we were inspired and challenged to read more of our Bibles. We also recognised that often our individual efforts are aided by guidance and community support. So our Spotlight on Scripture week will encourage us all to recommit to a daily practice of engaging with the Bible. Please see the timetable below, and some other support available, and let's all enable the light of Scripture to be part of our daily being and doing.
Trinity Sunday, 15/6 - a bring and share picnic at Northbrook Park, EX2 6LB, at 12:30 pm. after the joint service at St Luke's.
There will be Bibles of different translations, and some books to help explore the Bible, on hand to inspire. Please indicate attendance by contacting warden Jackie Crozier on
Monday 16/6 - Compline on zoom at 7 p.m. During this online service there will be a group Bible reflection. All are welcome.
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86494079927
Tuesday 17/6 - Morning Prayer at St Margaret's, 9 a.m. which uses beautiful sections of the Bible to frame our day.
Then 6.30-8.00 p.m. at St Luke's there will be a workshop about Lectio Divina - an accessible, prayerful and powerful way of reading the Bible. Please indicate if attending by booking with Caryll Ingerslev.
Wednesday 18/6 - Morning worship on zoom at 10 a.m. uses a liturgy called Join us in Daily Prayer - again, beautiful passages from the Bible help to inspire and lift the day.
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83435939125?pwd=dnEzNTdhZlAvdWMxTDlIaDJQZVlOUT09#success
Thursday 19/6 - join the leadership team in a zoom daily prayer at 8.30 a.m. again using Scripture to pray the day.
Friday 20/6 - Morning Prayer at St Margaret's, 9.00 a.m. as on Tuesday
Saturday 21/6 - Jesus spent so much of the Gospels walking; join the prayer and walking group to experience why the early church sought illumination of the Scriptures outside as much as inside. Please indicate if attending by booking with Gill Yates: [email protected]
You will also find leaflets at the back of each church which can enable you to commit to reading the daily Gospel each day this week.
If you are inspired to read the Bible in one year, and you use a smartphone or other online device, please follow this link :
https://www.bible.com/en/reading-plans/53242
St. Margaret’s Church
Great thanks are very much due...
The following are seeking long deserved rest from many years of faithful service in our church. A huge debt of gratitude is extended to them, from everyone in the churches :
Anita Beasley, for years of organising refreshments in so many contexts, and setting a tone of generosity within hospitality.
Verity May, who again has served for decades, including the provision of after service refreshments. Verity has been a quiet and consistent presence, extending a warmth of welcome to all, and exemplifying service beyond the extra mile.
Dorothy Raven, who has supported the music of St Margaret's with creativity and immense skill, through both the choir and concert series.
Revd Tony Raven, who similarly has been a creative and consistent presence in the delivery of high quality music within St Margaret's; and also has bought to the fore many causes such as Christian Aid and various world scale disasters, leading fund raising for them through valiant hymnathons.
All will be missed and have been greatly appreciated.
Secret Gardens. As a thank you to the church for the loan of tables and other equipment for the Secret Gardens event on Sunday afternoon, we have been given two tickets by Topsham Museum. Louise will have these on Sunday morning, and they will be available to the first two people to ask for them.
Dream Big. Two more grants have been given or promised in the last week – totalling £9,000. This brings our total of grant funding to £65,000, only ten grand short of our published target for grant income, and with some applications still outstanding. We were advised to apply for at least £100k, and any excess will allow other funding to be released for other purposes. For example, we have now had three companies look at our roof to see why it is leaking, and it is clear that there will be considerable expenditure needed on repairs before this winter.
Coffee and Cake
Do come along to St. Margaret’s on a Wednesday afternoon for coffee, tea, cake and a chat! From 2.30 p.m.
Lunchtime Concert
The lunchtime concert this coming Wednesday 12th June at 1.15 is:
Organ recital by Ian Curor, former Director of Music at The Royal Hospital, Chelsea.
He enjoys playing Devon's many beautiful organs.
St. Luke's Church
Admission of wardens
We spread across three pews of support for wardens Jackie Crozier and Sandra Greedy, of St Luke's, at the Visitation service at St David's, 5th June, during which they were admitted to office. It was a moment of joy as Sandra and Jackie stood to affirm their election and even more so their willingness to serve. It's always humbling to witness such generosity in giving of time, skill, wisdom in lay leadership, all in the context of worship and devotion. The theme of the service, safeguarding, was apt given our focus upon this aspect of our church life particularly over the past months. As Archdeacon Andrew preached about responding with gentleness and respect to all, so that safe and welcoming churches can be grown, I knew that his words were actually embodied in the way that Jackie and Sandra fulfil their calling as wardens. Please do uphold them in thanksgiving and offer your support as they share the leadership of our benefice over the coming year.
Revd Louise Grace
Exmouth Food Bank
We are currently focusing on replenishing our core stock so that we can continue to feed those in need.
In particular we would welcome donations of :
• Cereals
• Porridge oats & instant porridge
• Pasta• Stir in pasta/pasta bake sauces
• Tinned fruit
• Tinned vegetables (sweetcorn, mixed veg)
• Fruit squash/juice
• Longlife milk
In addition toiletries such as hair shampoo, conditioner, body wash and deodorant would also be helpful. Also bags for life.
Thank you for your support. You are AMAZING !
For further information email: [email protected] 07787758511
Please find attached:
1. A message from Tony Raven
2. Positions vacant - please do open this attachment and read it!
There are many opportunities to volunteer!
Prayers
For those who are ill or in need of our prayers:
Jill and Adrian, Kirsten, Jan, Roger, Marlene Gardner, Pam Wormald, Mary, Peter, John Heal, Rosemary Henry, Gail Miller, Carol Walker
Housebound or in nursing/care homes:
Alfred Wonnacott, Janet Mutter, Georgina Lear, Peter Gwynne
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
Vera Atwell
Christopher Olding, Pamela Andrews, Gillian Lohmeyer, Iris Turner, Roy Wheeler, David Cook, Robin Ritchie
Recently departed
William Nott
Gospel Readings for the coming week
Sunday 8th June John 14: 8-17, 25-27
Monday 9th June Matthew 5: 1-12
Tuesday 10th June Matthew 5: 13-15
Wednesday 11th June John 15: 12-17
Thursday 12th June Matthew 5: 20-26
Friday 13th June Matthew 5: 27-32
Saturday 14th June Matthew 5: 33-37
Sunday 15th June John 16: 12-15
Collect and reading for Sunday 8th June
God, who as at this time taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: grant us be the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
John 14.8-17, 25-27Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
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