MISSION COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER
Dear All!
This week we have been following the reflections coming from interfaith week; bearing in mind the great wisdom found from people of faith across the board.
If anyone would like to join the Topsham churches together visit to the mosque on Wednesday 10th December at 12 noon, please do let me know on [email protected]
Another important visit being made is by Bishop Mike, who will be joining the benefice for Choral Evensong this Sunday evening at 6.30pm. When Bishop Mike visited Forest Church in March this year, he was impressed at a new way of communicating faith to people who don't ordinarily engage with religion. I encouraged him to come, therefore, to another area of excellence within our benefice, that of centuries old expression of faith communicated through Choral Evensong; especially because of the incredible standard of music and the choir. There are times when I am sitting in the midst of the singing and feel that I have been lifted into the heavenly realms of music; Evensong is such a blessing. Do take this opportunity to immerse yourselves in what the choir and Tony Yates have offered so faithfully for decades; and also, you may get to enjoy a tipple and a chance to meet our new Diocesan bishop.
Louise
Louise’s email address: [email protected]
Safeguarding
For any safeguarding concerns, please contact :
Katie Gray: [email protected]
For issues with rough sleepers:
Elizabeth Reed: [email protected]
Please send all contributions for the newsletter to Gill Yates by Thursday evening.
Services and calendar for the week
Sunday 23rd November
10am…Family Holy Communion…St Margaret’s
10am…Morning Worship…St Luke’s
6.30pm…Evensong with Bishop Mike…St Margaret’s
Monday 24th November
10am…Stay and Play…St Margaret’s
7pm…Compline…Zoom
Tuesday 25th November
9am…Morning Prayer…St Luke’s
Wednesday 26th November
10am…Morning Worship…Zoom
2.30pm…Tea and Cake…St Margaret’s
Thursday 27th November
10am…Stay and Play…St Margaret’s
Friday 28th November
9am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’s
5pm…Love Topsham Christmas Market
Sunday 30th November
10am… Holy Communion…St Margaret’s
10am…Holy Communion…St Luke’s
3pm…Songs of Praise…St Margaret’s
The Zoom links and meeting IDs for all the Zoom events are on our pages on ACNY (A Church Near You)
Watch this space for details of the next Forest Church in November
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 churchwardens can be contacted on:
[email protected] or phone 01392 271458
Our St Luke’s Churchwarden, Mrs Jackie Crozier, is currently not available for her warden duties. Mrs Sandra Greedy will respond to emails sent to the above email address.
St. Luke’s church will re-open on Wednesday afternoons in the New Year.
St. Margaret’s is open every day between 9.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m.
Visit of Bishop Mike
We are honoured to have the Bishop of Exeter with us for Evensong on Sunday 23rd at 6.30. p.m. The service will be followed by refreshments.
Please do join us.
Cake Sale – Sunday 23rd November after the Family Service
Two of our local Topsham Explorer Scouts , Holly Hull and Florence Hockaday have been selected as part of a group of 36 other scouts from Devon to attend the World Scout Jamboree in Gdańsk Poland in 2027. This is a large international gathering of Scouts and Guides age 14-17, that occurs every four years in a different country. At the World Scout Jamboree, young people connect with other scouts from different countries and participate in a program of activities focusing on global development, peace, adventure, and friendship.
One of the elements of the Scout Method is to share in spiritual reflection and Holly and Florence have regularly visited St. Margaret's Church with the Scouts since they
were six years old and members of 1st Topsham Sea Scouts. Holly has also previously volunteered to assist with resources for "Messy Church" and helping to tidy and sort the equipment for this weekly community church event.
In order to attend the World Scout Jamboree, the participants must raise the money themselves. This covers the cost of the training camps held over the next two years and all travel expenses.
It is important to note that the money raised by young people from the U.K, also helps to subsidise the attendance of the young people from poorer nations.
Holly and Florence will be holding their first bake sale to raise funds towards this exciting adventure in St. Margaret's Church after the family service.
Please note that this cake sale is not being organised by St. Margaret's and is a Devon Scouts fundraising event.
For further information on WSJ fundraising activities please visit https://gofund.me/208ef2150 "
Ecumenical Events
During a meeting of the Ecumenical Group who represent the three churches in Topsham, St. Margaret’s, St. Nicholas and Holy Cross (the new Baptist Church has not responded yet), it was agreed that the hand of friendship should be extended to local multi-faith groups. It was felt that there really needed to be greater understanding and deeper connection to counterbalance the divisions that are deepening within our communities. Louise has organised a visit to the Exeter Mosque, via a contact who teaches at the university.
Please contact Louise directly, if you are interested.
Please also see attached information about an unrelated Open Day at the mosque.
Christmas!
Countdown to Christmas: there are three ways to engage with the themes of Advent
1. Elders in the Christmas story. Join in two study sessions, which will be a chance to explore together the role of elders in our Christmas story. On Tuesday 9th December we will look at Elizabeth and Zechariah, who were parents to John the Baptist, and took care of the newly pregnant Mary.
Then on Tuesday 16th, we will look at Simeon and Anna, who greeted the Holy Family in the temple after the birth of Jesus.
Watermeadow Grange will host both of these sessions, beginning at 11 a.m. It's essential to register that you will be attending. please let me know on [email protected]
2. There will then be a Carol Communion on Thursday 18th December at 11 a.m. when we will have chance to join the Watermeadow Grange congregation.
3. Anne Plested, for whom the benefice has been praying, and who has been supported for many years now, will return to give us first hand witness accounts of the great needs of Christians and other vulnerable groups in that area; and equally important the signs of hope amongst the dispossessed, so clearly linked with our Advent and Christmas stories. Anne will preach at St Luke's on 14th December at 10 a.m. and will hopefully join one of our midweek Zoom worship services.
Watch this space for when exactly.
Songs of Praise - Advent Sunday - 30th November
If you love singing come along to our Songs of Praise, at 3pm in the social area of St Margaret's Church. Followed by tea and cakes. We look forward to welcoming you.
Parish Walks – the next one will be in the Spring!
St. Luke’s Church – Tuesday 9th December at 7.30pm.
“The Spirit of Christmas”.
A Christmas Concert by the St. David’s Singers, directed by Stephen Tanner.
There will be choral music for Advent and Christmas, interspersed with readings and congregational carols.
During the interval there will be coffee, tea and biscuits.
Admission is free. There will be a retiring collection, which will be equally shared between the St. David’s Singers and St. Luke’s Church.
Towards the end of October, the St. David’s Singers with their new Director, Stephen Tanner, visited the Truro Cathedral, singing for Evensongs and Eucharist over the weekend, plus an evensong in a local church. They said it was a real privilege to be able to contribute to the worship in such beautiful surroundings, and the acoustics were wonderful, as they are in St. Luke’s. 3.Bethlehem - Beacon of Hope.
Angels!
Wool is available in a box at the back of church for those wishing to knit/crochet Christmas angels.
Coffee and Cake
Every Wednesday at St Margaret's Church everyone is welcome to look in 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
Each winter the Food Bank sees a 20% rise in people seeking support with food. On average we expect to distribute 90 parcels a week in December. The majority of parcels will be for families with four or more members. This year the 10% increase in the energy price cap, plus the withdrawal of the winter fuel allowance for pensioners, will place a further demand on our services.
I f you are thinking of donating to the Food Bank this Christmas we would really appreciate core food items that are needed for our year round parcels as this will help us meet the surge in demand over the festive period and into 2025.
We would welcome tins of: soup, tomatoes, baked beans, spaghetti, tuna, stews, meatballs, cold meats, fruits, custard and rice pudding. We would also welcome packets of spaghetti and rice…. as well as a few festive goodies!
Donations will need to be with us by Friday 13 December if they are to be distributed ahead of Christmas.
Thank you ❤️
For further information email: [email protected] 07787758511
Please find the winter newsletter attached.
Prayers
For those who are ill or in need of our prayers:
Jill and Adrian, Kirsten, Jan, Jeremy, 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
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.
Anne Plested visited us at the end of September. Please pray for Gaza in the light of the latest news: she said for Christians there it is now a matter of just survival. Also for a new course at Bethlehem Bible College this autumn in trauma counselling, with 23 students signed up.
Anniversaries
Henry Luscombe, Eva Ash, Margaret Levis, Christopher Ashford
Recently departed
Gospel Readings for the coming week
Sunday 23rd November Luke 23: 33-43
Monday 24th November Luke 21: 1-4
Tuesday 25th November Luke 21: 5-11
Wednesday 26th November Luke 21: 12-19
Thursday 27th November Luke 21: 20-28
Friday 28th November Luke 21: 29-33Luke
Saturday 29th November Luke 21: 34-36
Sunday 30th November Matthew 24: 36-44
Collect and reading for Sunday 23rd November
Eternal Father, whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven that he might rule over all things as Lord and King: keep the church in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of peace, and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Luke 23: 33-43
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.
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