The time after Easter has always struck me as the season to breathe more easily and get the deck chair out, at least for a bit, after the hard work of Lent and the rigours of Passiontide and Holy Week. However, particularly this year, I am appreciating that for the early church the hard work in some ways began at the resurrection, and didn’t end with the cross. The gospel readings for this season are full of disorientation, fear, doubt, facing hard truths. The crucial difference, though, of course, is that now light has dawned and shadows are being dispelled for the followers of Christ. Whatever challenges we face collectively, or individually, we have confidence that we do it on the resurrection side of the cross.
Louise
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]
Material for A Church Near You to Tony Raven: [email protected]
Services and calendar for the week
Sunday 4th May
10am…Holy Communion …St Margaret’s
10am…Holy Communion and Baptism…St Luke’s
Monday 5th May
7pm…Compline…Zoom
Tuesday 6th May
9am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’s
Wednesday 7th May
10.00am…Morning Worship…Zoom
1.15pm…Lunchtime Concert…St Margaret’s
2.30pm…Coffee and Cake…St Margaret’s
Thursday 8th May
10am…Mini-Messy Church…St Margaret’s
Friday 9th May
9am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’s
Sunday 11th May
10am…Holy Communion …St Margaret’s
10am…Holy Communion…St Luke’s
3pm…Forest Church…St Luke’s (Countess Wear Community School)
6.30pm…Evensong…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]
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.
Electoral Roll and APCM
The Electoral Roll is now closed, with 106 applications. A draft roll (names only) will be displayed in church for two weeks before the APCM. Please note that the electoral roll only relates to voting at the APCM and all are welcome to attend the meeting, which is on Wednesday 21 May at 7.30.
Thanks
Paul
St. Luke's Church
There will be a memorial service at St. Luke's Church at 11am on Thursday 29th May for the late Gladys McCartney. She lived to the age of 101. Refreshments following the service will be at the Tally Ho.
Gladys lived in Countess Wear Road for many years. She was an excellent golfer, well known at the Exeter Golf and Country Club .
St. Margaret’s
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.
Walking Group
The weather was perfect for the walk last Monday! 10 people from all three churches in Topsham came along. Louise led us in a short service of Daily Prayer, then I pointed out some points of interest as we made our way towards the Quay.
The walk (and one tricycle!) continued round the Bowling Green and we finished in St. Margaret’s for refreshments!
The next walk will be on Monday 19th May.
Details to follow. The timing will be similar - 2.00 start.
Gill
Lunchtime Concert
This coming Wednesday at 1.15.
Clarinet & Piano: Phil Bonser & Dorothy Raven play a varied programme.
Retiring Collection for St Margaret’s “DreamBig” project.
Sponsored by Wilkinson Grant
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 a list of Positions Vacant attached.
Prayers
For those who are ill or in need of our prayers:
Jill and Adrian, Fay, 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.
Anne is hoping to fly to Bethlehem during April to spend some time with the Community there.
Perhaps pray that her physical presence at this time will help to give the College staff and students a real sense of solidarity with Christians in the UK.
Anniversaries
Lillian Gibbings
Angus Luscombe, Jean Billen, John Armitage, John Mould, Geoffrey Robinson, Hilary Dangerfield, Gordon Simpson, John Strong, Richard Gardner, Valerie May, Jean Johnston, Frank Dovey
Recently departed
Margaret Gillard, Douglas McClaughlin, Gladys McCartney
Gospel Readings for the coming week
Sunday 4th May John 21: 1-19
Monday 5th May John 6:22-29
Tuesday 6th May John 6: 30-35
Wednesday 7th May John 6: 35-40
Thursday 8th May John 6: 44-51
Friday 9th May John 6: 52-59
Saturday 10th May John 6: 60-69
Sunday 11th May John 10: 22-30
Collect and reading for Sunday 4th May
Almighty Father, who in your great mercy gladdened your 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.
John 21.1-19After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
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