Many adults with a learning disability live in the family home; they don't have the same opportunities as other people to gain independence, learn key skills and make choices about their own lives. Rainbow Living believes that disability is not inability and the charity empowers people with disability to exercise choice in their own lives, including the right to choose where and with whom they live.What We DoWe provide safe, affordable, and specially adapted accommodation, where adults with disabilities can live independently with the right support. Our tenants our encouraged to build confidence, learn essential life skills, and take an active role in their communities.Rainbow Living is committed to helping people with learning disabilities transition into adulthood just like their peers, by creating a home of their own outside of the family home. Our Approach As a responsible landlord, we offer long-term housing security and peace of mind for tenants and their families. For many, Rainbow Houses our the first step towards independence.Our houses are more than just places to live, they are spaces where tenants can learn to cook, manage money, clean, shop, and grow in confidence. These every day skills help individuals thrive and contribute to more inclusive connected communities.
To obtain a copy of The Estuary Magazine please visit St Margaret's Church or The Topsham Bookshop.
MISSION COMMUNITY NEWSLETTERw.b. 5th April 2026Hello All!I have had the privilege of attending three and a half hours across three different types of devotional services today on Good Friday, and a moving service yesterday evening on Maundy Thursday, which included the symbolic foot washing and the heart-rending stripping of the altar at the end of the service.These are wonderful opportunities to honour Christ's passion in preparation and draw close to God in this most Holy of weeks in the church calendar. Thank you to all who worked so hard and went the extra mile to offer these services to our church communities and beyond.One of the lines that particularly jumped out to me this year, during the responses in the middle of the choral led devotions at St Margaret's church, was the plaintive question of the Son of God: 'O my people, what have I done to offend thee?'It sparked the recollection of many times during weekly compline, for example, when we have shared the Gospel of the day and reflected upon the incredible miracles and teaching of Jesus throughout Scriptures, and yet the people around him, home crowd and further afield, seem to consistently get offended by Him. The Passion and Way of the Cross depict the endgame of this unfathomable pattern of offence caused by the Son of God.I pray that it prompts us to notice, catch the moment and ask deeply what is happening in the moments of our own being offended. These are not the moments when people are being violent in actions and words - Christ Himself was offended by such attitudes and experiences. No, it is rather the 'take against' moments that we need to be cautious of. Embedding this kind of reflective practice is perhaps the best Easter gift of good news we can offer within our churches, families and places of daily being.Blessings to you all this Eastertide.o All!LouiseLouise’s email address: vicartopshamwear@gmail.comSafeguardingFor any safeguarding concerns, please contact :Katie Gray: safeguardingtopshamwear@gmail.comFor issues with rough sleepers:Elizabeth Reed: homelessoutreachtopshamwear@gmail.comPlease send all contributions for the newsletter to Gill Yates by Thursday evening.gyates@uwclub.netServices and calendar for the week Sunday 5th April - Easter Day8am… BCP Holy Communion…St Margaret’s10am… Holy Communion…St Margaret’s10am… Holy Communion…St Luke’sMonday 6th April 7pm…Compline…ZoomTuesday 7th AprilWednesday 8th April10am…Morning Worship…Zoom2.30pm…Tea and Cake…St Margaret’sThursday 9th April11am…Holy Communion…Watermeadow Grange7pm…Maundy Thursday Service…St Luke’sFriday 10th April9.00am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’sSaturday 11th AprilSunday 12th April10am… Holy Communion…St Margaret’s10am… Holy Communion…St Luke’s3pm…Forest Church…St Luke’s 6.30pm…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.comSt. 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 will reopen on Wednesday afternoons from Wednesday 8th April until Wednesday 30th September.St. Margaret’s is open every day between 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m.N.B. The riverside door may be unavailable from time to time because of the building works.The door on Fore Street will remain open during the usual hours.The Dream Big ProjectThe project is going well and we are on schedule for completion of the whole project by the end of April. Thank you for your patience while access to the church has been restricted. Bookings of the social area are already being accepted for May!Services at Watermeadow GrangeService: 23rd April at 11.00 a.m.Cook Book!A few unsold copies of Tried and Tested, the recipe book which was produced during Covid to raise funds for the church, have been donated to the Dream Big project and are available for a suggested donation of £7.50 (or more). If you missed out before, or have joined the church since they were last on sale, there is now a final opportunity to get hold of a St Margaret’s classic! Please contact Paul or Niki Jakeman, who can deliver copies within the EX3 postcode.Coffee and CakeWednesday Coffee and Cake will continue throughout the building works and be hosted in the front entrance Foyer of the Church. 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 07787758511PrayersFor those who are ill or in need of our prayers:Jill and Adrian, Kirsten, Jan, Jeremy, Rob,Marlene Gardner, Pam Wormald, Mary, Peter, John Heal, Rosemary Henry, Gail MillerHousebound or in nursing/care homes:Alfred Wonnacott, Janet Mutter, 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.AnniversariesRoy Robinson, Aubrey AdamsJohn Soul, Amy Meager, Joseph Leger, Ian Luscombe, David James, Stella WatsonRecently departedJan BhanjiGospel Readings for the coming weekSunday 5th April Romans 6: 3-11Monday 6th April Matthew 28: 8-15Tuesday 7th April John 20: 11-18Wednesday 8th April Luke 24: 13-35Thursday 9th April Luke 24: 35-48Friday 10th April John 21: 1-14Saturday 11th April Mark 16: 9-15Sunday 12th April John 20: 19 - endCollect and reading for Sunday 5th AprilLord of all life and power, who through the mighty resurrection of your Son overcame the old order of sin and death to make all things new in him: grant that we, being dead to sin and alive to you in Jesus Christ, may reign with him in glory; to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be praise and honour, glory and might, now and in all eternity.Romans 6.3-11Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.For he that is dead is freed from sin.Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.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 volunteer roles in our parishes:Sacristan 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 Description
