This message came to me from Dorothy's sister in Australia and I thought it worth sharing with you all so Click HereVOX, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and Sydney Youth Orchestra perform The Christmas Card for Classic Choir, a beautiful new Australian Christmas song composed by Deborah Cheetham Fraillon to help spread the joy of singing around the country.
The Magazines are attached but can also be obtained in hard copy at each church.The Estuary Magazine is the front cover only. To obtain a copy visit St Margaret's Church or The Topsham Bookshop.
Hello All!As we continue our journey towards Christmas, let us remember always the most vulnerable in our midst; particularly those who are displaced and who are without home. There are many charities that compete for our attention at Christmas, rightly so - our hearts should be set on giving more than receiving. Perhaps consider our two local charities that we support - Rainbow Living, who provide secure accommodation for those with disabilities; Bread of Life, who reach out to the homeless in Exeter and surrounding area; and the two areas beyond our shore - Ben and Katy Ray working in Tanzania, with people with disabilities, via CMS, and Anne Plested and her work with the Bethlehem Bible College. As we give, we remember the vulnerability of the holy family, and hear Christ's words resonate - whatever you do to the least of these, you do unto me. https://rainbowliving.org.uk/ https://breadoflifeoutreach.co.uk/ https://churchmissionsociety.org/people-in-mission/ben-and-katy-ray-tanzania/ https://bethbc.edu/LouiseIf you are needing to contact Louise, please use either email or mobile phone, text or call.louisegrace45@gmail.com or 07779585908 Please send all contributions for the newsletter to Gill Yates by the end of Thursdaygyates@uwclub.netMaterial for A Church Near You to Tony Raven: tony@theravens.orgServices and calendar for the week Saturday 7 December 8am…Prayer Breakfast…St Margaret’s Sunday 8 December 10am…Holy Communion…St Margaret’s 10am…Holy Communion…St Luke’s 3pm…Nativity Trail…St Luke’s Forest Church Monday 9 December 2.30pm… Julian Meeting – Contemplative prayer…St Margaret’s 7pm…Compline…Zoom Tuesday 10 December 9am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’s 10.30am…Coffee and Chat…St Luke’s church rooms Wednesday 11 December 10am…Morning Worship…Zoom 10.45am…Advent Study Group…St Margaret’s 2-4pm…Open Church…St Luke’s Thursday 12 December 12pm…Funeral of Anne Tinkler…St Luke’s Friday 13 December 9am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’s Sunday 15 December 8am…BCP Holy Communion…St Margaret’s 10am…Joint Holy Communion…St Luke’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: C.I.churchbookings@outlook.comSt. Luke’s Church and Church Rooms bookings are managed by Sandra Greedy. kenneth.greedy@sky.com or phone 01392 271458St. Luke’s church is now open on Wednesday afternoons between 2.00 and 4.00.All are welcome...To look aroundTo sit quietly for a whileTo light a prayer candleTo pray.St. Margaret’s church is always open from approx. 9am, but closure times depend on the season. The church is now being closed at around 5pm. News and NoticesMidweek study and fellowship groupsAt St Luke’s we have started ‘The Prayer Course’ on Thursdays in the St Luke’s Church Rooms at 3.15pm – 4.15pm. (tea and cake from 3pm). This will run through until 12th December.St. Margaret’s Advent GroupExploring angels in scripture and popular culture.Wednesdays at 11.00 (coffee from 10.45) in St. Margaret’s from November 27th.All are welcome. For more information contact Revd Maggie Stirling Troy 01392 681631 or mstirling1@hotmail.co.ukG2GG and Dream BigThank you to everyone who has contributed to G2GG in any way. We achieved well over our target of £5200, with a final total of £7189 (+ gift aid). This was with the help of the £2600 from the church of England and local “matching” of subsequent payments. This fundraising campaign is now over, and the focus shifts to getting our transept scheme properly designed and installed, so it can be as effective as possible.Thanks to Peter Lockwood, the cable and metal collection (we were gifted a considerable quantity of lead pipe this week!) will continue though it will not be publicised as an ongoing scheme, and money raised will now go towards Dream Big. Our Dream Big faculty application has been delayed by a few weeks by a late query from an external organisation, and then by an unfortunate misreading of the architect’s plans. This has been speedily remedied, and we believe that the administrative process will move into its final stages next week.Countess Wear Community choir has really grown and is real treasure in the community.Friday 13th December they are giving their first more formalised Candlelit Christmas Concert which we are all excited about. It is in St Luke’s Church with doors open from 6.30 p.m. with a start 6.45. p.m....it won't be longer than an hour. It is free with donations to St Luke’s Church.Please try and support if you can, as it would be great to have a good audience.Mission Community WalkAfter a lovely walk round Countess Wear in November, it is hoped to have a walk each month.The next one will be on Monday 9th December and will be a Topsham-based walk. Meet at St. Margaret’s at 2.00 p.m.Church CleaningWould you like to help keep St Margaret’s spick and span? We are always on the lookout for volunteer cleaners to do some hoovering, dusting and general tidying up. One hour, once a month is all that is needed, and you would be paired with another person, and can decide what day and time suit you both. There is usually one of the team in church at Sunday services, so do ask around if you need to be introduced.Exmouth Food BankSupplies We Are Short Of This MonthIf you are kind enough to be planning to donate to the Exmouth Food Bank this autumn, please could you focus on the following items:Tins of soupTinned tomatoesTinned baked beans and spaghettiTinned meat meals such as stews,meatballs or curryTinned cold meats such as ham or corned beefTinned tunaTinned fruit or custardWe would also be grateful for donations of men's toiletries including shaving foam. Plus bags for life, to enable people to carry their food home. Thank you so much for your generosityFor further information email: info@exmouthfoodbank.org.uk 07787758511Bread Of Life are seeking volunteers to serve the homeless and vulnerable housed in their soup kitchen on Thursday and Friday evenings. This would be at Crosslines, near Lower Summerland street in Exeter. This would include preparing and serving hot meals and giving out practical items.If you feel called to serve please contact Scott on mobile 07949 402369or email: breadoflifeinjesusname@gmail.com Many thanks ❤️🙏PrayersFor those who are ill or in need of our prayers:Jill and Adrian, Michael, Fay, Kirsten, Chris Whitehead, Tony Bradford, Marlene Gardner, Pam Wormald, Mary, Peter, John Heal, Rosemary Henry, Gail Miller, Carol Walker, Peter Helm, Wendy LockwoodHousebound or in nursing/care homes:Alfred Wonnacott, Janet Mutter, Georgina Lear, Peter GwynneJohn DaviesPlease pray for Anne Plested supporting the work of Bethlehem Bible College, and Ben and Katy Ray in Tanzania, St. Luke’s CMS mission link.AnniversariesGeorge Gray, Joyce Twigg, Enid McCairnMuriel Ritchie, Marjorie Edwards, Jean Gun CuninghameRecently departedJanet ElsonPauline Roach, Anne TinklerGospel Readings for the coming weekSunday 8th December Luke 3: 1-6Monday 9th December Luke 5: 17-26Tuesday 10th December Matthew 18: 12-14Wednesday 11th December Matthew 11: 28-endThursday 12th December Matthew 11: 11-15Friday 13th December Matthew 11: 16-19Saturday 14th December Matthew 17: 10-13Sunday 15th December Luke 3: 7-18Collect and reading for Sunday 8th DecemberO Lord, raise up, we pray, your power and come amongst us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness we are grievously hindered in running the race that is set before us, your bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory, now and for ever.Luke 3.1-6The Proclamation of John the BaptistIn the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low,and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” ’This email was sent from Mission Community of Topsham and Wear using iknowchurch. If you wish to update contact preferences, please email : gyates@uwclub.net
Dear all I haven't forwarded anything from Bethlehem recently but this request for prayer arrived a few days ago. A few weeks ago a group from the College spent a couple of weeks in Jordan running a summer camp for refugee children from the conflict in Syria. Munther Isaac is one of the best Christian advocates for the Palestinians at the moment. Anne and I heard him speak in Bristol last summer, and he caused some controversy a while back when Justin Welby didn't have time to see him during his visit to the region. Justin apologised later. Margaret and I are hoping to have lunch with Anne Plested the week after next. Will try to keep you in touch, but meanwhile thank you for your prayers. God bless David As we recruit students for the upcoming academic year, please join us in praying that the Lord opens doors for those wishing to study at Bethlehem Bible College. May He guide His children to the right fields where they can continue building His kingdom on earth. We are grateful for the success of our summer community training programs. Over two weeks, we welcomed 26 adolescents and 5 young leaders to our summer camp, along with more than 70 local and international students in our language courses. Please pray that these programs do more than fill their time; may they instill the love of Jesus Christ and highlight the significance of our Holy Land. We ask for your prayers for Rev. Munther Isaac, who has been traveling this summer to share about our College, its impact on the community, and the ongoing conflict in our Holy Land. May the Lord bless and protect him. Due to the water shortage caused by the occupation, please pray for families suffering from a lack of water for days and weeks. Congratulations to our recent high school (Tawjihi) graduates! We wish them blessings as they decide on their next steps!
