MISSION COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER
w.b. 22nd February 2026
Hello All!
As we move into the season of Lent, it is good to remember that whilst there is an intensely personal nature of Lenten discipline - what are we individually 'fasting' from, giving up, in order to create space in our minds, hearts, souls to enable a drawing closer to God; yet also we do everything as one Body.
Therefore, what is it as a church that we need to be more disciplined about, that this season of Lent can enable?
Katie, our safeguarding officer, has been leading the PCCs in reflecting upon our church culture. This stems from the comprehensive safeguarding audit that we had last year, and the urgent priority that it highlighted. Culture is multifaceted and a couple of paragraphs at the start of a newsletter cannot begin to approach all the dimensions, but hopefully over this coming year there will be numerous opportunities to join in the 'duty and joy' of drawing closer to God and closer to one another through an intentional approach to community; something that even a skim through the letters of St Paul to a whole variety of early church communities will show us that this is nothing new. One of the church's primary call has always been to safe, respectful, disciplined community life.
A foundational plank of all community is the way that we communicate with one another, and I commend again to myself and us all the threefold gate method of communication, which hopefully ensures we are for the building up of one another in our speech: Is this true? Is this kind? Is this necessary?
A worthy Lenten discipline indeed.
The Watermeadow Grange Lent study group begins on Monday March 2d
The group will be looking at the film 'The Kings Speech', and following theological themes in it. The residents and staff at Watermeadow Grange showed insight that is distilled wisdom of lifelong experience - and the setting is very hospitable. Please do join us. If you intend to join, please let Revd Louise know as soon as possible. [email protected]
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 22nd February
10am… Family Holy Communion…St Margaret’s
10am… Morning Worship…St Luke’s
6.30pm…Evensong…St Margaret’s
Monday 23rd February
7pm…Compline…Zoom
Tuesday 24th February
Wednesday 25th February
10am…Morning Worship…Zoom
2.30pm…Tea and Cake…St Margaret’s
Thursday 26th February
Friday 27th February
9.30am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’s
11am…Holy Communion…Pym Court
Saturday 28th February
Sunday 1st March
10am… Holy Communion…St Margaret’s
10am… Holy Communion…St Luke’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]
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 churchwarden can be contacted on:
[email protected] or phone 01392 271458
St. Margaret’s Churchwarden can be contacted on:
St. 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 4.00 p.m.
Enquiry
In 1961, Cordelia Ransdale, who lived at St Agnes, Topsham, presented gifts to St Margaret’s in memory of her late sister Jessie, who had died three years earlier. These comprised new floodlights for the sanctuary (which I believe have since been replaced), a sanctuary table, and a prayer desk. We have permission to dispose of the prayer desk as it is damaged and redundant. If anyone knows of the Ransdale sisters, or of a house called St Agnes in Topsham, could they please contact Helen Swafield or Paul Jakeman in case we can contact the family. Nothing has been found in online searches.
The Dream Big Project
The Dream Big Project has begun and work is evident within the Church. The expert carpenters have been sent their work orders and the builders have completed the stripping out of pews and some of the old kitchen area. So far, so good. Our thanks for bearing with us while the work is ongoing, but the possibility of mission from the re-ordered church, is full of possibilities!
Helen, Churchwarden
Lent Study at Watermeadow Grange
This year for Lent study we will be returning to Watermeadow Grange, who are hosting the church, and together we will be studying a Lent course which uses the themes from the film The Kings Speech. Please do sign up if you are interested by contacting Revd Louise Grace at [email protected]
Study group: 2nd, 9th and 16th March at 11.00 a.m.
Services: 12th March, 2nd April, 23rd April at 11.00 a.m.
Lent Lunches
It's been a tradition in Topsham for the churches to offer lunch on each of the six Fridays during the season of Lent. This year, because of the re-ordering of the social area at the back of St Margaret's, there will be just four lunches, two at St Nicholas Methodist Church on 6th and 13th March and two at Holy Cross Catholic Church on 20th and 27th March. A simple meal of soup, bread and cheese will be served in turn by each of the churches, with a donation of £4 requested for a particular charity (which each church will select to support). The lunches will be available between 12.30 and 1.30 pm on each day. Everyone, of any faith or none, is very welcome to attend any or all of these events and share conversation with friends from across the town. Do put these dates in your diary and come along!
Coffee and Cake
Wednesday 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 Bank
In preparation for an increase in demand for our services during the winter months we are planning to build up our stocks of essential tinned items. We will include these in the parcels we supply to our clients and will also share them with other local organisations that are supporting people in food poverty.
If you are kind enough to be planning to donate to us, we would be grateful to receive the following priority items:
Tins of soup
Tinned tomatoes
Tinned baked beans and spaghetti
Tinned meat meals such as stews, meatballs or curry
Tinned cold meats such as ham, chicken or corned beef
Tinned tuna
Tinned fruit, rice pudding or custard
N.B The collection point is now inside the front entrance foyer, while the building is ongoing.
Thank you for your Kindness ❤️
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:
Martin Branch, Jill and Adrian, Kirsten, Jan, Jeremy, Marlene Gardner, Pam Wormald, Mary, Peter, John Heal, Rosemary Henry, Gail Miller, Maurice Webb
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.
Anniversaries
Ron Oborne
Lauren Leger, Toots Hacking, James Smeall, Elizabeth Hunter, Mary Hull, Diane Hurst, Edna Haynes, Beryl Sugars, Charles Bowyer, Tibby Melhuish
Recently departed
Gospel Readings for the coming week
Sunday 22nd February Matthew 4: 1-11
Monday 23rd February Mark 25: 31 - end
Tuesday 24th February Matthew 6: 7-15
Wednesday 25th February Luke 11: 29-32
Thursday 26th February Matthew 7: 7-12
Friday 27th February Matthew 5: 20-26
Saturday 28th February Matthew 5: 43 - end
Sunday 1st March John 3: 1-17
Collect and reading for Sunday 22nd February
Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ fasted for forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are, yet without sin: give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit; and, as you know our weakness, so may we know your power to save: 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.
Matthew 4.1-11
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
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Positions vacant
St 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 role in our parishes:
Sacristan for St Margarets
We 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.
Email: [email protected] for an application form and full Role Description