Dear All!
This week we have been reflecting upon the theme of bearing witness to the light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not overcome it.
It's easy to picture the need to have hope in resilient light when we are mid winter, and the weather is particularly dank.
Moreover the news around us continues to test our horizons of hope.
So when we come to church and sing in candlelight, or light our own advent candles, it's more than cosy glow, it touches on our need to believe in the light that shines in the darkness, and the darkness will not overcome it.
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
Saturday 20th December
10.30am…Carol Singing…Chapel Platt
Sunday 21st December
8am… BCP Holy Communion…St Margaret’s
10am…Joint Holy Communion…St Luke’s
6.30pm…Carol Service…St Margaret’s
Monday 22nd December
10am…Stay and Play…St Margaret’s
7pm…Compline…Zoom
7.30pm…Carols by Candlelight…St Margaret’s
Tuesday 23rd December
9am…Morning Prayer…St Luke’s
Wednesday 24th December
2.30pm…Tea and Cake…St Margaret’s
3pm…Crib and Carol Service…St Luke’s
6pm…Community Carols…St Margaret’s
11pm…Midnight Mass…St Luke’s
11pm…Midnight Mass…St Margaret’s
Thursday 25th December
8am…BCP Holy Communion…St Margaret’s
10am…Holy Communion…St Luke’s
10am…Holy Communion…St Margaret’s
Sunday 28th December
10am… Christingle…St Margaret’s
10am…Christingle…St Luke’s
3pm…Carols and Cake…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]
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.
Offertory at St. Margaret’s
We are happy to return to the presentation and blessing of gifts during the Offertory hymn. Please place your collection in the bowls provided as you come in, and thank you for your kind support.
Project News
Dream Big will now start in early January. After interviewing two contractors, the project team unanimously selected one, subject to a bit of paperwork. Their quote was the lowest, as it happens, but all were a bit higher than we had expected so there is still some fundraising needed. There will be opportunities to contribute over Christmas, especially if you were not around for our original gift day in early 2023. There will also be plenty of opportunities to help in practical ways as we will have to completely clear the project areas in the week 29 January and 2 February.
Give to Go Green – the infra-red heating in the north transept will be installed on Tuesday, so please use the other door instead. There may be times when the mains is turned off so we will be without lights. Sorry for any inconvenience.
EcoChurch If you are enjoying shop-bought mince pies, please remember that silver foil can be recycled, but only if it is bundled into balls the size of a Christmas tree bauble. There will be a container in church if you wish to bring in smaller quantities of silver foil, or if you are eating mince pies in church.
Ecumenical Events - Carol Singing on Chapel Platt
The traditional ecumenical carol singing on Chapel Platt will be held on Saturday 20th December at 10.30 am, with coffee and mince pies (with donations invited) to follow at St Nicholas.
Fund raising
One of our local Topsham Explorer Scouts , Holly Hull has been selected as part of a group of 36 other scouts from Devon to attend the World Scout Jamboree in Gdańsk Poland in 2027. The World Scout Jamboree 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, learn about different cultures and backgrounds 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 has regularly visited St. Margaret's Church with the Scouts since she was six years old and a member of 1st Topsham Sea Scouts. Holly has also previously volunteered to assist with preparing learning materials 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 much of the money raised by young people from the U.K, also helps to subsidise the attendance of the young people from less wealthy nations.
Holly will be holding her second bake sale to raise funds towards this exciting adventure in St. Margaret's Church kitchen area after Children's Church on Sunday, 28th December. 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 Holly’s other WSJ fundraising activities please visithttps://gofund.me/208ef2150 "
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
The dates for 2026: 19th - 23rd January
Details to follow at the beginning of January
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!
♥️ 🧁
Project News
Dream Big should start in January. We have had quotes in and hope to be interviewing two contractors next week. The quotes are a bit higher than we had expected so there is still some fundraising needed. There will be opportunities to contribute over Christmas, especially if you were not around for our original gift day in early 2023.
Give to Go Green – the infra-red heating in the north transept should be installed in the coming week, if the contractor can get the equipment delivered in time.
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!
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
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
Eric Newby
Pat Morton, Freddie Haynes, Harold Revill, Pamela Forsythe, Lilian Berry
Recently departed
Carol Walker
Gospel Readings for the coming week
Sunday 21st December Matthew 1: 18-end
Monday 22nd December Luke 1: 24 - end
Tuesday 23rd December Luke 1: 57-66
Wednesday 24th December Luke 1: 67-79
Thursday 25th December Luke 2: 1-14 (15-20)
Friday 26th December Matthew 10: 17-22
Saturday 27th December John 21: 19b - end
Sunday 28th December Matthew 1: 13-18
Collect and reading for Sunday 21st December
God our redeemer, who prepared he blessed virgin Mary to be thye mother of your Son: grant that, as she looked for his coming as our Saviour, so we may be ready to greet him when he comes again as our judge; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Matthew 1.18-end
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lordappeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:
And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
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