Hello All!As we journey closer to Christmas, the business and sparkle perhaps go into overdrive. It's within that then we are reminded that for many, Christmas is not a best time of year. There are many who are lonely, ill or bereaved. We have been ministering to a lot of families through funerals these past weeks, including those grieving cherished members of our church communities: families of Anne Tinkler, Pauline Roach, Mary Darnley Smith. There is also, at a national level, yet another series of revelations about safeguarding failure on a tragic scale - we should never forget that in the flurry of statements and accusations and justifications, there lie behind lives shattered, children who have suffered beyond imagination. Joy at Christmas should not preclude our ability to be present to those who suffer in body, mind or spirit, for any reason. In fact, the context of the Christmas story is one where there is great anxiety, suffering, and sadness - refugees, abuse of power, homelessness, separation from family...God chose to enter our mortal realm in the most vulnerable of ways. Our celebration of Christmas becomes more authentic if we can hold joy and sorrow in equal measure, and open our hearts genuinely towards those for whom Christmas may be more poignant, or even painful rather than jolly. Christmas blessings to all, wherever you are, whatever you face.Louise If 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 21 December 7.30pm…Carols by candlelight…St Margaret’sSunday 22 December10am…Holy Communion & Christingle…St Margaret’s10am…Crib, Carol & Christingle…St Luke’s6.30pm…Carol Service…St Margaret’sMonday 23 December 7pm…Compline…ZoomTuesday 24 December 9am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’s3pm…Nativity Trail…St Margaret’s6pm…Community Carols…St Margaret’s11pm…Midnight Mass…St Luke’s11pm…Midnight Mass…St Margaret’sWednesday 25 December8am…BCP Holy Communion…St Margaret’s10.00am…Christmas Eucharist…St Margaret’s10.00am…Christmas Eucharist…St Luke’sFriday 27 December 9am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’sSunday 29 December10am… Holy Communion…St Margaret’s10am…Holy Communion…St Luke’s 3.00pm…Carols with cake…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: 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 NoticesDream Big projectGreat news! Having considered the responses from the various external heritage organisations which they had to consult, the Diocesan Advisory Committee has now recommended the issuing of a faculty (church “planning permission”) for our project. There will now be a final 28 day public notice period, inviting comments from the congregation and community,. The plans are on display in the church. We hope the faculty will be issued shortly after the expiry of the notice period. This is a major step forward, and a wonderful Christmas present to the church!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.Volunteers – If you would like to get involved with readings, intercessions, verging, administration of the bread/wine, please let Gill Yates know. More people are always very welcome!gyates@uwclub.netExmouth 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 07787758511PrayersFor 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.AnniversariesEric NewbyHarold Revill, Pamela Forsythe, Lillian Berry, Miranda LegerRecently departedJanet Elson, Mary Darnley-SmithPauline Roach We have recently been honouring dearly loved members of our church communities Anne Tinkler, who was a member of St Luke's for decades, a faithful member of the choir for the same, generous, kind and caring of all. Pauline Roach, again a long term member of St Luke's, cherished sister of JeanTipper of St Luke's, shining with love of God and love of neighbour, and love of all God's creatures (Pauline's funeral will be on 30/12 at St Luke's at 11am) . And Mary Darnley Smith, who was the hub of many a bible study, prayer meeting, generous reaching out to others, and was part of the founding group of Estuary League of Friends. These women embodied what it meant to be Christian in our midst. May they rest in peace and rise in glory. Gospel Readings for the coming weekSunday 22nd December Luke 1: 46-55Monday 23rd December Luke 1: 57-66Tuesday 24th December Luke 1: 67-79Wednesday 25th December Luke 2: 1-14Thursday 26th December Matthew 10: 17-22Friday 27h December John 21: 9b - endSaturday 28th December Matthew 2: 13-18Sunday 29th December Luke 2: 41- endCollect and reading for Sunday 22nd DecemberGod our Redeemer, who prepared the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the 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.Luke 1. 46-55Mary’s Song of PraiseAnd Mary said,‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’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
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.
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!
