At the Revd John Davies's memorial service last Thursday, we heard the wonderful piece of Scripture from Colossians chapter 3: 12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
It's always a good passage to take to heart; but most especially when we are in the middle of Passiontide, when we are facing the hardest parts of the Gospel. Just as Revd John reminded us in his priesthood - we can think through, agree and disagree with so much theology, but ultimately it is in our encounter one with another that God is keenly seen and known.
We are all of us, God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved - as we walk into Holy Week together, let us remember that every day.
Louise
If you are needing to contact Louise, please use either email or mobile phone, text or call.
[email protected] or 07779585908
Safeguarding
For any safeguarding concerns, please contact one of the following:
Revd Louise Grace: 07779585908 [email protected]
Katie Gray: [email protected]
Caryll Ingerslev – St. Luke’s: [email protected]
Jane March-Mcdonald – St. Margaret’s - [email protected]
For issues with rough sleepers:
Elizabeth Reed: [email protected]
Please send all contributions for the newsletter to Gill Yates by the end of [email protected]
Material for A Church Near You to Tony Raven: [email protected]
Services and calendar for the week
Sunday 13th April (Palm Sunday)
10am…Holy Communion…St Margaret’s
10am…Holy Communion…St Luke’s
3pm…Forest Church…St Luke’s
(Countess Wear Community School)
6.30pm…Evensong…St Margaret’s
Monday 14th April
10am…Mini Messy Church…St Margaret’s
2.30pm…Contemplative Prayer...St Margaret's
7pm…Compline…Zoom
Tuesday 15th April
9am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’s
Wednesday 16th April
10.00am…Morning Worship…Zoom
1.15pm…Lunchtime Concert…St Margaret’s
2.30pm…Coffee and Cake…St Margaret’s
Thursday 17th April
10am…Mini-Messy Church…St Margaret’s
11am…Holy Communion…Watermeadow Grange
7pm…Maunday Thursday Service…St Luke’s
Friday 18th April
9.30am…The Cross of Christ…St Margaret’s
11.15am…Walk of Witness…Meet at Holy Cross
2pm…Good Friday Meditation…St Luke’s
Sunday 20th April (Easter Day)
8am…BCP Holy Communion…St Margaret’s
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)
Walk of Witness – if you would like to join this group on Good Friday, it leaves Holy cross at 11.15 and processes through the town, stopping from time to time for readings and prayers.
Finish point at St Margaret's for hot cross buns and refreshments !
Bookings
St. Margaret’s bookings are managed by Caryll Ingerslev.
Contact: [email protected]
St. Luke’s Church and Church Rooms bookings are managed by Sandra Greedy.
[email protected] or phone 01392 271458
St. Luke’s church is open on Wednesdays afternoons between 2.00 and 4.00.
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.
Appeal for information
Would anyone have any information about the movement of my daughter Meredith's tricycle from the back of the vicarage to the ramp entrance of the church, on Thursday 3 April, between 8.15 and 9.45am?
I would be most grateful, please do contact me. Louise
Blessings to Revd Maggie
Revd Maggie is beginning a new chapter in ministry and has a new placement in a different deanery. We are all so grateful for Maggie's ministry in our midst over the past four years, and send her on with many blessings.
Message from the Archdeacon:
Following her period of leave, I have asked Revd Maggie Stirling Troy to offer leadership support in another Mission Community. Revd Maggie’s pastoral care, wise counsel and parish experience will enable her to quickly build connections and support a group of parishes that desperately need love and attention. I am still working with Maggie and the parishes about when the move will occur, but I hope it will be as soon as possible.
I appreciate that there will be many in Topsham and Wear who will be sad to say goodbye to Maggie, but please keep her and her new role in your prayers.
The Venerable Andrew Beane
Archdeacon of Exeter
Safeguarding audit first responses
Over the next few weeks I will share some of the first responses of action that has been prompted by the recent audit:
We will transfer all of our database contact lists onto iKnow church, our church admin platform; this will take contact data from our personal computers.
We will also distribute newsletters, weekly and monthly from iKnow church. There will be a brief hiatus for the St Margaret's monthly newsletter whilst we deal with the technicalities of that transfer.
There will be a new regular section in the newsletter outlining any positions in the church where volunteers are needed. This will arrive as an attachment to the newsletter.
Louise
Easter Lilies
Lilies will be used to decorate St. Margaret’s at Easter. If you would like to remember someone by purchasing a lily, please put your donation in the printed envelope which is on a table in the social area and complete the information on the outside. The envelope can be given to June Swan or placed in the wall safe in the choir vestry. All names will be printed in a card and placed on the altar on Easter Day.
Coffee and Cake
Do come along to St. Margaret’s on a Wednesday afternoon for coffee, tea, cake and a chat! From 2.30 p.m.
Lunchtime Concert
This coming Wednesday at 1.15.
Joyce Clarke – piano recital of classical and romantic music
Retiring Collection for St Margaret’s “DreamBig” project.
Sponsored by Wilkinson Grant
Walking Group
The first walk this year is coming up on Monday April 28th in the afternoon.
The plan is:
2.00 Meet at St. Margaret’s for a short prayer time.
2.15 Walk through Topsham with Gill pointing out a few points of interest, then round the Goat Walk, where there will be space to chat or enjoy the peace, then back to St. Margaret’s.
3.15 ish Refreshments in St. Margaret’s
4.00 end
Alpha Course
All are still welcome to join the Alpha course! (See below) We are having a truly blessed time, with conversations flowing, questions being asked, and answers bringing clarity and confirmation. If you'd like to attend, please register or email Jackie at [email protected]
St. Luke’s is running an Alpha course as our Lent study group on Tuesdays at 6.30 p.m. in St. Luke’s Church Rooms. A meal, a talk and great conversation is included!
It’s not too late to join in!
Message from Louise:
This Lent, the benefice offering for both churches is the Alpha course. If you have previously been attending courses in either St Luke's and St Margaret's, demonstrating availability and a commitment to weekly attendance, you are very much encouraged to sign up for the Alpha course. Whilst many would see Alpha as only for enquirers, it is true that we come back to the same Bible readings year in year out, but each time with fresh insight because of experience and study in the preceding twelve months. No one is too mature for Alpha, in other words. Be open and prepared to be surprised by the joy and wisdom of others; and also as maturer Christians, it is a wonderful opportunity to serve the wider church community.
All of us can serve by holding the course in daily prayers.
At the very least, hold in your prayers the principal organiser, warden Jackie Crozier, and all the volunteers who are making it happen, as well as the folk who will be coming. Everything from making sure we have enough food to feed everyone to praying that the wisdom in the room will lead us further into God's grace.
Exmouth Food Bank
W
e are currently focusing on replenishing our core stock so that we can continue to feed those in need.
In particular we would welcome donations of :
• Cereals
• Porridge oats & instant porridge
• Pasta• Stir in pasta/pasta bake sauces
• Tinned fruit
• Tinned vegetables (sweetcorn, mixed veg)
• Fruit squash/juice
• Longlife milk
In addition toiletries such as hair shampoo, conditioner, body wash and deodorant would also be helpful. Also bags for life.
Thank you for your support. You are AMAZING !
For further information email: [email protected] 07787758511
Please find a list of Positions Vacant attached.
Prayers
For those who are ill or in need of our prayers:
Jean, Jill and Adrian, Fay, Kirsten, Jan, Marlene Gardner, Pam Wormald, Mary, Peter, John Heal, Rosemary Henry, Gail Miller, Carol Walker, Wendy Lockwood
Housebound or in nursing/care homes:
Alfred Wonnacott, Janet Mutter, Georgina Lear, Peter Gwynne
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 is hoping to fly to Bethlehem during April to spend some time with the Community there.
Perhaps pray that her physical presence at this time will help to give the College staff and students a real sense of solidarity with Christians in the UK.
Anniversaries
Bob Greenham, Jim Green, Leslie Clouting, Pat Swaffield, Alan Trigger, Constance Sheeres
Rita Shell, Sheila Crouch, Margaret Smyth
Recently departed
Gladys McCartney
John Davies
Gospel Readings for the coming week
Sunday 13th April Luke 23: 1-49
Monday 14th April John 12: 1-11
Tuesday 15th April John 12: 20-36
Wednesday 16th April John 13: 21-32
Thursday 17th April John 13: 1-17, 31b-35
Friday 18th April John 18: 1-end of 19
Saturday 19th April John 19: 38-end
Sunday 20th April John 20: 1-18
Collect and reading for Sunday 13th April
Almighty and everlasting God, who in your tender love towards the human race sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross: grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; 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.
Luke 23.1-49Jesus before PilateThen the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, ‘We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.’ Then Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ He answered, ‘You say so.’ Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, ‘I find no basis for an accusation against this man.’ But they were insistent and said, ‘He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.’
Jesus before HerodWhen Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.
Jesus Sentenced to DeathPilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people,and said to them, ‘You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. I will therefore have him flogged and release him.’
Then they all shouted out together, ‘Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!’ (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting, ‘Crucify, crucify him!’ A third time he said to them, ‘Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.’ But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted.He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished.
The Crucifixion of JesusAs they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.” Then they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us”; and to the hills, “Cover us.” For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?’
Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[ Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’]] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!’The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’
One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come intoyour kingdom.’ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’
The Death of JesusIt was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, ‘Certainly this man was innocent.’ And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
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