MISSION COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER
w.b. 5th April 2026
Hello All!
I have had the privilege of attending three and a half hours across three different types of devotional services today on Good Friday, and a moving service yesterday evening on Maundy Thursday, which included the symbolic foot washing and the heart-rending stripping of the altar at the end of the service.
These are wonderful opportunities to honour Christ's passion in preparation and draw close to God in this most Holy of weeks in the church calendar. Thank you to all who worked so hard and went the extra mile to offer these services to our church communities and beyond.
One of the lines that particularly jumped out to me this year, during the responses in the middle of the choral led devotions at St Margaret's church, was the plaintive question of the Son of God: 'O my people, what have I done to offend thee?'
It sparked the recollection of many times during weekly compline, for example, when we have shared the Gospel of the day and reflected upon the incredible miracles and teaching of Jesus throughout Scriptures, and yet the people around him, home crowd and further afield, seem to consistently get offended by Him.
The Passion and Way of the Cross depict the endgame of this unfathomable pattern of offence caused by the Son of God.
I pray that it prompts us to notice, catch the moment and ask deeply what is happening in the moments of our own being offended. These are not the moments when people are being violent in actions and words - Christ Himself was offended by such attitudes and experiences. No, it is rather the 'take against' moments that we need to be cautious of.
Embedding this kind of reflective practice is perhaps the best Easter gift of good news we can offer within our churches, families and places of daily being.
Blessings to you all this Eastertide.o All!
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 5th April - Easter Day
8am… BCP Holy Communion…St Margaret’s
10am… Holy Communion…St Margaret’s
10am… Holy Communion…St Luke’s
Monday 6th April
7pm…Compline…Zoom
Tuesday 7th April
Wednesday 8th April
10am…Morning Worship…Zoom
2.30pm…Tea and Cake…St Margaret’s
Thursday 9th April
11am…Holy Communion…Watermeadow Grange
7pm…Maundy Thursday Service…St Luke’s
Friday 10th April
9.00am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’s
Saturday 11th April
Sunday 12th April
10am… Holy Communion…St Margaret’s
10am… Holy Communion…St Luke’s
3pm…Forest Church…St Luke’s
6.30pm…Evensong…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 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 5.00 p.m.
N.B. The riverside door may be unavailable from time to time because of the building works.
The door on Fore Street will remain open during the usual hours.
The Dream Big Project
The project is going well and we are on schedule for completion of the whole project by the end of April. Thank you for your patience while access to the church has been restricted. Bookings of the social area are already being accepted for May!
Services at Watermeadow Grange
Service: 23rd April at 11.00 a.m.
Cook Book!
A few unsold copies of Tried and Tested, the recipe book which was produced during Covid to raise funds for the church, have been donated to the Dream Big project and are available for a suggested donation of £7.50 (or more). If you missed out before, or have joined the church since they were last on sale, there is now a final opportunity to get hold of a St Margaret’s classic! Please contact Paul or Niki Jakeman, who can deliver copies within the EX3 postcode.
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
If you are kind enough to be planning to donate to us, we would be grateful to receive the following priority items:
Crisps/savoury snacks
Bottles of squash e.g orange squash
Jams/peanut butter
Tins of soup
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
Hair shampoo & conditioner
Thank you for your Kindness ❤️
We are also really short of clean, large 'bags for life'
For further information email: [email protected] 07787758511
Prayers
For those who are ill or in need of our prayers:
Jill and Adrian, Kirsten, Jan, Jeremy, Rob,
Marlene Gardner, Pam Wormald, Mary, Peter, John Heal, Rosemary Henry, Gail Miller
Housebound or in nursing/care homes:
Alfred Wonnacott, Janet Mutter, Georgina Lear, John
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
Roy Robinson, Aubrey Adams
John Soul, Amy Meager, Joseph Leger, Ian Luscombe, David James, Stella Watson
Recently departed
Jan Bhanji
Gospel Readings for the coming week
Sunday 5th April Romans 6: 3-11
Monday 6th April Matthew 28: 8-15
Tuesday 7th April John 20: 11-18
Wednesday 8th April Luke 24: 13-35
Thursday 9th April Luke 24: 35-48
Friday 10th April John 21: 1-14
Saturday 11th April Mark 16: 9-15
Sunday 12th April John 20: 19 - end
Collect and reading for Sunday 5th April
Lord of all life and power, who through the mighty resurrection of your Son overcame the old order of sin and death to make all things new in him: grant that we, being dead to sin and alive to you in Jesus Christ, may reign with him in glory; to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be praise and honour, glory and might, now and in all eternity.
Romans 6.3-11
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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 roles in our parishes:
Sacristan for St Margaret’s
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 and spend time after the service putting things away.
Email: [email protected] for an application form and full Role Description
Volunteer in Forest church.
We hold a monthly service that needs volunteer support to assist in delivering activities alongside established leaders. A requirement will be to arrive early to help with the set up and read the plans for the session. You would then be expected to help in the clearing up afterwards. You would be needed from 2.30 pm until 4.00pm every Second Sunday of each month. The activity takes place at St Luke’s Church.
Essential requirement: experience of working with families.
Email: [email protected] for an application form and full Role Description
Volunteer for St Luke’s Intercessions
St Luke’s Church is looking for volunteers to lead the intercessions during the 10 o’clock Sunday Service. Volunteers take turns to lead the prayers once a month on a rota.
The successful candidates will need to liaise with the incumbent and leadership team. They will need to give approximately one hour preparation time in the run up to each service. Prayer resources are encouraged to be used.
Key skills: clarity and appropriate communication, confidentiality, awareness of current affairs and needs for prayer further afield as well as local, team player, humility and ability to convey pastoral care.
Email: [email protected] for an application form and full Role Description
Volunteer Second Lead for the Parent and Toddler Groups at St Margaret’s Church
St Margaret’s Church is looking for a volunteer Second Lead to help run our friendly ‘Mini Messy’ Parent and Toddler Groups which will recommence weekly in May (with some flexibility during school holidays).
St Margaret’s Church is seeking a warm, energetic, and compassionate individual to join our team as a Second Lead for our thriving Parent and Toddler groups. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys interacting with young children and fostering meaningful connections with parents and caregivers.
The Second Lead will support the running of our sessions, working closely with our group leader to create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for all attendees. These groups play a key role in our church’s mission to provide community support, foster spiritual curiosity, and offer encouragement in a non-judgmental and respectful environment.
Are you energetic, great with children, and love connecting with parents and caregivers? Join us in creating a welcoming space where everyone can feel part of a community, explore Christian values, and have meaningful conversations — no matter their beliefs.
Must be happy to chat, play, and support!
Email: [email protected] for an application form and full Role Description