A SPECIAL MEETING OF PARISHIONERS FOR THE ELECTION OF A CHURCHWARDENNotice is hereby given of a special meeting of parishioners to be held on Monday 3rd November 2025 at 7.30pmin St Margaret’s Church to elect a churchwarden.The brief formal meeting will be followed by refreshments.
To obtain a copy of The Estuary Magazine please visit St Margaret's Church or The Topsham Bookshop.
MISSION COMMUNITY NEWSLETTERDear All!This weekend sees two major waymarkers in the church calendar: All Souls and All Saints.The actual dates for these feasts are All Saints on 1/11 and All Souls on 2/11, but we are going to commemorate them the opposite way round, All Saints on Sunday, and All Souls on Saturday, mainly because this latter sees us having a gentle, quiet memorial service for those who are grieving. All Saints is more appropriate for our flagship 10am services on Sunday.Both are linked though - All Saints is intended for us as a church to include any saints that aren't designated their own specific commemoration or feast day. All Souls is an intentional day when everyone who has died is held in prayer and worship, as well as heart.Both resonate with the part in the Eucharistic prayer when the priest proclaims just before the Sanctus: "Therefore with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we praise your holy name, forever singing: Holy, holy, holy Lord..."We are so aware that whatever paths in life we are journeying on, we are surrounded by a great throng of saints and souls, upholding us with every step.Memorial service for All Souls is at 3pm at St. Luke's church.LouiseLouise’s email address: vicartopshamwear@gmail.comSafeguardingFor any safeguarding concerns, please contact :Katie Gray: safeguardingtopshamwear@gmail.comFor issues with rough sleepers:Elizabeth Reed: homelessoutreachtopshamwear@gmail.comPlease send all contributions for the newsletter to Gill Yates by Thursday evening.gyates@uwclub.netServices and calendar for the week Saturday 1st November 8am…Prayer Breakfast…St Margaret’s 3pm…All Soul’s Service…St Luke’s Sunday 2nd November 10am… MATINS…St Margaret’s 10am…Holy Communion…St Luke’s Monday 3rd November 10am…Stay and Play…St Margaret’s 7pm…Compline…Zoom Tuesday 4th November 9am…Morning Prayer…St Luke’s Wednesday 5th November 10am…Morning Worship…Zoom 2.30pm…Tea and Cake…St Margaret’s Thursday 6th November 10am…Stay and Play…St Margaret’s Friday 7th November 9am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’s Sunday 9th November 9.30am… Ecumenical Remembrance Service…St Margaret’s 10.50am…Last Post at the War Memorial 10am…Remembrance Day Holy Communion…St Luke’s 3pm…Family Event…St Margaret’s 6.30pm…Evensong…St Margaret’sThe Zoom links and meeting IDs for all the Zoom events are on our pages on ACNY (A Church Near You)Watch this space for details of the next Forest Church in NovemberBookingsSt. Margaret’s bookings are managed by Caryll Ingerslev.Contact:bookingstopsham@gmail.comSt. Luke’s Church and Church Rooms bookings are managed by Sandra Greedy:Contact: bookingswear@gmail.comSt. Luke’s churchwardens can be contacted on:churchwardenwear@gmail.com or phone 01392 271458Our 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.News and NoticesEcumenical EventsDuring a meeting of the Ecumenical Group who represent the three churches in Topsham, St. Margaret’s, St. Nicholas and Holy Cross (the new Baptist Church has not responded yet), it was agreed that the hand of friendship should be extended to local multi-faith groups. It was felt that there really needed to be greater understanding and deeper connection to counterbalance the divisions that are deepening within our communities. Louise will be organising a visit to the Exeter Mosque, via a contact who teaches at the university. Also a visit to the Exeter synagogue.Please contact Louise directly, if you are interested.Christmas!Countdown to Christmas: there are three ways to engage with the themes of Advent this year:1. Elders in the Christmas story. Join in two study sessions, which will be a chance to explore together the role of elders in our Christmas story. On Tuesday 9th December we will look at Elizabeth and Zechariah, who were parents to John the Baptist, and took care of the newly pregnant Mary.Then on Tuesday 16th, we will look at Simeon and Anna, who greeted the Holy Family in the temple after the birth of Jesus.Watermeadow Grange will host both of these sessions, beginning at 11 a.m. It's essential to register that you will be attending. please let me know on vicartopshamwear@gmail.com 2. There will then be a Carol Communion on Thursday 18th December at 11 a.m. when we will have chance to join the Watermeadow Grange congregation.3.Bethlehem - Beacon of Hope.Anne Plested, for whom the benefice has been praying, and who has been supported for many years now, will return to give us first hand witness accounts of the great needs of Christians and other vulnerable groups in that area; and equally important the signs of hope amongst the dispossessed, so clearly linked with our Advent and Christmas stories. Anne will preach at St Luke's on 14thDecember at 10 a.m. and will hopefully join one of our midweek Zoom worship services.Watch this space for when exactly. Angels!Wool is available in a box at the back of church for those wishing to knit/crochet Christmas angels.St. Margaret’s churchwardenLouise is delighted to announce that Helen Swaffield has offered to become churchwarden at St Margaret’s. A Special Meeting of Parishioners is needed formally to elect Helen, and this will be held on Monday 3rd November at 7.30pm. After the brief meeting there will be drinks and snacks so we can welcome Helen as our new churchwarden and she and Simon can get to know more of us. Please plan to come.Coffee and CakeWednesday afternoon at 2.30 p.m. - coffee, tea, cake and a chat! ♥️ 🧁St. Margaret’s Dream Big The Salmon Supper is on Thursday 6th November in Route 2 café at 7pm, and there are still some tickets available (£25 cash please) from Route 2 café or from Topsham Bookshop. There will also be a raffle, and a card/cash bar, so come prepared. If you had a ticket for the previous date, but are not able to come on 6th November, refunds are available from wherever you bought your ticket. Even if you wish very kindly to donate your ticket price, please return the ticket so we can monitor numbers.Paul Jakeman.PLEASE FIND INFORMATION ABOUT POSITIONS VACANT ATTACHEDExmouth Food BankThis month we would welcome donations of the following items:Tinned meat meals (e.g. stew, meatballs)Tinned cold meat (e.g. ham, corned beef) Porridge oats & instant porridgePastaStir in pasta/pasta bake sauces Tinned fruitFruit squash/juiceLonglife whole milkThank you so much ❤️For further information email: info@exmouthfoodbank.org.uk 07787758511PrayersFor those who are ill or in need of our prayers:Jill and Adrian, Kirsten, Jan, Angela, Marlene Gardner, Pam Wormald, Mary, Peter, John Heal, Rosemary Henry, Gail Miller, Carol WalkerHousebound or in nursing/care homes:Alfred Wonnacott, Janet Mutter, Georgina LearPlease 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.AnniversariesGwen Newby, Nellie Trigger, John HawkinsLorna Beeson,, Lilian Towell, Georgie Secrett, Brian ParkinsonRecently departedGospel Readings for the coming weekSunday 2nd November Luke 19: 1-10Monday 3rd November Luke 14: 12-14Tuesday 4th November John 14: 15-24Wednesday 5th November Luke 14: 25-33Thursday 6th November Luke 15: 1-10Friday 7th November Luke 16: 1-8Saturday 8th November Luke 16: 9-15Sunday 9th November Luke 20: 27-38Collect and reading for Sunday 2nd NovemberAlmighty and eternal God, you have kindled the flame of love in the hearts of the saints: grant to us the same faith and power of love, that, as we rejoice in their triumphs, we may be sustained by their example and fellowship; 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 19.1-10And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.This email was sent from Mission Community of Topsham and Wear using iknowchurch. 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