The Magazine is attached but can also be obtained in hard copy at St Luke's.To obtain a copy of The Estuary Magazine please visit St Margaret's Church or The Topsham Bookshop.
This week's daily reflections have focused upon pilgrimage, and hopefully everyone is managing to appreciate the beauty of Devon (or further afield) in full summer. Don't forget the basics though in keeping safe in the sun, particularly hydration. It's more than refreshment - in a heatwave we certainly understand afresh the term 'living water '.Having completed a pilgrimage, the sweet reward of sabbath rest is the best. I hope that however you have journeyed through this week, that you will be able to take some sabbath rest over the weekend. Enjoy this beautiful and rightly popular hymn that encourages and endorses rest and calm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqOnjmr9Ah0Louise It’s not too late to sign up for:Parish WalksThe date of the next walk is Monday July 14th at 2.00 p.m. This walk will be “Urban Churches”.The plan is to meet in Exeter and explore some of the smaller churches.Gill will send details to all who have expressed an interest in these walks so far.If you would like to be added to the list, please let Gill know by the end of Sunday. Thank yougyates@uwclub.netIf you are needing to contact Louise, please use either email or mobile phone, text or call.louisegrace45@gmail.com or 07779585908 SafeguardingFor any safeguarding concerns, please contact one of the following:Revd Louise Grace: 07779585908 louisegrace45@gmail.comKatie Gray: safeguardingtopshamwear@gmail.comCaryll Ingerslev – St. Luke’s: C.I.churchbookings@outlook.comJane March-Mcdonald – St. Margaret’s - jane.march-mcdonald@plymouth.ac.ukFor issues with rough sleepers:Elizabeth Reed: reedelizabeth04@gmail.comPlease send all contributions for the newsletter to Gill Yates by the end of Thursdaygyates@uwclub.netServices and calendar for the week Sunday 13th July10am… Holy Communion…St Margaret’s 10am…Holy Communion…St Luke’s3pm…Forest Church…St Luke’s (held at Countess Wear Community School)6.30pm…Evensong…St Margaret’sMonday 14th July10am…Mini-messy church…St Margaret’s2.30pm…Julian Contemplative Prayer…St Margaret’s7pm…Compline…ZoomTuesday 15th July 9am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’sWednesday 16th July 10.00am…Morning Worship…Zoom2.30pm…Tea and Cake…St Margaret’sThursday 17th July10am – 6pm…Flower Festival…St Margaret’sFriday 18th July 9am…Morning Prayer…St Margaret’s10am – 6pm…Flower Festival…St Margaret’sSaturday 19th July 10am – 6pm…Flower Festival…St Margaret’sSunday 20th July (St Margaret’s Patronal Festival)8am… BCP Holy Communion…St Margaret’s 10am…Joint Holy Communion…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 open on Wednesdays afternoons between 2.00 and 4.00.St. Margaret’s church is always open from approx. 9.00 a.m. but closure times depend on the season. The church is now being closed at around 7.00 p.m. News and NoticesConfirmationMany people associate confirmation as a rite of passage for teenagers, and that often is the age bracket of candidates. However, there are increasing numbers of adults exploring confirmation (literally, confirming our baptism promises for ourselves), and enjoying the exploration that preparation sessions offer.There's already one adult in our worshipping community asking for confirmation. I would like to see if there are others. The service would likely be late autumn/early winter, and preparation would involve attending four preparation sessions.Please let me know if you are interested.louisegrace45@gmail.comSt. Margaret’sCoffee and CakeWednesday afternoon at 2.30 p.m. - coffee, tea, cake and a chat !Lunchtime ConcertNo concert this week because of preparations for the Flower Festival.Wednesday July 23rd at 1.15 - Melanie Mehta, soprano and John Draisey, piano.A promenade through English 20th/21st century songFlower Festival 2025THIS WEEK!!!There are lists at the back of the church to sign up if you are willing to help with stewarding, refreshments and cake-making.It is now standard practice and required by the Diocese, for a basic (on-line) safe-guarding course to be completed, if you are a volunteer. Gill Yates will contact any volunteers with details of how to access this online. Certificates should then be sent to Katie Gray, our safe-guarding lead.THIS IS NOW QUITE URGENT IF YOU ARE HOPING TO HELP!I very much hope you are!Dream BigWe are about to start our community fundraising for the summer. We deliberately are not appealing to the congregation as you gave so generously at the start of the project. However, some people weren’t here for the February 2023 appeal, so now is your chance! We are finalising a leaflet to be widely distributed, and there are various fundraising events during the summer. If you would like to help the team running the tea room at the Flower Festival or on Charter Day, you will be helping Dream Big, because it is their chosen charity.Cable Recycling is restarting!Peter Lockwood has very kindly offered to start collecting again: charger cables, chargers with obsolete connectors, cables from old computers/printers, mains cables, unwanted plugs , adaptors etC. Electric wire, telephone/TV cabling, items made of copper, aluminium, bronze.NO FERROUS METALThere will be a box at the back of the church.Proceeds to the Dream Big Project.Please find attached a list of positions vacant.Exmouth 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, Roger, Dave, David Byrne, 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 is now safely back in Somerset after 3 months teaching in Bethlehem.AnniversariesDorothy Patchett, John DargueAlfred Meager, Josephine Scott, Rosamond MajorRecently departedPeter GwynneGospel Readings for the coming weekSunday 13th July Luke 10: 25-37Monday 14th July Matthew 10: 34 – 11: 1Tuesday 15th July Matthew 11: 20-24Wednesday 16th July Matthew 11: 25-27Thursday 17th July Matthew 11: 28 - endFriday 18th July Matthew 12: 1-8Saturday 19th July Matthew 12: 14-21Sunday 20th July Luke 10: 38 - endCollect and reading for Sunday 13th JulyO God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that with you as our ruler and guide we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not our hold on things eternal; grant this heavenly Father, for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.Luke 10. 25-37And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.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
Big Dream moves forward, bit by bitThe Archdeacon of Exeter and his architectural advisor came to the church to discuss final details on the plans for our redevelopment of the rear of the church. They were very encouraging and made some helpful suggestions. By the time you read this, the updated plans will have been submitted and we have been told the legal permission should be issued around Christmas. Before that, there will be a formal notice on the church railings for 28 days to let everyone know about the plans and the process for approval.Give to Go Green We're excited to announce that St. Margaret’s is one of just nine parishes in Devon to receive a Go Green (G2GG) grant this year—a positive step in making our church more energy efficient and sustainable. We will be installing energy-saving heaters to allow us to warm an area for meetings during winter without heating the entire church. This will significantly reduce our carbon emissions, lower energy costs, and enable us to reinvest those savings into community initiatives, including funding for our new Families Worker.This project won’t just benefit the church—it will also provide a warm, bookable space for community use as well. If you're passionate about tackling climate change and supporting community efforts, we invite you to join us in this project. Could you help by giving or fundraising – maybe a charity coffee morning for your neighbours? Your contribution will be doubled by the Church of England, so every penny counts and will bring us closer to a greener future! Start making plans; details of the fundraising campaign will be in next month’s Estuary magazine.
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!
