media.acny.uk · web viewshe knelt where she was, prayed word per-fect, and reverently extended...
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St Margaret’s Church
Topsham
“"Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20.29)
April Newsletter 2020
Topsham and Countess Wear
Mission Community
Living with Dementia in our CommunityIn January, our two churches held a dementia friendly forum at St Margaret's, with the intention of ‘building a dementia friendly community together’.When I was in my mid-twenties, discerning as to whether I was going to train to be a priest, my vicar in Totnes, tasked me with taking monthly commun-ion to two residential homes. On my orientation visit I could see there were several residents living with dementia. I was particularly concerned about one lady who was completely disoriented. How could I
lead a service in those circumstances, when she, and perhaps others, had no cognitive understanding of what was going on?In the event, there was no need for me to worry - indeed the lady paced the room for the majority of the service, asking random questions, even shouting out; and then, just before giving out the bread and wine, we prayed the Lord’s Prayer. She knelt where she was, prayed word per-fect, and reverently extended her hands in expectation of the sacra-ment. It was a moment of conversion for me. My priesthood would not be as a gatekeeper, but rather a calling to enable life in all its fullness, however that life was presenting. I was humbled to acknowledge that the workings of the mind, body, emotions and spirit were far more complex than I could fathom, and certainly weren’t limited to rational understanding. It was the beginning of my dementia friendly journey.During 2019 St Luke’s and St Margaret’s have been trying to under-stand more about dementia by participating in dementia friendly sess-ions. Our next step is to broaden out and build a dementia friendly community together with wider circles of neighbours and colleagues.When I was buying refreshments for the forum at the Topsham Co-op, the young man serving me, barely 18, raised an eyebrow at just how many cakes I was purchasing. I assured him they weren’t all for me and told him about the event. He went on to tell me confidently about all the people who pop into the Co-op to seek connection, even more than buying food, and how that reduces isolation, which can help in all sorts
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of ways those who are living with dementia. He knows by name and understands many of his community who are living with dementia.We are blessed that already our communities have gone a deal of a way towards being dementia friendly. Our hope is that we can continue to build upon that. Louise Grace (Vicar)
Electoral Roll revision (for new members only) begins 31st March and ends 13th April. Applicants must have been bapt-ised, be over 16 and able to satisfy the declaration on the form. Forms (in the reception area from 31st March) may be put into the wall safe, emailed to
[email protected], or posted to 10 Globefield Topsham EX3 0EY. Roger Prouse (ER Officer)
St Margaret’s 2020 Flower Festival is from Thursday 16th – Saturday 18th July (theme to be decided at the March PCC meeting).
Holy Week & Easter services in the Mission Community
For more information about Services that we will be doing online please go to A Church Near You
(ACNY)https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/8641/
Weekend ConcertsThere were two concerts in St Margaret’s on the final weekend of Feb-ruary, Nina Savićević's piano recital on the Saturday and the Diverti-mento String Quartet on the Sunday. “The result, some happy people and £100 for the church from Nina's concert and a further £86 from the refreshments served in the Divertimento interval. A big thank you to everyone who made cakes, especially Sue Wilkinson who organised it all.” Tony and Dorothy Raven
Prayer for God’s Creation(Churches Together in Topsham)
The Topsham ecumenical group has planned a series of monthly prayer meetings in response to the climate emergency and
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environmental and ecological degradation. Their purpose is to reflect on different aspects of these issues, to pray together, and to exchange practical suggestions for ways in which we can each help by altering our own behaviour.
Exeter Diocesan Thika Link“On behalf of the Thika Link committee and the people of Thungururu in Thika (Kenya) I want to say thank you very much for the generous donation of £184.70 from your collection in Feb-ruary. Please find attached the latest news from Thungururu, which is in the semi-arid part of Thika Diocese: (https://exeter.anglican.org/who-we-are /companion-links). I hope you will find encour-agement that the money you have given is being used to very good effect. You will also find much to pray about for the farmers in this area and in Kenya as a whole. The total needed to run this project up to the end of 2020 is £18,000 and already just over £16,000 has been given. Thank you so much for your generosity.
With best wishes Jane Inwood (Thika Link secretary)
Peter and Mary – A Diamond OccasionPeter and Mary Grinyer celebrated 60 years of marriage at the end of February with a lunch a week later for 42 guests, mostly their large family, in the Music Room of Powderham Castle. Mary is from the West Country and Peter from London, but they met playing tennis near Tavistock back in 1958. Mary, apparently, had “a wicked forehand”.Even at the start it wasn’t always an easy relationship family-wise, and they have faced many difficult times together since they married in London in 1960. By then Mary had been appointed a childcare officer with Devon County Council, while Peter’s boss had conveniently moved him from Bristol to Exeter. His career was in commercial computer management and later in government service. As the family grew (they have 4 children and now 13 grandchildren) they moved away with Peter’s work and spent 40 years in the home counties (mostly Sussex). Mary had a second career as a computer analyst with the Civil Service, handling large sums of money on behalf of the government. During this time they both had intense spiritual experiences; Peter says God "hit him like a hammer” when he
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“suddenly realised that God loves him, warts and all.” Mary “has always had these amazing experiences, but the most important thing is worshipping God.”
After this Peter trained as a lay-reader, a ministry he continued when they moved back to Devon in 2008 and joined St Margaret’s. He has also served on the PCC and Deanery Synod, while many will remember Mary’s energetic leadership
of the Flower Festival for several years. Peter describes himself as a pragmatic Christian, Mary as a spiritual one. They are both very fond and proud of their family.So, Peter and Mary, congratulations to you both, and may you long continue to enjoy your family and give us all encouragement by your faith and determination!
Alzheimer’s Society: “At Alzheimer's Society we believe passionately that life doesn't end when dementia begins. We are here for anyone affected by dementia, and we do everything we can to keep people with dementia connected to their lives and the people who matter most.”
Our mission is to transform the landscape of dementia forever. Until the day we find a cure, we will strive to find a society where those affected by dementia are supported
and accepted, able to live in their community without fear or prejudice.”
“We must accept short-term disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” Martin Luther King“You can't change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying about the future.” Association of Church Editors
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Please PRAY .....“My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.”
(Psalm 121. 2) For God’s leading about appointments at the Church
Annual Meeting on 29th April. For Christian perspectives on the current crises
brought about by the Covid 19 virus and Climate Change.
For Anne Plested to be able to make good use of her longer period in Bethlehem this summer.
Our Mission Partner ParishSt Luke’s, Countess Wear
(Countess Wear Road, near the junction with School Lane)
Churchwardens: Maree Day (tel. 203507)Caryll Ingerslev (tel.
877330)Church Rooms Co-ordinator: Sandra Greedy (tel. 271458)
web address: http://www.topshamwearcofe.org.ukfor Sunday Services please see page 10
St Luke’s also hosts a communion service on Wednesdays at 10am
which is open to all
Penny RobinsonMuch-loved member of St Margaret’s Penny died suddenly at home on 2nd March after being taken ill during the service the previous morning. She began and led the Sunday School for 20 years, and latterly organised the Sunday morning refreshments rota. We hope to publish a fuller appreciation of her life and faith next month.
Mid-week@ St Margaret’s
(Please contact the person named
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to find out more.)
Why Easter is important“If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15. 13, 14, 17)
The Back PageMission Community website: http://www.topshamwearcofe.org.ukVicar of Topsham & Countess Wear Mission Community: Revd. Louise Grace The Vicarage, Globefield, Topsham EX3 0EZ; (01392) 873188; email [email protected]; (kindly note that Louise’s day off is Friday)Parish Administrator (and first point of contact for baptisms, weddings and funerals) and to book the Church Rooms or Social Area: Roger Prouse email: [email protected] 10 Globefield, Topsham EX3 0EZAssociate Priest Revd Juliet Horwood (light duties only). email: [email protected] Keir Bovis (tel. 07495 701301) [email protected] and Jenny Ellis (tel. 01392 879158) [email protected]. Safeguarding Officer: Katie Gray; [email protected] (01392) 446565Parish Giving Scheme and Stewardship: June Swan (01392) 877468; email: [email protected] Visiting Please contact the Vicar or Gill Yates (tel.875276)Organist and ChoirmasterTony Yates (01392) 875276 email: [email protected]
Material for the May issue of this newsletter should be with David Byrne @ 4 Pound Lane EX3 0NA (email: [email protected]) or (01392) 758557 by 12th April (Easter Day) please.
Front cover:“The Incredulity of St Thomas”
Michelangelo da Caravaggio (ca 1601 - 2)
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Sanssouci Museum, Potsdam
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