UPCOMING EVENTS (see Events page for more)
Saturday 19th July from 3.30pm to 5.30pm St John’s Church, Bridgetown MESSY CHURCH The theme this time is Journeys Messy Church is held monthly and is for Primary school children and their parents or carers. There are craft activities, a short act of child-centred worship and a meal together. • Messy Church is FREE but donations towards craft materials and food are welcome! • a gallery of photographs from a past Messy Church is here • note there’ll be no Messy Church in August • enquiries please email Diana Lusher or telephone her on 01803 840702
Sunday 20th July at 3.00pm St Peter‘s Church, Ugborough DEANERY CONFIRMATION If you know anyone who is interested in being confirmed, please ask them to contact Reverend Debbie Parsons or Reverend Julian Ould.
Saturday 26th July 10.30am to 12noon St Mary’s Church, Totnes ORGAN CONCERT for Friends of St Mary’s with Ian Curror • admission £5 at the door • coffee & delicious home-made cakes on sale as usual from 10.30am • Ian Curror’s website
Friday 1st August all day FETE PREPARATIONS • contact Lynne Birch on 01803 840259 or email Lynne
Saturday 2nd August 2014 10.30am to 4pm St Mary’s Church, Totnes St Mary’s & St John’s REALLY BIG GRAND SUMMER FETE! Last year’s fantastically successful Summer Fete raised £1,756, let’s see if we can top that this year! More details as they become available. • want to be involved? Contact Lynne Birch on 01803 840259 or email Lynne
REMINDER: CLERGY ROTAS / SERVICE CHANGES
There will now only be a Wednesday Eucharist at Totnes on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month (and a Wednesday Eucharist at Ashprington on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month). COMMUNITY NEWS from Liz Waterson
ST MARY’S WORKING PARTY Tuesday 15 July from 10 am until noon We hope that a weekday morning may suit more of our busy parishioners so that even more will be able to come along and lend a hand. There are all sorts of little jobs to be done, and even if you can only spare half an hour, we’d love to see you. • contact Martin Harvey or Julian Hall, or just turn up on the day • coffee is served at around 11am to all helpers!
URGENTLY NEEDED! A Booking Secretary for St Mary’s Church Hall. If you think you could help with this important task, please contact one of Churchwardens or Jenny Griffin, who is currently the booking secretary but is now stepping down.
REMINDER: Would you like to learn a new team skill, have some fun at the same time? Why not try BELL RINGING? It is an old English traditional activity which contributes much to the general community as well as the Church. Bell ringing develops your musical ear, your power of concentration, not to mention your physical powers, and it can become a most enjoyable hobby. It is also a skill which means you are welcome as a participant in any tower in the country and also countries abroad where bell ringing is done. You can start at almost any age and you can return to it having had a break for some time. • ring Peter on 01803 863962 if you think you would be interested. • practice evenings Wednesdays at 7.30pm (negotiable) at Berry Pomeroy Church
FUNDRAISER FEEDBACK The Charity Sunday on 8th of June for the Breakthrough Transformation Trust raised £205. Many thanks! • Those who were unable to attend St John‘s Church on the day but would still like to make a donation to this very worthy cause—please leave your donation in an envelope marked Charity Sunday in the clear box at St Mary‘s Church.
HOUSE GROUPS The current study is ‘THE CHURCH IN THE MARKET PLACE by George Carey’ Looking together at how we can worship God and serve our community — particularly apt in these changing times. • read more about House Groups and other study groups here
MEDITATION GROUP The Meditation Group meets at St John’s Church, Bridgetown, on the 2nd Friday of each month, from 7.30 to 9pm. • everyone is welcome to attend this informal group • enquiries to Tricia Stokes on 01803 762158
PENNIES FROM HEAVEN There is a collection box at the back of St John’s Church every Sunday for your pennies and two-pennies.
The box is titled “Pennies for Heaven”.
MEETINGS
NEW: PRAYER MEETINGS Every Friday 5pm to 5.45pm St John’s Church, Bridgetown • all welcome
NEWS from Exeter
Following his installation at Exeter Cathedral on Saturday 5th July, Bishop Robert, the new Bishop of Exeter blessed the city and the county of Devon before handing out thousands of ice-creams. The Right Reverend Robert Atwell processed down to the Cathedral through the High Street, led by children representing Devon’s 131 church schools, a group from the Young Farmers Association, and the Barnstaple Youth Marching Band. • read the full Express & Echo story here • follow Exeter Cathedral on facebook
WOMEN BISHOPS APPROVED BY DIOCESE 
Members of Exeter’s diocesan synod voted overwhelmingly to approve the new legislation allowing women to become bishops. All dioceses have now voted and the legislation will come before General Synod this month. It is thought the first women bishops could be consecrated in 2015. • read more on the Diocese of Exeter website
NEWS from Totnes
TRESoc There is still time to support an important local environmental initiative. Totnes Renewal Energy Society (TRESOC) has extended its Share Issue deadline to 21st July and investors from all over the world are eligible. Projects include a hydroelectric plant at Totnes weir and rooftop PV panels for 100 houses for a local housing Association. • for further details, click here
JULY PARISH NEWSLETTER now online
Parish News July 2014 – the monthly newsletter features another 16 pages full of news, articles and information. This issue includes two colour specials from the Diocese of Exeter looking at First World War Gospels and Holidaying with God. There’s also a special colour story, God’s Passion for Jen, about Jen Sweet’s decision to start working with Christians Against Poverty. Other content in this issue:
- Moving On by Reverend Debbie Parsons
- It’s Just a Thought by Reverend Cliff Berdinner
- The Story of Justin (part 8) by Helga Watts (see past newsletters for preceding parts)
- Facing Up To Our Giants (part 2) – Paul Hardingham continues his series on the life of David
- A New Way of Protecting Our Environment – by David Shreeve
- Word for Today: Do You Want Your Church to Grow? – another extract from UCB’s Word For Today booklet (available free in both Churches), see also www.ucb.co.uk
- The Way I See It: TAKE CARE! by Canon David Winter
- Why God Sometimes Hides the Truth by Reverend Richard Bewes
- Build-Relationships.net by Chris Grimshaw
- …and as always, Contact Details, Events, Adverts and Service Times
To download in pdf format right-click HERE (ctrl+click Mac) Or click on the thumbnail to read online. • remember you can advertise in the newsletter • back issues of the newsletter are also available here
