A VERY BIG UPDATE this time, full of new services, new events and masses of Community News.
Prayer is one of the big themes in this bulletin – read about the Totnes Team Ministry‘s call to prayer as part of this year’s Thy Kingdom Come week. The week itself then concludes with the Beacon Prayer Event at Exeter Cathedral.
About a week later, Messy Church also heads to Exeter Cathedral for a Messy Fiesta on Saturday 10th June. If you’re spending that day in Totnes, though, head down to Vire Island for the Totnes Christian Festival.
There’s plenty of singing going on throughout June – Choral Evensong, of course, plus Ogwell Village Choir, the Collati Singers, and the Chapel Choir of Robinson College.
Sitting outside weather is here at last, and even if it isn’t sunny or dry, if you’re near St Mary’s Church on any Tuesday until September, pop in for a Tuesday Special and enjoy refreshments and good company, and help fund Friends of St Mary’s at the same time.
Speaking of which, the recently-launched Friends of St Mary’s Membership Scheme is going well, thanks to a lot of hard work by Julian Hall and others, and as you may have noticed, we’ve added a new section to this website – including details of membership benefits and how to join.
[Making top-row space available for the new section meant moving some things around…Contacts are now under the About us menu…and the public Galleries are now under the Community heading.]
There’s news about the Vision Project, and the new Freedom Centre website. The Drop In and Totnes Street Pastors both have their latest newsletters online.
A new series of events is being launched in July, focussing on the history of Bridgetown generally, and especially on St John’s Church.
Forward dates for the Tuesday Afternoon and Evening House Groups, and likewise for the Crosspark Book Club, are further down, under the Community News section.
If by chance you haven’t yet gotten hold of the May Parish Newsletter, there’s a contents list below along with a link to download the extended, colour version.
Many thanks to everyone who has sent us information and images.
• PS In our next bulletin, we’ll be compiling feedback from recent events and fundriasers. So if you’ve any reports, reviews or photos, please send them in!
SPECIAL SERVICES in Exeter & Totnes
NEW: Sunday 4th June (Day of Pentecost) at 6.30pm
Exeter Cathedral
BEACON PRAYER EVENT
As a climax to the Thy Kingdom Come wave of prayer, the Cathedral invites us to take our prayer boxes to a special celebration service. All welcome.
NEW: Sunday 18th June at 6.30pm
St Mary’s Church, Totnes
CHORAL EVENSONG
programme tba
• officiant The Rector
• read about St Mary’s Choir
UPCOMING EVENTS
Thursday 25th May from 10am to 12noon
St Mary’s Church, Totnes
Unicef DAY for CHANGE
On Track Education Services Ltd will mark unicef Day for Change with a Sale of Healthy Breakfast Goodies including home-made energy orbs, smoothies and breakfast muffins.
NEW: Tuesday 30th May from 10.30am to 1pm’ish
St Mary’s Church, Totnes
TUESDAY SPECIAL!!!!
Toasted teacake, coffee, warm welcome – every Tuesday until September. Tables and chairs outside in the sunshine (inside seating also available). In support of the Friends of St Mary’s
• more information from Sandra Nicholson
on 01626 330049
NEW: Wednesday 31st May at 6pm
Civic Hall, Totnes
Totnes Town Council
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
As some of you know we are going to commence a Community Budgeting project this year to engage with residents and business owners, ahead of setting the 18/19 precept. This idea will take place at our Annual Town Meeting.
We are laying on free refreshments and making the meeting more interactive. We really hope that we can get great numbers coming to start expressing their views and priorities. With many thanks,
Catherine
Saturday 3rd June 11am to 12noon
St Mary’s Church, Totnes
Friends of St Mary’s coffee concert
OGWELL VILLAGE CHOIR
A choral & piano concert of Sacred, light and Folk music, directed by Judy Reeves.
• doors open at 10.30am
• coffee & cakes available for sale
• entry £5 on the door
Saturday 10th June
from 10.30am to 1.30pm
Exeter Cathedral
MESSY CHURCH FIESTA
All the fun of Messy Church with more people and more space…
From the Exeter Cathedral website: “Messy Church is a way-of-being church for families involving fun. This event will bring all the Messy Churches of Devon together to experience a little of ‘worldwide church’ and celebrate all that God is doing. It’s also a great way to bond with your Messy Families by going somewhere together as Messy Church.” If anyone would like more information please ring Diana Lusher on 01803 840702 or 07710 222955. We then start again after the holidays on September 16th.
• more about Messy Church here
• see some photos of Messy Church
NEW: Saturday 10th June from 12noon to 8pm
Vire Island, Totnes
TOTNES CHRISTIAN FESTIVAL 2017
A Celebration of Christian Life and Culture
You are invited to come along to this free event as a member of a local church, and bring as many people as you can!
• Speaker (pictured right): Bishop Nick McKinnel
NEW: Saturday June 17th at 7.30pm
St John’s Church, Bridgetown
THE COLLATI SINGERS
Conducted by Trefor Farrow, The Collati Singers will sing Delius’ wordless Two Songs to be Sung of a Summer Night on the Water. The concert will also include unaccompanied arrangements of folk songs made for the King’s Singers and music by Ravel, Dowland and Whitacre.
• admission is free (retiring donations invited for the church maintenance fund)
• for further information see their website
• see also their facebook page
• download a printable A4 poster
NEW: Tuesday 27th June at 7.30pm
St Mary’s Church, Totnes
Concert by the CHAPEL CHOIR of ROBINSON COLLEGE, Cambridge
A mixed-voice choir singing services twice a week in the wonderful setting of Robinson College’s Chapel. They also sing services on feast days and special occasions throughout the academic year. The Choir tours every year both abroad and in the UK. Previous tours have included Paris, Innsbruck and Southern Spain.
• retiring collection
• website
• further details tba
NEW: Saturday 1st July (launch day) from 3pm to 5pm
St John’s Church, Bridgetown
HISTORY AT ST JOHN’S
A series of events, starting with a Tea Party, when older residents of Bridgetown will come and share their memories of Bridgetown generally and the church in particular, while enjoying tea and cake. Newer and younger residents may like to come along to hear about life in Bridgetown in the past.
• everyone is welcome
• no tickets are needed, but there will be a bowl for donations
THY KINGDOM COME – Totnes Team Ministry Call to Prayer
THE ARCHBISHOPS of Canterbury and York have written to every serving parish priest in the Church of England expressing their longing “to see a great wave of prayer across our land, throughout the Church of England and many other Churches” from 25th May to 4th June culminating in praying for the renewal of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
To that end we have allocated each parish within the Totnes Team, a particular day in that week in which they can invite parishioners to pray for half an hour between 8am & 8pm. A representative from each church will be given a rota for participants to sign up to, to pray for 30 minutes. There will be some information in each church to aid your prayers.
Various pdf and docx files are available via the links below, to help organise the week and to help support those who are participating. Please click the links or images to download the files:
Prayer Booklet (pdf)
Lord’s Prayer Booklet (pdf)
Let Your Light Shine (docx)
Prayer Rota (docx)
• you can also download a printable copy of the poster
PROJECTS – in and around St Mary’s Church, Totnes
WE HAVE EMBARKED ON a scheme to restore the magnificent fabric of St Mary’s Church, and to reorder the interior of the building. At the same time, Totnes Trust has embarked on a project with us to make the area around the Church into one of an attractive and unique heritage areas.
The two organisations have come together to work in partnership on this project along with the Town Council.
The partnership believe that these projects can only succeed if they involve the community through extensive public consultation, and so will be running two stages of consultation at St Mary’s Church in June.
The first stage will take place on June 8th, 9th and 10th, and June 15th, 16th and 17th. The consultation will consist of a series of display boards in the church showing the rich history of the church and its surroundings, inform the public about the current situation and need, and then invite them to contribute their thoughts and ideas.
The times of the consultation are:
8th June 12pm – 7pm
9th, 10th, 15th, 16th & 17th June10am – 4pm
We would be very grateful if you would consider volunteering to be a host. We do not expect you to be there for each session or a full session but your time would be appreciated however much you can spare. If you can or for more info, email Frances Northrop or telephone 0770 6466841
• see also our Vision Project section
FRIENDS OF ST MARY’S – membership scheme
DO YOU WISH you could bottle a bit of St Mary’s and take it home with you?
Well, you can – by joining the Friends of St Mary’s! The Membership subscription scheme was launched in early 2017. Membership benefits include:
• Access to a stunning, growing collection of online images showing our historic church in all its splendour – not to mention close-up photos of many architectural highlights that you may have missed.
Below are a few thumbnails of images from the new galleries, more to come soon. Members can view these images at high resolution (3000 x 4000px) suitable for printing or for studying in fine detail.
• Members receive email listings of all forthcoming concerts and events, with reserved seating (on prior application) for all ticketed Friends of St Mary’s events.
• Last but not least, you are helping to support a variety of very worthy projects to enhance and maintain St Mary’s Church.
We’ve added several new pages, under the menu heading Friends of St Mary’s:
About Friends of St Mary’s
Friends of St Mary’s shop
Friends of St Mary’s membership
Friends of St Mary’s – join
Friends of St Mary’s Members’ Galleries
ONGOING EVENT
Until Saturday 15th July
St John’s Church, Bridgetown
EXPLORING OUR FAITH
Maybe you’re new or have been coming to church for years but are unsure about some of the things we do? Or you’re wondering about how it all relates to our Christian faith? Members of the Clergy and Reader ministry team will be leading a series of six sessions on selected Saturday mornings looking at the following topics:
Exploring the Bible
Why do we have the Bible? Where did it come from? Personal Bible reading.
Exploring Ceremonies
The importance and meanings of baptism, confirmation, marriage, funerals & ordination.
Exploring the Eucharist
What’s Holy Communion all about?
Exploring Prayer
What is prayer & why do we pray? Praying alone, praying together. Different ways into prayer.
Exploring the Church (Saturday 17th June)
What is the point of church? Buildings & robes. Mission & maintenance. Choirs & congregations.
Exploring Forgiveness
The relevance of confession, absolution, wholeness & reconciliation.
• all sessions will take place at St John’s, Bridgetown
• click here for more details and to book your place
WEDDINGS – updated invoice form to download
You can download an invoice (Word docx file), updated May 2017 with new BACS information, for the core costs (Service, Marriage Certificate, Calling of Banns, optional Banns Certificate and heating if applicable) of a Wedding Service provided by the Totnes Team Ministry.
• full details HERE
• if anyone would like to send us photos from their wedding service, we’d love to have some to post on the website
COMMUNITY NEWS with Liz Waterson
Totnes Street Pastors
The Spring 2017 Newsletter is now available to read online or download as a pdf.
“Every step leaves a footprint – don’t get discouraged if it appears to be a quiet night! It’s not what we’re against but what we are for. Let’s get excited about Jesus and allow Him to shine through all that we do. He welcomed everyone. He was attractive to everyone. His message is invitational – people may choose whether or not to accept it.”
~ Reverend Les Isaac, CEO of Ascension Trust
History at St John’s Church
A series of events starting with a Tea Party on July 1st from 3pm to 5pm, sharing memories of Bridgetown in general and the church in particular.
Fuller details under Upcoming Events, above.
Freedom Centre website
For the most up to date news re the Marketplace Food Bank and The Drop In, visit the Freedom Centre Totnes website. This really replaces the Totnes Mobile Food Bank who are now mainly working with CAP clients. Food donations for The Totnes Mobile Food Bank can be made at Morrisons who have a brown Wheelie Collection bin for them by the Post Box at the exit.
• Marketplace Food Bank is a walk in food bank and they are working with statutory agencies to help those referred. This is also an Emergency Food Bank.
Totnes Drop-In Newsletter
The Spring 2017 Newsletter is now available to read online or download as a pdf. Included is the following information…
Revival Life Ministries “Drop In” to become Marketplace Drop In
Revival Life Ministries is in the process of closing as a registered charity. The work of the Drop In with the homeless in Totnes is being transferred into Marketplace Ministries Ltd and will continue to help homeless people in our community. Mark Hatch, who has been the shining light of the Drop In Centre and homeless provision in Totnes for over 20, years will continue as Centre Manager of Marketplace Drop In.
From Monday 3rd April, both the name and the location of the Drop In have changed. The Drop In is now called Marketplace Drop In. The location will change as the Drop In moves across the road to 2a Burke Road. The Bank Account details for the Drop In will remain unchanged.
The temporary move over the road is to facilitate the demolition of the current premises and the rebuild which South Hams District Council are undertaking. At the end of that process, Marketplace Drop In will return to a brand new purpose built provision for the homeless.
To the service user, there will be no interruption of service during this transition. It will however streamline the provision by utilizing the administrative infrastructure that already exists within Marketplace Ministries Ltd. This will allow Mark to do what he loves best, to focus his time and energy on those who need him.
Churches in Totnes supporting the initiative of Plymouth Red Cross for welcoming asylum-seekers
Jackie Fern and Wendy Stayte, on behalf of Totnes Quakers, are asking if other churches in Totnes would be willing to join with us for making ‘Welcome Packs’ for asylum-seekers when they arrive in Plymouth.
This is part of a ‘Welcome’ scheme that has been run by the Plymouth Red Cross for many years, and the scheme involves welcoming new arrivals when they come to Plymouth, helping them find their accommodation and generally find their feet during their first month in Plymouth, befriending them and giving them practical help.
All of this is done by the volunteers of the Welcome Project.
The part which Red Cross is now looking to Totnes to see if we can help, is the making of the Welcome Packs, which consist of shoe boxes containing toiletries and a few other useful items to have on arrival.
About 300 new asylum-seekers arrive in Plymouth per year, which means about 6 boxes per week. If a few other churches would join the Quakers in this practical initiative that would be very welcome.
We would make the collection point for the filled boxes at the Quaker meeting house (in Ticklemore Street Totnes), and would take responsibility for taking them over to Plymouth.
• more about British Red Cross support for refugees here
Tuesday Afternoon House Group
Our new study book is Living Faithfully by John Pritchard.
• on Tuesday June 6th we will meet at 4, Riverside, Swallowfields (Mary Harris’ house, phone: 01803 865772). Please bring your books – we shall be looking at Chapter 3 together Handling Money. Tony Gregg will be leading the session
• further details, Liz Waterson on 01803 849345
Tuesday Evening House Group
The Tuesday Evening House Group is currently meeting to discuss the book Living Faithfully by John Pritchard.
6th June – Handling Money
20th June – Handling Our Sexuality
4th July – Facing Temptation
18th July – Being Healthy (this is the last house group before summer).
• all sessions are at 3 Sparrow Road except 6th June, which will be at 25 Kings Orchard
• contact: Carolyn Stilwell on 01803 863030
Crosspark Book Club – 2017 forward dates for your diary
Monday 5th June Notes from an Exhibition by Patrick Gale
Venue: Crosspark, facilitated by Debbie Parsons
Monday 7th August Island Wife: Living on the Edge of the Wild by Judy Fairbairns
(venue tba, not at Crosspark)
On sale
Delicious jam, marmalade, chutney and other produce is now on sale at St Mary’s Church, Totnes – and will continue to be so for some weeks to come!
• jam jars and lids are not needed at the moment!
PARISH NEWSLETTER – the May 2017 issue is online
Parish News May 2017 – this month’s newsletter, compiled and designed by Julian Hall, features 20 pages full of news, articles and information. To receive the extended, full colour version in your inbox each month, please email Julian Hall.
Many thanks to the advertisers* in the latest edition!
This issue includes:
- Thoughts on Prayer – by Reverend Gill Still
- Ancient Daily Prayers – by Joy Hanson
- It’s Just A Thought – by the Reverend Cliff Berdinner
- Miscellaneous Observations – a collection of insightful quotations
- Growing The Rural Church – Exeter Diocese
- Thy Kingdom Come – events from Ascension to Pentacost
- Vicar’s Sleeping Rough Ordeal Over – Vicar Gary Deighton of Goodrington
- Caring With Cakes – a project from St David’s Church in Exeter
- Experience Resurrection Life By Giving – Bishop Robert Atwell of Exeter
- It’s Just Not Cricket – poem by Nigel Beeton
- The Way I See It – Canon David Winter
- You Can Change – another extract from UCB’s Word For Today booklet (available free in both churches), see also UCB’s website
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 – rates updated November 2016
REMINDERS…
Clergy days off
Thursdays (Reverend Julian) and Fridays (Reverends Debbie, Jane and Steve) – please respect this by not contacting them on those days!
Parish Giving Scheme
There are various people using the Parish Giving Scheme who would be more than happy to answer any queries and help with the paperwork if necessary.
• please contact Julian Hall on 01803 867537 about this in the first instance
Help & Advice
The Need Help poster has recently been updated (March 2017).
• click here to download a printable A4 version
Booking enquiries re. St John’s Church, Bridgetown
Please call 01803 865615 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10am to 12noon (enquiries will not be taken at any other times), or email us.
Carolyn & Tony are no longer dealing with this!
• St John’s Hall & Lettings information
• St John’s Hall & Lettings photos
Coffee at St Mary’s Church, Totnes
Servers needed! It seems that quite a few people like drinking coffee after the service, but not many like serving it… Please contact one of the team if you’d like to help – otherwise it’s something that will disappear, which would be a shame!
Food Bank Items
Please check the sell by dates on food bank items.
I have to go through all the gifts and remove those that are out of date, empty the cans and then recycle – rather messy work. Any out of date food sent to the Food Bank which has to be disposed of by them has to be paid for. Also, very sadly, we are unable to give homemade gifts as there is provenance or dating. This is not problem at our fairs or coffee mornings, because purchaser and seller deal directly with one another. Any gifts, if you are unable to leave them in St Mary’s Church, may be left at any time in my porch. I am also collecting duvets and blankets and clothes for Mark, who will be opening the Drop In as a night shelter this winter.
• further information: Liz Waterson 01803 84934 32 Copland Meadows TQ9 6ER
• remember, we would love to receive more toiletries and household cleaning products!
• information about Food Bank opening times is here
Food Bank collections
You can bring your food bank donations – especially toiletries and cleaning products please – to any Sunday service at St Mary’s Church.
No need anymore to wait for the first Sunday of the month. Many thanks to everyone who donates – your help is greatly appreciated.
• you can now also take your food bank donations to Morrisons in Totnes – there is a collection bin by the toilets
• please check all sell-by dates (see above)!
• further information from Liz Waterson on 01803 84934
• more about Totnes Food Bank here
Totnes Caring
We are always desperate for more volunteer drivers and I was wondering if any of your wonderful parishioners would be interested. If you have a little time to spare and are interested in becoming a volunteer car driver for Totnes Caring, please contact Sue Alford or Jacquie Mills on 01803 865684 or email us.
Thanking you in advance!
• download a printable poster
Totnes Church Services
Below is a handy at-a-glance summary of the various regular services in Totnes.
•click here to download a printable version
• the latest version of this list is also permanently available on our Services page
The Cross in Your Pocket
Several of our ladies have been embroidering pocket crosses – they are free and can be found in St George’s Chapel.
They have been extremely popular and we have received many thanks for them. If you would like to help make some more, please contact Jean Marr on: 01803 847839
• the beautiful cross pictured left (click to enlarge) was made by one of the stewards at St Mary’s Church, Totnes
Prayer
at St John’s Church, every Friday 5pm to 5.45pm
• all welcome
Table Talk
Every third Thursday of the month at The Seven Stars, between 10am and 12noon. Meet at the large table at the back, behind the bar, for coffee, etc.
• contact Anne Binns for more information on 01803 840146
Sunday Lunches
Would you like to have a roast lunch at the Albert Inn, Bridgetown, on the first Sunday of the month, with members of St John’s and St Mary’s churches?
• to book, please ring Liz Balkwill 01803 863355 or Anne Binns on 01803 840146 by the previous Thursday
Meditation Group
The Meditation Group meets at St John’s Church, Bridgetown, on the 2nd Friday of each month, from 7.30pm to 9pm.
• everyone is welcome to attend this informal group
• enquiries to Tricia Stokes on 01803 762158
Pennies for Heaven
There is a collection box at the back of St John’s Church, Bridgetown, every Sunday for your pennies and two-pennies.
The box is titled ‘Pennies for Heaven’.
For further information on any of the above Community News items, please contact Liz Waterson on 01803 849345, or email Liz
Easter Sunday 1st April at 6.30pm
NEW:
NEW:
Wednesday 26th April
updated:
Saturday 20th May
A new page has been added underneath the Vision menu heading:
Friday 24th March
A Course for Lent
Tuesday House Groups
Safeguarding Officer Elizabeth Waterson
Jam jars with lids required
EASTER LILIES: It has been the custom in previous years to ask for donations to purchase 
TO COMPLEMENT LAST WEEKEND’S exhibition of art by children from refugee camps, at St Mary’s Church, Totnes, we present (scroll down) a 
Sunday 28th February
Friday 19th February
10.15am Introductions and Inspiration from Frome Share Shop (video)
Viv Elce will be there with a Traidcraft stall.
Saturday 5th March
Saturday 12th March
Lenten Appeal for Water Aid
Lent Lunches
Deanery Confirmation
From time to time churches and individuals have been giving me money for the 
