PARISH NEWSLETTER

SUNDAY 25TH OCTOBER 2020

20^th SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Jesus, the WORD of God in our Scriptures!

God having spoken diversely and in many ways by the prophets 'last of all in these days has spoken to us by his Son' (Hebrews 1: 1-2). We give thanks this week that God has chosen to reveal Himself and his loving, saving will for us through the sacred scriptures in our Bible.

This Week:

Sunday 25th October 2020 11.00am the Parish Eucharist  at S Martin's Sherford

In addition this Eucharist will also be streamed via our website  www.stmichaels-stokenham.co.uk / www.stmartins-sherford.co.uk Check the time of the broadcast there.

S Martin's Sherford will be also open today from 10.00am – 4.00pm for private prayer.

Wednesday 28th October: 10.00am said celebration of the Eucharist at S Michael's with time to rest apart from the 'busyness' of our lives for prayer and reflection

Forthcoming Sunday Services:

NEXT SUNDAY 1ST NOVEMBER:

10.00 THE EUCHARIST FOR ALL SAINTS AT ST MICHAEL'S STOKENHAM

4.00PM THE EUCHARIST – A COMMEMORATION OF OUR DEPARTED LOVED ONES FOR ALL SOULS AT S MICHAEL'S STOKENHAM (Names to Lynda Trout on 01548 580489)

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY 8TH NOVEMBER:

10.55 ACT OF REMEMBRANCE & REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY EUCHARIST AT ST MICHAEL'S STOKENHAM

10.55 ACT OF REMEMBRANCE & REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY EUCHARIST AT S MARTIN'S SHERFORD

SUNDAY 15TH NOVEMBER: 1100 PARISH EUCHARIST FOR THE PATRONAL FESTIVAL OF ST MARTIN OF TOURS AT S MARTIN'S SHERFORD

SUNDAY 22ND NOVEMBER (CHRIST THE KING)  10.00 THE EUCHARIST AT S MICHAEL'S STOKENHAM

Please keep in your prayers those elected to serve our Parish:

Churchwardens: Lynda Trout & Sue McKenzie

PCC members:

Lesley Cowley, Ann Foss, Paul Foss, Trevor Trout, Pat Stone, John Shepherd, Jane Chubb, Steve Collier, Suzan Gray

Deanery Synod members:

Natalie Bashford, Maggie Sly, Juliet Towell

Thank you! to Ann Sidwell and her team of helpers who worked so hard to enhance our worship,at S Michael's with Harvest decorations and arrangements of flowers!

Preparing to come to church:

Please try not to arrive more than 15 minutes before the service. Numbers are limited by social distancing, so it is 'first come first served'!

·         If you are attending church with someone from your household, then please do sit together. Your ‘group/bubble’ must however be two metres from your neighbour. Individuals must please sit 2 metres from each other. You will be asked to sit in a particular pew.

·         If you fall into the ‘extremely clinically vulnerable’ group you will need to make your own decision as to whether you come to church or not, based on your health and safety needs.

·         When you arrive in church, your name will be recorded and kept for track and trace purposes, so that if anyone should report they are having symptoms of COVID-19 after attending a church service we know who was there.  This information will be destroyed after 21days.  Please complete the consent form for this on entry to the Church or use the QR code if you have the NHS Test and Trace App.

·         Face masks are required.

·         We are sorry but we cannot allow dogs in Church  

It has been really wonderful to see so many of you returning to public worship and also being prepared to travel between our two lovely churches to attend services at both. It makes our Parish feel even more united!  We continue to look forward to being able to sing our praises and have live music at some point but do not know when this might be possible yet.

COMMEMORATION OF OUR  DEPARTED LOVED ONES  AT ALL SOULS-TIDE:

We will be keeping this with a Requiem Eucharist at 4.00pm next Sunday 1^st November at S Michael's Stokenham. You are warmly invited to come and light a candle in memory of your loved one. If you wish us to read out their name(s) when you come to the service please telephone Lynda Trout beforehand on 01548 580489.

Morning and Evening Prayer: Said daily at 9.00am & 6.00pm by Fr Michael with prayers for Parish and People. Please join him at these times in your homes. You might like to use the Form of Morning and Evening Prayer for Ordinary Time which is available on the website, or your own Book of Common Prayer.

'Daily Hope' is a free phone line of hymns, reflections and prayers. Now that we have begun public worship again and have the streamed service online, the weekly reflection has come to a natural end.  But those unable to join us in either way can access this free telephone line to hear hymns, daily prayers and reflections: 0800 804 804

S Martin's Sherford Annual District Church Meeting will be held on Wednesday 28th October 2020 at 7pm in St Martin's Church Sherford.

Subject to any future guidance from Government or Church, we intend to hold the meeting in Church. To be eligible for election you need to have been on the Electoral roll for at least 6 months and be proposed and seconded on the application form. Do think and pray about whether you feel you might be able to make a contribution in this way?

If so, please obtain your application form for nomination for membership of the DCC from Judy Dix. To be eligible to vote or speak at the meeting you need to be on the Electoral Roll of S Martin's.  Please wear a face-mask and be prepared to sit socially distanced. We are sorry we cannot provide any refreshments this year!

Our prayers this week for:

Archdeacon Douglas Dettmer....care and welcome for all who feel isolated or left out... working, praying and serving together to grow our Parish.. candidates for S Martin's DCC...Kingsbridge Food Bank...the lonely & the anxious...our home communicants...all who have asked our prayers including the sick and among them  Gill and Trevor Moore, Bobby Parsons, Dick Lloyd, Gill Mickel, Keith and Jackie Rollinson, Katherine Yandell, Jamie Cooke, Andrew Graner, the Ward Family...and Marjorie Godden...those who have died recently and among them Tony Watkins and those whose anniversaries we keep at this time and among them William Tester, Alan Luscombe, Herbert Benson and Peter Selvey

Kingsbridge Foodbank

The need to support individuals and families with their basic food requirements has increased very substantially since the lockdown and beyond it. Kingsbridge Foodbank does a wonderful job in providing food for many families still in need.  If you feel able to make a financial donation their bank details are: Kingsbridge Foodbank: sort code 77-09-24: Account number 17928860.

Thanks!

Our (belated) Annual Parochial Church Meeting for the year 2019 was an opportunity to thank all who work so hard together in our Parish to serve our faithful congregations and the wider community. You will find the reports and the accounts on the website. If you could not be there then thank you, whether you have worked 'on stage' or 'behind the scenes'. You are all greatly valued and much appreciated. Bless you! Thank you too to those who served on our PCC and held positions of responsibility last year and before and are now standing down. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.

We now look to the future under God's guidance to grow and cherish our Parish, its churches, members, and to serve all who live in its communities.

Prayer for us to pray this week:

Blessed Lord,who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:

help us so to hear them, to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them that, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word,

we may embrace and for ever hold fast the hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ,

who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

Amen

Visiting & Home Communions

I have begun visits and home communions again. I do however want folk to feel safe about this. I will wear a face mask and bring Holy Communion in a sealed container. I will sanitise my hands before I give Holy Communion.  I may have to limit the duration of my visit a little. It will still be good to visit our home communicants again as they are very much part of our congregation.  I will ring you beforehand to make sure you are happy about my visit. If you know of anyone who might like to have a visit please do let me know? 

If you would like to contact me about any personal or pastoral matter please do so, I should be very happy to help you. Please leave a message on my phone 01548 580908 or send me an email. Next week I shall be working in the Parish on  Wednesday 28th October and Thursday 29^th October.

Your Church remains here for you, please know we are praying for you, for those in need, and for all those you love.  Please do get in touch if there is anyone or anything I can pray for or if I can help you in any way.

With my prayers and very best wishes

Fr Michael

Priest in Charge: Fr Michael Berrett, The Vicarage, Stokenham, Kingsbridge, Devon  TQ7 2ST  01548 580908 priest@ssbparish.co.uk

The Readings for the 20th Sunday after Trinity

LOOK, a weekly activity sheet for the young and the young at heart!

Download Look as a PDF if you would like to print it off for completion.