The Parish of St Thomas, Exeter | Anglican Church in the Catholic Tradition | Anglican Church

All Saints Sunday, is a time when we remember and celebrate the lives of those who have gone before us, who Jesus would bless. I thought maybe it was time to have some beatitudes for this time of pandemic, for this place, and these people, remembering those who have succumbed to COVID-19 and those grieving the loss of loved ones, left to pick up the pieces, because I like to imagine Jesus here standing among us saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the agnostics. Blessed are they who doubt. Those who aren’t sure, who can still be surprised. Blessed are they who are spiritually…

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The Lockdown Library in Wardrew Road has boasted a wide variety of genres, including this book. Our neighbour, Sue Morrish, has been self-isolating since the beginning of the pandemic and yet remains consistently cheerful and caring. So when she spotted this book from her window seat and enjoyed reading it, Sue seemed the obvious person to ask to review it. Read what she thought below: SOLITUDE By TERRY WAITE Review by SUE MORRISH When I first saw a review of this book in a group I follow, I fancied a read. When I saw the title standing out from a distance in the Wardrew Road Lockdown Library, I had to try it. What…

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Read Fr Terry's sermon here or listen to it below. ASCENSION DAY PRAYER Risen Christ, you have raised our human nature to the throne of heaven: help us to seek and serve you, that we may join you at the Father’s side, where you reign with the Spirit in glory, now and forever. Amen Common Worship

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You may remember at the beginning of lockdown, Jenny set up a weekly free plant stall outside her home. Over the past six weeks, Jenny's generosity has inspired gardeners old and new and St Thomas vegetable and flower plots have been filled with her beautiful plants. Gardeners have been equally generous in return, supporting Jenny's appeal for donations to the Community Larder. In total, Jenny has passed 13 bags of groceries and £156.71 cash to the project that is supporting a growing number of local families in need of help because of the pandemic. Jenny would like to extend her thanks to everyone who has supported her and hopes that all your gardening efforts will bear fruit! (And you can continue to support…

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Gracious Friend and Living, Loving Lord, the people of our world are under attack by a pretty little virus with evil intent – to try and drastically reduce the world population – in the most appalling way. Our people are fighting back, stoically nursing the sick and dying while taking care for their own safety. Many of the nursing staff have succumbed to the disease. Apart from the hospitals and care homes many people are still working to deliver food and necessaries to those of us who are in “lockdown” and isolated. This time of separation has united us in a common consideration for our friends and neighbours and those we see might need a little extra…

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Easter 6 Sermon I will start by wishing you all a Happy Easter as we have 2 more weeks of Easter celebration left! I saw a cartoon this week which was designed to look like the London Underground map. You will find a copy of it on the pewsheet. Instead of Tube stations it shows our current destinations of chair, window and tv. It is a way of showing that our worlds have become smaller. My feeling is that many of us are starting to get a bit restless. In the verses which lead into our reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the people of Athens are also restless, constantly seeking something new. That’s not a bad thing:…

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Read Fr Terry's review of this book which is very appropriate during this period of lockdown

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Easter 5 10th May 2020 John 14.1-14 We are at a time when many are feeling hopeless. Will this virus ever be beaten? Will life ever get back to normal? There are people so totally isolated by the lockdown that they are finding it very difficult, particularly those of us who live alone. I am lucky in that I have, and am ready to use, modern technology to keep in regular contact with friends and colleagues. In fact, I speak by these means daily to some friends face to face that I might only see once or twice a week normally. But some do not have that luxury and they cannot get out to interact with friends…

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