Week of 10 May 2026
Welcome to the week's Worship Weekly
Welcome to the Worship Weekly for the week starting Sunday 10 May 2026.
May is proving to be a busy time already; there are a number of scheduled events in and around the Church, not least the start of Christian Aid week this coming weekend (9 May).
Christian Aid was formed in the aftermath of World War 2 to raise funds for emergency supplies in mainland Europe. It supported, equipped and enabled partner churches there to meet the needs of their people, raising close to £80,000 (£3m at today’s value).
Christian Aid Week was launched in the early 1950s to raise extra funds. Christian Aid continued helping refugees in mainland Europe as well as those from Palestine, Korea and China. We supported the establishment of the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) to enable young people to make a difference and offered help to churches in countries moving from colonialism to independence to meet the needs of poor people.
It has continued and continues to support those in need. If you are able to make a donation, no matter what size, you can via the Christian Aid envelopes that will be at the rear of the Church, or online at https://give.christianaid.org.uk/donate/CAM-011277
Demelza Henderson, our beloved erstwhile Sacristan in Lympstone, commences her 1,105 mile Land’s End to John O’Groats sponsored Cycle next week. Demelza is raising funds for the Association for the Promotion of Retreats, for whom she is the Administrator. Her route is unique – connecting twenty different retreat houses and retreat leaders as she travels the length of the country. You will be able to follow Demelza through her daily updates on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/promoting.retreats .
There is still time to sponsor Demelza in this challenging and uniquely routed ride: https://promotingretreats.org/cycling-fundraiser/
While Demelza is away, Vanessa Simpson will lead the Wednesday Quiet Prayer Service at 11.30.
We wish her the best of weather and happy landings!
Finally, our friend and neighbour, Basil Strickland will be becoming more bionic later this week, so, Basil, we all wish you make the speediest of recoveries and we’ll see you bounding up the steps ‘ere long!
Upcoming Sunday Services
This Sunday at 08.00 Demelza Henderson will lead the Morning Prayer Service.
At 09.30 Steve Jones & Heidi Budden will lead the Holy Communion Service.
On Sunday 10 May at 08.00 Shaun Tipton will lead the Communion Service
At 09.30 Shaun Tipton will lead the Journey Service on the subject Can I be a Christian if I find it hard to believe?
News and Events
Richard Giles
Richard’s funeral will take place at 14.00 on Tuesday 12 May.
Heidi Budden Ordination @ Exeter Cathedral
Heidi Budden will be formally ordained at a service at Exeter Cathedral at 15.00 on Saturday 27 June. Tickets for the Ordination Service are free but tickets are limited. You can support Heidi on this huge day by booking a ticket or tickets at https://www.ticketsource.com/exetercathedral/ordination-of-priests/e-yzzbja
Heidi will then be celebrating her first Eucharist at the 09.30 joint Mission Community service at Lympstone the morning after (Sunday 28 June).
Christian Aid Week
Christian Aid week runs nationally from 9 May to 16 May. Here in Lympstone we will be raising funds in several ways:
- a basic lunch of soup, bread and cheese on Sunday 10 MAY at 12.00 in Lympstone Church;
- a short musical event on Wednesday 13 May at 16.00 in Lympstone Church when the Lympstone Singers and Lympstone Primary School choir will be joining together to ‘MAKE MUSIC FOR CHRISTIAN AID’; and
- Christian Aid envelopes will be available at the back of the church at services on 10 and 17 May.
Donations can also be made on line (caw.christianaid.org.uk) or using the card reader at the back of the church. In Exmouth there will be street collections on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 May and a coffee morning at Glenorchy church on Saturday 16 May.
Everyone is invited to all these events.
Our new Archbishop of Canterbury writes: ‘Founded by churches to help refugees after the trauma and upheaval of World War II, Christian Aid is now 80 years old. Over the decades, the people may have changed but the movement – bigger than us all – has remained constant and committed, driven by God’s call for us all to love our global neighbours. No one can end poverty alone, but together, we are unstoppable.’
Thank you,
Wendy Reynolds and Sue Jones.
Christian Aid Week Launch Lunch - 12.00 on Sunday 10 May @Lympstone Church
To mark the start of Christian Aid week, Wendy Reynolds and Sue Jones are organising a Christian Aid week lunch in the Church at midday on Sunday 10 May.
If you able to help set-up, clear away or provide nourishment (actual as well as spiritual!) please get in touch with Wendy or Sue.
Crisis in Nature and the Climate – Film @ Lympstone Church at 19.30 on Tuesday 12 May 2026
The climate and nature crisis affects all aspects of British life. In November 2025, ten of the UK’s leading experts briefed an invited audience of more than 1,200 politicians and leaders from business, culture, faith, sport and the media in Westminster, chaired by Professor Mike Berners Lee and introduced by Chris Packham (see https://www.nebriefing.org/). Its purpose was to demonstrate what a clear, evidence-led national emergency briefing could look like and why it is needed. Following a positive response from those at the briefing, the organisers have decided to edit the presentations into a 45-minute film to take the message into communities across the UK.
We will screen the film in Lympstone Church at 7:30pm on Tuesday 12th May, followed by a discussion of its implications for our community, country and planet. Refreshments will be served and attendance is free. All welcome.
Musical Singing Event for Christian Aid – Wednesday 13 May 2026 at 16.00
Lympstone Singers and Lympstone Primary School will be Making Music for Christian Aid in Lympstone Church at 16.00 on Wednesday 13 May. Entrance is free, but donations by cash or card are welcome to Christian Aid.
Coffee Morning – Tuesday 19 May @ 10.00
...at the home of Gillian and Colin Hoskins, 17 Underhill Crescent.
Living Stones Live – Tuesday 19 May @ St Mary the Virgin, Abbotsbury or via Live Stream, 10.00 to 16.00
This free to attend event is organised by the Church Buildings Team at the Diocese of Exeter, with funding from the Church Commissioners Buildings for Mission programme.
Talks include:
Sharing what’s special about your church
Engaging with your community
Making the most of your church building
Managing a project
Speakers include:
Douglas Young, creator of the Devon Churchland website
Aileen Peirce, Head of Interpretation & Design at Historic Royal Palaces
Camilla Finlay, Director at Clews Architects Ltd
Rosie Austin, Rural Churches Officer at the Diocese of Exeter
Lunch and refreshments provided
Booking for in person and online attendance is viahttps://exeter.anglican.org/resources/church-buildings/living-stones-live
Lympstone Patronal Festival – Sunday 6 September 2026
A patronal festival (or feast) is an annual celebration dedicated to the patron saint of a specific church, parish, town, or region. Our Church in Lympstone is dedicated to The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Mary’s nativity (birthday if you like) is September 8. So on or close to this date, a patronal festival would traditionally be held at the Church.
The Patronal Festival is an event that is being resurrected across all churches in the Mission Community. In Lympstone, this would take place this year on Sunday 6 September, the Sunday closest to Mary’s nativity.
As well as a religious festival, it is also an opportunity for a social gathering to celebrate; in he past, this has included picnics in the Churchyard and cream teas.
Do YOU have an idea how we could celebrate Lympstone’s Patronal Day on 6 September 2026? Please let me know @ adminLymCh@excc.church
Requests for Prayers to be said – A message from Chris Kleinstuber
If you would like prayers to be said during a Sunday service and/or at the Thursday Prayer Group for a friend or relative needing prayer, please send an email to PrayersLymCh@excc.church. Alternatively, those who don’t want to email can post a message in the Prayer Requests Box at the Church entrance using the supply of cards attached to the box. In both instances, please include your name so that we can verify the request.
If you would prefer prayers to be said privately, rather than in the services, please request the prayers to be said at the Thursday Prayer Group ONLY. Prayers said in this meeting are confidential and will be said every Thursday while the group feels it is still necessary. If you have any questions or feel you would like to join the group, please speak to Chris Kleinstuber, who leads the Prayer Group each Thursday at 4 p.m. in the Lady Chapel.
