Feel connected and welcomed
This bulletin highlights the practical as well as the spiritual life of our church and the ways we offer support. We hope it helps you feel connected and welcomed as part of our community. This page is updated every Thursday.
DonateSome practicalities
- Children are welcome at all our services – there are play areas at Ottery and Alfington. During our services you are welcome to stand or sit as you are minded or able.
- Gluten free wafers are available at services of Holy Communion at Ottery – just let a steward know as you arrive.
- If you think you can’t sing or don’t know the hymns give it your all anyway – no one judges here.
- Ottery St Mary Parish Church wifi code: John15v5
Links to ....
Notices and requests
Arrangements for the lunch on Sunday 16th
If you are bringing a donation for the lunch on Sunday, please do not bring in any food that needs refrigeration before the day itself, as we don’t have spare fridge capacity. There will be tea, coffee, squash and a non-alcoholic fruit punch provided to drink. If you would like anything different (alcohol), please remember to bring your own.
Charity of the month: Action East Devon
Action East Devon is a local charity working with young people and their families providing mental health and wellbeing support services, working with children, young people and their families. They are passionate about mental health and wellbeing support at a local level.
https://www.actioneastdevon.org.uk/Compline
The Choir of Chingford Parish Church, London, will be singing the daily services at Exeter Cathedral From August 3rd – 9th. They are a large choir comprising independent boy and girl choristers together with a large number of adults providing the lower musical parts. They maintain a cathedral-style choral repertoire at Chingford and frequently sing in cathedrals around the country, including St Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey, when the resident choirs are on holiday. They recently went on tour to Rome, which included singing at St Peter’s Basilica. The adult lower voices of the choir will be visiting Ottery St Mary at 9pm on Thursday 6th August to sing the ancient plainchant Office of Compline, which lasts just under 30 minutes and to which anyone is welcome.
Food Bank
Please can people donate:
Toilet rolls
Tinned meat
Sugar
Coffee
No more baked beans please, they have more than enough!Lydia’s Final service and Licensing
Lydia’s final service will be on 16th August at 10.30am at Ottery St Mary church. There will be a bring and share lunch after the service in the Dorset Aisle. If you would like to contribute food, please indicate what you will be bringing and how many it will cater for on the sheets in the Dorset Aisle.
Lydia will be licensed at Rector of St Luke’s and Christ Church on 8th September at 7pm at St Luke’s Church. You’ll find St Luke’s on Sydney Street, London, SW3 6NH. The nearest Tube stations are South Kensington (9 minute walk away) or Sloane Square (17-minute walk away).
The parish are providing a high tea at 5pm.
Please RSVP to Lydia on attendance and whether you would like tea.Melanesian Mission UK Annual General Meeting & Festival Day
Join us on Saturday 19 September 2026 in Exeter for a day of worship, fellowship and updates on the work of the Melanesian Mission. Come and celebrate our partnership with the Anglican Church of Melanesia and hear inspiring stories of mission and faith. All welcome.
RSVP by 1 September 2026 to or 01404 851656.Ottery Deanery Quiet Day
Saturday 3rd October 2026 10am – 3pm
Led by Canon Cate Edmonds at The Narthex, St Michael’s Church, West Hill , EX11 1UW
There is no charge for the day, but there will be an opportunity to contribute to Revd Cate’s chosen charity, the Melanesian Mission
Given limited numbers and for catering purposes, please sign up with Jennie Golding, lay chair: 01395 578474Parish Office holiday closure
The Parish Office will be closed on Tuesday 18th August and the 24th-28th August.
Pop Up Choir rehearsal
We are loving our Pop- Up choir on a 2nd Sunday. So we can broaden our musical offering please pop along to a rehearsal on Saturday 8th August at 11am. In fact – why not come along at 10am and enjoy a fabulous bacon bap or slice of cake at the Welcome Cafe first!
Request for Jars
Clean jars required for those who make jam/marmalades for the church shop. Jam or marmalade jars only please and no jars that have contained savoury things like pickles or mayonnaise. Please leave any donations behind the shop desk. Thank you.
RIP
No funerals this week
News
A reminder when church is closed
Ottery St Mary Parish Church is closed to ALL visitors on:
- Mondays during term time from 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- Wednesdays from 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
- Thursdays during term time from 3:45 PM – 5:15 PM
During these times, the parish office is out of bounds to ALL.
If you want to know if the church is open, please check the calendar.

Collect and readings
Sunday 9th August: The tenth Sunday after Trinity
Collect
Let your merciful ears, O Lord,
be open to the prayers of your humble servants;
and that they may obtain their petitions
make them to ask such things as shall please you;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
1 Kings 19: 9 – 18
At that place Elijah came to a cave and spent the night there.
Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He answered, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.’ He said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He answered, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill. Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.’
Romans 10: 5 – 15
Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that ‘the person who does these things will live by them.’ But the righteousness that comes from faith says, ‘Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?”’ (that is, to bring Christ down) or “Who will descend into the abyss?”’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say?
‘The word is near you,
on your lips and in your heart’
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’
Matthew 14: 22 – 33
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’
Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’
PCC members
As well as the clergy and churchwardens, the following are on the PCC. Please contact members of the PCC through the Administrator.
- Mrs Sue Clayton
- Ms Anitra Lockwood














