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Today, we have a guest post from Exeter Gospel Choir.  Have you ever heard a Gospel Choir? If you watched the Royal Wedding then you have seen and heard one singing three songs at the heart of the service. Did you know Exeter has its own Gospel Choir? WHO ARE WE? We are a group of diverse people, over eighteen year olds, who enjoy singing in a group where voices of all grades, strength and tunefulness attempt to blend together to make a fair/good/inspiring sound. WHEN DO WE MEET? We meet for 10 weeks each term, avoiding school holidays, Wednesday’s 7.15 p.m. for a cuppa, 7.30 – 8.45 to sing. WHERE DO WE MEET? The main church part of St Thomas Methodist Church, 110-111 Cowick Street, Exeter EX4 1JE. ( Parking outside the church, bus stop nearby, a short walk from St Thomas railway station.) HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? The first session is a free taster. The cost is £50 per term and you can also pay half termly. WHO LEADS OUR CHOIR? Our leader, Vicki Parks, is a qualified friendly, fun, professional who has all the qualities , experience and qualifications we sought in our leader. HOW TO MAKE CONTACT; We have an Exeter Gospel Choir Facebook page for messages/comments/posts, email exetergospelchoir@gmail.com or pop along on Wednesday nights. OUR AGREED ETHOS: The Exeter Gospel Choir are inclusive; welcoming all abilities; with no auditions and no expectations of reading music; have a Christian Ethos but welcome and respect all faiths or none; sing Gospel songs, spirituals and community songs; are affordable- paying termly; are as paperless as possible in rehearsals, even if we use music at home; we learn by rote and sound files; participate in performances and competitions. (January 2018) Most of us joined to sing, make friends or take up a new hobby. The reasons for joining are as diverse as the people. These are some comments that members wanted to share with you; I can’t remember who it was told me about it but it remains an important event in my life. I presented myself to a group of men and women who welcomed me with open arms. No audition. This was IT and I had found “home”. I immensely enjoy this choir of people who expressed their enjoyment singing gospel style songs and didn’t just stand there but moved about a bit. Exeter Gospel Choir is the highlight of my weekly activities. An uplifting evening, I feel good afterwards Always amongst friends; feeling the brain fill with oxygen and joy – a really positive adrenaline rush! Wednesday – the best evening of the week! It’s choir time at the Methodist Church in St Thomas. With our wonderful leader Vicki, we’re guaranteed an inspiring time. We chat, limber up, we laugh (a lot), and of course we sing! Occasionally we make an incredible sound and we cry! Singing that’s good for the soul. Informal, relaxed and friendly. I’ve been a member for a couple of years. I guess I was inspired by Gareth Malone. Singing in a choir sounded unbelievable. I didn’t think of myself as a good singer but I came across a post that said you didn’t need to sing, just come along, so I did and I completely loved it! Joyful singing good for the heart and good for the brain. I moved to Exeter 4 and a half years ago after bereavements and I saw a Facebook page advertising a new term starting in January in St Thomas. It had always been on my wish list to join a choir again and with trepidation I bravely went along to the first session. It was everything I hope it would be! The joy and love I felt from that first visit has stayed with me and has given me confidence in myself again. I am sure for me, the timing was crucial, Exeter Gospel Choir helped me o be part of something so wonderfully uplifting and joyous. I am finding my way again. An enjoyable way to sing with others – no “wrong” notes, just lots of fun.  EXETER GOSPEL CHOIR
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Author - Chloe PooleyMy name is Chloe, I have been a resident of St Thomas for eleven years, in higher St Thomas area. |  |
My role is paid for by various statutory organisations in Devon, in partnership together and it’s part time. The aims of my role are to stop people being isolated and where possible become more involved in their community and become less likely to visit the doctor due to illness.
I also work closely with St Thomas Community Association- supporting events and linking people of similar interest together. I also help any group who asks me to come and meet them in St Thomas area – they may need advice about an event or funding.
This also means I knock on people’s doors and briefly chat to them about what they’d like to see in their community. I respond to what they tell me and try to link them up with the appropriate people/organisations. I attend meetings and events as part of or to represent the community and most of all I try to encourage community-lead projects to happen in the area, plus when I hear of upcoming events I tell others – either via social media, posters or leaflets in specifically targeting those who I know will be interested. Events can be for any section of the community as there are over 7000 of us in St Thomas, young and old alike. Community is about all of us.
If you have any concerns or ideas please contact me.
I also work closely with St Thomas Community Association- supporting events and linking people of similar interest together. I also help any group who asks me to come and meet them in St Thomas area – they may need advice about an event or funding.
This also means I knock on people’s doors and briefly chat to them about what they’d like to see in their community. I respond to what they tell me and try to link them up with the appropriate people/organisations. I attend meetings and events as part of or to represent the community and most of all I try to encourage community-lead projects to happen in the area, plus when I hear of upcoming events I tell others – either via social media, posters or leaflets in specifically targeting those who I know will be interested. Events can be for any section of the community as there are over 7000 of us in St Thomas, young and old alike. Community is about all of us.
If you have any concerns or ideas please contact me.
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Upcoming Events:
1. | Easter Egg Hunt around Merrivale Road area date /time to be confirmed. |
2. | Look out for small scale newsletter produced by The Friends of Merrivale Park called‘The Merri-tale’ for Merrivale Road area and hopefully beyond! This has just started and its first edition was delivered on 20th January – approximately monthly or bi-monthly. Also, look out for Friends of Merrivale Park Facebook Group. |
3. | Community Feast and Fair - Update: CANCELLED. |
4. | St Thomas Tidy up – help Bloomin’ St Thomas 10-2pm on Sunday Feb 11th – gardening in the St Thomas Station and a litter pick, with free food. Meet at park entrance at 10am St Thomas Pleasure Grounds and check the parks for people wearing hi-vis and join us whenever you can for as long as you can! |
Hello all,
It's been a while since I've had chance to write any posts. It's been a very busy year and now 2018 is upon us! The St Thomas Community Association Annual General Meeting was held last week and an almost entirely new committee was elected. Enormous thanks to Kathy Rufolo and her outgoing team - what a wonderful job they have done this last 3 years. They have left a great framework of resources for the new committee to continue the great work they have established in St Thomas and bring even more new ideas to St Thomas for 2018.
A meeting of the new committee has been set up and soon we will be able to release news of the dates of the 2018 St Thomas Festival and information of plans for activities throughout the year. In the mean time, please put Sunday 18th February 2018 in your diaries for our first full St Thomas Community Association Meeting to be held at 8pm in the St Thomas Methodist Church Lounge (accessed to the right of the building). Hope to see you there.
Rosalind
It's been a while since I've had chance to write any posts. It's been a very busy year and now 2018 is upon us! The St Thomas Community Association Annual General Meeting was held last week and an almost entirely new committee was elected. Enormous thanks to Kathy Rufolo and her outgoing team - what a wonderful job they have done this last 3 years. They have left a great framework of resources for the new committee to continue the great work they have established in St Thomas and bring even more new ideas to St Thomas for 2018.
A meeting of the new committee has been set up and soon we will be able to release news of the dates of the 2018 St Thomas Festival and information of plans for activities throughout the year. In the mean time, please put Sunday 18th February 2018 in your diaries for our first full St Thomas Community Association Meeting to be held at 8pm in the St Thomas Methodist Church Lounge (accessed to the right of the building). Hope to see you there.
Rosalind
We are stunned to hear the news of the Manchester Attack last night and our thoughts are with all those affected, their friends and family. We have received a bulletin from Devon and Cornwall Police as follows:
I am sure you are all aware of the terror attack last night in Manchester.
This email is to offer reassurance to our communities, please could I ask you all to spread the message that Devon and Cornwall Police are committed to support our communities and we encourage any concerns or incidents to be reported at the earliest opportunity.
Below are all the ways to contact us.
Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those lost and injured and with emergency service colleagues who responded.
Many Thanks
Julie Dixon
Diversity Office Devon and Cornwall Police
Bideford Police Station, New Road Bideford.
999 Emergency
101 Non-emergency
101@devonancornwall.pnn.police.uk
www.devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
I am sure you are all aware of the terror attack last night in Manchester.
This email is to offer reassurance to our communities, please could I ask you all to spread the message that Devon and Cornwall Police are committed to support our communities and we encourage any concerns or incidents to be reported at the earliest opportunity.
Below are all the ways to contact us.
Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those lost and injured and with emergency service colleagues who responded.
Many Thanks
Julie Dixon
Diversity Office Devon and Cornwall Police
Bideford Police Station, New Road Bideford.
999 Emergency
101 Non-emergency
101@devonancornwall.pnn.police.uk
www.devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
On Thursday last week, many local residents headed for their polling stations and cast their votes for their preferred candidate to represent them on Devon County Council and in some cases, Exeter City Council as well. The local winners are as follows:
Devon County Council
Alphington & Cowick - Yvonne Atkinson (Labour)
Exwick & St Thomas - Rob Hannaford (Labour)
Exeter City Council by election (following the death of Cllr Paul Bull)
St Thomas - Heather Morris (Labour)
St Thomas Community Association retains a strictly neutral political stance and works together with our local councillors to make a better St Thomas for everyone regardless of their party allegiance.
Devon County Council
Alphington & Cowick - Yvonne Atkinson (Labour)
Exwick & St Thomas - Rob Hannaford (Labour)
Exeter City Council by election (following the death of Cllr Paul Bull)
St Thomas - Heather Morris (Labour)
St Thomas Community Association retains a strictly neutral political stance and works together with our local councillors to make a better St Thomas for everyone regardless of their party allegiance.
Author
Rosalind Johnson - STCA Chair
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