Messy Church Autumn Term
churchadmin2023-09-29T14:51:41+01:00Messy Church returns this weekend, Sunday 1st October
Ride and Stride 2023 Update
churchadmin2023-09-15T13:10:08+01:00Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust Ride and Stride 2023 Update
The Ride & Stride 2023 took place last Saturday in aid of Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust and Christ Church.
THANK YOU to our Christ Church Riders and Striders – Caroline and Daniel, Chris, Steve and Carol and to those who have already supported them.
Some stats for you:
Caroline caught 7 buses and visited 15 churches. Carol walked over 18 miles in the blistering (literally!) heat and visited 23 churches. Daniel cycled solo and visited 11 churches. Steve and Chris cycled mostly together; Chris rode over 42 miles and visited 38 churches, Steve cycled 51 miles and visited 41 churches.
The record for Christ Church is still with Janet French who achieved 42 churches some years ago on her trusty cycle!
Between them, our team has so far raised in excess of £500 for the Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust, of which almost half will come back to Christ Church.
You can watch a brief slide-show of the adventure below:
There is still time to recognise their achievements and sponsor them here:
https://www.justgiving.com/team/christchurchswindon
Thank you for all of your support!
Living Generously
churchadmin2023-09-15T12:45:17+01:00Living Generously – Our Stewardship Campaign 2023 is Launched
Our 2023 Stewardship Campaign – Living Generously launches this Sunday, 17th September.
If you are on the Church Electoral Roll you will find an envelope with your name on at the back of the church. If there is no envelope for you please just take an unnamed one.
In the pack you will find all the information you need about this year’s campaign.
Our Treasurer, Paul, will make a presentation in church on Sunday at the 10am service so do come along to find out more.
You can also download and read this year’s stewardship leaflet by clicking the link below:
Stewardship Campaign 2023 Booklet Final
”Thank you for all your support and encouragement” The Revd. Canon Simon Stevenette
How to join the Parish Giving Scheme
churchadmin2023-09-07T15:47:58+01:00
Christ Church is at the heart of it’s community, serving the needs of local people and acting as a central meeting place for a whole variety of community activities. Our mission is to proclaim Christ through teaching and example. Welcome and serve all, through hospitality. We encourage people to find God through worship, faith and prayer by providing a spiritual home and resources for the local community.
We rely on the gifts, goodwill and legacies of our friends in the community to continue this mission. If you are able, we value regular donations, although of course, gifts of any kind are greatfully received. Our preferred method for regular giving is the Parish Giving Scheme.
What is the Parish Giving Scheme?
The PGS is administered by the Church of England, at no cost to us, and provides a secure method for members to make regular donations to a Church of their choice.
Why is it better than Standing Order.
The PGS dramatically improves our cashflow and reduces our administration, enabling us to receive your donations and any gift aid claimable on them within the first week or so of each month.It also offers peace of mind that the Direct Debit Guarantee Scheme protects your gifts.
How do I join?
There are 2 easy ways to donate to Christ Church through the PGS; you can set up your Direct Debit online or by telephone. If you would like more information or help applying then please contact Stephen Grosvenor Gift Aid Secretary on stephen@christchurchswindon.co.uk or 07885 217077
Online
Click this link to go to our dedicated Parish Giving page https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/donors/find-your-parish/swindon-christchurch-st-mary-swindon/
By Telephone
Alternatively, you can set up your regular gift by phoning the PGS team on 0333 002 1271, Monday to Friday, 9-5. They will ask for our Parish Giving code which is Christ Church’s parish code is 050605176
If you’d like to know more, please get in touch with Stephen Grosvenor our Gift Aid Secretary stephen@Christchurchswindon.co.uk 01793 341034
Can you still claim Gift Aid on my gifts?
If you are a UK taxpayer, during the sign up process you will be asked if about Gift Aid. It adds a valuable additional 25% to your giving at no cost to you.
What happens if my circumstances change?
As a PGS member, you will receive a log in which will enable you to track your giving and make changes whenever you need to. You can make one-off additional donations at any time. The telephone service will help those without access to online services.
I want to help but I don’t really understand all this, can I get some help?
Of course, contact Stephen Grosvenor your Gift Aid Secretary in confidence, and he will be glad to help. Stephen@christchurchswindon.co.uk 07885 217077
The Church Development Tool – A New Way of Planning Together
churchadmin2023-09-07T16:20:09+01:00Church Development survey 3rd – 17th September
This year we are running the Church Development Survey in this church. It’s a quick, anonymous survey that we’re inviting everyone in the church to complete, to help us understand ourselves as a church and help us shape our prayers and our planning for the year ahead.
Scroll down to find out how to submit your thoughts.
The survey will help us answer three questions:
What should our focus be?
Your answers will help us decide about what we could be doing more of or less of as a church.
How do we like to express and grow our faith in this church?
Your answers will help us spot our strengths and how we could grow in our faith journey together.
What groups of people do we have in our church?
The survey will also ask you for some demographic information, such as your age group and ethnicity. We ask these questions so that we can check how far the makeup of our church mirrors the makeup of the local community. This will help us check what groups we’re reaching already and where there are opportunities to improve.
What do we expect to gain from the Survey?
What we find out will help us see where we’re doing well and help us discern areas where God might be calling us to do something new or different.
It’s important that as many people as possible in the church answer the survey, so that we get an accurate picture.
There are separate surveys for Early Years (0-5 years), Juniors (6-13 years) and adults (14+).
A large print version of the adult survey is also available.
We need you to complete the survey by midnight on Sunday 17th September please.
After that time your response will not be included in our report.
There are 2 ways to complete the survey:
Click the links below to complete the survey online:
For Christ Church click here
For St Mary’s click here
Complete a paper version
Ask the Parish office for a paper copy, which should be returned in the envelope provided by 17th September.
Thank you!
Wiltshire Historic Churches Ride & Stride 2023
churchadmin2023-09-01T15:30:08+01:00
Just 1 Week to go until Ride & Stride 2023 – Still time to signup or support us!
Saturday 9th September between 10am and 6pm
The idea is to visit as many churches as you want, either on foot, bike or horseback.
You can be sponsored for a total amount or per place visited.
Money raised is split between our churches and WHCT, who give grants towards repairs of ancient places of worship.
The Community Centre has a team taking part this year and request you kindly support them with their fundraising at:
Help is also needed during the day to welcome people to Christ Church and St Mary’s.
For sponsor forms and more details visit the Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust website at:
or contact Arline, your parish organiser.
For more information please contact Arline Stovell, royandarline@gmail.com 07716394754
Relaunching of Sunday Club this Autumn
churchadmin2023-08-25T16:08:21+01:00
We are re-launching our Sunday Club for children this September.
Christ Church Children’s Sunday Club is held, as part of the 10am Family Service, every Sunday during term time with the exception of the first Sunday of the month when we have our All-Age Worship service.
After the children’s welcome and prayer, children are invited to explore the gospel in the more child-friendly environment of the Community Centre, adjacent to the main church building.
The children are encouraged to develop their understanding, faith and new friendships, using a range of creative activities, including games, colouring, crafts, discussion and prayer.
Church Children’s Sunday Club will be restarting on Sunday 10th September, following the theme of ‘Doing conflict well’.
Children of all ages are welcome and we look forward to seeing you there.
What’s happening at the side of the Church?
churchadmin2023-08-15T10:57:37+01:00
Visitors to the grounds may have noticed some work being carried out on the North side of the church.
Originally, there was a path linking the West end to the East end thus avoiding visitors to the burial grounds and Memorial Gardens having to do so via the car park.
As part of our plans to improve access, we have decided to re-instate the path. The newly laid tarmac path will provide level access to the rear of the church by adding a small spur that will make disabled access easier by avoiding the 3 steps that currently link the path.
The work is being carried out by kind donation from a friend of Christ Church. In the future, we would like to extend the lighting to include the path.
If you would like to support this work with a donation then please contact the parish office on 01793 522832 or christchurchswindon.co.uk
Autumn Programme 2023
churchadmin2023-08-15T10:37:03+01:00
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Please join us this Autumn as we consider together what it means to be part of a healthy, growing community here at Christ Church with St Mary’s, building new friendships Download the full programme here For more information please contact The Revd. Canon Simon Stevenette 01793 529166 Simon@christchurchswindon.co.uk |
Jubilee Memorial Garden Update
churchadmin2023-08-09T10:41:42+01:00
We are delighted to have received permission from the Diocesan Faculty Office to continue work on our renovation of the Memorial garden. Work will now begin on removing the two gravestones to the North of the garden so that the path can be extended to the East. This will enable level access to all parts of the area. The stones will be replaced against the Community Centre wall.
Steel edging is being put in place to retain the weed suppressing mulch which will form a level surface for the centre of the garden. Later in the year, fine turf edging will be laid, continuing the edge ( shown above) around the south side of the garden.
Read a summary of our proposals
All the work will be carried out under the close supervision of Ian Handy, our project leader. Our permission states that the works must be completed within 12 months but we are keen to be ready for the Autumn season to allow planting and preparation at the best time of year.
We will minimise any disruption to the plaques whilst the works are carried out but if you have any concerns please come and visit and let us know or contact us, The garden is for everyone and it’s important to us that our visitors understand and are happy with what is being done.
Support the Jubilee Memorial Project with a donation
If you or your family members have any concerns or questions or would like to contribute to the cost of these works, then please contact Carol in the parish office.
You can also contact us via the Parish Office ( 01793 522832)for other ways to donate.
We have a Just Giving Campaign page where you can read more and securely give towards the completion of the project.
Thank you for your support.
Help in the Community Centre Needed Please
churchadmin2023-07-21T15:22:05+01:00
Volunteer clean up day in the Community Centre
Next Thursday 27th July – Please come along anytime between 9am-4pm and help to give the community centre a freshen up.
As per the last time we will have a bring and share lunch.
Please can you get in touch to let me know if you can make it and also let me know what you will bring with you.
Many thanks Chris.
Email: chris@christchurchswindon.co.uk
Tel: 07582 305760
Unplugged! Young Musicians’ Fundraising Concert
churchadmin2023-07-19T13:53:22+01:00
The UNPLUGGED! Young Musician’s Fundraising Concert Featuring Paul Turner and local talent of all ages.
This Sunday, 23rd July 6.30pm in Christ Church.
Free entry with retiring collection.
There will be a bar available on arrival and during the interval.
All donations are for Christ Church.
All are welcome – we hope you can join us
#christchurchswindon #livemusic #concert #youngmusicians #swindon
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