Martin Palmer’s Address marking 50 Years of the Old Town Ecumenical Partnership
churchadmin2019-04-07T14:21:11+01:00
Children and Young Families Missioner
churchadmin2019-04-07T14:12:08+01:00
We are looking for someone who is passionate about developing families within the church and the wider community alongside the ministers and team. This is a new post building on a foundation of previous successful lay work. Active links with local schools are in place. As a church we are excited about this new opportunity. If you share this excitement we’d love to hear from you.
0.5 part time post (18 hours)
Salary: up to £22,672 pro rata
Festival of Commemoration
churchadmin2018-12-06T02:04:06+00:00This year marked one hundred years since the end of the First World War. We staged a major event to commemorate and celebrate the rarely told story of the people of Swindon; the sacrifice, service, community spirit and contribution that ordinary people made in extraordinary times.
It told stories of those who served at home and abroad using letters, accounts, poems and songs of the period.
We were joined by The Aldbourne Band, students from Commonweal school and readers and musicians from our local community. Thanks to the generosity of our Sponsors, Charles Harding, Deacons, Arkells, Hilliers and Book Online as well as the support of those who attended, we are able to donate £400 to the Royal British Legion.
Take a look at our new History & family research pages at
www.christchurchswindon.co.uk/tour.php
Janet French & Stephen Grosvenor
Find about our Parish Giving Scheme
churchadmin2019-04-07T14:24:41+01:00Recently we heard about our new recommended giving policy from Brian Harris, Chair of our Finance Committee. Having trialled membership of the Parish Giving Scheme (P.G.S) with 
members of our staff team and PCC taking the lead, we are now ready to roll it out to the wider congregation.
The PGS is sponsored by the Diocese and is free to use. It allows us to dramatically reduce the administrative effort required to collect Gift Aid on the regular gifts from our friends and congregation as well as greatly improve our cashflow.
Watch a video that explains how it works here
If you currently support the church with regular giving or wish to start and have not yet heard about the scheme, please do take a moment to listen again to Brian’s presentation given at each of our recent Sunday services. It explains very clearly what is involved and why we want to introduce PGS. You can also read about it on the link below.
Remember this is not a request for you to increase your giving (although that is always welcome)but rather to change the way that you do give.
If you would like to see the letter that I wrote explaining the scheme and why we propose to adopt it read it here PGS letter
If you would like to recieve a PGS application form to support the work of Christ Church then email us here parishoffice@christchurchswindon.co.uk with your contact details or ring 01793 522832 or contact our Gift Aid Secretary Stephen Grosvenor (in confidence) at s.grosvenor@gmail.com
Thank you for your support
Simon
Christ Church with St Mary’s Home Groups
churchadmin2018-10-26T16:17:07+01:00
Home Groups are a great way of learning about our faith, but also supporting and encouraging one another on our journey. We have social activities; try to look outwards to our community and generally have fun.
At present we have a variety of groups which meet at different times, and in different locations.
If you are interested in joining one of these groups please contact either Lynda or Ailsa at: lyndaefisher@hotmail.co.uk or ailsapalmer03@gmail.com
Tuesday evening – Old Town
Tuesday evening – Lawn area
Wednesday afternoon – Old Town
Wednesday evening – Old Town
Wednesday evening – Old Town for those under 18 years
Thursday evening – Old Town
Thursday evening – Old Town
Once a month at the weekend – Marlborough Road
First Saturday in the month Men’s breakfast in CC@CC
Celebrate the change in season on the Railway Path
churchadmin2018-10-26T16:15:24+01:00On Sunday 30th September, the Friends of the Railway Path will be running a family-friendly event on the Path next to Three Trees Farm Shop and Café, Chiseldon, SN4 0HT, from 11.00 – 3.30. You can:
- Learn to scythe and help us make and rake a meadow
- Come on a wildlife and wild food walk
- Hear about our upcoming hedgehog survey, and how to take part
- Bring your bike and go for a ride using our new map
If you would like to come, please let me know or book a free place here.
If you can’t come but are interested in the hedgehog survey, please let me know. Some more details are below.
Best wishes
Dick Millard (dick.millard@btinternet.com)
Swindon Youth for Christ
churchadmin2018-10-26T16:15:44+01:00
Swindon Youth for Christ are looking for churches who we can partner with in taking the good news relevantly to every young person in Swindon.
This coming school year, we have two gap year students who would like to work with us and learn from the experience. One is from this country and the other is from the States. They are both keen to be involved in the new sports ministry which we are developing and is proving to be very exciting.
We are now in a position where we are looking for churches who would like to join with this vision and who would have families who could host the students. If you/your church might be interested, do please get back to Dave Clarke – Dave@syfc.org.uk in order to take the discussions forward.
Find out more in the information below.
Reach out to touch the World this Christmas time
churchadmin2018-10-31T12:14:57+00:00
No wrapping paper required, ribbon or tags, just knowing that by offering hospitality to a “Stranger Soon to Become Friend”, the experience will stay with you and your guest long after recycling the wrapping paper, storing decorations and finishing off the cold turkey!
Here at HOST UK we offer you the opportunity to engage in an extra special Christmas-time by opening your home to an international student for whom the alternative would be, not only being far from home and loved ones but marking time in lonely halls of residence.
HOST UK arranges visits for International students all year round but as can well be imagined, festive season hospitality is greatly sought after and valued. Our “festive season” will include the period in the Christmas run up, as well as New Year. Your guest will be someone keen to experience British life with all its special traditions and culture…and keen to share those of their home country. Your hospitality will be a unique gift, invariably remembered and treasured. Your gift to each other and to the world will be that of growing friendship, peace and understanding.
Please consider this opportunity and remember that if the festive season is difficult for you, we do operate all year round and hosting can become one of your New Year Resolutions!
If you should like to know more, please go to our website www.hostuk.org or leave us a message on
Our Autumn Programme
churchadmin2018-09-30T09:33:26+01:00Please take a moment to read our programme of events and teaching covering the Autumn months.
Our Vision and Values
churchadmin2018-08-29T20:11:59+01:00Following our Church Strategic Review, our congregation and supporters were invited to suggest statements that encapsulate what we do at Christ Church.
A small group then met to examine the suggestions and has now made the proposals below, for our Vision and Mission statements.
These will be displayed in our written and electronic media to remind us of our common vision and help others to see what we seek to be.
Our proposed Vision Statement (what we strive to be)
To be Christ’s Church in the community
Mission Statements (how we achieve our mission)
By proclaiming Christ through teaching and example
By welcoming and serving all through hospitality
By encouraging people to find God through worship, faith and prayer
By providing a spiritual home and resources for the local community
By transforming Swindon and beyond with God’s hope and compassion
Values Statement (what qualities we will show)
We will do this with humility, grace and respect, listening prayerfully to God and our neighbour.
Join the Journey
churchadmin2018-08-05T00:44:10+01:00
We are looking for participants to join in our telling of the Nativity on Sunday 9th December 2018. “The Journey” is an immersive, processional performance of the Nativity, enacted throughout Old Town in Swindon, produced by Revd. Daphne Hardwick, Anna Friend, who directed the very successful 2015 “The Passion” in Wroughton and Juliet Webb, Producer.
Audiences will experience Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem taking place around them. The story of this journey will be portrayed like you have never seen before; live, up-close and personal. Unfolding in the streets and populated by a cast of many, playing the story and recreating the ambience of the real journey, offering audiences the opportunity to bear witness to this incredible story.
Starting off outside Lethbridge Road School, providing the location for Nazareth, audiences will meet Mary, the teenage bride, betrothed to Joseph and mysteriously pregnant. She risks shame, heartbreak and a painful death. Revealed are Joseph’s innermost thoughts. How can he understand the nature of Mary’s pregnancy? How will he find the strength to stand by her? Now forced by an occupying power they must make an impossible journey together. Wood Street will play host to Bethlehem and a thronging Bazaar, where we meet lots of characters, flavours and the hubbub of an inundated city, where our exhausted travellers must seek shelter before coming to rest at Christ Church, which plays the role of the stable and Jesus’ birthplace.
There are lots of ways to be involved from marshalling, distributing programmes, choral singing, musicians, cast, extras and crew. There is the potential for further traders, stall holders and entertainers in our Bazaar.
Please contact Daphne or Juliet at libertyrockspr@gmail.com to register your interest in getting involved. You will receive an invitation to meet with the team and there will be various opportunities to attend meet-ups and rehearsals before December.
We are also seeking sponsors to feature in our programme and provide some of the infrastructure and materials for the performance. We welcome parishioners, Old Town residents, local business and organisations to join us
A message from your Gift Aid Secretary
churchadmin2018-10-26T16:16:02+01:00
It is now a couple of months since Brian Harris, chair of our Finance Committee, outlined our proposal to join the Parish Giving Scheme. There are a number of excellent reasons why we are encouraging all existing regular givers to sign up to the P.G.S. not the least of which is that it saves a significant amount of time and administration for myself as your Gift Aid secretary. If you missed Brian’s talk you can hear it again here https://www.christchurchswindon.co.uk/blog/2018/05/hear-about-our-new-parish-giving-scheme/ It lays out very clearly the benefits of the scheme and rather embarrasses me but all in a good cause!
A number of questions have arisen over the past few days which I hope can clarify some points for everyone.
Q. When I sign up to the PGS what happens if I want to make occasional donations – particularly to our Mission Giving days?
A. You still remain registered for Gift Aid in favour of Christ Church so your local donations will still be valued and counted as normal.
Q. Once I have completed the application form, what do I do with it?
A. First ensure that, if you are eligible for Gift Aid, (that is you pay UK tax equal or more than the amount of Gift aid claimed on your donations) you have ticked the allow GIFT AID tick box on the form. Then return it in the stamped addressed envelope provided (you can get one from the parish office if you don’t have one) directly to PGS. The address is also on the form.
Q. What happens next?
A. Once you have had a reply from PGS acknowledging your giving and telling you the first date that your new Direct debit will be taken. Then you should contact your bank to cancel your existing Standing order/Direct debit.
Q. Where can I get a PGS application form from so that I can start to regularly support the work of the church?
A. There are application packs at the back of the church or you can get them from Helen in the parish office or by contacting Stephen on the details below.
Q. I don’t really understand what I have to do. Can you help me?
A. I will be delighted to talk you through the form, the process and help you understand what it all means. You can telephone me (01793 341034 or email me s.grosvenor@gmail.com) and I can help.
There is no deadline to joining the PGS but many of its benefits derive from as many givers as possible taking it up so please do consider joining the many members of the church community who have already done so.
Thank you
Stephen Grosvenor
Gift Aid Secretary – Christ Church with St Mary’s Swindon
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