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Alone at Christmas 2022

2023-01-07T15:15:26+00:00

After a gap of 2 years, during which time we provided hampers to those who would be alone at Christmas, we are back to the real thing!

On Christmas day, we provided a 3 course Christmas meal for around 110 people, those who would have otherwise been on their own on Christmas day. Everyone who came along, including the many volunteers, had a wonderful day together. As well as the fantastic food cooked by SImon Giles and his helpers, they enjoyed some carol singing, Christmas quizzes and the Kings speech. This event couldn’t have been possible without more than 100 volunteers who took part both on the day itself and in advance.

So thank you to the setters-up, the taxi drivers, cooks, table hosts, tidier-uppers and to the companies and private individuals who all contributed in their own ways to make the day happen.

We are so grateful for the many community minded people who really helped make the day special for so many. I am proud of what we all achieved to help combat loneliness this Christmas in what was our 5th year. Happy New Year everyone and thank you xx

Alone at Christmas 20222023-01-07T15:15:26+00:00

Support our work in the Community

2023-01-07T14:57:03+00:00

We need your donations, more than ever, to support our work in the community. We don’t receive grants or subsidies from the Anglican church or Government. All the funds needed to keep our church and its work going are provided by regular donations, legacies and fundraising. Our congregation, Friends and supporters provide vital funds each year to ensure that the Church and its grounds are always available – whether it be for regular worship, weddings, funerals christenings, festivals, concerts or just quiet reflection. If you consider yourself part of our Community or value our contribution then please consider supporting us with either a regular donation,one-off gift or legacy.

Our preferred method for receiving, regular, donations is via the Church of England’s Parish Giving Scheme. These can be monthly, quarterly or annual gifts. The scheme manages all the administration of collection, gift aid claims ( if the giver is eligible as a regular tax payer) and greatly improves our cashflow by paying us monthly, as well as reducing our own administration. It’s easy to sign up – you can find our Parish page here on the PGS website

Other ways of Giving

You can also give by credit or debit card at our donation station at the back of church.

Check out our donation page for more ideas.

Support our work in the Community2023-01-07T14:57:03+00:00

Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership

2023-01-07T13:00:29+00:00

The Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership (SHAP) is delighted to announce a post-Christmas initiative, Lights for Ukraine, that appeals to all local people keen to do something to help and support families living through a freezing winter in Ukraine.

At best, most people in Ukraine have only 3 to 4 hours electricity each day. Basic necessities such as lights are a real challenge.Many of us will celebrate Christmas with candles -on the dining room table, in the lounge and on the fireplace -and very lovely they will look too. But when Christmas is over please, please don’t throw the left over candles away . Bring them along to our aid drop off point at The Community Centre, Christ Church in Old Town Swindon.

SHAP will collect every last one and with the help of lots of volunteers will make hundreds of new candles -transport them out to Ukraine in the new year and help the tenacious and resilient Ukrainian people get through an unimaginably tough few months.

Just look at these -used food tins filled with strips of cardboard and covered in wax. Known in Ukraine as Trench Candles and used as a heat and cooking source

All enquiries to SHAP Chair Mike Bowden on 07989 494319

Simon and Mike Bowden were interviewed by BBC Points West on Friday 6th January regarding the ‘Lights for Ukraine’ project, for which we have had a good response. This will be broadcast on Wednesday 11th January – please do watch either live or on catch up if you can.

 

Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership2023-01-07T13:00:29+00:00

South Swindon in Bloom

2022-12-15T18:54:40+00:00

Work on our various gardens in the Christ Church grounds has proceeded steadily under the expert and loving attention of Ian Handy and his team.The first phase of the former Rose Garden was completed this year and the newly christened Jubilee Memorial Garden has been a great contribution.

Now this work has been formally recognised by an award from South Swindon Council. Read more about the Councils other projects here

Work on the second phase of the garden will start in 2023. Our thanks go to Ian and the team for their hard work and commitment to making our gardens beautiful and cared for.

South Swindon in Bloom2022-12-15T18:54:40+00:00

New Year Resolutions

2022-12-14T15:34:48+00:00

Our CommunityCentre is at the heart of our connection with our local community. It hosts religious services,parties, clubs, leisure activities and community groups. It not only raises much needed money to support the work of the church but also provides cost effective and modern facilities for its users. It is now approaching its 10th year and we need to ensure that it continues to be an attractive and valuable resource.

Just before Christmas, we are having the walls painted by a group of volunteers from Intel, this will freshen up the walls but we also want to give the rest of the building and some of the equipment (tables etc) a good deep clean.

Can you join us on Wednesday 4th January between 9am-4pm (or for any of that time) to help us give our centre a facelfit for the New Year? The more people the merrier.
I was also thinking we could have a bring and share lunch. If you can come along and help, please let me know what food you can bring to share.

Also, if you know of any others within the church or community you think might like to come and help, please do pass my email onto them.

I look forward to hearing from you. (Chris@christchurchswindon.co.uk) or telephone us on 617237.

Best Wishes

Chris & Jenny

Chris Smith Community Development Manager

Jenny Hatter

New Year Resolutions2022-12-14T15:34:48+00:00

Our Gardens

2022-12-09T20:05:43+00:00

In our grounds, there are gardens and memorials and these act as a focal point for remembrance and reflection. Over the past couple of years, we have worked hard to create peaceful and beautiful areas in and around the church for those who continue to mourn.

Recently, we noticed an eye catching, splash of colour in our Jubilee Memorial Garden. Whilst, it is a welcome sight on a cold December day, we felt we should use it as a gently reminder that, to be fair to all those visiting the gardens, we do operate some simple rules.

Our gardens form an important part of our bereavement ministry. In the New Year. we hope to continue the development of our Jubilee Memorial Garden.

We aim to have a draft proposal for the project in the next month or so. Our main objectives will be to create safe  level access, reduce maintenance and continue the tidying up begun last year in the North/South part of the garden.

If you would like to talk to us about the garden then contact the parish office 01793 522832 or parishoffice@christchurchswindon.co.uk

Please do not disturb the ground – it can upset other families whose loved ones rest nearby. We do try to keep on top of the weeds and some gentle weeding is always welcomed.

Please do not leave paper cards, plastic decorations or pot plants. They can blow around and soon become untidy.

Cut flowers are welcome. We offer vases for our visitors to use and water is available throughout the site. The vases can safely be pushed into the ground and will keep the flowers fresh for a few days after which our Sexton will remove them.

A tip from our Garden expert – avoid using carnations in your cut flowers – for some reason, members of our local wildlife demolish them within hours. Not sure who the culprits are but they are very partial to carnation!

Our Gardens2022-12-09T20:05:43+00:00

Invitation to give a Christmas present to Christ Church

2022-12-09T20:04:29+00:00

We thank you for all your encouragement, prayers, practical help and financial giving to Christ Church and St Mary’s over this last year. By God’s grace we have seen much growth for which we thank God. However, financially it is likely that at the end of this year we will be running at a financial deficit of around £10,000. We are blessed to have financial reserves to meet this. However, we are asking whether you would be able to make a Christmas gift to Christ Church to help us to reach the New Year with a balanced budget, all being well. Please make cheques payable to Christ Church PCC or you can donate via our Just Giving page here

In saying this we are very aware of the financial pressure on so many people and understand if you are unable to do this. However, every little bit helps. Thank you gratefully in advance.

Thank you and every blessing for Advent and Christmas, Simon, Jim and Nitin Vicar and Church Wardens.

Invitation to give a Christmas present to Christ Church2022-12-09T20:04:29+00:00

Enchanted Gardens Light Trail

2022-12-02T17:45:27+00:00

The Enchanted Gardens Light Trail made its debut last year and by popular demand is back again, but with a brand new and even more exciting design for this Christmas! The event raises funds for the Prospct Hospice in Swindon. Adults £11 Children (5-17) £6.00

Buy your tickets here

It runs

  • Monday – Thursday | 5.00pm – 7.00pm, with bookable timeslots every 15mins.
  • Light trail closes 8.00pm.
  • Friday – Sunday | 5.00pm – 7.30pm, with bookable timeslots every 15mins.
  • Light trail closes 8.30pm.

The trail will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and the last bookable timeslots on Christmas Eve and from 27th – 31st December will be at 7.00pm, with the trail closing on these days at 8.00pm.

The trail is approximately 1.5km in length. We anticipate your time with us to be around 40-60 minutes, however you are welcome to take your time and stay as
long as you like. We just ask you arrive at your booked session on time.

State-of-the-art lighting effects will be installed throughout the Victorian Gardens, allowing visitors to wander through a magical backdrop of illuminated trees, discovering a trail of remarkable light art sculptures, low-level soundscapes, interactive illuminations and a specially commissioned light show set in the historic Bowl. If you thought last year’s show was great, you will be absolutely wowed by what we have planned for this year! Click the images below to view.

Enchanted Gardens Light Trail2022-12-02T17:45:27+00:00

Classical Music Concert in aid of Ukraine

2022-12-02T15:14:02+00:00

 

Date: 10th of December, 2022

Place: Christ Church, Swindon

The concert will start at 7.00pm with doors open at 6.30pm.

The program includes works of prominent European and Ukrainian composers from different eras. The compositions will be performed both in solo and in chamber ensembles.

All money raised, including the full price of the ticket, will provide:

1. Orthofix systems for civil Ukrainians, who were injured because of the war

2. Ex-NHS ambulance, loaded with disposable medical supplies eg. bandages, dressings, sanitizers etc. and shipping it over to a hospital in Ukraine.

Buy a ticket

If you cannot come to the concert, then you can make a donation on our website.

Performers:

  • Vira Symchych (Ukraine)
  • Denis Gravina (France)
  • Stefan Bulyha (Ukraine)
  • Alisa Zaika (Ukraine)
  • The Wessex (Swindon, UK)

The Programme:

  1. Shumann: Drei Romanzen op.94
  2. Bartok: Romanian Folk Dances
  3. Alisa Zaika: “Chimaeras”
  4. Skoryk: Melody
  5. Deus Salutis – Welsh hymn-tune (Arr. by G H Jones and Mansel Thomas)
  6. Georgio Susana: Restera La Luce
  7. Trad spiritual: My Lord What a morning
  8. Traditional Irish folk song The Rocky Road to Dublin (Arr. by Martin Eikeset Koren)
  9. Lysenko/Konynsky: Prayer for Ukraine (Arr. by Tom Graff)
Classical Music Concert in aid of Ukraine2022-12-02T15:14:02+00:00

Alone (together)at Christmas

2022-11-26T11:24:16+00:00

For the first time since 2019, I am pleased to confirm that we will be running our Alone at Christmas event again this year, in what will be its 5th year. This will replace the hamper scheme that we have run for the last 2 years.

For those of you that haven’t heard of it before, basically, we invite anyone who will be on their own on Christmas Day to the Community Centre @ Christ Church for a 3 course meal. See our video on the activities page of our website – https://ccccswindon.co.uk/page/activities -for the last one that happened

The event itself runs from 12noon till approx. 3.30pm. As well as the lunch, the day includes Christmas quizzes, singing Carols and concludes with the Kings speech.

This event takes a lot of co-ordinating and, if last years hamper numbers (150) are anything to go by, I anticipate that we will have a lot of lonely people to provide for this year.

Therefore there are quite a few ways in which I need help. I detail all of the roles below (although I may miss something):

PRE EVENT HELP NEEDED

  • General Admin – planning the event, working out logistics, keeping spreadsheet up to date. People happy to be involved in a planning group
  • Help to contact previous attendees on existing database.
  • People to promote the event, through posters, on social media, in local press etc
  • Help to find new attendees
  • Provide donations, be it monetary (preferable) or food items, drinks, Christmas crackers or gifts for the attendees etc.
  • Christmas Eve – volunteers needed to set up the room and wrap up presents
  • Christmas Eve – volunteers to help with food preparation and potentially cooking of the meals.

ON THE DAY

  • Provide transport for people to and from the lunch
  • People to help with the cooking etc – preferred to have people with specific cooking qualifications or experience.
  • Run a table (2 people per table) looking after 6 attendees ensuring that they have a good day, making conversation and helping to deliver their meal/ clear the table.
  • Volunteers to run drinks table
  • Extra people to help with the set down at 4pm

If you feel that you can help with any of the above things, please do get in touch with me. mailto:chris@christchurchswindon.co.uk or 01793 617237

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best Wishes

Chris

Alone (together)at Christmas2022-11-26T11:24:16+00:00

 Pictures for Sale in Aid of Ukraine

2022-11-24T18:40:41+00:00

There is a delightful exhibition of landscape paintings of Derby, Cornwall and more, for sale, in the Community Centre @ Christ Church. You can see some examples below. The artist was Stephen Jacoby, (Daniel Pitt’s uncle). Any money raised will be passed to The Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership which supports Ukraine, Ukrainians and others in need. Please ask at the Community Centre office or Parish Office if you would like to buy one or contact Daniel Pitt directly on (01793 521732)

Click a picture below to see a larger image

 Pictures for Sale in Aid of Ukraine2022-11-24T18:40:41+00:00

Our next Mission Giving Day

2022-11-11T13:00:46+00:00

Our Giving to WaterAid and Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind charities

Sunday 20th November is our last mission giving day for 2022. All the money collected in the plate on that day be divided between WaterAid and Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind. If you are a UK tax payer please put your gift in a gift aid envelope which can be found at the back of the church. This enhances your gift by a further 25% at no cost to you. We will keep the collection open until Monday 28th November; please put any gift (after Sunday 20th) into an Gift Aid envelope marked with an “M” so we know where it is to go.

We were able to send over £292 to both Ripple Effect and The Willows after our last mission giving Sunday.

Thank you very much for your continuing support.

Our next Mission Giving Day2022-11-11T13:00:46+00:00
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