Why our Church is still closed
churchadmin2020-05-09T15:20:10+01:00Archbishop Welby has produced a useful video explaining the church policy on the closure of our Church buildings.
Some Prayer Resources
churchadmin2020-08-29T13:42:32+01:00Here are some helpful resources to help you to deepen your prayer life at home. Do let us know how we can be praying and supporting you.
“To pray is to make our hearts ready to experience the love of God in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Praying regularly will help us to develop a spiritual rhythm. A discipline of prayer changes the way that we think about our lives, because it creates new habits of heart and mind. Prayer opens us more deeply to the transforming grace of God. We enter into God’s presence, allowing the Holy Spirit to pray in us”
Taken from the Church of England website:-
https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/learning-pray
You can download all the prayer suggestions below
Taize Prayer
The Taize brothers have divided their household into 8 units. Every evening at 7.30pm they invite us to join a few of them in their home for the evening prayer. It lasts around 40 minutes. You can see the videos anytime, and if you wish to, read the messages and prayers pouring in from all over the world as people join in. But above all it is an opportunity to focus on God and join in prayer at a time of day when we may be feeling anxious or tired.
Go to http://www.taize.fr/en_article27540.html and click the link on the site.
Or you can listen via their Facebook page.
The Ignatian Method of Prayer
is to project oneself back into the Biblical scene and to become a part of it by way of imagination. Ignatius suggests that we try to imagine what we might see, what we might hear, and what the persons in the scene might be doing. What changes or challenges does our reflection on the event bring us?
1. (John 21:1-19) Imagine that you are Peter. Read the story very carefully so that you will remember all of the details. Then close your eyes and re-live the scene in your imagination. Try to capture your feelings when Jesus asks you three times, “Do you love me?” Then answer the way
you would want to answer rather than merely repeat what Peter said. When Jesus tells you:
“Follow me,” try to imagine what that might mean in the immediate future of your present life.
2. (Luke 10:25-37) Read the parable of the Good Samaritan and try to imagine yourself, first of all,as the priest who passes by on the other side of the road. What reasons could you give for refusing to get involved? Then try to imagine yourself as the person who fell among the robbers and who was left half-dead by the side of the road. What might you think as you see people pass you by and refuse your cries for help? Thirdly, imagine yourself as the Good Samaritan. Try to envision some situations today where you could act as a Good Samaritan to others in trouble.
- (Mark 9:14-29) Read the story. Imagine yourself as the father of the possessed boy and apply the conversation between Jesus and the father to your own situation. Instead of an afflicted son,
imagine the affliction is some fault of yours which has resisted cure. Bring this affliction to Jesus and ask him to cure it. - (Luke 7:36-50) Imagine yourself as the penitent woman who comes to Jesus in the house of
Simon the Pharisee, washes his feet with her tears, and dries them with her hair. Try to imagine
why you should be weeping and how you came to be convinced that Jesus would understand and show mercy. Imagine your reaction when you hear him saying to you, “Many sins are forgiven you
because you have loved much.”
Austinian Prayer methods
The Augustinian Method is to transpose the Biblical account onto our situation today. In Augustinian prayer, we try to think of the words of the Bible as though they were a personal letter from God addressed to each one of us.
1.(Matthew 5:38-48) Read the passage slowly several times. Try to discern what meaning the words might have if spoken by Jesus to you at this very moment. Whom do you need to forgive? How might Jesus be asking you today to turn the other cheek, to go the extra mile, to give away your shirt as well as your cloak? Feel free to apply these words of Jesus to some other area of life besides material possessions.
2.(Philippians 3:7-16) Put yourself in the place of a person in Philippi who received this letter from Paul. He is writing with you specifically in mind. He knows your situation quite well. How do the words apply to you?
3.Isaiah 58:2-14) Justice and charity to the poor are the most authentic forms of fasting. How far can these words of God apply to your life? What more can you do to share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless, clothe the naked? Try to imagine God saying these words to you today. What is He asking of you at this time in your life?
4.(Micah 6:8) “You have been told, 0 man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you: Do right, love goodness, and walk humbly with your God.” Consider how these three requests sum up your relationship with God and your fellow human beings. Imagine God speaking these words to you. Close your eyes and repeat them slowly over and over again. Try to apply them to your own situation. What is God asking of you?
A GROUP OF FRANCISCAN TYPE PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
The Franciscan Prayer makes full use of the senses to be open to God. There may be a strong feeling of praying through work or service of others.
- Read Daniel 3:26-90 [The Prayer of Azariah vs 29-68 in the Apocrypha]. Spend the remainder of the half hour composing your own canticle of praise of God for all the beauties of His creation. include the beauties of the inner world of the Spirit, of one’s own nature, of friends, as well as of the physical world.
- Think of the person in the world that you love the most. Ask yourself the following question: How can I see the presence of God in that person? Spend some time praising and thanking God for giving so much goodness, beauty, grace, etc. to that person. Spend some time thanki ng God for the gift of love whereby you are able to love that person and that person is able to love you.
- Think of the person that you least like of all your acquaintances. Try to see something of God’s goodness, love, life, truth, beauty in that person. What might you do to foster and increase the presence of God in that person? Prayer is always a way to help another.
- Go outside; look for two trees: one which resembles the kind of person you would like to be or your goal in life, another which expresses in some way the kind of person you see yourself to be now. Decide what you need to do in order to change from the way you now are to the way you would like to be or the way God would like you to be.
A GROUP OF THOMISTIC TYPE PRAYER SUGGESTIONS
Thomistic Prayer pays close attention to the rational process of thinking needed to attain an appropriate conclusion. It emphasises the doctrinal aspects of faith and moves towards the practical outworking of it in
daily life.
- (Mark 8:34-38) Doctrine of the Cross. What does Jesus mean when he insists that in order to be his disciple we must take up our cross and follow him? What are the cro sses in your present life? Are you carrying them in the same way that Jesus carried his cross to Calvary? What do you need to change in your present attitude toward your crosses?
- (Matthew 10:39) “He who seeks only himself brings himself to ruin; whereas he who brings himself to nought for my sake discovers who he really is.” What does Jesus mean by the words “bring oneself to
nought for my sake”? What do you need to do in your life to put Jesus’ concerns ahead of your own? How does self-discipline enable us to “discover who we really are”? Just who are we really? What is our primary purpose on earth? Is it to satisfy ourselves or to fulfil some God-given destiny? What is the ministry God is asking of us? - (Matthew 5:20-26 and John 2:13-17) What is the difference between the anger of Jesus and the anger which Jesus condemns in this passage from Matthew? Why is anger so wrong that Jesus equates it with the command against killing? St. Thomas defines anger as the desire to attack violently anyone who poses a threat to something we consider valuable. What about self-defence of our country, our family, ourselves?
How far are we justified to go to defend ourselves? Is the anger you sometimes feel a justifiable anger, similar to that of Jesus, or the kind of anger Jesus condemns in the Sermon on the Mount? What does one do about one’s anger? - (Matthew 6:26-34) Study carefully each verse of Jesus’ teaching about Divine Providence. With what of it do you agree? What do you consider not applicable to your present way of life? What justification can you make for the verses you are unwilling to accept literally? What changes do you need to make in your life in
order to follow Christ’s teachings here?
Letter from Rt Revd Vivienne Faull
churchadmin2020-08-29T14:00:11+01:00The appalling death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police and the subsequent Black Lives Matter protests have brought the issues of racism, oppression, inequality and injustice once again into the spotlight, where they should be. These are issues that the Diocese of Bristol, like many organisations, has been aware of, discussed and attempted to address. However, while we have taken some positive steps, it is clear that we have not done enough.
The protests in Bristol yesterday and the destruction of the statue of Edward Colston mark a moment in the city’s history. As Bishop of Bristol I will now act with a renewed sense of urgency and determination to:
- Acknowledge and repent of the Church’s past involvement in and benefit from the slave trade;
- Challenge and address institutional racism, listening to and learning from the experiences of Black, Asian and minority ethnic people;
- Recruit and support more Black, Asian and minority ethnic clergy, staff and volunteers;
- Make our churches truly welcoming to everyone, taking responsibility for the need for profound cultural change in our Church.
- Work with others in the Diocese of Bristol and the Church of England to bring these things about
This work won’t be easy but we must be relentless in our commitment to bringing about change.
Online Bible Course
churchadmin2020-05-09T15:21:10+01:00Bible Course
The Staff team recommends to you this excellent Bible Course which is produced locally by The Bible Society. It is available here free online.
If you would like to join 12 of us who are doing the course on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm by Zoom, you would be very welcome. Please let me (Simon@christchurchswindon.co.uk or Tel 01793 529166) know if you would like to take part. It would be helpful if you could look at the first session before next Wednesday. Equally, if you want to do it in your own time do have a word with one of the staff team if you would value mentoring support.
Simon
Chris Smith Talks about our Keep in Touch Scheme
churchadmin2020-05-03T00:20:00+01:00What is KIT? It might just be a regular phone call to check in on how our friends are. It could be offering help with practical things like shopping, IT support or other needs. We are a community of friends who are intent on finding hope in these difficult times by connecting with and supporting each other.
Chris Smith, one of our of volunteers, gave an excellent radio interview on Swindon 105.5 Community radio.
Find out about our Summer Sermon Series
churchadmin2020-05-03T00:20:24+01:00We continue our programme of seasonal sermons in the hope that we can all be in worship together soon. In the meantime you can hear our regular Sunday services on our website.
Summer Programme 2020
May 3rd (All Age) At Lake Galilee: John 21: 1-14
May 10th Naomi goes home Ruth:1: 1-18
May 17th (informal Communion) Ruth and Boaz: Ruth 2: 1-12
May 24th Ascension Jesus ascends to heaven: Acts 1: 4-11
May 31st Pentecost: Acts 2: 1-13
June 7th Trinity Sunday Captivity in Babylon: Daniel 1:3-19
June 14th The Fiery Furnace: Daniel 3: 13-27
June 21st (informal Communion) Daniel in the lion’s den: Daniel 6: 10-22
June 28th Peter and John heal a lame man: Acts 3: 1-10
July 5th (All age) Philip and the Ethiopian: Acts 8: 26-40
July 12th Stephen is killed: Acts 6: 8-15 7;54-60
July 19th (informal Communion) The road to Damascus Acts 9:1-12
July 26th Peter brings Dorcas back to life Acts 9:36-43
August 2nd (All age) Peter in prison: Acts 12: 1-16
August 9th Paul at Philippi in Greece: Acts 16:16-31
August 16th (informal Communion) An accident in Troas: Acts 20:3b -12
August 23rd Shipwreck on the way to Rome: Acts 27: 9a-11-25
August 30th John’s vision of heaven: Revelation 21:1-7
Listen to this week’s service
churchadmin2020-06-13T14:51:17+01:00Listen to our Weekly service led by Rev Daphne Hardwick with talk by Rev Simon Stevenette, readings by Steve and Milly Dumba and prayers by Steve Dumba. Be still for the presence of the Lord-David Evans. Hymns – the choir and congregation of Christ Church.
Our Bishops call for a “different sort of church”
churchadmin2020-05-03T00:21:29+01:00The Archbishops of Canterbury and York are calling for Church of England churches to put public worship on hold and become a “different sort of church” in the coming months to face the challenge of coronavirus.
In a joint letter, Archbishops Justin Welby and John Sentamu said it was now necessary to put public services on hold until further notice.
But they said that far from having to “shut up shop”, the Church of England must face the challenge by becoming a radically different kind of church rooted in prayer and serving others.
It comes after the Government announced unprecedented peacetime measures to try to control the spread of the virus, with restrictions on public gatherings, transport and working.
The Archbishops expressed the desire that church buildings may, where practical, remain open as places of prayer for the community, observing social distancing recommendations.
They also invited clergy to maintain the ancient pattern of daily prayer and, where possible, the eucharist – live streaming their worship if they have the resources to do so.
And they urged congregations to be in the forefront of providing practical care and support for the most poor and the most vulnerable during the crisis.
“Being a part of the Church of England is going to look very different in the days ahead,” they wrote.
“Our life is going to be less characterised by attendance at church on Sunday, and more characterised by the prayer and service we offer each day.
“We may not be able to pray with people in the ways that we are used to, but we can certainly pray for people. And we can certainly offer practical care and support.
“Please do carry on supporting the local foodbank and buy extra provisions for it. Ensure the night shelters wherever possible are kept open. There are many very encouraging schemes happening right across our country in communities to focus on caring for the most vulnerable and do continue to play your part in those.
“Then by our service, and by our love, Jesus Christ will be made known, and the hope of the gospel – a hope that can counter fear and isolation – will spread across our land.”
They added: “This is a defining moment for the Church of England. Are we truly are a church for all, or just the church for ourselves.
“We urge you sisters and brothers to become a different sort of church in these coming months: hopeful and rooted in the offering of prayer and praise and overflowing in service to the world.”
British and Irish Church leaders united in response to Covid 19 pandemic
churchadmin2020-04-11T12:48:23+01:00
In an unprecedented move, church leaders came together on Wednesday 1st April. The morning video conference included senior religious leaders from around Britain and Ireland who shared the situation in each of their jurisdictions. The initiative originated with Archbishop Justin Welby who wanted to offer an opportunity for leaders to hear and support one another in these critical days for our nations.
The statement is supported by churches in membership of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, along with Churches Together in England, Cytun, ACTS and the Irish Council of Churches.
In the Book of Daniel we read about God’s people being taken into exile in Babylon. Daniel could not pray in the Temple in Jerusalem, but he continued to pray in exile – opening his window to face Jerusalem. Though he was on his own he joined with the prayers of the people wherever they were. Now we too are separated from each other physically, but when we pray in our homes we join in with this ancient tradition of our home as a place of prayer. Wherever we are, whenever we pray, when we speak and think of Christ, there he is in the midst of us. We join our prayers with all those who pray in our own churches and communities and around the world.
As church leaders from across the many and varied churches of these Islands we urge all people to join us in prayer this Holy Week and Easter; to pray for those who suffer, those who face untimely death and all those who care for them; to celebrate our common faith at a difficult time; to help and support our neighbours in need; and to observe all the safeguards in place to slow the spread of disease.
Our Prayer
Loving God, in Jesus Christ, who died and rose again for our salvation, cast out the darkness of our anxiety, fear and mourning, enfold us in your love and give us joy and hope this Easter.
Amen.
If you would like a copy of the complete press release from British and Irish Church leaders united in response to Covid 19 pandemic, please email parishoffice@christchurchswindon.co.uk.
Fear to Live – a poem for our times
churchadmin2020-04-24T11:42:40+01:00Alistair Senior is one of our friends, son of Christine and Gervin Senior. He was inspired to record this poem and has shared it with us.
Thoughts on Wilderness by Will Stevenette
churchadmin2020-08-29T15:02:23+01:00Will is a student worker at the Anchor church in Birmingham and recently did a reflection on Solitude and wilderness.