churchadmin, Author at Christ Church News

Report on The Partnership Messy Church Initiative 2018

churchadmin2018-03-25T14:54:18+01:00

Messy Church continues to do well. Recently we have had numbers of 77 and 80 attendees, although our numbers where low for January (it was a particularly wet and windy day), we had 37 on that occasion.

Our recent themes include creation, the greatest party ever, and Christmas.

We have around 30 dedicated volunteers many of whom come each month. This is less than half the volunteers we had when we started and would always welcome new volunteers.

One great achievement is that since September two of our older attendees have actually become volunteers. This really is something to be pleased about.

Our Messy Church must be doing something good if they want to volunteer.
It is good for the children who attend to see older children volunteer and taking part.
Lucy Moore, who set up the Messy Church organisation, has said that getting teenagers, older attendees, to volunteer is one way to keep them within the church rather than drifting away.

The Messy Church core team meets regularly to coordinate themes and discuss any problems or concerns. As always we would ask you to pray for the work we are doing.

Messy Church Services.

Over the past couple of weeks we have taken Messy Church to our regular church services. This came out of the report that Matthew Vatcher presented to this council last year, when you asked us to present something on Messy to each of the churches.

So far we have been to Immanuel and Christ Church, we will be visiting Bath Road in a couple of weeks time. Both services have gone really well with the congregations happy to get involved with activities and songs, and I hope, learning a little bit more about Messy Church.

I would like to thank the churches for their welcome and their enthusiasm.

David Howell.

We would ask this council to accept a proposal that we have for David Howell to be a chaplain to Messy Church.

The background to this is that when Messy Church started we had ministerial support and involvement from Trudy Wigley. Since Trudy left we have had little or no ministerial input. Norma McKemey was meant to take on this role but she soon had to give it up to concentrate on the Four O’Clock service.

Last year David came along to see what happened at Messy Church and was very impressed with what we where doing. Since then he has attended every Messy Church and our core team meetings. The core team believe that Messy Church needs regular ministerial input, someone who knows what is happening in Messy Church and can relate that back to partnership clergy. We also think it is good to have someone recognisable at Messy Church acting as chaplain to both the congregation and the volunteers. It is important to us that we are seen as being part of the partnership and have your support.

You can find out more about Messy Church on our Website http://messychurcholdtown.co.uk/ or Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/messychurcholdtown/

Report on The Partnership Messy Church Initiative 2018churchadmin2018-03-25T14:54:18+01:00

Listen to Tanya Orr – the Executive Director of Willows

churchadmin2018-03-14T16:49:59+00:00

Sunday the 11th February is our first Mission Giving Sunday for 2018 and we collect for the work of the Willows Counselling Service and Swindon Youth for Christ.

Our sermon was given by Tanya Orr – the Executive director of the Willows Counselling service in Swindon

Listen to Tanya Orr – the Executive Director of Willowschurchadmin2018-03-14T16:49:59+00:00

SWINDON MUSIC FESTIVAL BACK IN CHRIST CHURCH!

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After the completion of the reordering work inside Christ Church, the 109^th Swindon Music Festival returns there on Friday 16^th March at 6.30pm with the church organ classes. Each organist will play two contrasting pieces and then the adjudicator will make comments on their performances.

Following the organ classes is one class for adult novice solo singers.

The evening will be rounded off with adult choir classes. In the church choir class, starting at around 8.35pm, St. Sampson’s Church Choir, Cricklade will be singing the hymn “I come with joy” to the tune St. Botolph and “Ubi Caritas” by Ola Gjeilo. Christ Church Choir will be singing the hymn “ There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy” to the tune Corvedale and John Rutter’s “For the Beauty of the Earth”.

The evening will conclude with the adult choirs class. This will include the Swindon Gilbert and Sullivan Society singing “The Long Day Closes” and also “Hail Poetry” from their forthcoming performance of “The Pirates of Penzance”, which is at the Arts Centre from 17-21^st April. The adjudicator for the Friday evening will be Christopher Daly, who has been a general adjudicator for music festivals since 2004 and is a member of the Friends of Cathedral Music.

The Festival continues on Saturday 17^th March and from Monday 19^th to Saturday 24^th in the Arts Centre in Devizes Road, Old Town. A trio from the Partnership of Churches will be performing at 7.45pm on Friday 23^rd, and there will be lots of solo performances on Saturday 24^th March.

The Festival deserves a much bigger audience – this year it celebrates 109 years of supporting music in Swindon. Previous participants have included Diana Dors in the past, and Jamie Cullum, Sarah Covey and Polly Leech who are all forging current musical careers. Previous adjudicators have included David Willcocks (1950, 1951 and 1955), Isobel Baillie (1966) and composers such as Armstrong Gibbs (1928, 1934), Edgar Bainton (1929), Sydney Northcote (1961) and Eric Thiman (1973).

There is such a wide variety of music that there will be something for everyone during the eight days. We really need to support the young talent – and the older competitors like support too! At a previous year’s final concert the adjudicator said several performances would have graced the West End stage – so come and hear future stars. She also commended our exceptional teachers. And we are so lucky to have a world class pianist in Paul Turner who is such an expert and also so kind to everyone including nervous novice singers.

Please do come along to support your Partnership singers. There will be a small charge for listening. The detailed programme, price £3, will be available from Christ Church from 16^th March, or from Holmes Music, Brian Taylor Music and the Arts Centre, and also on the website http://www.swindonmusicfestival.co.uk.

SWINDON MUSIC FESTIVAL BACK IN CHRIST CHURCH!churchadmin2018-03-25T14:53:04+01:00

Ash Wednesday Services – 14th February

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Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the forty days of Lent. It is the day on which Christians gather to receive the imposition of ashes. We have two services next Wednesday 14th February to mark this.

Next week’s Ash Wednesday Services at Christ Church

Ash Wednesday Services – 14th Februarychurchadmin2018-02-21T13:02:57+00:00

Christmas at the Community Centre 2017

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Visitors and Volunteers enjoy great food and company

About eighty people who would otherwise have been on their own, were able to enjoy a Christmas lunch, a good singalong, listen to the Queen’ s speech and to take a present home on Christmas Day. This was the second year this event had been provided to local people, all due to the initiative of our Community Centre Manager, Chris Smith.

The day before, those of us volunteering, spent time wrapping presents, laying the tables, buying drinks and making the Community Centre as welcoming and festive as possible. Such care had been taken with the organisation of the event that everyone had their own place name and a list of what they had chosen to eat and a welcome drink when they arrived.

Chef Steve Mitchell works his magic

The chef said it was a great place to cook and everyone seemed to have enough to eat and drink. David, who hosted the celebrations this year, did a sterling job keeping everything working well including the streaming of the Queen’s speech which provided somewhat difficult due to the technology. People who came said how much it meant to them to them being with others and not being on their own. Transport was provided for people who needed it. For the twenty plus volunteers who helped out on the day it was not only enjoyable but a moving experience. A number of people attending had disabilities and a few were homeless. Hearing life stories from the attenders, a number of whom were getting on for a 100 years old, was a very touching and memorable experience. Thanks to Chris Smith for making this possible and such a success.

Mike and Lynda Fisher

Christmas at the Community Centre 2017churchadmin2018-02-21T16:33:47+00:00

Partnership Walks Programme 2018

churchadmin2018-03-25T14:53:59+01:00

I would like to put together a walks programme for 2018. Please join us on the New Year’s Day ramble with a view to sharing ideas for the 2018 programme. Maybe six planned walks throughout the year – possibly including a weekend visit to southern Snowdonia.

Background
The first outing of the Walking Group was on New Year’s Day 1999, when we walked over the M4 curly-whirly bridge and over the fields to the Calley Arms at Hodson – and back home in the fading light! The group has met about 5 times every year since. We walk by canals, rivers, over downland and beside less well known places in Swindon. We have walked around the boundary of Old Town Parish many times.

The walks have always been promoted amongst the Old Town Partnership of Churches, and new ways of promoting the walks to a wider group in Swindon – and further afield – are always sought. Everyone is welcome.

Apart from the joys of fresh air, scenery and peace – and the benefits of exercise – there is another special feature of a walk. The special feature is that one is not alone, even if, for a while, one is content with one’s own company. When you fall in step with another person, the conversation can be about whatever you like. Walking side by side need not be intense. Sometimes more than a book’s worth of words are spoken in silence over a mile – with just the singing of the skylarks, or the noise of air in beech trees.

I love walks because they have movement and flow, and sometimes you find simplicity and answers. Walks can be fabulously romantic – also you don’t need to keep your imagination or ideas safely in a bottle!

Join in if you can.

Daniel Pitt 26 November 2017
Home 521732
Mobile 07834 704350
fdpitt@yahoo.co.uk

Partnership Walks Programme 2018churchadmin2018-03-25T14:53:59+01:00

Listen to our Lessons & Carols Service 17th December 2017

churchadmin2018-01-08T17:35:48+00:00

Candlelit Lessons and Carols service at Christ Church, Swindon Sunday, 17th at 6.30pm. There will also be seven choir only carols:

Adam lay ybounden (Warlock)

I wonder as I wander (Rutti)

Sir Christemas (Mathias)

Carol of the shepherds (Hewitt Jones)

Dormi Jesu (Rutter)

The Bell carol (Ledger)

I saw three ships (arr. Lloyd)

Congregational carols are interspersed with seasonal readings.
Our organist is Ian Crabbe, who played Bach’s chorale prelude In dulci jubilo BWV 729 and the the Final from Vierne’s first symphony after the service.

Listen to our Lessons & Carols Service 17th December 2017churchadmin2018-01-08T17:35:48+00:00

Christmas Service times 2017

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Download our 2017 Christmas services

Christmas Eve

10 am Holy Communion

4 pm Crib service
(With a nativity play performed by the children from King William Street School)

6.30 pm No service

11.30 pm Midnight Mass

Christmas Day

8 am Holy Communion

10 am Family Holy Communion

New Year’s Eve

6.30 pm No service

11 pm Watch Night service. Holy Communion followed by a glass of fizz to bring in the New Year

Find out about all our services on our calendar here. https://www.christchurchswindon.co.uk/services.php

Christmas Service times 2017churchadmin2018-01-08T17:34:42+00:00

Minutes of the Latest PCC meeting 27th November 2017

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The PCC met recently. They discussed issues concerning the Community Centre, 2018 budget and the recent Church Review by Phil Mansfield.

You can read the minutes here PCC Minutes 27thnovember2017

Questions relating to any issues arising or other concerns or observations can always be made to any of the staff team or current members of the PCC.

Revd Canon Simon Stevenette (Chair), Richard French, Annette French, Anne Macmillan, Greg Kendall, Ian Farr, Judith Hawkins, Jim D’Avila, Revd David Howell, Brian Harris, Revd Norma McKemey, Daniel Pitt (Lay-Chair), Keith Tredget (Treasurer) and Ailsa Palmer (minutes) Pam Bridgeman, Sheila Wright, Janet French, Siamon Opande.

Minutes of the Latest PCC meeting 27th November 2017churchadmin2018-01-08T17:36:28+00:00

Christ Church Strategic Review

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The PCC have recieved a set of observations and recommendation resulting from the review held for us by Phil Mansfield a member of our St Mary’s congregation. Phil has based his findings on a number of interviews held with members of the congregation over the past few months. The purpose of the review is to explore our vision for Christ Church and look for better and more effective ways of working, both within the church and with the wider community.

A small group comprising – Lynda Fisher, Anne Macmillan, Stephen Grosvenor, Ian Farr and Greg Kendal have been commissioned by the PCC to consider the review and come up with some next step actions. They will report their findings to the PCC meeting on the 29th January 2018.

You can read the minutes of the last PCC meeting 27th November here.

A copy of Phil’s report is available as a download here CC Strategy Review 2017 and paper copies can be obtained from the Parish office. (01793 522832). Please feel free to raise any points you would like to make with any member of the PCC or staff team.

The review represents a significant amount of work and we are very grateful to Phil for his time and expertise.

Christ Church Strategic Reviewchurchadmin2018-11-01T21:07:47+00:00

CMS Partners – Jimmy & Katia Rocks

churchadmin2017-12-04T22:21:36+00:00

Find out more about the work of our Mission partners Jimmy & Katia Rocks. This sunday (26th) is our last Mission Giving day in aid of the work of the CMS

If you are a taxpayer please consider using a gift aid envelope for your donation – gifts will be accepted until Dec 4th.

Thank you for your support

CMS Partners – Jimmy & Katia Rockschurchadmin2017-12-04T22:21:36+00:00

BIG CHURCH SUNDAY – 26th November

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Christ Church and it’s people share lots of activities and interests. Come along to the Community Centre on Sunday 26th 11.30 – 1.30pm to find out what we do and meet some of the people who do them.

Download a brochure here Big Church

BIG CHURCH SUNDAY – 26th Novemberchurchadmin2017-12-05T00:05:08+00:00

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