Annual Report 2015
churchadmin2016-09-09T20:03:36+01:00Our Annual Report & Accounts have been published.
Read them here. 
https://www.christchurchswindon.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Annual-Report-2015.pdf
Keeping the flags flying
churchadmin2016-02-13T20:32:55+00:00
Anyone passing Christ church the other day might have been surprised to note that we had 3 different flags flying within the space of 24 hours.
The serial sequence was as follows, with a brief explanation:
- Australia (last night to midday 26th January) celebrating Australia Day, marking the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British Ships at Port Jackson, New South Wales, and the raising of the Flag of Great Britain at Sydney Cove by Governor Arthur Phillip.
- India (mid day to this evening) celebrating Republic Day when they became self governing and published their constitution
- Shetland (this evening) in celebration of Lerwick Up Helly Aa , a Viking fire festival, reinvented in the 1880’s.
We are proud to celebrate the diversity of our church family and visitors to our community – our use of flags reflects this. All are welcome at Christ Church
Safety First at Christ Church
churchadmin2016-04-10T01:42:46+01:00Thanks to the hard work of Rob our sexton and Daniel our Church Warden, we have some new signs in and around the church and community centre. Our roadways are shared with pedestrians and those using the church, burial ground and community centre so it is essential that all vehicle users using them keep their speed right down and are alert to people exiting the church. We often host very small people from our local schools so please obey the limits and use the roadways considerately.
Thank you
Our 2016 Bible Verse
churchadmin2016-04-26T13:24:16+01:00The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
His mercies never come to an end.
They are new every morning
Great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3.22 & 23
Lessons & Carols 2015
churchadmin2016-01-21T20:49:12+00:00Listen again to our festival of Lessons and Carols from Christ Church Swindon featuring the Choir of Christ Church with St Mary’s and led by the Revd Canon Simon Stevenette.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/sx9n8p5lb1gi995/2015%20Lessons%20and%20carols.mp3?dl=0
(a large file which may take some time to download)
Another Successful Christmas Charity Market
churchadmin2016-01-21T20:48:50+00:00
The Friends of Christ Church Trustees thank everyone who helped make the Christmas Charity market on 21 November such a success. Everyone who came enjoyed it; all the participating charities and community organisations made a profit (there were 36) and over £4,300 was raised including £800 for church charities. All would like to return if we plan an event in November 2016.
The Friends welcome new members – annual membership is £5 for singles and £10 for families; life membership is £75 – forms are at the back of the church or on the website. Members are also eligible to join the winning organising team of Trustees – Caroline Hallatt (chair), Peter Ford (secretary), Julia Kablak (treasurer), Caroline Pitt, (membership secretary), Margaret Williams, Pam Bridgeman and Christine Senior. (Simon, Mike and Daniel are also Trustees because of their offices.)
Details of our Christmas serviceschurchadmin2016-01-10T12:03:33+00:00
Congratulations Simon
churchadmin2016-01-21T20:49:33+00:00Dear Friends
Thank you so much for all your encouragement with the Football Fans in Training course I have been participating in at Swindon Town run by our Football in the Community team over the last 3 months; quite simply one of the best things I have been involved with in my life! It has felt like a 12 week retreat in so many ways.
Tonight was a wonderful celebration. The group of 30 of us have lost together 43.8 stones! Each of us were set a target to lose between 5-10% of our body weight.
I was very honoured to win the prize for the highest percentage of body weight lost, 18.4% and for the most centimetres lost around the chest 18.5 cms. Overall I have lost over 21/2 stone and now weigh 11 stone 9 lbs! The challenge obviously is maintaining this weight. Many moving conversations and I was thrilled to hear virtually the whole group will be coming with their families to the Swindon Town Carol service next Thursday 6.30pm to celebrate! There will be a lot of publicity locally.
We will be playing the Manchester City football fans in training at the Etihad in February/March. Also we have been invited to help mentor the next course which begins at the end of January
Very specially I travelled tonight to the gym with Gary and Jo, I married them at Christ Church in August 2001, they are having a marriage thanksgiving at the same time in 2017.
As I said in my speech tonight I couldn’t have done this without the support of the 30 guys and the excellent leadership of Shane, Jon and Louise who have taught us all a great deal. Thank you each of you for all of your support to Nicola and I . Nicola jokes that I am now less weight than before I first knew her 33 years ago!!! Anyone like to join me for a run tomorrow and my first Pilates class at our Christ church Community centre?
Simon
For the Fallen
churchadmin2017-04-26T19:52:04+01:00For the Fallen by Douglas Guest – our introit from this Sunday’s Remembrance service
If the plug in doesn’t work on your pc then listen on this link http://ipad.io/aFio
Carol’s Sermon on Remembrance Sunday
churchadmin2015-12-22T12:27:16+00:00Some of you may have wondered why Carol one of our lay ministers, chose to Brave the Shave in aid of Macmillan. This sermon given at our recent Remembrance Evensong service is a powerful and thought provoking alternative way of looking at War.
You can listen to the sermon here: http://www.ipadio.com/channels/ChristChurchSwindon
Operation Christmas Child
churchadmin2015-12-22T12:50:26+00:00We are planning to once again support Operation Christmas Child’s Shoebox Appeal. Please can you begin to gather items of stationery, toys, toiletries, sweets (not chocolate) and other suitable small personal items ready to bring to church on the first three Sundays in November (a list of suitable items can be found at www.samaritans-purse.org.uk or at the back of church) when we hope to be able to pack a good number of shoeboxes to send around the world to make a difference to children’s lives. We have kindly had a donation of some 50 empty shoeboxes and it would be great to fill them all! If you don’t have a shoebox then please bring your gifts to church and we will pack them for you.
It costs just £3 to transport each gift box across the world so if you can – please include £3 towards this.
Thank you on behalf of Operation Christmas Child and all the happy children you will help this Christmas.
Watch a short film about the excellent work of this charity
A message from Carol – Brave the Shave
churchadmin2015-12-22T12:27:37+00:00
I decided some time ago to do a head shave to stand alongside a very brave lady who lost her hair to chemotherapy whilst suffering from breast cancer – the beautiful Katie. Her hair is now back but she was so courageous when it was gone I felt I needed to do this for her and others like her. I also lost both of my parents to cancer when they were in their 50s – where I am now – so I want to dedicate this crazy act to their memory!
You can sponsor me easily on line here: https://bravetheshave.org.uk/
If you are not a Internet kind of person then catch me one Sunday soon.
The date it will be done is Sunday 8th November at lunchtime in the Community Centre @ Christ Church. To watch there will be an admission charge unless you have already sponsored me. (For causes I believe in I am ruthless…) My girls will be on the door with collection buckets…for money, not my hair.
COME ON, SPONSOR ME. I love my hair so I want AT LEAST £1000 for this. We can do it!!!!