Advent Angels – Children’s Event
churchadmin2012-12-04T15:06:54+00:00Saturday 1st December 2012. 10.30 – 12.30.
A morning of fun, crafts and games for school ages reception to year 6.
Click the image to download an application form.
The News gets a make-over
churchadmin2012-11-17T18:45:04+00:00If you have been looking at the site over the last day or so you may have experienced some unexpected results. We have been transferring our news feeds over to a new platform. All should be fine now – you may need to refresh your browser ( usually done by pressing CTL F5 on your keyboard). The new format allows us more control over how the news and articles are displayed and organised.
If you visit the latest news page or follow any of the links from the Headlines box on the home page you will find yourself at the new Christ Church Blog page. Here you will find all the news and info
rmation as before with the addition of information from our working committees. You can also see our Church Plan here along with a calendar of meetings.
The Blog opens in a new window so if you wish to return to the Christ Church website having viewed it, just close the window.
For some, of a nervous disposition, the information above may appear to be in a foreign language – if so sorry but if you have any problems with accessing the news or any other part of the website then contact Stephen Grosvenor – s.grosvenor@gmail.com -01793 341034 and he will be delighted to help.
Evening Prayer from Christ Church Swindon
churchadmin2012-11-02T19:23:24+00:00Evening Service on 22nd October 2012 led by Carol Simmons and the Choir of Christ Church Swindon
Choral Evensong 28th October 2012
churchadmin2012-10-30T16:41:13+00:00
Listen to Choral Evensong recorded on the 28th October at Christ Church Swindon. Service led by Rev’d Simon Stevenette and the Choir of Christ Church.
Music
- Introit – Oh Taste and See – Vaughan Williams
- Magnificat and Nunc Dimitis in Bflat – C.V Stanford
- Responses by Robert Jones
- Anthem – And I saw a new heaven – Edgar Bainton
What has happened to the Development & Renewal Group?
churchadmin2012-10-24T13:18:24+01:00
Over the past 2 years, the D&R group met regularly to create momentum and focus for an overall strategy for Christ Church. They, with the agreement of the PCC, created an overall vision for the next hundred years at Christ Churchand began to formulate plans to create a sustainable and forward looking church community in Swindon. This focus enabled us to kick start the development process. Grant applications to the Borough and to other agencies, alongside a review of our own assets and priorities, as well as a programme of fund and awareness raising, have now put us in a position to move forward with a phased approach to the overall development and renewal strategy.
Having got this far, it is now essential that everything that is done over the next 2-5 years is driven and informed by the overall parish plan. To ensure that we engage our own experts and interest groups in the future decision making and to ensure that the plans are properly co-ordinated, we have devolved the on-going activities of the former D&R group, into our current committee structure but with a couple of small changes.
- Site Development & Buildings – project managing the delivery of the community centre & managing our properties day to day – led by Stephen Grosvenor & Mike Palmer
- Mission & Evangelism – ensuring that the church delivers effective, outward looking Christian learning programmes and promoting and supporting Christian projects worldwide- led by Norma McKemey & Martin Lee.
- Children & Young People – Working to support, nurture, and affirm the contribution of children and young people in church life, and to reach out and engage with those in our wider community – led by Janice Titcombe & Trudie Wigley
- Community Networks – ensuring that we develop and maintain strong links with our local community, groups, businesses and individuals – led by Daphne Hardwick & David Morrison
- Church Family -Strengthening church family relationships and providing pastoral care- led by Anne Macmillan & Pam Bridgeman
- Financial Stewardship & Resources – ensuring that we manage and grow our resources led by Chris Raven & Gareth Hutchinson.
Lynda Fisher one of our churchwardens has agreed to oversee the committees and she will be assisted by Claire Beaton, Ailsa Palmer and Simon Stevenette. Each committee has 2 leaders and these leaders will meet periodically to share ideas and progress. All trustees of the PCCare members of one of the six groups.
To summarise, the work of the renewal and development group has now become part of our “business as usual” process. Each of the groups has a clear remit and has formulated their own targets which together, deliver the overall church plan for renewal and development. You can read about this plan as well as see the work of the individual committees here. The Development & Renewal fund will remain as a place to donate gifts specifically to fund Christ Church’s renewal vision.
Friends of Christ Church Calendar on Sale now
churchadmin2012-10-30T16:42:54+00:00
Buy the new 2013 Friends of Christ Church Calendar now. It contains 13 new and original photographs taken locally by members of the Partnership and sold in aid of the Friends of Christ
Church. Spiral bound on heavy-weight silk paper and printed by Kite Press, A4 size, one month to a page, with envelope, price £5. Ideal Christmas Gifts which aid the work of the church. Available to callers at the Parish Office, from Christ Church after 10.00 am service on Sundays, or by post £5 + £1 p&p. Please ring 01793 522832 for enquiries.
Mission & Evangelism News
churchadmin2013-03-10T16:53:22+00:00MISSION & EVANGELISM
Meeting 12th July 2012 – Norma McKemey, Martin Lee, Angela Wirdnam, Julia Sewell.
Apologies – Margaret Williams, Roger and Maria Morcumb
Commitment to:
1. The call to be Christ within this world and the ways in which Christ Church can respond
2. Developing a programme for enquirers of the Christian faith
3. Developing a programme for those wanting to grow in discipleship
4. Developing a programme for new Christians
5. Promoting support of worldwide mission
6. Exploring ways in which to reach others with the gospel
|
|
Commitment |
Time scale |
Who liaise with |
Priority |
Lead |
|
Developing a programme for enquirers of the Christian faith:
|
1/2 |
Autumn 2012 |
Simon Congregations Children & Young People |
Immediate |
Norma |
|
Developing a programme for those wanting to grow in discipleship: · Venue? · Timing? · Advertising? · Content – to be in depth study of biblical books |
1/3 |
Jan/Feb 2013 |
Church Family Lynda Fisher Home groups |
|
Norma |
|
Promoting support of worldwide mission:
|
1/5 |
|
Partnership |
|
Margaret |
|
Exploring ways in which to reach others with the gospel
|
1/6 |
|
|
|
Martin |
Next meeting: 3rd October 2012 – Parish Office 7.30 p.m.
Review activities, plan for 2013 & think about budget request
Children & Young People News
churchadmin2012-10-30T16:14:52+00:00The committee has agreed a programme of activities both short and medium term.
|
Focus |
Achieved by… |
What will happen in 2012/13 |
|
Children and Young People (CYP)
Definitions: Children: primary age
Young people: secondary age
|
Y1. Welcome CYP to Christ Church.
Y2. Recognise their value.
Y3. Involving CYP in life of church
Y4. Disciple and care for CYP
Y5. Support and pray for local schools.
Y6. Explore outreach to CYP
Y7. Maintain active Child Protection policy
Other: Incorporating Y1-Y7 above |
Y1&Y3 Parents, children and youth to be included in welcoming team rota to look out for and nurture contact with CYP who come to services. By end Oct 2012
Dependents:availability of earlier start for families Liaise with:David & Ann Sharpe
Y1 Quick win: hot chocolate, squash and suitable biscuits to be served by CYP on low table in leisure centre. With immediate effect.
Y1 Quick win: Ensure that consistently at beginning of services, as part of welcome, an announcement is made of child provision & exit door(!) in South Transept (but not to be called that) and toilets & baby changing in the leisure centre. With immediate effect Liaise with:Service leaders & church wardens giving notices
Y2 Raise profile of CYP with regular highlight of some aspect of CYP in services/on website/in newssheet etc. With immediate effect.
Y3&Y1 Parents, children and youth to be integrated into welcoming team rota, read lessons, bring up collection etc. Ongoing.
Y3 CYP or representatives to take an active part in the planning and delivery of All Age services. By end Sept 2012. Dependents:Representation on All Age planning groups
Y3 Consideration of admission to communion before confirmation for CYP. Paper to be submitted to PCC for intial consideration to start Diocesan process. Nov 2012 Liaise with:families with children, Incumbent
Y3 Review of all CYP offering (including review against Swindon Youth Charter) via survey to children, parents and young people. Specific actions points to be raised from responses. Survey by end Nov 2012. Dependents: willingness to engage in survey Liaise with:children, parents and young people
Y4 Consider feasibility of monthly youth service, in collaboration with nascent initiative at Immanuel. Ongoing. Dependents:OTP involvement Liaise with:OTP partners
Y5 Continue putting boxes of chocolate in school staff rooms at Easter and Christmas on behalf of OTP churches. Ongoing.
Y5 Continue to support assembly visits to schools undertaken by OTP church representatives and others, and strengthen contacts with other schools across Swindon. Ongoing. Dependents:Availability of clergy and other visiting teams Liaise with: SYFC, Janet Roe, in school, Abi Corry
Y6 Launch Messy church for Primary age children as OTP project. April 2013 latest start. Dependents:OTP and CC practical support Liaise with:Mission and Evangelism/FIS/Community groups & OTP Focus and Council
Y6 Continue to run, in conjunction with OTP:
Dependents:OTP
Y7. Full review of Child Protection Policy, paperwork and awareness by end November 2012 Liaise with:Nominated Persons
Other: Work towards Diocesan “Child Friendly Church Award” 2012 (ultimate goal of Gold level longer term). Submit award to recognise achievements to date by end March 2012
Other: Submit budget for CYP activities. End Oct2012 |
Church Family News
churchadmin2012-10-10T21:17:23+01:00The church family group met to discuss their priorities for the coming year.
Hospitality
- To provide a welcome lunch for newcomers on 21/10/12, then from 2013 twice per year.
- Setting up a new “hospitality team” to assist with refreshments and food at social events.
Homegroups
- To raise awareness of homegroups by providing information to new and existing members – special focus at services on 23/09/12.
- To arrange a social event for homegroup members and people interested in finding out about groups in January 2013.
- To support groups by providing a list of all current resources available in Christ Church.
- To provide support/ training for group leaders from staff team.
Welcomers
- To provide training and coaching for sides people/ welcomers.
Site Development News
churchadmin2012-11-29T16:12:50+00:00St Mary’s Hall – 5th September 2012 Meeting Minutes
Present : Reg Hardwick, Stephen Grosvenor, Mike Palmer, , John Plaister, Mark Antell, Daniel Pitt.
Apologies: Kevin Penfold
SG said a short prayer.
Item 3. Minutes of last meeting – reviewed and accepted. All outstanding items have been included in the agenda.
Item 4 –Budget Summary for 2012
We have currently spent c£4,917 Year to date. We have outstanding bills for the Asbestos surveys for the churches & halls and Dave Hobbs bill for heating installation at 31. Our estimated current spend is £10,137 as at end Sept 2012.
Item 5 – Christ Church
We have put our recommendations for Phase1 Works to the PCC and they have been accepted. These are:
- New lighting scheme
- Restore the West door internal porch to reduce the draughts
- Update the audio/visual facilities in the church.
We need to make a DAC application for the access works to the hall within the next couple of weeks – PCC must agree to the monument moving for the application so must include an agenda item at the next meeting.
SG to follow up the progress of the plans with Bernard. He is also investigating some historic monument moving specialists to give us professional advice on moving them.
SG is also contacting the Water, Gas and Electricity suppliers about the hall demolition.
Item 6 Church Centre update
We have received the first payment of £30,166 from the council. At the steering group meeting yesterday, there was discussion about the current timeline and it was felt it might be a bit optimistic. We have already begun to notify the users that the hall will be closing at the end of the year so we will probably continue to plan to close it to users in January 2013.
We will need to co-ordinate the clearing of the hall in early Jan – decisions will need to be reached on Traidcraft’s stock and activities, coffee in church etc.
We are proposing to site 2 temporary disabled toilets to the side of the SW door. These will only be in use for services.
Mike & Stephen have visited Upper Seagry hall and seen a modular build first hand.
It is very well equipped and has given us some ideas on facilities which we will need to consider – audio/visual, screens, heat pumps.
Item 6 Property Checks – as part of our responsibility as a landlord, we need to periodically assess our properties for potential damage or hazards. Now that Upham Road has been sold, this leaves only 31 and 32 Cricklade Street.
Action: SG to discuss with Ailsa and the tenants appropriate times for the inspections. Also we should devise a checklist of items to check which would give more structure to the process as well as act as a record of each check. SG to investigate. We will need to do some more inspections – Mark and Daniel will join up to assess 32. Mike & Reg 31.
Item 7 31 Cricklade Street – Dave Hobbs was awarded the contract and has nearly finished the work.
The old shed is in danger of falling down – SG to get a quote for a new one.
Item 8. 58 Upham Road – has been sold.
Any other business
We have commissioned an asbestos surveys for St Mary’s, the church and the hall prior to commencing works.
Billiard Table in Hall. We have so far failed to find a home for the billiard table so will advertise it for sale.
We will have to have the fire extinguishers checked
Query on PAT testing – how often does it really need to be done?
Next meeting date 14th November 2012 – 7.30 St Mary’s Hall
Deferred Jobs list
|
Job |
Quote |
Date |
Rated A/B/C/D |
|
SW door repair and draft exclusion |
Defer to D&R |
20/01/2010 |
C |
|
Pressure washing the vestry steps |
|
|
C |
|
Flooding under the clergy vestry |
|
25/03/2010 |
C |
|
Cycle Racks |
Defer to new hall |
27/07/2010 |
C |
|
Wall mounted Notice board at West door |
£95+VAT |
31/03/2011 |
C/D |
|
Free standing Noticeboard at West door |
£375+VAT S&I |
31/03/2011 |
C/D |
|
Sign for Church Centre (maybe directional signage rather than the name) |
Defer |
31/03/2011 |
D |
|
New fireproof ceiling in the undercroft |
|
20/02/2012 |
B/C |
|
New central heating boiler & rads 31 CS |
Est. 6k Oct 2011 DH |
17/10/2011 |
C |
A- Assessed as high risk
B- Legal requirement
C- Best Practice.
D – Nice to do.