Events

Coffee and chat

churchadmin2021-05-09T19:10:38+01:00

11 am-12 Wednesday 12th May

We all hope to be able to catch up in person very soon but if you would like to have a coffee and a chat sooner, join us online next Wednesday. All are welcome. If you don’t have a computer or do have one, but don’t know how to use it – just try the telephone dial-in option to get started.

Why not try and get some of your friends to join too? There will be plenty of familiar friendly faces/voices.

Join online

If you are confident online then simply click the link below anytime between 11 -12 on Wednesday 12th May to join in.

Click here to join the meeting

If it’s all a bit new, follow these steps;

Click the blue link above.
Click to cancel the little box that may appear.
Choose the option “Continue on this browser“
Fill in your name and press “Join now“.
As soon as the chat has started you will be admitted.

Join by landline telephone (freephone)

Anytime between 11am – 12 on Wednesday 12th May

Tel: 0800 260 5903 – you will be asked to tap in this Conference I.D. on your phone: it is 655541981#

Say your name when prompted. You will then join the chat. To leave at any time just hang-up.

Coffee and chatchurchadmin2021-05-09T19:10:38+01:00

Swindon Literature Festival

churchadmin2021-05-03T19:29:22+01:00

This year’s festival launches on Monday 3^rd May. There is a full programme on line available via You Tube. This year the festival is mostly free with donations welcome. More details are available on the website: www.swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk

We particularly recommend three events: Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury speaking about his latest book On Looking East in Winter at 12 midday on Friday 7^th May. Simon will be involved in this event. This is followed at 2pm by The Bruderhof on Another Life is Possible about a Christian community where everyone pools their possessions, talents, and energy. Also do try and catch Catherine Okoronkwo on Wednesday 5^th at 6pm. Here is a new collection from a brilliant new voice in poetry. Blood and Water ọbara na mmiri travels across continents and cultures. It is a book of self discovery and bold departures which examines the pull of the Western world.
Catherine Okoronkwo, PhD, is of Nigerian heritage, grew up in the Middle East, and studied in the USA and UK. She was recently appointed as Bishop’s Advisor on Racial Justice and is Vicar of All Saints and St Barnabas, Swindon.

There are many other exciting events so do take a look at the programme.

https://www.swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk/2021events

Swindon Literature Festivalchurchadmin2021-05-03T19:29:22+01:00

Annual parochial church meeting

churchadmin2021-04-16T20:30:33+01:00

Our A.P.C.M is on April 25th at 11.15 in the church, following the 10.am service.

We are pleased to announce that Jim d’Avila and Nitin Shinde will stand as our next Church Wardens, please remember them in your prayers.

The Parish Church Council (PCC) is the governing body of Christ Church, overseeing our resources, assets, the Community Centre @ Christ Church, our buildings and staff. It is responsible for ensuring compliance with policies such as health and safety, safeguarding, proper recruitment and staff management etc. The council collaborates with the Vicar in discerning and promoting the mission and ministry of the church.

Read this year’s annual report

The PCC is required to hold an APCM (Annual Parochial Church meeting) at which reports are shared, accounts approved, new members and officers are elected, and questions may be asked about any area of the church’s ministry. Anyone may attend the annual meeting and raise questions; only those on the electoral roll may vote in any formal resolutions that might be made.

Annual parochial church meetingchurchadmin2021-04-16T20:30:33+01:00

Your P.C.C.

churchadmin2021-03-05T16:25:16+00:00

The Parochial Church Council or PCC is a group of people who direct strategy for and take decisions on behalf of Christ Church with St Mary’s. It meets regularly and it is important that everyone understands how it works and what it decides as this can affect our church life together.

PCC Update: February 2021
Elected members of PCC: David Ratnam, Daniel Pitt, Ruth Awinyo, Charles Vince, Steve Cox, Sean Bolger, Rose Earle, Mike Frost Foster.
Elected members of PCC for Deanery Synod: Anne Grainger and Kevin Penfold
PCC (appointed offices):
Vicar: Simon Stevenette
Staff team: Norma McKemey representing Christ Church Anne Macmillan representing St. Mary’s

Treasurer:Andrew Yeoward

Church Wardens: Jim D’Avila and Pam Bridgeman
The PCC meets 6 times a year.

What did the PCC discuss, what news was shared and what decisions came forward?
The Community Centre has been awarded a £30k grant. This was a great achievement by Chris and
the team and very encouraging. Congratulations and thanks to Chris and the team.

(more…)

Your P.C.C.churchadmin2021-03-05T16:25:16+00:00

Eco Stable

churchadmin2021-02-09T13:35:59+00:00

We are doing all we can, along with our wider Swindon community, to celebrate God’s amazing world through practical acts of care and kindness looking after its future recognising the enormous world-wide challenges caused by climate change and the Covid 19 pandemic.

This year, our good friend, Gervin Senior has created a full size replica stable outside the church. The wood comes from discarded fencing panels and local rubbish sites. We even have a star hanging above it and an eco-manger within it!

In Gervin’s words; ‘ Every problem is an opportunity, I am grateful to members of the Swindon community for helping with this project with practical gifts. I hope it gives everybody a lift this Christmas.

The words on the front are;
• From Bethlehem to Swindon with love
• Jesus gives us comfort and joy
• God is with us

We want to be clear- Christmas is not cancelled this year-we are just doing things differently. Our priority is keeping people safe and telling the Good News of Christmas that God has come to us in his son Jesus Christ in a lively contemporary way’.
‘We are enormously grateful to Gervin for masterminding this creative community stable. We hope and pray that people of all ages will engage with this stable’s simplicity and atmosphere and have unforgettable memories by and in our stable which is a gift to our Old Town Swindon parish.’

You are invited to bring:

A small single object: e.g. rope, stone, pine cone, branch and place it in the manger.
(It should not include words or identifiers, it’s a personal symbolic gift.)
A prayer or a longing. A desire for Christ to meet with you.

In this way we build an altar of personal hopes and dreams which will be a Covid safe, environment enhancing and not detracting from the installation itself.

Do come and sit awhile in the stable for your own meditation and prayer, you may want to come and listen to some carols on your phone

Our prayer for people leaving offerings is that they might know the reality of God’s presence with us through His incarnation and that their spirits might be renewed as they join their offering with others.

This week, leading up to Christmas day we are inviting families to dress up as Bethlehem characters and put their photos on our Christ Church Facebook page.

We recognise that many people are social distancing therefore our prayer is that every home may be Bethlehem and every heart a manger. The stable also reminds us of our Bible verse for the year and is part of our strategic plan to develop as an eco-congregation. You can read some of our eco ideas here.

Eco Stablechurchadmin2021-02-09T13:35:59+00:00

Remembrance Day

churchadmin2020-11-27T18:53:06+00:00

This week marks 102 years since the end of the Great War.

Remembrance Daychurchadmin2020-11-27T18:53:06+00:00

Lunchtime Organ Recitals a great success

churchadmin2020-10-17T20:02:36+01:00

Tim Eyles, our Director of Music, has completed a series of 4 lunchtime recitals on our recently refurbished organ to raise much needed funds for both the church and The Friends of Christ Church.

Thank you to all of you who supported Tim and gave generously. His recitals raised more than £250, split between the Friends and the Church. The organ can still be heard in the 2nd and 4th Sunday 10 am services or you can catch up with a recording of the service each week, after 1pm.

If you missed the chance to hear our organ in full flow, you can hear an extract below.

Tim Eyles – Music Director at Christ Church Organ

Listen to Tim play

Lunchtime Organ Recitals a great successchurchadmin2020-10-17T20:02:36+01:00

Not back to normal – planning for a better future

churchadmin2020-06-06T16:03:12+01:00

Martin explored the theological, environmental and community challenges which the pandemic is raising in our own country and across the world. He stresses the importance of joining together as faiths to practically respond to the social and economic challenges, within an anxious and ever-changing environment.

Watch the recording

(more…)

Not back to normal – planning for a better futurechurchadmin2020-06-06T16:03:12+01:00

Choral Evensong 9th February 2020

churchadmin2020-03-07T13:34:27+00:00

Listen again to our service of traditional choral evensong

Led by the choir of Christ Church and friends and the Reverend Simon Stevenette

Choral Evensong 9th February 2020churchadmin2020-03-07T13:34:27+00:00

Alone this Christmas?

churchadmin2019-12-23T01:40:29+00:00

Come and join the fun. 3 course Christmas meal, Christmas Carols, Queen’s Speech, fun and laughter

Where: Christ Church Community Centre

When 12.00 – 3.30 Christmas Day

To reserve your place by donation please contact

Chris Smith 01793 617237 or email Chris.Smith@ccccswindon.co.uk

Alone this Christmas?churchadmin2019-12-23T01:40:29+00:00

Swindon Male Voice Choir Concert

churchadmin2019-10-09T19:40:17+01:00

In their centenary year, the Swindon Male Voice choir will be in concert at 7.30pm in Christ Church on November 23rd. They will be supported by special guests, the Romsey Male Voice choir. All proceeds go to the Samaritans.

Tickets £10.00 adult : Under 16s free

Available from: Choir members or Swindon Male Voice Choir ticket Point: 01793 822495

Email: swindonmalevoicechoir@msn.com
Swindon and District Samaritans: 07484 611993

Swindon Male Voice Choir Concertchurchadmin2019-10-09T19:40:17+01:00

Ride & Stride 2019 14th September

churchadmin2019-10-06T11:09:22+01:00

What, in the majority of towns and villages, is the most impressive building? You’ve guessed it: the church! And Wiltshire, as much as any county, has a rich variety of styles of architecture and historical features to explore. Ride & Stride is an annual event that invites particpants to visit as many churches as possible in a day. Sponsorship can be per church visited or a fixed amount. It’s an ideal family day out – many of the churches have welcomers who offer refreshments and fascinating information about their church.
Participants can take part on a bike, on foot or on horseback.

Half of the money raised goes to Christ Church with St Mary’s, the other half to the Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust, enabling it to give grants for the upkeep and enhancement of churches and chapels around the county.
There is no enrollment fee – just get a sponsorship form and instructions from Arline tel. 520691 royandarline@gmail.com or the parish office and then plan your own route. Whether you simply walk from one local church to another or more ambitiously aim to cycle to fifty churches, you are welcome. There are also prizes for the most successful individuals and parishes.

Take a look at this Google map of some of the county’s churches for some inspiration https://drive.google.com/open?id=11mt133atEOdvmIOZCmpAybBVFrU&usp=sharing

Not all of these churches may be paticipating this year – contact Arline or the office, as above, for the 2019 list. Don’t fancy the challenge – You can still take part. We are looking for volunteers to man Christ Church or St Mary’s to welcome our visitors on the day. Contact Arline royandarline@gmail.com if you could spare some time and a smile for our, often weary, visitors.

Ride & Stride 2019 14th Septemberchurchadmin2019-10-06T11:09:22+01:00