Changes to Communion

2022-09-03T15:50:47+01:00

The Chalice – Communion Cup

As is happening increasingly across our Bristol Diocese, the chalice will once again be distributed at every Holy Communion service at Christ Church and St Mary’s from this weekend.

This is good news as we know that many have missed this opportunity. We are part of one body, made up of many different parts. The Common Cup has been central to the Church of England’s sacramental liturgy and worship for centuries.

However, there is never any requirement or expectation that communicants will receive under both forms. We recognise that we are in different situations in life, so we ask you to make a personal decision whether to receive the Chalice, according to your own circumstances.

Intinction, was only brought in for extreme situations. It was never meant to be part of normal Church of England practice. As such, having taken advice from Archdeacon Christopher Bryan, we will not now be offering Intinction as a choice at Communion. As always, we would be happy to explain more about this on a one-to-one basis and to answer any questions.

It is wonderful to know the grace of God and the sacrament of Holy Communion is still wholly efficacious in one kind. This means that when we receive, either the host or chalice, we receive,in whole – the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Our Lord. Jesus, having conquered death, can never be divided, or separated. So please feel free either to receive under both forms or one – it is a matter of personal choice and devotion.

Please pray that we will rejoice in this new development, while being sensitive to those who remain anxious; above all that each of us will continue to meet with Christ in Word and in Sacrament and his Holy Spirit will be very present in all our worship.

Revd Canon Simon Stevenette Vicar, Jim d’Avila and Nitin Shinde, Church Wardens

Changes to Communion2022-09-03T15:50:47+01:00

Fellowship of Faith

2022-09-03T15:50:18+01:00

Who are we?
We are a small group, providing a safe space for growth in Christianity, deeper community connections, an exploration of The Bible’s teachings on love, faith, mercy and grace.

We will do this through meeting together using prayer, devotionals, talking to each other, by using multimedia resources, guest speakers and other methods that we, as a group find useful, as we walk with Jesus at our sides.

Like Jesus, we aim to extend a hand of friendship to all, acting with kindness, forgiveness, and honesty whilst persevering, even when times are tough. We will show respect to all and, guided by our faith, we believe we have a responsibility to follow the example for life that Jesus gave us.

What inspires us?

We are inspired by this Bible verse from Hebrews 10:24-25
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds.
But let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and, all the more, as you see the Day approaching.”

Who can join us?

Everyone is welcome. We aim to meet in person for around 90 minutes. We start on Wednesday 3rd August at 7 pm -8.30 pm and intend to meet in Christ Church every 1st and 3rd Wednesday thereafter.

How to pray

Praying may sound like the simplest of tasks, but people may not know how to, or may not have the confidence to pray, feeling quite anxious, especially around others. Together, we will explore the power and usage of prayer in our everyday lives.

How to read/understand the Bible.

Just like praying, what’s so difficult about reading the bible, simple right? No! To start with, some language used in the Bible, not just on a multi-cultural level, is not familiar to modern ears, so even if English is your first language, it can still be tough to read and understand.

From doing our own readings of the Bible, and hearing people reading during services, we know it’s open to people’s own interpretations, and that we can use it to relate to our own lives and the world around us.

When it comes to the Old and New Testament, we’ve found some difference, and people’s preference towards one or the other, will vary.

As well as language and differences, it’s important to understand the significance of certain pivotal moments, as well as what led to them and what followed. As the group evolves, we will gain a far greater understanding of the Bible, which will lead to people asking more questions, looking to it for help in times of need, also for guidance in their lives.

Devotionals

We will learn together, the power of worshipping as a group. We will investigate the different styles and forms of worship and how the act of devotion, regardless of its format, can bring people together and deepen connections between them.

Discussion of everyday subjects

All well and good learning how to pray, interpret the Bible, and worship together. But what about everyday situations in life? How they can be faced from a Christian perspective? As well guest speakers, we will discuss together subjects that the group might choose to look at

For example, some of the subjects that we might cover together;

  • Addiction
  • Family life.
  • Relationships in everyday life, beyond family.
  • How you’re God’s gift.
  • Temptation
  • Loss
  • Armour of God.
  • Fellowship
  • Loneliness

So much is covered throughout the Bible, if you have questions, we’ll look for answers together. The journey to explore the Christian Life, together is as important to us as the questions themselves.

Why not come along to one of our sessions and have a chat? We can’t wait to share the discoveries that we make together.

For more details contact James jamesaspratt1976@yahoo.com or Simon sjgiles822@hotmail.com or follow our Facebook page

Fellowship of Faith2022-09-03T15:50:18+01:00

Sunday Club Shoe box Appeal

2022-08-23T15:31:19+01:00

We are collecting items for the children to pack into shoeboxes later in October on behalf of the charity Linktohope. This is a small charity who will be delivering the shoeboxes to families and the elderly in Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, and Bulgaria. We would be grateful of any donations, from an empty shoebox, a single item, or a completed box. Last date for donations will be Sunday 30 October. Please leave at the parish office Mon-Friday 10am-1pm or pass on to Sue. For further details please visit https://linktohope.co.uk/ or see Sue at coffee on Sundays. You can also email Sue@christchurchswindon.co.uk.

You can see a list of the kind of things that we would like below.

Sunday Club Shoe box Appeal2022-08-23T15:31:19+01:00

Creation Restored

2022-08-05T18:43:10+01:00

9.30am-4pm Saturday, 17 September, Pattern Church, Swindon

The Rt Revd. Vivienne Faull, Bishop of Bristol, invites you to an inspiring ‘Creation Restored: Ministry in a time of Climate Crisis’ Diocesan day conference at the Pattern Church.

The aim of the day is to share in fellowship and explore the challenges, sensitivities, and opportunities of leading church life during a climate emergency.

There will be a diverse range of guest speakers and workshop leaders, including keynote speaker Dr Ruth Valerio, Global Advocacy Director at Tearfund, as well as sessions from friends from Green Christian, Operation Noah, the Youth Christian Climate Network among others, as well as some familiar faces from across the Diocese.

 

Please register via Eventbrite and do share this invitation. For further information, please contact Simon Taylor at simon.taylor@bristoldiocese.org

Creation Restored2022-08-05T18:43:10+01:00

Bottom to Top – Bishop Lee’s Cycling Challenge

2022-07-22T18:17:11+01:00

Chris Stanley & Bishop Lee Rayfield

Being ill with Covid recently, has not stopped Bishop of Swindon, Dr Lee Rayfield, from getting on his bike once again to take on a huge fundraising challenge, cycling some 881 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats in just 13 days.

Bishop Lee will be cycling to raise as much money as possible to support local families in most need with a special Christmas gift. This is the second time that Bishop Lee has taken on such a massive quest.

Back in 2014, following chemotherapy and radiotherapy for Hodgkin Lymphoma, he rode from John O’Groats to Land’s End and raised £16,000 to equip and train church leaders from across Uganda to help them better serve their communities.

His plan was to cycle the other way round two years ago, but his quest was scuppered as he hit a patch of black ice breaking his femur and he also needed to have a replacement of his replacement hip.

After surgery, Bishop Lee is now able to fulfil his second challenge, but this time helping people in his hometown of Swindon in a challenge he has named ‘From the Bottom to the Top’.

To support this cause, members of the public can visit Bishop Lee’s JustGiving page at https://justgiving.com/crowdfunding/from-the-bottom-to-the-top?utm

You can also follow his journey on his daily blog From the Bottom to the Top at https://bishopswindon.wixsite.com/my-site/blog

Watch an update from the Bishop below

Bottom to Top – Bishop Lee’s Cycling Challenge2022-07-22T18:17:11+01:00

Humanitarian Aid for Ukraine

2022-04-22T15:56:35+01:00

Pheonix Enterprises have been shipping out Humanitarian Aid to refugees from Ukraine. Mike Bowden has requested the following items : toys, colouring books, colouring pencils, toiletries, female sanitary products and medical supplies. There is a donation box in the community centre should you wish to contribute. You can also donate to Phoenxi’s work directly here

Volunteers to help sort and box these aids will also be needed please contact mzbowden@btinternet.com for more information.

Humanitarian Aid for Ukraine2022-04-22T15:56:35+01:00

Annual Report 2021 & APCM

2022-07-11T10:30:18+01:00

The A.P.C.M. is the Annual Parochial Church Meeting. It is actually two meetings the ‘Vestry Meeting’ when we elect Churchwardens for the coming year and the APCM itself which is the business meeting of the Church – like an AGM. This year’s meeting is to be held on Sunday 24th April at 11.30am in the church.

The meeting is open to those on our Electoral Roll. Those at the meeting appoint PCC members, Deanery Synod representatives and accept the audited Church accounts.

It is also an opportunity to look back at the events of the last year and to look together with anticipation at the vision for the coming year.

As part of the meeting, the Annual Report is produced. This is the record of our financial and pastoral achievements in 2021 and also lays out our vision and strategies for the coming year.

Download the Annual Report here

Annual Report 2021 & APCM2022-07-11T10:30:18+01:00

Christian Aid New Arrangements-Help Needed

2022-04-14T22:16:53+01:00

Christian Aid Week 2022 – 14th to 21st May

Prior to Covid, during Christian Aid Week there would be a concerted effort nationally to raise funds This was primarily focused on the house-to-house delivery and collection of giving envelopes.

Although the restrictions imposed due to Covid have now been lifted, we do not believe it appropriate to resume house to house collections. However, there is an alternative – delivery only envelopes.

These are delivered with details of where they may be returned. Feedback has shown that, while you may not receive as many, the envelopes returned contain more and to have the gift aid completed. The overall total collected being therefore very similar to previous years.

Please consider delivering these envelopes in your own road or street. Contact Mike Palmer, on 01793 635112. If we get enough volunteer deliverers then the burden can be spread evenly amongst everyone.

See a list of Streets that we are responsible for.

Christian Aid New Arrangements-Help Needed2022-04-14T22:16:53+01:00

All you need to know about our Easter Season

2022-04-08T17:14:14+01:00

After the lull of Covid, there is a lot beginning to happen in and around Christ Church.

We remain committed to balancing our Eco strategies with good communications. and so avoid printing unecessary paper where we can.

We have produced a downloadable leaflet on our Services and Events over the Easter Season.

All you need to know about our Easter Season2022-04-08T17:14:14+01:00

The Jubilee Memorial Garden

2022-07-16T12:11:45+01:00

The weather was fine ( but a bit cold!) but we welcomed a good number of families along with our Mayor Cllr Perkins, his wife Abnet, and Sir Robert Buckland our MP to our commissioning event on Sunday. The Mayor and Sir Robert unveiled a beautiful oak sign made by one of our longest-serving congregants, Bernard Oxborrow. It’s worth noting, for posterity, that the oak was sourced from one of our original Baltic oak pews dating back to the 1850’s.

Our newly unveiled sign

The ceremony enabled us to thank the teams of professionals and volunteers whose efforts over the past 18 months have transformed the North-South section into a safer more accessible, and beautiful, managed garden – a fitting memorial to all those remembered there. Particular mention should go to Ian Handy without whose drive and intitiative, this project would not have begun. Also thanks are due to the Friends of Christ Church whose generosity with both time and funds have also been key to its success.

As we move on to planning the final section of the garden, the East-West area, it is vital that we can let as many families know of our plans. To do this we have a new Quarterly Email newsletter to let everyone know what we are planning, why we are doing it, and how they can find out more about it.
Please pass on the email subscription link below to anyone you think would value knowing more about the works to improve our former Rose Garden

Subscribe https://mailchi.mp/c79de914e698/jubilee

We have got this far by the generosity of local people – we still need more help to complete the garden. You can donate to the Memorial Garden using our Just Giving page? or by scanning the QR code below, on your mobile phone.

 

If you are not keen on on-line stuff, you can also give by cash or cheque to our Parish Office c/o Community Centre@Christ Church, Cricklade Street, Swindon SN1 3HB

The Jubilee Memorial Garden2022-07-16T12:11:45+01:00

Mission Giving

2022-04-01T18:07:09+01:00

Mission Giving at Christ Church with St Mary’s

All our Mission Giving today will be shared between Marie Curie and Swindon Food Collective. Both charities work locally to support our community in different ways. Please use a gift aid envelope and mark it with an “M” for mission – the collection will be open for a week from the 3rd April

You can also donate directly to the Swindon Food Collective https://www.swindonfoodcollective.org/support-us/donate-funds/

and to Marie Curie https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/donate or by post to Marie Curie, 14 Links Place, Edinburgh, EH6 9AB

Mission Giving2022-04-01T18:07:09+01:00
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