Celebrating 40 years of lay ministry

2014-07-28T19:15:52+01:00
Margaret Williams and Canon Simon Stevenette, with L to R: The Mayor of Swindon, Councillor Mrs. Teresa Page, Mr. Page, Bishop Lee, Canon Owen Barraclough, and The Revd. Janet House

Margaret Williams and Canon Simon Stevenette,
L to R: The Mayor of Swindon, Councillor Mrs. Teresa Page, Mr. Page, Bishop Lee, Canon Owen Barraclough,
and The Revd. Janet House

Sunday 22nd June – a day of celebration for Margaret Williams at Christ Church, Swindon, beginning with a special service attended by the Mayor of Swindon, Councillor Teresa Page and her husband, and Canon Stuart Taylor from the Bristol Diocese. Bishop Lee presided and Margaret preached. We were also pleased to welcome a former vicar of Christ Church, Canon Owen Barraclough and his wife Joan, the Revd. Janet House, a former curate, and friends from our Partnership of Churches, Bath Road Methodist Church and Immanuel United Reformed Church, Owen and Joan, who have taken up bell ringing in their retirement years, joined our bellringers who rang a special peal for Margaret.

Lunch in the Community Centre followed, with tributes paid to Margaret by the Mayor, our MP Robert Buckland, who attends Christ Church, Bishop Lee, Canon Stuart Taylor and the Vicar of Christ Church, Canon Simon Stevenette. A day enjoyed not only by Margaret but by all those who attended, including Margaretʼs 90 year old sister Val and other members of Margaretʼs family from Wales.

You can hear Margaret’s sermon reflecting on those 40 years here.

Celebrating 40 years of lay ministry2014-07-28T19:15:52+01:00

The Bishop takes to his bike

2014-07-28T19:16:39+01:00

bishop-lee2-300x284The other Grand Tour in July.  You may remember that Bishop Lee was preparing to cycle from John O Groats to Land’s End when he was diagnosed and successfully treated for Hodgkin Lymphoma.  Following his recovery this was rescheduled and is now about to commence.  From 6-19 July, the Bishop will be cycling the JOGLE (or ‘Le Tour de Lee’ as Chris Dobson has named it) in order to raise funds for our Diocese’s work with our partners in Uganda.  He has set an ambitious target of £10,000 and would love you to participate in this by prayer, by giving, or even by joining him for part of the ride on 16 July.  More details can be found online at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LeeRayfield and by visiting our Diocesan website.  For those without access to the internet donations can be sent directly to the Bishop at Mark House, Field Rise, Swindon, Wilts SN1 4HP.   Please make cheques payable to Bristol Diocesan Board of Finance and write on the back ‘Le Tour de Lee’.  If a donation can be Gift Aided please include your name and address, including postcode.

The Bishop takes to his bike2014-07-28T19:16:39+01:00

Painting the church red

2014-06-23T09:41:47+01:00
Lightening

Lightening over Christ Church Stephen Grosvenor

Anyone looking at the Swindon skyline after dusk will be surprised to see the familiar shape of Christ Church bathed in red light. This is to mark Pentecost which commemorates the Holy spirit coming down on the apostles.

Even more surprising, Old Town was the centre of a violent thunderstorm on Friday evening which provided a fantastic sound and light show for those visiting our Community Centre.

Painting the church red2014-06-23T09:41:47+01:00

Gifts for the Garden of Reflection

2014-07-07T00:12:32+01:00

We have received a number of generous donations towards the building and upkeep of the Garden of Reflection which we intend to mark by the installation of a plaque. ThisIMG_0086 will enable us to acknowledge these gifts and commemorate some of those, in whose memory, the donations were given.

If you would like to make a gift in memory of a loved one then please contact the parish office (01793 522832) as soon as possible. We intend to finalise the plaque wording by the end of June.

Gifts for the Garden of Reflection2014-07-07T00:12:32+01:00

Visit from Bishop Mike – 9th June

2014-06-23T00:18:52+01:00

Bishop-Mike-HillBishop Mike will be visiting us on 9th June at Christ Church. Swindon Deanery Leadership team has invited Bishop Mike to lead a special evening on Monday 9th June in Christ Church.

Refreshments for 7pm; 7.30pm for Pentecost worship.

Bishop Mike will then give a keynote address ‘Increasing confidence in our Christian faith’ and then be open to questions. He will pray with us and license Simon for a further 3 year term
as Area Dean of Swindon.

The evening will also launch our 10,000 voices in the Swindon Deanery and we are looking for people to pass on their story of what God has done in their lives by way of personal witness.
Please pass the word around.

All Welcome

Visit from Bishop Mike – 9th June2014-06-23T00:18:52+01:00

First Annual Friends of Christ Church Lecture -“Sacred Land – discovering the hidden stories of our town and landscape”

2014-05-12T17:25:03+01:00

mainMartinPalmerWe are delighted to announce the first annual Friends of Christ Church Lecture at 4pm  in the Community Centre at Christ Church.  by Martin Palmer. Martin is Secretary General of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) a secular organisation he founded with Prince Philip to work with each major faith around the world developing environmental programmes based upon the faith’s own teachings, traditions and resources. The lecture will be followed by tea.

We especially thank God for the ministry of Martin’s father the Ven. Derek Palmer and his wife Cecily. We welcome back members of the Palmer family today as they remember, especially Cecily, who died 10 years ago yesterday. The floodlights are lit on Sunday night for all those who have ministered at Christ Church in past years.

First Annual Friends of Christ Church Lecture -“Sacred Land – discovering the hidden stories of our town and landscape”2014-05-12T17:25:03+01:00

Links with Zambia

2014-05-05T21:07:55+01:00

For many years Swindon Town Community Trust run by Jon Holloway and Clive McGuire have developed an outstanding link with the community of Livingstone in Zambia. This has involved several visits sharing coaching and refereeing skills especially in local schools.

This April for the first time a return visit has been organised. The photo below shows the Club Chaplain welcoming the 2 players and 3 coaches to the Vicarage for tea and football in the garden. They will all be attending Christ church this Sunday.
zambiaIn the photo the coaches are Baia Soko, Patrick Kasoka, Fillard Bwalya and players Mwikisa Sinyama and Albert Siwakui.
There will be displays in the Community centre next weekend
On Monday the  High Commissioner of Zambia , H.E. Mr Paul Lumbi, is due to arrive at 11am, He will be accompanied by Iyake Mushingi, the Economic Counsellor for a gathering to celebrate the link between Swindon Town football club and Livingstone Zambia.
Please remember the visit in your prayers.
Links with Zambia2014-05-05T21:07:55+01:00
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