Our next Mission Giving Day

2022-11-11T13:00:46+00:00

Our Giving to WaterAid and Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind charities

Sunday 20th November is our last mission giving day for 2022. All the money collected in the plate on that day be divided between WaterAid and Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind. If you are a UK tax payer please put your gift in a gift aid envelope which can be found at the back of the church. This enhances your gift by a further 25% at no cost to you. We will keep the collection open until Monday 28th November; please put any gift (after Sunday 20th) into an Gift Aid envelope marked with an “M” so we know where it is to go.

We were able to send over £292 to both Ripple Effect and The Willows after our last mission giving Sunday.

Thank you very much for your continuing support.

Our next Mission Giving Day2022-11-11T13:00:46+00:00

Street Pastors – Relaunch

2022-11-04T14:57:24+00:00

Anna Soulsby from Street Pastors will be talking at our 10am service about the need for 26 more Street Pastors to volunteer for shifts in Old Town. Uniforms and training will be provided.

Watch a short video about their work below.

There are a number of ways of getting to know more about being a Street Pastor:

  • Saturday 26th November an Introductory day event on the role & responsibility (R&R) of a Street Pastor.
    These are always fun days and give a real insight to this ministry, free to all, no expectation to sign-up to anything, just rock up with a packed lunch.
    By the end of this day people will know if Street Pastors is for them, or not. It is only at this point that we ask people to commit or leave with our blessing.
  • Training mandatory 12 themes: 5 in-person group sessions held in Swindon. 7 on-line live teachings with the Ascension Trust.
    Six themes are ‘Core’ (R&R being one of them). Volunteers must complete 4 of 6, before they can join a team and go out on the streets.
    BUT, they must complete all 12 within 18 months, to secure their position.
    The local training is being planned for December, January & February
  • Observing on the streets
    Anyone interested can join a team and go out as an observer for either part or all of a night, again without any expectation of making a commitment
  • Saturday 10th November 2022 – Swindon Street Pastors Fellowship Day
    Periodically we bring everyone associated with Street Pastors together for a day of praise & thanksgiving, fellowship, testimonies and up-date. Always fun, great day. We’re extending an invite to anyone interested, especially if they’re interested in Prayer Pastors to come along. No cost, just rock-up with packed lunch.
Street Pastors – Relaunch2022-11-04T14:57:24+00:00

Public Defibrillator installed at the Community Centre

2022-11-02T16:05:02+00:00
Thanks to South Swindon Parish Council and an anonymous donor, Christ Church have received funding of just over £2000 to install a publicly accessible defibrillator on the entrance wall to the Community Centre @ Christ Church.
 
This is a vitally important piece of kit for anyone who suffers a cardiac arrest as it can be used to send a shock through the heart which increases the chance of it being restarted.
 
A Sudden Cardiac Arrest victim’s chance of survival increases significantly from around 5% to 75% if they receive good CPR combined with therapy delivered by a Heart Defibrillator within the first 3 minutes after a Cardiac Arrest.
 
For every minute that passes without defibrillation a Sudden Cardiac Arrest victim’s chances of survival decrease by between 10% & 12%. A simple calculation shows that the victim’s likely maximum chance of survival in reality is between 8 & 10 minutes after the Cardiac Arrest occurring. With the current Ambulance target response time of 8 minutes, time is of the absolute essence and acting quickly with appropriate therapy, essential.
 
If someone were to have a cardiac arrest on site that the only possible chance of survival for them is to receive a shock to the heart by use of our new defibrillator.
 
Having a defibrillator on site is a necessity for a site the size of Christ Church with more than 1000 visitors coming through the church, community centre and burial ground each week. Whilst you associate heart attacks with older people, regrettably there are 12 children under the age of 18 that die in the UK each week from Cardiac Arrest and many more young adults.
 
The South Swindon Parish Council donated £1000 through their local community grants scheme. Chris Watt’s, chair of South Swindon Parish Council said ‘we are delighted to be able to support Christ Church to purchase a defibrillator, and in fact we would like to encourage other local community centres to follow suit and do the same. This is a life saving device and you can’t really put a price on someone’s life’.
 
Chris Smith, Community Centre @ Christ Church Centre manager said ‘this is something we have been thinking about for quite a long time now and following a recent first aid course it reminded me how important these devices are. Prior to us getting this device the chance of survival for someone having a cardiac arrest on site was virtually 0%. We have a lot of older people through our site each week and I can’t quite believe how we have never had one until now. I’m so grateful for the funding support that we have received to potentially save someone’s life’.
 
The defibrillator can be used by anyone in the community and is accessible in an emergency by calling 999 for the code to the locked yellow storage box. Whilst training isn’t necessary as you will be talked through how to use it by the emergency services, it is highly recommended that people take a basic first aid course where using a defibrillator is explained and demonstrated.
Public Defibrillator installed at the Community Centre2022-11-02T16:05:02+00:00

Eco Church Silver Award

2022-11-02T16:15:12+00:00

We are delighted to announce that we have been awarded Silver Award in recognition of our efforts to care for God’s earth in the way that we manage our life at Christ Church with St Mary’s.

We have an eco group who  take a close interest in developing and directing our strategies for protecting God’s earth, helping us to focus on doing what we do in a sustainable and earth friendly way.

The award is an acknowledgement that we are heading in the right direction but we cannot be complacent. If you would like to know more about what we do as a church or what you can do as an individual or family to protect God’s earth then please get in touch.

mailto:ecogroup@Christchurchswindon.co.uk

 

Eco Church Silver Award2022-11-02T16:15:12+00:00

Parish Giving Scheme

2022-10-27T23:56:11+01:00

The day to day work done by Christ Church to support our local community is funded by the generosity and commitment of our congregation and friends for which we are very grateful.

We joined the Parish Giving scheme 3 years ago to reduce the administration of our giving and donations, improve our cashflow and free up time for our volunteers to concentrate on doing more with the generosity that we recieve.

The PGS is run by the Church of England and enables our donors to:

  • Give securely to Christ Church with St Mary’s, either monthly, quarterly, or annually via Direct Debit
  • Where eligible,(if you are a UK taxpayer) enhance gifts by 25% by adding Gift Aid to gifts
  • Give anonymously if preferred.
  • The PGS simplifies the giving process for us by making the gift aid claims where applicable and paying our church regularly each month thus improving our cashflow and reducing our administration.

If you would like to support us and our work and would like to know more about the Parish Giving Scheme and how you can donate to us using it, Click here or watch a short video below about how the scheme works.

If you would like to know more or discuss other options for giving to support our work contact our Giving Secretary Stephen Grosvenor (07885 217077) or our Treasurer Andrew Yeoward

Parish Giving Scheme2022-10-27T23:56:11+01:00

Gratitude Sermon Series

2022-10-13T14:02:02+01:00

Gratitude is more than thankfulness; it’s not an action, it’s a way of being. We can be
thankful in the moment but can express it from a place of shallowness. Gratitude speaks of an inherent appreciation, grounded in a quiet self-confidence, and a deep respect for nature and our place in the world.

Over the coming week’s we will be exploring the topic of Gratitude from different perspectives during our Autumn services.

You can download more details and some reflections here

Gratitude Sermon Series2022-10-13T14:02:02+01:00

Grass Repair – Jubilee Memorial Garden

2022-09-24T14:01:36+01:00

The beautiful landscaping and garden maintenance in our various gardens is carried out by volunteer workers who work throughout the year to keep our grounds looking great.

Recently, we have noticed that someone has been helpfully weedkilling some areas of fine turf around the Jubilee Memorial Garden.

Thank you to our mysterious gardener, we appreciate your efforts to help us keep the garden looking beautiful, but could you make contact as soon as possible as we need to know what you used to kill the weeds.

This will help us to understand what we need to do this Autumn to repair the turf so it is ready for the new Spring growth.

You can drop us a line on

Stephen@christchurchswindon.co.uk

or phone the parish office on 01793 522832.

We would be delighted to hear from you.

Grass Repair – Jubilee Memorial Garden2022-09-24T14:01:36+01:00

Thanksgiving Service

2022-09-16T15:23:02+01:00

A Service of Commemoration and Thanksgiving for the life ofHer Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022

Friday 16th September 2022 at 7pm Christ Church, Old Town, Swindon
organised by the Old Town Partnership of Churches.

Join our service tonight, if you are able. There will be a cheese and wine reception with soft drinks in the Community Centre @ Christ Church following the service to which all are invited.

Download the Order of Service

to join in.

If you are unable to join us this evening the service will be Audio Live Streamed on our YOUTUBE Channel and as a recording later today or watch it below.

God bless you and God bless our Swindon community at this time of national mourning. Please be assured of our love, friendship and prayers.

Revd Canon Simon Stevenette

Thanksgiving Service2022-09-16T15:23:02+01:00

Condolence

2022-09-09T22:17:01+01:00

The death of Queen Elizabeth II

Please leave your messages of thanksgiving in the book of condolence at the front of church. Further details of a partnership civic service of thanksgiving to follow.
Please join us in praying for all those who mourn including the Royal Family. Please also join us in prayer for King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort.

God save the King

If you cannot join us in church then you can sign the Church of England’s online Condolence book

Condolence2022-09-09T22:17:01+01:00

Church Cycle Ride

2022-09-03T16:38:07+01:00

It’s not too late to pump up your tyres and join in! Visit some beautiful historic churches and meet some friendly people on the way ( there’s usually biscuits and a drink too).

Need some inspiration? Here’s a map of the last Plan I did.

You can download a list of the Wiltshire churches here and make your own plan.

The idea is to be sponsored to visit as many churches as you can and is open to cyclists, walkers, runners, horse riders, mobility scooterists. Money raised is split between our own church and Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust, which gives repair grants to old churches and chapels. Sponsorship forms and all details can be found on the Wiltshire Historic Churches Trust web site or contact Arline royandarline@gmail.com.

Support us in other ways

If you cannot cycle, walk or horse-ride around the churches, can you spare 1 hour to welcome those who visit our church on that day? A friendly smile and a jelly baby or cup of tea goes a long way when you have been on your bike all morning! Let’s give our visitors a welcome as they come to have their sponsor forms signed! Please contact Arline to give in your name and choose your hour.

Church Cycle Ride2022-09-03T16:38:07+01:00

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
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