You may not have felt able to get to Christ Church this season, but you can still stay in touch with our audio services.
You can also get a flavour of the Christmas scenes at Christ Church from some of Hugo Stevenettes excellent and atmospheric shots.
Thanks to the hard work of many local volunteers, donors and shoppers, this year’s Alone at Christmas Hampers are all delivered.
Special mention must go to our brilliant Community Centre Team Chris Smith and Jenny Hatter, without whose energy and organisation none of this would have happened.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to making someone’s Christmas just a bit more cheerful.
It’s not too late to help make someone’s Christmas a little less lonely. Our Christmas Hamper scheme still needs your support. We have managed to increase our hampers to 150 this year – thank you to all those who have donated items and money so far.
We still need donations to cover the cost of the remaining hampers. If you are able to help finance a hamper of goodies to cheer up someone who will be on their own this Christmas, you can make a direct bank transfer: Typically £20 covers each hamper but any gift is welcome.
Account name PCC – THE COMM CTRE @ CHRISTCHURCH
Sort 30-98-41
Account no. 68490368 – please mark it Hamper.
You can also Email me – Chris Smith or on 07582 305760 – Thank you for your support.
We have reviewed our practices in line with the government’s Plan B measures to restrict the spread of the Omicron virus mutation. Whilst formal, 2 metre, distanced seating arrangements will continue to be relaxed during normal services, we ask that everyone remains respectful of each other’s space to ensure that we all feel safe during worship.
Those who are able to do so, should wear masks whilst in church in accordance with the new rules. We do intend to continue to take Holy Communion from the front of the church. (See below). It is difficult to distinguish Covid symptoms from those of a cold or flu, especially for those who have had all their jabs, so, if you have any cold or flu like symptoms, then please consider taking a Lateral Flow test or staying at home to protect each other. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.
We will ask those sitting in the back pews, to come forward first, down the centre aisle, you will be directed by the sides persons. You should return to your seat via the side aisles Those who requested it can still receive communion in their seats.
Gluten Free wafers are available. Please ask. If you are unable to move freely around the church, you can request to take communion in your seat – please mention this to any of our welcomers. If you would prefer a simple blessing rather than communion then keep your hands down and the vicar will say a short prayer for you instead.
Second Phase
The project to restore the former Rose Garden is almost complete. Our team, led by Ian Handy, has completed the pathways, mulching, raised beds and planting at the north end of the garden.The plaques have also been cleaned and restored at this end. Phase two, the Southern end of the Rose Garden main bed, is well on the way. Don’t be alarmed if you can’t see your loved one’s plaque. They have been carefully logged and cleaned ready to be restored as soon as the groundworks are complete in this part of the garden.
Timetable
Much of the work is done by volunteers but the raised beds, landscaping and pathways require specialist workers who are not available at the moment due to other commitments. Our hope is that we can complete Phase 2 of the garden which will cover the remaining beds to the South by early next year.
As ever, funds for the work are in short supply so if you would like to help us realise this ambitious, but long needed restoration, then please visit our Just Giving page where you can donate to the project.
Phase 3
The east – west area of the garden is a much more complicated project and as yet we have not been able to form a plan to deal with the area.
The mature trees, roots, gravestones and general lack of access make this area much more difficult to control and manage. At present this area is subject to a review to assess potential designs and costs. We welcome ideas or comments from any families with loved ones remembered in this part of the garden. We try to keep it as clear as possible of weeds and suckers in the meantime. If you would like to talk to us about any aspect of the garden write to us parishoffice@christchurchswindon.co.uk
You can also subscribe to our quarterly newsletter to stay in touch with our plans and progress
Flowers
We have also installed the vases for fresh flowers. They can be found in the bin at the extreme north end of the garden.
Fresh flowers can be left using the vases provided
Container for vases
Wreath hook for remembrance
The postions of all the plaques have been carefully marked so that we can return them safely to their original positions. As the project progresses, it will be necessary to remove the plaques further down the beds to enable us to install the new raised beds, pathway and mulch. Don’t worry all the plaques will be returned once the installations are complete.
The remaining raised beds are ready to go.
Occasionally, plaques have been moved by other visitors. If you think that your familie’s plaque is in the wrong position, then let us know via the parishoffice@christchurchswindon.co.uk email address.
There is a comprehensive on-line database of the burials in both the former rose garden and the burial ground in general – you can access it here.
Every now and again its good to get new perspectives on Christ Church. Hugo Stevenette, Simon’s youngest son is a budding photographer and is taking a Creative Media Production course at Cirencester college. See below his creative new slant on Church in media. You can follow more of his work on his Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/hs_media/
The Bishop of Swindon is looking to appoint a Part time PA/Secretary. The position is a half time job share for 17.5 hours per week. Interviews will be held on the 14th/15th December.
Things often mysteriously and, apparently effortlessly, appear at Christ Church and we, sometimes, take them for granted.
This year we, again, have to thank Richard Deacon for organising and Lord Lansdowne for providing our beautiful Christmas Tree. Mike Palmer, Chris Smith and Daniel Pitt for manhandling it into an upright position and, last, not least, Elaine Guilding and Lucy Eyles for spending ages decorating it.
You can find out all about our Services and Events over the Christmas period in our Events calendar.
It has been a busy month for our Mayor and his newly appointed Chaplain.
Following an elected year swallowed by Covid in 2020, Councillor Garry Perkins has been re-elected for a further term and has been busy making up for lost time.
Pictured below is Councillor Perkins, supported by his wife Abnet, at the opening of the Annual Friends of Christ Church Christmas Market. Also pictured is Caroline Pitt, Chair of the Friends, F. Christmas and Rev’d Canon Simon Stevenette, the Mayor’s chaplain.
The Market was a great success and, although slightly scaled down this year, enabled more than 20 local charities to promote their work and fundraise for their causes, as well as providing a great day out, and taster for Christmas, for many local families.
Simon and the Mayor also attended the Remembrance Ceremony at the Cenotaph with the Bishop of Swindon.
Our final Mission giving day of 2021 is this week and we support Water Aid and Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind
Water Aid
Donations can be made on-line via the following link By cheque and post: Send us a cheque, postal order or charity voucher made payable to
Freepost Plus RTXT-JATZ-LJS
WaterAid,
York House, Wetherby Road.
York YO26 7NH
Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind
Donations via the following link
In church we can also accept donations in our collection plate at the rear of the church. Donations can be made via a gift aid envelope marked with M for mission. This will then be split between the two charities.
THANK YOU
At our last meeting to review our responses to the Covid pandemic, the opening group agreed to consult over the next two weeks on the following proposals.
Distanced seating arrangements would be relaxed altogether during normal services. The distribution of Holy Communion would take place from the front of the church as before, with people queueing from the back pews first, being organised by the sides persons.
Those who requested it can still receive communion in their seats if they wish. Unless there were strong objections from the congregation, this proposal could be introduced from Advent Sunday 28th November.
The wearing of masks would still be encouraged.
It is vital that we all feel comfortable with the arrangements for worship. If you would like to comment on these proposals, please do so in person to members of the staff team or by email to staffteam@christchurchswindon.co.uk or Tel Simon 01793 529166
The Knife Amnesty is to raise awareness across the county of the risks and consequences of carrying a knife, and reduce the harm to our communities from knife crime by enabling people to surrender knives and weapons to the police without fear of prosecution.
The purpose of the amnesty is to remove knives from criminal availability, thereby reducing the risk of harm to the public, protecting our communities and reducing the likelihood that the knife will be available for criminal use.
An appeal will be made to the public for the surrender of illegal knifes kept lawfully within their homes. This will include flick knifes, lock knifes, zombie and butterfly knives.
This is a Old Town Partnership of Churches initiative with the local police. From this weekend,12th November, secure bins are being provided in local churches, including Christ Church, to dispose of knives. Please pray for the Wiltshire Police in this excellent initiative.
The amnesty will run for 2 weeks.