Night Shelter – Sale
churchadmin2021-05-01T10:55:43+01:00News from the Night Shelter
Sale 24th April 10.30 – 12.30 Freshbrook Church
Worsley Road
Swindon
SN5 8NU
Covid safe measures in place.
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.
NEW EASY & SECURE GIVING – PARISH GIVING SCHEME
Stephen Grosvenor2021-04-12T14:31:35+01:00
One of the really important ways that each of us lives our faith and participates in the mission of the Church, is through the act of giving.
While there is joy in the spontaneity of a one-off gift when the Spirit moves us, it is regular giving that offers a prayerful expression of faith in action. Regular giving sustains our church and helps us to plan for the future. That is why Christ Church with St Mary’s is a member of the Parish Giving Scheme (P.G.S.)
The team at P.G.S. makes it safe and easy for you to give regularly, and just as safe and easy for our church to receive them. Every pound you donate can be put to Christian service in your community, free from time-consuming admin for your church staff and volunteers. There’s also an option for you to increase your gift annually to keep pace with the rising cost of living, with the peace of mind that you can adjust your donation at any time if your circumstances change. If you are a UK taxpayer you can opt to add Gift Aid, increasing the value of your donation by 25%, which PGS will collect from HMRC on our behalf and return to Christ Church.
How do I join the PGS?
Now, with the addition of a simple and secure online process, there are three easy ways to donate to your parish through the PGS; you can set up your Direct Debit online, by telephone, or you can fill in a gift form and post it to PGS.
If you would like to make use of the new online service from PGS, you can simply visit https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/donors/find-your-parish/
Our parish code is 050605176 and follow the instructions.
Or you scan the QR code below, which will take you straight to this parish’s landing page on the PGS website, where you can click on the ‘Give now’ button. It couldn’t be easier.
Alternatively, you can set up your regular gift by phoning the PGS team on 0333 002 1271, Monday to Friday, 9-5.
If you’d like to know more, please get in touch with Stephen Grosvenor our Gift Aid Secretary stephen@Christchurchswindon.co.uk 01793 341034
Easter Services
Stephen Grosvenor2021-06-02T14:47:14+01:00On behalf of the Partnership of Churches we will be hosting the following:
Maundy Thursday 1st April – Informal Holy Communion @ 7.30pm
Good Friday 2pm – 2nd April – An Hour at the Cross. Led by Rev Norma McKemey
These services will also be live audio streamed and available on our You Tube Channel.
Easter Day 4th April – Sadly this year, we have had to restrict attendance to our Easter Sunday Service due to Covid distancing regulations. We are now at our safe seating capacity so we cannot accept any entrance on the day.
If you have already reserved your places then, please, just come in good time to allow us to seat you safely. Your names are held on a list at the door – there are no tickets. There will be no admittance on the day without reservation.
Find us on You Tube
Easter Treasure Hunt
churchadmin2021-04-09T20:28:51+01:00In Search of Easter is a trail-based treasure hunt for children and families, using a series of videos and activities to encourage conversation and help crack a code.
Clue posters that offer activities and QR codes for accessing videos will be placed around the churchyard for children and their parents to find as they explore the area. Click this link for a short video
National Day of Reflection
churchadmin2021-04-02T14:00:54+01:00Since the first lockdown began in 2020, hundreds of thousands of people have died. Too many lives have been cut short and millions have been bereaved.
Behind the statistics and whatever the cause, every death has been devastating for the people left behind.
Join us on 23 March, the first anniversary of the first UK lockdown, for a National Day of Reflection to reflect on our collective loss, support those who’ve been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future.
There are still tough times ahead, as the death toll continues to rise. This annual day will give us all time to pause and think about this unprecedented loss we’re facing, and support each other through grief in the years to come.
Watch Amy’s Story
Back to Services
churchadmin2021-04-01T13:07:23+01:00Reopening of Christ Church and St Mary’s for Public worship
We are delighted to be back in Christ Church. We have a robust risk assessment in place. Whilst this is excellent news and has been greeted across the parish with thanksgiving, please can we remind you that we need to continue to adhere to the Government guidelines. Please wear a face covering in Christ Church, keep 2 metres apart and do not congregate in the church afterwards. Our church yard is looking particularly beautiful with crocus and primroses in bloom, so please make use of the Garden of Reflection and the ambience of our site if you wish to chat to a friend. We continue to be very aware of those who are shielding at home. God bless you and thank you for all your continued support. We are pleased that our services will continue to be available from our website for March and April. Grateful thanks to Stephen Grosvenor and Janet French for making this possible. If you have Audio Visual or Powerpoint skills please make this known as we continue to plan for the future.
Safe Guarding Policy
churchadmin2021-04-07T13:01:30+01:00All Churches hold an important position in the community. We are committed to following clearly laid down procedures so that all who work with children, young people and vulnerable adults, as well as the church’s leaders, know how to:
- protect them from abuse
- act responsibly if abuse is discover or disclosed.
Fully mindful of this responsibility, we have reviewed and updated Christ Church’s policy on safeguarding. All the members of our staff and lay teams have been re-issued with the revised policy and are fully committed to its application. You can read our Safe Guarding Policy in full here, or along with our other policies on our website: https://www.christchurchswindon.co.uk/blog/our-policies/
Our Safe Guarding officer is Mrs Pamela Bridgeman, telephone number 01793 521408.
Your P.C.C.
churchadmin2021-03-05T16:25:16+00:00The 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.
Lent Services
churchadmin2021-03-26T12:43:47+00:00Online Morning Prayer
The staff team say Morning Prayer together each day during Lent at 9am virtually via
Microsoft Teams or telephone. If you have particular prayer requests please pass them on to Simon or (529166). If you would like to join us you would be very welcome. Please contact one of the staff team and we will let you have details of how to join online or by telephone.
The order of service is available on the Christ Church website
Compline
During Lent, the staff team offer a online Compline, a short evening prayer service, lasting 15 minutes at 9pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
This can be accessed via our
Christ Church Facebook page live at 9pm or on our website here at your convenience.
Please let us know if you have any prayer requests.
The order of service is available on the Christ Church website
Ash Wednesday Servicechurchadmin2021-03-05T16:32:41+00:00