The Nativity

The Nativity: I am sure you agree with me that The Nativity on BBC 1 7pm-7.30pm Monday-Thursday in 4 parts has been excellent. If you’ve missed it do try to pick it up on i-player in the next few days it is well worth a viewing. The programmes are profoundly full of the grace and awe of God. At the preview of the series the producer Tony Jordan (creator Life on Mars and writer for Eastenders) was interviewed and said “I’ve always had faith. I’m not a God botherer…..but I do believe that Jesus Christ was the son of God. I do believe he came here to take away our sins. I absolutely believe that. But there’s loads of little bits around it that bug me so what I’ve done with the story of the nativity is written a version that I can believe. I’ve made it accessible so people can watch it and see it is truthful and say “you know what! That is really cool. I never realised it could be like that. I thought it was all beyond me”. Watch it, believe it, invest in it and sob like a child – I did, you will.

Please can you help?

 We are very conscious that these are very difficult financial times for many people; however we thought it right to bring to your attention a £5,000 deficit for this year. If 100 people gave £50 as a Christmas present to the church we could wipe out this deficit. Please will you consider this prayerfully – it would be enormously appreciated. We apologise that we are in this position but everything is being done to save expenditure and make the most of our resources.

We thank God for his faithfulness and the growth in Christian ministry across our parish. During Advent we are concentrating our liturgy on God’s generosity in sending his Son at Christmas. Thank you to all those people who have given so generously and sacrificially to support the PCC of Christ Church with St Mary’s over the last year.

We quite understand that many will not be able to respond but we are asking, as a Christian community, that we commit our mission and finances to God. Let us see how he calls us to respond individually and together. If you like to talk with any of us in confidence please don’t hesitate to contact us. It would be very helpful if we could receive gifts by Christmas so all donations can be included in this year’s accounts which close on 31st December.


We are praying for a holy and blessed Advent and that we see much growth in God’s kingdom here is Swindon and further afield.

We had a very good PCC meeting on Monday during which we had a presentation form Malcolm Barton and Jackie Waters Dewhurst about an exciting mission opportunity. The PCC voted unanimously to support the Bristol Diocesan Bid for a church school to be built on the croft Road site.

Sara Tye, chair of the D&R group gave a powerpoint presentation on all the encouraging progress made over the last 9 months.

The finance group presented a budget for 2011 to PCC which enables us to break even. This was discussed at great length and it was decided that to spend another evening (Monday 13th December) on this subject – this will give us more time for prayer and reflection.

Every blessing

Simon, Pam and Lynda – on behalf of PCC

Revd Simon Stevenette, Pam Bridgeman and Lynda Fisher (Churchwardens)