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)

Christ Church is 159 years old.

The Revd Henry Bailey came to Swindon in 1847. He found the existing parish church to be completely unsuitable. It was falling into disrepair and was too small for the growing population of Swindon. Imagine his introduction to his vision for a renewal – a proposal to sweep away, approaching 700 years of continuous worship at Holy Rood. How did that go down with the faithful? I expect he found some opposition.


But his faith, energy and drive won the support of people from all walks of life, from near and far. Between them they raised enough money (£8,000 at the time) to build the new church we now worship in.

The church building was just the start. Over the last 159 years, Christ Church Clergy and community have been at the heart of improvements in health, education and social care in our area. King Williams Street School founded in 1871, the Almshouses next door in 1877, the Little London Mission in 1902,St Andrews church built in 1955,the Ecumenical Parish project Help our Homeless in 1994, the Shakers young people’s meeting place in 1992 and the Kagitumba school project in 2003. There are many other examples.


Throughout that time the building itself has provided a centre of stillness and calm. It is a focal point for worship, service and celebration. It comes into its own particularly during periods of war, conflict, public and private mourning. It provides the backdrop for everyday births, marriages and deaths remaining at the heart of Swindon – like the baptism of Arlo Feeny we had last Sunday


Christ Church is a fine example of mid Victorian Gothic revival, by the distinguished architect Sir George Gilbert Scott. In the context of Swindon, Christ Church is a gem, one of the very few Grade 2* listed buildings of its age - in continuous use in Swindon.

We are in the privileged position of being custodians for its future



Happy Birthday Christ Church

Postcard from the Stevenette's via email

Dear friends, thank-you for all your prayers and thoughts for us during our adventure in America. We have been overwhelmed by people's kindness and love towards us and have had many examples of God's grace reaching out in unexpected ways. Westboro' is a fascinating place and our ministry at St Stephen's has been greatly appreciated. Last Sunday I blessed the Rotary triathlon at 8am before I led a Celtic Communion service. 

Nicola and the children are very well and loving the variety of days. For example, this week we have been to Cape Cod and Newport, Rhode Island. One of our favourite days was at Old Sturbridge village where 700 re-enactors relived the battle between the British and the Rebels!!

We are very fortunate that our next door neighbours allow us to use their swimming pool at anytime and there are tennis courts and sports facilities at the high school behind the Rectory, we have the opportunity to go to New York for 5 days and stay in my cousin’s apartment in Manhattan. We have really enjoyed our time with Ray and Joan. We return to stay with them for our final weekend when I will bless Ray's new boat. On Sunday I will share worship with Ray and preach at St Luke's Scituate where he was Vicar for 40 years. We are all avid Baseball fans following the Boston Red Sox  and the Worcester tornadoes!! We will enlighten you further when we return!!

On your behalf i would like to thank the Revd Bill and Gail Martin for their ministry alongside you during this exchange. By all accounts they have gone down very well. We have loved staying in your home. God bless you, Bill and Gail as you journey home and prepare for your retirement. 

With our love Simon and Nicola

Bishop Lee on stewardship, discipleship and generosity

Learning during June: we are following a Stewardship theme during June – it will give us the opportunity to consider the privileges and responsibilities of being God’s worldwide church – part of the human family on earth.
As part of this learning we invited Bishop Lee to talk to us - you can hear what he had to say here. 


Click here for more recordings of the day

Stewardship

Lord God

Creator and Redeemer

Giver of all things

Bless our parish in this united endeavour.

Strengthen our faith,

Grant us the spirit of generosity and sacrifice

So that with your grace we may provide

For the needs of Christ Church with St Mary's.

Give to others more needy than ourselves.

So that all we do glorifies you and sanctifies us

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  

Amen.

Saturday 29th May - Swindon go to Wembley

The Great day is nearly here. Swindon Town are playing at Wembley once again.

It will be a great privilege to travel down the M4 with thousands of fellow Town fans for the Big match on Saturday morning, Danny Wilson’s red and white army!

If you are not able to get to the match why not come along to a short service of prayer and thanksgiving at 9am at Christ church in Old Town. All are welcome.

Two of our 5 sons will be with me at Wembley. Edward aged 14 and William aged 12 who both play in local football teams. Our eldest son Thomas aged 18 will be with us in spirit miles away teaching youngsters on Tanna island Vanuatu in the South Pacific. He will be waiting for our texts. The Stevenette family, one of many families joining the much bigger Swindon Town family at Wembley.

Many of you will watch or listen to the match live and you will be able to reel off the Swindon Town team. But did you know that our beloved football club was set up by one of the clergy at Christ Church in Autumn 1879? The Revd William Pitt aged 23 years, met with some youthful employees of GWR works in New Town at King William Street Primary School in Old Town - a few minutes walk from Christ church and the rest, as they say, is history.

What a history, full of ups and downs. A real roller coaster.

This season has been magnificent, superbly run behind the scenes, managed brilliantly and coached with fine players showing great spirit of courage and skill on the field, playing as a team.

Thank-you everyone.

Most of all though, throughout our club history, all 131 years, it is the fans who have made Swindon Town what it is . Whatever the result we can walk tall and be proud of each other working together for our town.

Although I am very hopeful, I can’t guarantee a victory but I can promise you God works in every scene of life. God will be with us all the way at the match in London and back home in Swindon.

Let’s sing our boys onto victory. We have every confidence in you and each other.

All of us face challenges in life, joys and disappointments a plenty. We need strong foundations on which to build and live.

Let me leave you with a prayer from an 8 year old Ugandan child whose parents died of HIV Aids, which helps us keep today and the result in perspective:

      “O Lord, help me understand, that nothing will come my way which you and me , together,can’t handle.”

Fellow Swindon Town friends and fans. Have a great day out. Let’s play and sing our hearts out/ We are Swindon town. Come on you town  - Red army.

Never forget God is with us every step of the way.

So be strong, take heart all you who hope in the Lord.

God bless you all - onwards to Wembley, upwards to the Championship, please God!

Simon Stevenette - Swindon Town Chaplain