Annual Parochial Church Meeting 2010

Our APCM will be held on April 25th 2010 in Christ Church. It is an opportunity to look back and celebrate what we have achieved as a church family as well as "take stock" of where we are spiritually, administratively and financially.

This year particularly, as we carefully consider how we can better carry out our vision to connect our community with Christ, it is vital that all our friends understand how we work, what we do and above all how they can support the work.

We have published full details of our accounts for last year, the annual report, as well as the agenda for Sunday's meeting. [You can read them here]

Christ Church Re-ordering

One month after our community consultation, the Re-ordering group thought you would appreciate an update following our meeting last night. Your prayers, encouragement and comments are especially appreciated as we enter a very important week.

Thank you to all those who have already written and communicated with us about the re-ordering project. Please could we ask that any further written comments be received by this Thursday 25^th March 4pm to allow some space before the Parochial Church Council meeting on 29^th March. Please send them to Revd Simon Stevenette or Peter Ford, PCC Secretary or Ailsa Palmer, Parish Administrator.

1.  Meetings have been held with our architect Antony Feltham King which have been very constructive and helped us see how we can move forward.

2.  An intensive training and planning day has been arranged for Saturday 27^th March 10am-4.30pm in the church centre with Gill Moody, our fundraising consultant for 12 key stake holders. This is being financed by an anonymous donation.

3.  Sara Tye, chair of our Campaign Board has had many encouraging conversations with parishioners and community friends who are keen to be involved in helping us in our fundraising.

4.  Our Archdeacon Alan Hawker, chair of the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC) has been in touch: ‘many thanks for the re-ordering papers. It was a good read. Could I suggest that once the PCC have agreed the option they wish to follow they then put an outline on paper and then send it to the DAC for information and initial comment plus an inquiry as to the best point in the process for the DAC to meet Church members involved in the project. It all sounds very exciting.

5.  All of the groundwork has been put in order to help our PCC came to an informed decision when they meet on Monday 29^th March 7.30pm in the church centre.

Our key bible reading in preparation for our PCC meeting is Nehemiah chapter 1 verses 1-11 – you may like to read this prayerfully.

Our PCC agenda is as follows: – To consider the next steps in the re-ordering process: In the light of much prayer, reflection and the community consultations over the weekend February 27/28,  the Standing Committee offer the PCC the following integrated motion, which will be fully discussed before it is  proposed by Lynda Fisher and seconded by Pam Bridgeman.

The PCC excitedly accept the vision behind major re-ordering of Christ Church and the building of a new church centre next to Christ Church as outlined in the updated architect’s brief, circulated with this agenda.

The PCC instruct the Vicar and Standing Committee on their behalf to form a fundraising board working with our architect, Antony Feltham King and our fundraising consultant Gill Moody and the Bristol DAC towards the launch of a fundraising campaign as soon as possible.

The PCC will do all they can to support the campaign by earnest praying, practical encouraging, supportive team working, sacrificial giving and careful communicating to the wider congregation and community.

The PCC call on the wider congregation and community to follow their example helping them in whatever way possible under God to meet our objective of creating a fully renewed church and site so that our Christian mission and ministry to Swindon can be advanced in this 21^st century.

The PCC fully endorse the opportunity provided to give immediately to a designated campaign fund for the sole use of working towards the launch of the appeal in paying professional fees providing written resources all carefully scrutinised by the Standing Committee on their behalf.

Our architect’s working drawings and the content of the fund raising campaign will be brought back to the PCC and congregation on a regular basis. When the time comes the PCC will need to fully endorse changes to the Christ Church building and site in order for a Bristol Diocesan Faculty to be applied for so that the work can be completed.

We hope you have found this communication update helpful. Please pray for all those involved in the re-ordering process. We are team mates together.

Simon Stevenette - On behalf of the re-ordering group.

Prayer

Grant me O Lord to greet the coming day with peace.

Help me in all things to rely upon thy holy will,

In every hour of the day reveal thy will to me

Teach me to act firmly and wisely without embittering or embarrassing others.

In all my deeds and words guide my thoughts and feelings.

Direct my will,

Teach me to pray,

Pray thou thyself in me. 


Amen

a prayer by a nineteenth century Russian Archbishop as quoted by Archbishop Rowan Williams on Songs of Praise

A message from The Revd Simon Stevenette

Dear Community,

We want to make sure that Old Town, Swindon's Victorian Church; Christ Church, is always at the heart of our community. 

We want to ensure it is humming with activity throughout the week; in all possible ways, to be a beacon on the hill providing facilities which Swindon can be proud of and a wonderful meeting place for a whole variety of worship, cultural, artistic, spiritual, musical, and community activities.

You may have heard that the Church building needs a new roof, new heating system and improved community facilities and we want to ensure this is a building for everyone to be used all day, everyday - forever. 

The building needs more than a facelift though, as it was built in 1851 and will be 160 years old in 2011. 

We are calling upon the congregation and the wider Swindon community to join us in this regeneration. 

There are two open meetings on Saturday 27 February at 10:00 am until 12 noon and Sunday 28 February at 7:30 pm until 9:30 pm at Christ Church, Cricklade Street, Swindon.

You will be able to hear about the vision and possibilities and ask any questions you might have.

We are aware that the task set before us is huge and we are committed to communicating clearly and consistently and to always involve the widest possible number of people.

In the forthcoming regeneration process we hope to have

Faith that we will be able to do whatever we set out to do

Imagination to do something creative not just a make do and mend philosophy

Long Term Thinking this is a long term project not a quick fix

If you would like to help, get involved or hear more about our ideas then please ring me on 01793 522832 or email simon.stevenette@tiscali.co.uk and parishoffice@christchurchswindon.co.uk

We will be keeping everyone regularly informed of our work.

A Prayer from the Iona prayer book:

Like Simeon, may I grow old in hope and wonder
Like Anna, may I be in love with you all my days,
May I be open to truth, open to surprises,
May I let your Spirit into my life.
May I let your justice change my behaviour,
May I live in the brightness of your joy. Amen

©Iona Wild Goose Publications

Our New Parish Verse for 2010

"We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose."

St Paul is in prison reflecting on the Christian Gospel and the difference it should make on our every day lives. We appreciate the bible verse is very challenging if we are going through tough times, however it has much to encourage us as we work together in the Christian community. A few questions to consider
1. What do we know?
2. How do we cope with tough times?
3. How resilient and robust is our Christian faith?
4. How do we love God?
5. What is His purpose for each of our lives?

As in previous years please pass on to any member of the staff team your reflections on how God speaks to you through it. Our prayer is that Romans 8 v 28 will be a foundation for our teaching, learning, prayer and worship.

Starting to feel Ugandan - message from Daphne

This week I have been involved in visiting various schools in the surrounding area for the ongoing health assessment. The majority of schools have children boarding as so many of them have to travel huge distances. The school day starts at 6.30am and doesn't finish till around 4.30pm!! Despite the long day, all the children and young people I met are extremely friendly and seem very committed to gaining an education. As one headmaster said to me "A father will often sell his last cow if it will provide education for his child". What a lot we take for granted in the UK!
As one drives along the very rough dirt tracks, one passes scores of children walking sometimes miles to and from school. No one thinks anything of walking 10 miles with a baby on their back to access basic health care. At home (UK) I have had parents reluctant to take the trouble to catch a 5 minute bus to their local child health clinic!

On Sunday I was invited to preach at "All Saints" Bushenyi during the 8am English speaking service. (My Ankole isn't sufficiently fluent as yet!)
This was quite a challenge as I had brought no commentaries with me other than my bible but with God's help, spoke on "Jesus the light of the world" and how we, regardless of where we are from, need to be light and salt in the world. In the afternoon I was invited to attend the confirmation service for the children from Bweranyangi Primary School, presided over by the Bishop Yona of West Ankole diocese. Approximately 80 young people were confirmed and the service also involved dedicating all the Year 7 children (top primary) who were about to undertake their final exams prior to secondary school. Following the service (2+ hours) I was invited to join other guests for a celebration meal at the school. Once the meal was over, the music started and I went across to some of the children and suggested dancing. At first they were shy but within minutes we were "bopping" away as if we had known each other for a lifetime. I think of all the experiences and people that I have met, it will be the children who will remain with me forever.

Tomorrow I'm of to Lake Mburu National Park for a few days where I will endeavour to complete my report for the bishop. Then back to Bushenyi for a day before returning to Mukono Christian University in Kampala prior to flight home.