In Partnership, November 2008
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Contents.
- Contents.
- Editorial.
- Dates for your diary.
- Church Services in the Partnership.
- Other Local Events.
- Are you doing anything exciting for your 60th birthday?
- Prayer points.
- Contact information
Editorial
Autumn is in the air, and it is time to begin to think about Christmas. The clocks have gone back and nights are long and dark.
The winter is a time when many people become depressed and anxious, and it is a time when we as Christians should take action. Are there people in your neighbourhood who find it difficult to get out when the weather is bad? Are there lonely people living nearby?
Christ’s command for each of us is to love God first and as a result to love those who are around us. There is so much that we could do if only we had the time to do so. Perhaps this is a time to consider whether there is someone nearby who would welcome a visit or even an invitation to come to our place.
Christmas can be a time when lonely people feel very alone, and would welcome a friendly gesture, even just a note on a card dropped through the letter box.
As the credit crunch begins to bite for many of us, let us focus on what should be all about and that is celebrating God’s gift to us of Jesus, the one who came to show us how to live.
One of the greatest gifts that each of us can offer to others is our friendship and care. It costs nothing apart from time, but it shows perhaps more than anything else a Christian heart in actually being an agent of sharing God’s love with someone who really needs to know they are not alone.
In our busy lives, help us to find time for one another.
Dick
Dates for your diary.
Lunch Bunch.
Join the
Enjoy a time of meeting friends over lunch at Toothill church from 12 noon
EVERY SECOND TUESDAY
- November 11th
- December 9th
River of Life - A prayer day.
at Toothill Church
on Saturday November 1st
from 10.30am to 4.00pm
Come and go as you are able and take the opportunity to stop and reflect in prayer.
Day of Reflection - “Quiet Day”.
Saturday November 22nd
9.30am - 4pm
Aldbourne Methodist Chapel
Led By Revd Derek Collins, Methodist Superintendent, Swindon & Marlborough Circuit.
“Discovering the presence of god’s spirit in surprising people, places, and events.”
The event is free. Bring your own packed lunch, or enjoy lunch at a local pub! Drinks provided – donations welcome. Please register at Partnership Office
New Creation Band - Worship Evening.
All Saints Church Lydiard Millicent Maggie’s Cottage Refurbishment Project
New Creation Band Worship Evening
Sunday 16th November at 6.30 pm
Everyone is welcome. You will be able to sing along with modern worship songs played by the 6 piece band. The music will last about an hour with a short interval for a wine/coffee.
Donations from the evening will be for Maggie’s Cottage refurbishment fund.
Please invite all the folk you can to come along with you. We very much look forward to New Creation coming and a full church.
Eileen Sawyer
Children's Worker Training.
Sat Nov 29th: 9.30 - 12.30
Further information in the form of posters and flyers.
On Saturday morning 29th November from 9.30-12.30 John Hardwick will lead a session on ‘Creative Communications’. This is essentially an ideas/training session for any involved in children’s or all age meetings. He is a very dynamic and innovative person and we look forward to having his input. Please book your place with Tricia Roberts (Tudor’s wife )– Cost £5
(this session is adults only – if you would like us to try to organise a ‘creche’ so you can come then please let Anne know.)
Browse for more information about him and what he does.
Primary Age Praise Party.
Sat Nov 29th: 3.30 – 5pm
In the afternoon John is in action again with a praise party for the children. This is a free event aimed at children aged 5-11, who must be accompanied by a responsible adult. He is great fun, but brings through that a very thought provoking message using song, puppets, and many other interactive skills.
No charge… but all children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Sunday Nov 30th.
John Hardwick will lead the Partnership Service at Shaw
Church Services in the Partnership.
All Saints’, Lydiard Millicent.
| Date | Time | Form |
|---|---|---|
| Every Monday to Saturday | 9:00 am | Morning prayers |
| 2nd Nov | 8:00 am | Communion |
| 10:30 am | Communion | |
| 6:30 pm | Evening Worship | |
| 9th Nov | 8:00 am | Communion Prayer Book |
| 10:30 am | Communion | |
| 6:30 pm | Evening Worship | |
| 16th Nov | 8:00 am | Communion |
| 10:30 am | All age Worship | |
| 6:30 pm | See New Creation Band - Worship Evening. | |
| 23rd Nov | 8:00 am | Communion Prayer Book |
| 10:30 am | Morning Service | |
| 6:30 pm | Evening Worship | |
| 30th Nov | 8:00 am | Communion Prayer Book |
| 10:30 am | Joint Service at HT Shaw | |
| 6:30 pm | Evening Worship |
St Mary’s, Lydiard Tregoze.
| Date | Time | Form |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Nov | 10:00 am | Morning Service |
| 6:30 pm | Partnership Communion | |
| 9th Nov | 10:00 am | Communion |
| 6:30 pm | Evening Service Prayer Book | |
| 16th Nov | 10:00 am | Family Service with bethany Trust |
| 6:30 pm | Communion Prayer Book | |
| 23rd Nov | 10:00 am | Communion |
| 6:30 pm | Songs of Praise | |
| 30th Nov | 10:30 am | Joint Service at HT Shaw |
| 6:30 pm | Communion |
Holy Trinity Shaw.
| Date | Time | Form |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Nov | 10:30 am | Family Communion Service |
| 9th Nov | 10:30 am | Morning Service |
| 16th Nov | 10:30 am | Communion |
| 23rd Nov | 10:30 am | Family Service |
| 30th Nov | 10:30 am | Partnership Joint Service |
Toothill.
| Date | Time | Form |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Nov | 10:30 am | Communion |
| 9th Nov | 10:30 am | Family Service |
| 16th Nov | 10:30 am | Family Service |
| 23rd Nov | 10:30 am | Morning Service |
| 30th Nov | 10:30 am | Joint Service at HT Shaw |
| Please note the changed time of services | ||
Westlea.
| Date | Time | Form |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Nov | 10:00 am | Harvest & Communion |
| 9th Nov | 10:00 am | Family Service |
| 16th Nov | 10:00 am | Morning Service |
| 23rd Nov | 10:00 am | Swap Service |
| 30th Nov | 10:30 am | Joint Service at HT Shaw |
Other Local Events.
Healing and Wholeness service.
Highworth Methodist Church
Thursday 6th November
Starting at 7.45pm
Led by Rev John Wiltshire
All are very welcome
Refreshments will be served afterwards.
Brunel Brass in Concert.
St Andrews Methodist Church Moredon Road
Friday 28th November at 7.30pm
Tickets £3.50 from Church Members
Proceeds in aid of Willows Counselling Service and Church Funds
The Stand.
8th November, NEC Birmingham 2pm-10pm.
An event to provoke the church to STAND UP against the injustice of human trafficking and slavery.
Speakers: Andy Hawthorne, Ben Cooley, Steve Chalke, Joseph D’Souza, Baroness Cox, Sean Litton.
There are seats available on a coach at £10, plus reduced tickets at £20 available from Sally Parker.
Quiz Night.
29th November
Christ Church Leisure Centre (Cricklade St) Swindon
A fun night for groups & individuals to compete across the churches.
The aim is also to raise money for the peoples of Zimbabwe - to be sent to Pastor Naboth Mtangadura who I met whilst at Bible College in London. He is in Chinhoyi Zimbabwe and supporting many widows and orphans with HIV/AIDS - at a time of political strife, high inflation and impending starvation of Ethiopian proportions.
Christmas Tree Festival.
Friday 5th – Sunday 7th December:
St Sampson’s Church Cricklade
Our first Christmas Tree Festival. Trees donated and decorated by schools, clubs and organisations in Cricklade. Each tree will represent a carol. Entertainment by local groups and musicians. Memory tree to add the name of a loved one. Children’s corner including storytelling. Guess the carol quiz. Refreshments.
Friday 5th December 7.30pm - 9pm – hot drinks
Saturday 6th December 10am - 4.30pm –coffee, light lunches, afternoon teas
Sunday 7th December 3pm - 5pm – carols at 4pm
Dreaming of a Holy Night.
Monday 8th December
Graham Kendrick’s ‘Dreaming of a Holy Night Tour’. Evening performance fully booked. Tickets are still available for the matinee at 3.30pm. Phone the Wyvern on 01793 524481 to book.
We need a choir for both performances – if you are interested in taking part contact Barbara 01793 536815
Christmas Care.
24th December until 28th December
Queens Drive Methodist Church
Are you able to help as a volunteer or can you donate money or needed items? Meeting for volunteers 13th or 19th November at 8pm.
Donations of money, food, sleeping bags, blankets, towels, toiletries, good warm clothing, shoes are welcome.
Donations received
- Sat 13th 10am-3pm, or
- Wed 17th 7pm-9:30pm
- Fri 19th 7pm-9:30pm
- Sat 20th 10am-3pm
More details www.christmascare.co.uk
Are you doing anything exciting for your 60th birthday?
This was a question I was often asked over the last few weeks and I had an answer ready. “Yes, Dick and I are off on a Christian Bird watching weekend on Lindisfarne.”
The weekend was the brainchild of a URC Minister but was lead by a local Anglican Priest with help from a Baptist so we were a truly ecumenical group!
But what to expect? Would everyone but us be incredibly knowledgeable, slung about with expensive binoculars, spotting scopes and cameras? Would we, as very new amateur birdwatchers feel inadequate? We were soon put at our ease. Yes our leaders were very knowledgeable and able to tell a red throated diver from a black throated diver in winter plumage when all they looked like were tiny dots on the sea often obscured by waves. However their desire was to share that knowledge. Through sharing their scopes we could become intimate with the birds in a non intrusive way. Their joy was in hearing the rest of us express delight and wonder as eventually we picked out and understood what we could see. Most of the other guests were on the same level as us and we soon jelled as a group as we shared various birding experiences.
Each day started and finished with worship. Sometimes this was just for us and sometimes we joined other worshippers either at the St Cuthbert’s Centre or at the Anglican Church. At various points in the day we joined together for “Story Time” when we were read sections from Simon Barnes’ “How to be a bad birdwatcher”. Although an atheist he has a remarkably spiritual attitude to birds. We then set off to explore the birdlife of all the different habitats on the island, four walks in all.
All in all it was a great way to spend my birthday, doing something I enjoy with other Christians who feel the same. And what was the highlight for me? Well there were various special moments: the barn owl catching and eating its tea only a short way away; the gannets as they shot like torpedoes into the sea after fish, the starlings weighing down the power lines only to take off and soar around this way and that like smoke before roosting for the night (a real Bill Oddie moment). Yes all these were special but what will stay with me is the lone Red wing that we watched as it struggled against the wind to touch land after flying in from Scandinavia. It virtually fell from the sky at our feet exhausted from its journey and immediately started to feed oblivious to us a few feet away. It is a thrush like bird, I sometimes see them in the local fields in late winter, but to me it summed up the miracle not only of God’s creation, but also his protection and care for even the most insignificant of creatures. I went away with my heart singing.
Janet Gray
Prayer points.
- Wisdom about church building maintenance and developments
- Praying together in church and Partnership
- Community cafe at Toothill
- Our church ministers
Contact information.
The Partnership office is open weekdays from 12:30 till 4:30.
The office number is 01793 874221.
The office e-mail is: partnershipoffice@btopenworld.com
The address for correspondence is:
The Partnership Office, Holy Trinity Church, Shaw Village Centre, SWINDON, SN5 5PY.
For items for the next edition of Partnership News please send them to the office or to Dick Gray no later than 26th November.
The Partnership web site is WSwinLyd.org.uk
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Previous Newsletters, 2008 archive.
October 2008:
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September 2008:
PDF format (16 A5 pages across 4 A4 sheets - 404 kB)
July/August 2008:
PDF format (16 A5 pages across 4 A4 sheets - 404 kB)
June 2008:
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May 2008:
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Apr 2008:
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Mar 2008:
PDF format (16 A5 pages across 8 A4 sheets - 129 kB)
Feb 2008:
PDF format (12 A5 pages across 6 A4 sheets - 367 kB)
Jan 2008:
PDF format (16 A5 pages across 8 A4 sheets - Large 2.9MB!)
2007: Old News - the 2007 PN archive.
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This page last modified 23:09:53 GMT on Wed 29 Oct, 2008
