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Swindon Old Town Partnership of Churches Anglican - United Reformed - Methodist Est. 1969

PARTNERSHIP MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2017 60 PENCE

Our project for 2017: The Foyer

Our aim: to raise £6000

our project logo

One in Christ - Together in Mission Sunbeams Toddlers’ Christmas Party at Bath Road Church

..... and Father Christmas came too.

The toddlers, together with parents and carers, enjoyed their last meeting before Christmas decorating special Christmas biscuits with shiny coloured icing and making a star decoration to take home to hang up. This took place before we all went up into church to hear the Christmas story, building up the nativity scene as the story unfolded.

Just as we had finished singing a few Christmas songs and playing our instruments, Father Christmas arrived. He led everybody back downstairs to enjoy a special Christmas snack before he found a present in his sack for everyone, to the delight of all the young people. Your Contacts BATH ROAD METHODIST CHURCH Minister: The Revd. Mark Barrett, 147 Drove Road, SN1 3AQ Tel: 529263 e-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.bathroadmethodistchurch.org.uk Weekly news items: [email protected] CHRIST CHURCH with ST. MARY’S, Cricklade Street St. Mary’s, Commonweal Road (off The Mall) Vicar: The Revd. Canon Simon Stevenette, The Vicarage, 26 Cricklade Street, SN1 3HG. Tel. 529166 e-mail: [email protected] Associate Ministers:: Revd. Canon Judy Ashby, T.978528; [email protected] Revd. Daphne Hardwick. T. 693721; [email protected] Revd. Norma McKemey. T. 845917; [email protected] Web site: www.christchurchswindon.co.uk Weekly news items: [email protected] Friends of Christ Church: c/o The Parish Office PARISH OFFICE: at the Community Centre, SN1 3HB. Tel. 522832 e-mail: [email protected] Usually the Parish Office is open Monday-Friday, 9.00am to 1.00pm, Thursday evening 5.30pm-7.30pm, Sat 10am-12 noon. COMMUNITY CENTRE: Manager Chris Smith, T.617237 or 07582 305760 email: [email protected] IMMANUEL UNITED REFORMED CHURCH, Upham Road Minister: The Revd. Robert Jordan, 152 Drove Road, SN1 3AG Tel. 513039. email: [email protected] Church Secretary: Liz Gleed, Tel. 721364. email: [email protected] Web site: www.immanuelurc.org Weekly news items: [email protected] WORKING IN FELLOWSHIP WITH Lawn Community Church, Guildford Avenue and the Salvation Army, The Citadel, Devizes Road. MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTOR: Mr. Eric Sparkes, Tel. 530997. email: [email protected] MAGAZINE EDITORS: Mrs. Diana Swann, 58 Sandown Avenue, SN3 1QQ. Tel. 529897 e-mail: [email protected] Mrs. Margaret Williams MBE, 39 Sandown Avenue, SN3 1QQ. Tel. 421102 e-mail: [email protected] PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL: Secretary: Barbara Aftelak, Tel. 536815; email: [email protected] Chairman: Godfrey Room, Tel. 610010; email: [email protected] Treasurer: David Bevan, Tel. 336667: email: [email protected] Partnership Letter

152 Drove Road, Swindon Peace to you!

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it" (John 1;5)

Since the Christmas season this verse from the Gospel of John has somewhat "persecuted" me, and I want to share that sense of persecution. If anything, I think it is a great passage by which to be persecuted.

I can't accept that this is "only" for Christmas season reading. I want it to continue beyond this, I personally need this to be continued in time, and I believe we need it to be true in the world in which we are living. There are so many forms of darkness around - darkness in the life of people we love or in our own personal situation. Some feel darkness affects the churches and, by extension, the Partnership of Churches. There are situations of darkness in our country and in the world. I'm sure it would not take you too long to make up a list, and I could guess it is part of the conversations you have with people you know, and with people you don't, standing in a queue in any place, anywhere.

And do you know what? A talk about darkness is true, is real. But is it the only truth, or is there something more to it? I am sure there is something more... There is light, because without light we would never see darkness. Darkness is there, but it's not the only thing that is there - there is also light, and in faith we affirm that darkness will not overcome light.

So as we are still at the beginning of 2017, wherever the darkness is, and there may be plenty of it, there is also light. Please allow me to challenge you that wherever you are you also speak about that light which darkness cannot overcome. I have promised myself that I want to make this my calling for this year, and I want to share it with you.

As we share light, we will realise it touches our lives and the lives of our loved ones; it will touch the church (and even the Partnership! ☺) and will touch our nation and the world because we are part of each of these, and so we do have to let the light through, and even the cracks in our life will be forms of letting the light shine. So please, don't give up!

2 FAMILY EVENTS

BAPTISMS We welcome into the family of the Church CHRIST CHURCH Nov 27 Hayden Boyce Caitlin Harper Close Nicholas James Weston Dec 4 Theodore William Gatherum 11 Amelia Andréa Salter

DEATHS We extend our sympathy to the loved ones of BATH ROAD Nov 28 John Haydon Porter, 88 years

CHRIST CHURCH Nov 28 Edna Jeanne Linley, 87 years Dec 2 Margaret Ockwell, 90 years Dec 19 Ada Thirza Werrell, 103 years Dec 19 Joan James, 88 years Dec 25 Ronald William Herbert Wiltshire, 90 years Dec 28 Maureen Durbridge, 84 years 2017 Jan 2 Aila English, 98 years Jan 7 Yuet Sim Chang, 76 years Jan 7 Hubert Gordon Lewington, 83 years Jan 7 Doris Hanks, 94 years

IMMANUEL Jan 6 Madge Millman, aged 100. Madge would have celebrated her 101st birthday on January 18th.

Cover photo: Our thanks to Janet French for providing the photo of The Foyer.

3 Partnership Project for 2017 On January 22nd at our United Service in the week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we launched our project for this year. It is to be a home based project this time and we couldn’t have found anything nearer to home than the project chosen which is The Foyer! This is situated right on our doorstep in Bath Road, opposite the Museum, and is a place where young people can find a home after having been in care for much of their lives. The building does not look very big from the outside but when I visited there it was a bit like a tardis in that what I saw behind the facade amazed me!

Michelle Mueller, who is the manager, told us at the launch service about the residents and their needs and how they intend to use the money we raise, and part of this they wish to use to employ some craftsmen/women to teach the residents useful DIY skills - hence the logo for the project, designed by Noel Hunt, is a paint brush!

I know that some of you have been thinking of innovative ways to raise some money and the project group has arranged some partnership events. The first of these is to be a “Songs of Praise “ afternoon when we will gather in Christ Church Community Centre and sing some of our favourite hymns and then enjoy a cup of tea and cake. This is to take place on Saturday 11th February at 2.30pm. Do come along and enjoy a good sing with Geoff and Tim; there are no tickets for this event but there will be a plate for donations; we promise that you will be able to get home in the light and the centre will be warm and welcoming. Margaret Williams

‘SONGS OF PRAISE’ afternoon Saturday 11th February, 2.30pm in Christ Church Community Centre ‘ Enjoy a good sing with ‘G’ and ‘T’ (not Gin and Tonic but Geoff and Tim!) Tea and cake will be served.

Donations for the Partnership Project

4 Bath Road

Bath Road Property Fundraising A big Thank You must go to all those of you who responded so enthusiastically to our call for some fundraising for the building and property projects in 2016. The Okus House Group held a very successful Pop-Up French Restaurant, and contributed £700 to Church funds. A ‘Chamber’ Concert raised £415 for the ‘loo’ fund and the Christmas Film Night raised £113.85. We received donations from the Cubs and Junior Church, proceeds from the sale of cards and several personal donations. The Christmas Fayre raised nearly £1000. Well done all of you - if I have missed out your effort, please accept my apologies! However, we still have a long way to go, so we can’t rest on our laurels just yet – if anyone still has any energy left in 2017, new ideas and events will be more than welcome. Dorothy Kennedy on behalf of the Property and Finance Committee

Nativity and Toy Service on 11th December The gifts of toys brought to this service were much appreciated by Swindon Women’s Aid. Fellowship Lunch Following the morning service on Sunday 4th December, 72 people sat down to a lunch of Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding, all cooked by church volunteers. A big thank you to them all, and the great thing is that their hard work was rewarded by the sum of £335.80 being sent to Christmas Care. Action for Children The Carol singing at the Co-op raised £124,60 and the Giant Christmas Card and the church post box £128,55 for this charity. Partnership Foyer Project 2017 Bath Road got off to a good start, raising £500.60 from their collections on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

BEST BIRTHDAY WISHES go to Clara Gladman, 16 on 21st February Ofense Tserema, 15 on 22nd February Zoe Mansfield, 17 on 29th February

5 0pen House Christmas party

It was good that so many people could join us for our last meeting of the year which as usual was our Christmas Party complete with crackers to pull, a tempting variety of ‘party food’ and coffee or tea. We enjoyed the traditional game of ‘Pass the Parcel’ and Musical Chairs before all too soon it was time to go, but not before everyone had a Christmas card and present to take with them.

Except a Bank Holiday, come and join us on any Monday morning between 10.30 and midday in Bath Road Church Hall to enjoy coffee/tea, cake and a chat, with the option of playing dominoes, hoopla or other family games should you wish. You would be certain of a very warm welcome.

‘GEMS’ An acronym of Ecumenical Music and Social Group. We meet on the last Monday in the month at Bath Road Methodist Church Hall from 2pm – 4pm, and enjoy singing together from song sheets. Some members like to sing a solo or tell an anecdote on the monthly theme. We ask for a small donation per meeting towards the cost of the hall, sheets of song words cost 20 pence each and we also ask for 50 pence towards tea/coffee/cake. We are always happy to greet new members. For further details please contact Ann Collins on 813518

6 3Generate brings Methodist young people together

The 3Generate event for young Methodists took place over the weekend of the 25 and 27 November, with more young people than ever before taking part.

The event has more than doubled in size over the last two years with close to 700 young Methodists and youth leaders gathered for fellowship and fun at the PGL Adventure Centre in Swindon. Young people from 8 to 23 came from across the UK to mix worship and activities with discussion and debate. Presentations and talks on topics for older groups included well-being and social justice while younger groups considered what church could look like if they were in charge.

Penny Fuller, Methodist Church and Community Development Co-ordinator with responsibility for the event explained: ‘The growth is so exciting, we were fully booked in some age groups. We will need to look at how we go forward to accommodate the growth.’

This year particular attention was paid to ensuring the event was as accessible as possible. Specialist volunteers provided additional support to those with learning difficulties, physical limitations or in need of additional emotional help.

While there was a lot of fun, faith and fellowship with adventurous outdoor activities and silent discos, there was also an emphasis placed on worship and debate. A range of opportunities was also available for young people to choose how they wished to worship, from art through to late night communion. Discussions were held in all age groups to ensure that children were heard.

The current Youth President Tim Annan, who was elected at last year's 3Generate, said, ‘We come together to worship God and discuss the issues important to us as young Christians - Refugees, prayer, relationships are just some of the topics we tackled.’ n

7 Immanuel

Donations to Christmas Care, the Harbour Project and Oxfam’s Yemen Appeal:

Immanuel donated £100 to Christmas Care, the Swindon based organisation that provides shelter for the homeless over the Christmas holiday period, and £100 to the Harbour Project which provides help, friendship and services for asylum seekers and refugees in Swindon.

The dreadful situation in Yemen was highlighted in the news at the end of last year and Immanuel sent a donation of £800 to Oxfam's Yemen Appeal to help their work in relieving the famine.

SILENCE ‘Be still, and know that I am God’ Psalm 46

When we can possibly be quiet after the hectic and sometimes feverish activity of Christmas and getting ready for this, that and the other in the New Year, the soul is at last stilled so that it can concentrate on God. There is no doubt that through this concentration on Him the spiritual life is deepened. But is it possible and do we actually want it?!

The French Christian, Blais Pascal once said that nearly all the ills of life spring from this simple source, that we are unable to sit still for long in a quiet room; we must have a radio blaring or something else to drown the silence, or we feel we must have our hands occupied.

Sitting still can be therapeutic anyway. But in the stillness we can set ourselves to meet with God, and that becomes spiritual therapy. God waits and wants to offer us infinite resources, for the asking and for the taking. It is where the soul becomes receptive, where prayer becomes just as the organ of spiritual touch. Now it becomes as healing as the touch of the woman on the hem of His garment, where peace flows into our turbulence, where love absorbs our resentments, and where joy heals our griefs. This quiet time shuts us in with God, the door closes and His infinite resources can flood into our souls. ‰

8 We can then accept again the sure knowledge that ‘they that wait upon God will renew their strength.’ And we can face again a world that knows little about Him. Excerpt from United Christian Broadcasters. Barbara Furguson , Immanuel

‘The Gate of the Year’

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:

“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”

And he replied:

Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”

This poem by Minnie Louise Haskins (1875-1957) was sent to us by a member of Immanuel Church

Wednesday 15th - Saturday 18th February, 7.30 pm at the Arts Centre, Devizes Road

Settle into an evening of pure bliss with the classic sound of Ten in a Bar harmonies. You will be sure of a night of pure enjoyment with a huge variety of different types of music. Tickets £13.00* To book: Wyvern Theatre 524481 * Prices shown are inclusive of any applicable booking fee. Fee-free booking for Wyvern Friends; Groups of 8+ please call 01793 524481 to buy fee-free.

Tickets are also available from the company, contact Jane on 01793 881798

9 .S..e...v..e..n... .S...u..n...d...a..y..s... .i.s.. .n...o...t. .e..n...o...u..g...h. ‘.I.t.’.s... .t.h...e.. ..c..h...u..r..c..h...’.s... .p...e..r..p..e...t.u...a..l. ..p..u...r.p...o...s..e.. ’

The Revd Nigel Uden, Moderator-Elect of the General Assembly, reflects on how we would need an eternity to do the Epiphany justice.

Epiphany lasts so much longer than Christmas. In the Church’s year that began on Advent Sunday 2016. There is only one ‘Sunday after Christmas’, followed early in 2017 by seven ‘Sundays after Epiphany’. And maybe even seven is not enough.

Once upon a time, Canterbury Cathedral – mother church of the Anglican communion and seat of its Primate – used to have a deceptively simple strap line: ‘To show people Jesus.’ If we understand the Epiphany as being about that sort of ‘manifestation’, or ‘showing forth’ of Christ, the truth is that to do it we need an eternity. It’s not a one-off we can fit into a few house groups each December, nor are we going to sort it in those seven winter weeks after we recall the visitors from the east. Epiphany is the church’s perpetual purpose.

As we chart the future life and work of the United Reformed Church, this ‘showing people Jesus’ should be central to our vocation. It’s surely not an optional extra. Isn’t it what we are baptised into?

We most authentically do this living the life of Jesus today as we heed his teaching and follow his example. I recently learned of a city centre congrega - tion that allowed its premises to be used every Saturday by a Street Pastors’ drop-in, providing safety and solace for those seeking refuge from the night- time economy. As two clubbers were shown to the lavatory (almost all the public toilets in that city are closed at night), one was heard to say to the other: ‘Can you believe a church being open like this? It must be what Jesus would do.’ Epiphany.

When I was involved in a church plant some years ago, we named the new fellowship after the suburb in which it was set. The next time I am part of such a naming I shall lobby hard for Epiphany Church. I’d like to think it could be a word that epitomises the United Reformed Church too – the ‘tin’ labelled with exactly what should be in it. n

10 Christ Church with St. Mary’s

Arrangements for worship at Christ Church during February, March and April.

Work on the interior of Christ Church will begin on Monday 6th February. For the duration of this work, all our Sunday worship will take place in the Community Centre.

We are very much looking forward to getting the work done on producing a level floor, creating more flexible space, installing a new heating system and installing a new lighting system. This will involve the church being closed for a planned eight week period. As Vicar and Church Wardens we are asking you to pray that we will make the most of this window of opportunity and will grow as a congregation as we work together seeking God's guidance and presence each step of the way. We are enormously grateful to our PCC Buildings Committee for their professionalism, wisdom and commitment in getting us to this point. Sunday 8.00 am Holy Communion in the Large Meeting Room 10.00 am All Age and Holy Communion Services in the Main Hall and Garden Room, with the choir being unrobed. Sunday Club will either be with the main worship or in Chris’s office or the Vicarage - to be confirmed. 4.00 pm Sunday @4 in the Main Hall and Garden Room, as normal. 6.30 pm Evening Worship in the Main Hall and Garden Room Midweek 9.00 am Morning Prayer in the Large Meeting Room, and on some days when this is not available, this will be in the Vicarage. These locations will be confirmed. 10.30 am The Wednesday service will be in the Large Meeting Room or at St. Mary’s. These locations will be confirmed.

In one important sense, it will be business as usual, but in another sense there will be some differences with the change of ambiance - and we will be warmer!! We trust that you will do all you can to encourage one another and lend a hand practically where you are able. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us at any time. n

11 Diocese of Bristol

‘creating connections’ LENT COURSE

The Lent Course we will be using at Christ Church is themed around our Bristol Diocesan vision, ‘Creating Connections’, and leads participants to consider what it means to be a disciple connected to God, each other and our communities. We would be delighted to welcome friends from across the Partnership. There will be groups running in the daytime and in the evenings. We will be gathering small group leaders together on the first Sunday in Lent 26th February at 7.45pm in the Community Centre, and we will also be inviting participants to come together at the end of the course on Palm Sunday evening, 9th April at 7.45pm in the Community Centre to share their reflections.

It is our prayer that as we meet together in small groups across the Diocese to spend time to explore God’s word through this resource, we will discover afresh what it means to be a follower of Christ bearing witness to His name.

Further details to follow shortly. Please pray for the preparations and for all that we will learn together through this exciting material.

Week 1: What do we mean when we call God Father? Written by The Very Revd Dr David Hoyle, Dean of Bristol Cathedral. John 14 verses 1-12 Week 2: How now shall we live? Written by The Rt Revd Mike Hill, Bishop of Bristol. Mark 8 verses 34-38 Week 3: Holiness Written by The Ven Christine Froude, Archdeacon 2 Timothy 1 verses 1-14 Week 4: Our identity in Christ Written by The Rt Revd Dr Lee Rayfield, Bishop of Swindon Matthew 3 verse 13 – 4 verse 11 Week 5: I am who I am Written by Revd Canon Derek Chedzey Exodus 3 verses 13-15

12 email from Will Stevenette... On Monday January 9th I flew to Canada for 5 months where I am part of a team of 12 young people participating in a leadership and adven - ture course with Soul Edge which is linked with the Soul Survivor church in Watford . I am based in the small town of Herbert in the province of Saskatchewan, and during this course I will gain teaching, discipleship and lead - ership training. As well as this, I will be participat - ing in outdoor pursuits such as hiking, climbing, and canoeing. I will also be working with a local church. The course will culminate in a two month mission trip to the Pelican Narrows reservation in the heart of Northern Saskatchewan to work amongst and serve the remote First Nations community. So far I am thoroughly enjoying the opportunity, although it is very cold, averaging at minus10 degrees, I am well kitted out! For further information, this is a link to the website http://www.souledgegapyear.com I have raised most of the money for this course through my work at Swindon Central Library and John Lewis. However, I would like to thank everyone who has supported me financially as well, which is hugely appreciated. If anyone would like to donate, you can go to my Go Fund Me page at https://www.gofundme.com/wills-soul-edge-fund Thank you, Will Stevenette

Editor’s comment This month we have two articles, both of which are most thought-provoking; one on page 15 is from Elizabeth Brightwell about the Palestinian people who are being treated so harshly by the Israelites in Palestine and the other article on page 20 by Kara-Jane Senior about her visit to Auschwitz where she learned about the harsh treatment of the Jewish people by the Nazis in the last war. Read both articles and think about them! M.W.

13 Big Questions? Most of us have times when we want to explore those big questions such as – Is there really a spiritual side to me? Is faith relevant to real life? Starting on Tuesday 28th February at 7.30 p.m we will be running a 5 week course called ‘JOURNEYS’ where we will explore some of these issues through discussion and hearing from people who have found answers to their questions. Relaxed, friendly – somewhere to discuss with others who have the same questions. Please accept this as an invitation to join us. Contact the Parish Office (01793 522832) if you would be interested in being part of this group.

Friends of Christ Church Christmas Charity Market 2016

The trustees of the Friends organised another successful Christmas Charity Market on 19 November 2016. Over 30 local charity groups and organisations took part. Over £3,500 was raised on the day including just over £1000 for church related groups. Stallholders and visitors enjoyed the day, despite the lack of heating in the church, and are looking forward to the 2017 event which will be on Saturday 18 November so watch this space!

14 “The hopes and fears of all the years”

A couple of months ago, Elizabeth Brightwell came to speak at the Men’s Breakfast Goup about her time as an Ecumenical Accompanier with the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel. The programme is run by the World Council of Churches. We asked her if she would kindly write an article for the magazine.

Fear is just below the surface in Israel and Palestine. It’s imbued in Israelis and Palestinians from the cradle to the grave. During the three months I spent in Palestine in 2015, monitoring human rights and providing protective presence to the vulnerable, fear was never far away. Sometimes it was so profound it seemed to smother everything, but it didn’t. It couldn’t. Hope seized all the opportunities it could to shine through, to promote understanding and tolerance, to overcome fear. The photo shows Elizabeth with a shepherd outside his beautiful cave dwelling in K hirbet Biral’dd in the South Hebron Hills. Several years ago he was shot and injured by the Israelis but won’t leave his land

Amongst the fear and mistrust, there are those working in non-violent ways to end Israel’s occupation of Palestine with a fair and just peace. This is hope at work.

I met Rabbi Ascherman from Rabbis for Human Rights (RHR), an organisation defending the human rights of marginalised communities in Israel and Palestine. RHR also works to prevent the demolition of Palestinian homes and the takeover of Palestinian land by Israel: as does the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD). ICAHD’s records show that since the occupation began fifty years ago, over 48,000 Palestinian homes and other structures, such as schools, animal pens, water cisterns and solar panels have been demolished by Israel. ‰

15 I met Ezra, Neria and Ada, Jewish members of Ta’ayush, a grassroots organi - sation of Arabs and Jews working to break down the walls of racism and segregation by constructing a true Arab-Jewish partnership: striving through solidarity to end the occupation and create a future of equality, justice and peace.

I also met Hamed, a Palestinian Moslem committed to seeing a peaceful end to the occupation, doggedly working to ensure Palestinian children, boys and girls, gain their right to education as stated in Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and I met Jean, a Palestinian Christian who has spent her life resisting Israel’s occupation of her country in every non-violent way she can conceive.

I was in Palestine as an Ecumenical Accompanier (EA) with the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI), a programme run by the World Council of Churches. Sometimes I felt overwhelmed by the injustices Israel places on Palestinians: the checkpoints and barriers, the movement and access restrictions, the demolitions and the detentions. I felt ashamed and horrified at the humiliations to which Palestinians are subjected under Israel’s military occupation.

At the same time I was inspired by the steadfastness shown by so many Palestinians, and by the commitment of Israeli peace activists. I was inspired by the Palestinians ability to endure, to ‘keep going’, to open new schools and medical centres, set up new businesses, build new homes, to celebrate births and marriages, to party and to laugh. To them existence is, in itself, resistance. When Palestinians and Israelis, like those mentioned above, come together to talk, to work, to laugh, hope springs up like a fountain in that arid, highly contested, ancient land.

If you would like to help expel the fear, replacing it with hope, if you would like to work alongside Palestinian, Israeli, Christian, Jewish and Moslem peace activists, please think about applying to become an EA, and/or supporting EAPPI in its goal to end the occupation with a fair and just peace for all.

Elizabeth Brightwell Ecumenical Accompanier (July to October 2015) Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel Further information from: [email protected], www.quaker.org.uk and www.eappi.org/en

16 Ada Werrell

Ada Werrell was born on Christmas Eve 1912 and grew up in Bristol. She moved to Swindon on her marriage in 1939 to William Stanley Mervyn Werrell (known affectionately as Merv) and lived in the same house in King William Street for many years.

During the war she worked in the railway works. She also worked for 15 years in the shop in Prospect Place, which is now houses, did cleaning and took in laundry. Ada was also active in Age Concern for many years, preparing parcels for those alone at Christmas.

Her daughter Marcia, two granddaughters and two great-granddaughters mostly live in South Africa. But they did arrange a surprise 100th birthday party on the morning of Monday 24 December 2012 at the Kings in Wood Street.

In 2014, after too many falls, Ada decided not to go home from hospital but to move into a care home, the new Orchid Care Home in Taw Hill. She told me at the time that her main requirements were a view of green and her own TV so that she could listen to services and Songs of Praise. I understand that the care home gave her a birthday party with cake on 19 December, she went back to her room for a sleep and did not wake up.

Ada was always devoted to Christ Church, and we are all grateful to Margaret Williams MBE for a lovely thanksgiving service on 9 January. Ada regularly attended Wednesday Holy Communion in the Lady Chapel, which she described as her “haven”. She was an active member of our Mothers’ Union branch for over 50 years; she outlived the other three ladies with whom she used to polish the Lady Chapel and do the altar linen. She was always first to pay her MU subscription and contributed to the Christmas flowers in the Lady Chapel. She was still asking after other members on my final visit before Christmas. MU members were delighted to be able to provide the refreshments after her thanksgiving service.

When Ada was interviewed on her 100th birthday she said that her secret for long life was to be happy and contented.

Caroline Pitt, Branch contact, Christ Church with St Mary’s Mothers’ Union

17 Aila English

Edith Aila English (known as Aila) was born on 26 June 1918 and grew up in Port Sunlight, Merseyside where she worked for Lever Brothers. During the war she was a WREN in the Navy Pay Office where she met John. They were married in 1948 and moved to Swindon.

They had two daughters, Elizabeth who died very young and Janet who lived with her parents until she too sadly died in 2008. Then Aila and John moved to Devizes, John to a flat and Aila to the Avonmead Nursing Home where she was very well cared for . Aila was sustained by a deep and joyful faith. She was a pillar of the Mothers’ Union at Christ Church. She was treasurer for 12 years, when the membership was approaching 100, so this was a major task. Her meticulous records are still being kept.

Aila, John and Janet also made the kneelers in front of the altar in the Lady Chapel at Christ Church which are still in daily use.

Jane Austen – well worth her weight in coins and bank-notes!

The much-loved novelist Jane Austen is about to make history. 200 years after her death, she will appear simultaneously on a British coin and a British bank note. That means that only the Queen, who as head of state must be depicted on British currency, will be more prevalent.

The Royal Mint has chosen Jane Austen as the new image for its commemorative £2 coin. About five million will be released into mass circulation sometime this Spring. At about the same time, the Bank of England will release its new, plastic, unrippable £10 note, with Jane Austen replacing Charles Darwin.

Historians cannot recall the last time a figure other than the reigning monarch appeared on both coins and notes at the same time. The release of both coins and notes will be in step with the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s death in the summer of 1817 at the age of just 41.

18 Partnership Walk

Fifteen wet walkers wended their way Along the old railway on New Year's Day They stopped at the bridge for the usual whisky Then back to the church for cake and for tea.

19 Visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau

Students' Union (Durham) Activities Officer Kara-Jane Senior reflects on Student Leader Visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau

It has been suggested by many writers, about many of the worst dictatorships throughout history, that it is the death of tolerance and independent thought in our institutions that heralds the predominance of a corrupt rule. The significance of these values, and the importance of upholding them in places like our Universities, was brought home to me recently when I took part in the Holocaust Educational Trust’s programme Lessons From Auschwitz, along with other student leaders invited by the Union of Jewish Students.

Visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau, something done by so many each year, was a question in itself for many of us taking part in the trip. How do we reconcile the role of the tourist, poking around at the remnants of humanity at its worst, with the need to educate ourselves and others about a chapter of history, which, while inarguably dark, still has much relevance today?

Reflecting on the experience in the follow-up seminar, we agreed that the discomfort this tension causes is part of what makes the experience so meaningful. Seeing Auschwitz is intrinsically uncomfortable, even painful (but nothing like the true agony that its prisoners endured). It isn’t a “good” trip, but a life-changing one. It teaches you so much and yet is so difficult to explain and inspires gratitude and guilt, and also hope, through the stories of resist - ance even in the face of certain death. It’s something I think we should all do.

The programme that I took part in allowed us to really identify our thoughts and feelings about the Holocaust before we went, and then to reflect back on them afterwards. It included a pre-trip seminar and discussion about the Holocaust and what it was for those who lived it – the Holocaust refers specifically to what happened to the Jewish communities of Europe, though other groups of people were also targeted by the Nazi regime. This covered pre-WW2 Jewish life in Europe, tourism in Auschwitz today and a talk from a survivor of the Holocaust whose father went to work one day and never came back, and who came very close to being another victim of the death camps. ‰

20 This was of course very moving to hear - especially as his father was captured while helping others, then tortured and killed for doing so. This gave us an insight into what the trip would be about.

A visit to Auschwitz becomes a memory of individual stories and individual scenes, which are so often lost in our general recollection of the Holocaust. For me these were varied – the town of Auschwitz where before the war a synagogue had stood between two churches. An exhibition of human hair at the camp is all that remains of some of the many people so wickedly murdered. There is the death wall where people were shot and the gas chamber where hundreds were packed in to a small concrete room and poisoned. Families were ripped apart forever. A memorial written in the different languages of everyone who died there has one in English to recognise a Scottish teacher who was killed at the camp. Real people imprisoned simply because of who they were, not anything they had done.

I felt a lot of emotions during the visit, but the one thing that is fundamentally important to our lives as students is that University should be a space of inclusivity where differences are celebrated. It should be one of the first places that people raise their voices in defence of those who are excluded or discriminated against. Students should continue to discuss, question and remember events like the Holocaust.

At University we are encouraged to understand and challenge. The Holocaust didn’t start in concentration camps; it was a result of an accumulation of prejudices ingrained in society, perpetuated by propaganda that made people believe that it was justified, clouding their view of true humanity - there was challenge but there wasn’t enough. To be informed of what happened is a sign of respect for those who lost so much, but it also prompts us to imagine how we would and should act when faced with intolerance. By considering this we prepare ourselves to have the confidence to stand up to prejudice and inequality in our communities.

Holocaust Memorial Day is the 27th January, the day Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated in 1945. This day is not only a chance to commemorate the Holocaust but also other genocides since, where lessons from Auschwitz clearly haven’t been learnt. n

21 BISHOP’S MESSAGE Mobilising our Front-Line

The Bishop of Swindon, the Rt Revd Lee Rayfield, reflects on a nut which our Archbishops are once again trying to help churches crack.

In his address to Diocesan Synod in December, Matthew Frost asked us what one thing we might do as a diocese to best equip Christians to be disciples in every sphere of life, not just in church life. My instinctive response was to inscribe a tattoo on the forearm of every church member - ‘lay’ on the arms of the ordained, ‘priest’ on everyone else! You may think this is crazy but the reality is that we have struggled for decades to overcome the sacred/secular compartmentalisation of most Christian discipleship.

The need for Christians to see themselves as priests in the workplace was spelled out 70 years ago in ‘Towards the Conversion of England’. Dorothy Sayers, the novelist and playwright, flagged up the importance of all Christians recognising their vocation within secular life. She argued that if Christians behaved as though 90% of their life was irrelevant to their faith, why would anyone be interested in belonging to a church?!

The Archbishops’ Task Force on Lay Leadership, of which Matthew Frost is a member, has recently identified four obstacles to the whole people of God finding their vocation as disciples and Christian leaders in the whole of life. There is inadequate theology and vision, a weak lay voice which is not being heard or acted upon, unhealthy relationships between clergy and lay people and, lastly, a lack of resources and support.

There is no proverbial silver bullet for the Church of England. Matthew Frost highlighted two critical shifts needed to release the ministry of the whole people of God. The first is for lay and ordained people to work together so that lay people are confident to follow Jesus and live out the gospel in every sphere of life. The second is for lay and ordained people to be convinced they are equal partners in mission – complementary in gifting and vocation, mutually accountable in discipleship and of equal worth and status.

So many words – what might churches do now to begin to clothe them with flesh? How about a 7 minute slot in every service where a member of the congregation shares what it means for them to give a lead as a follower of Jesus from Monday to Saturday? God on Monday has a nice ring to it…

22 Christmas Dinner in the Community Centre @ Christ Church

Our first Christmas Day event couldn’t have gone any better! We opened the Community Centre @ Christ Church from 12-3pm in order to host a 3 course meal including Christmas singing and ending with the Queen’s speech. Quite aptly the Queen spoke about community spirit which we had managed to capture within our building that day too.

There was fun, laughter and food provided for 40 people who would have otherwise been on their own on Christmas Day. Not to mention the 25 volunteers who were also fed. There was an amazing buzz around the Centre that day and I felt particularly humbled by the whole day and by the amount of kindness from everyone in the room. It is amazing how generous people can be when you try to do something nice for others at a time of year that should really be held in a family friendly environment. Volunteers gave up their time on the day itself and before, some gave financial backing to the cause whilst others donated particular items. It was amazing to see the whole community come together. We have received so much positive feedback after the event from both volunteers and attendees alike and will be looking to make this an annual event. If you would like to volunteer at next year’s event please do get in contact with me. See photos on the inside back cover. Chris Smith – Email: [email protected] or Tel: 01793 617237

This is Harvey, looking dejected as he has just been told ‘naughty dog, go and sit on your bed,’ because he couldn’t wait for everyone to open their Christmas presents. His family were in the kitchen when they heard a rustling sound coming from the lounge. Out of all the presents under the tree, Harvey had managed to find the one marked for him and couldn’t wait to get his bone; the evidence of his misdemeanour is all around him.

23 December 2016 ‘How It Happened’, the story of the Nativity. Our young people enjoyed making a variety of things, and as they came in to the main hall carrying their models of sheep, shepherds and headdresses that were either stars or halos for an angel, they decided which group they would join in different parts of the hall. This resulted in a select group of angels who every time their name was mentioned flapped their arms and called out ‘Alleluia’, whereas a slightly larger group of stars had the words ‘Twinkle twinkle’ to say and used their fingers to represent stars shining. The group of sheep were definitely the largest and they enthusiasti - cally imitated sheep with their ‘Baa; Baa’. Team members spoke the words for Joseph and Mary and the Innkeeper during the telling of the story. Carols completed our worship and then it was time for Pizza followed by cakes of course! Each family of children went home with a copy of ‘The Well Good News of Christmas’ by Dai Woolridge, given by The Bristol Diocese Mothers’ Union, and the adults, if they wished, took ‘Who? The Story of Jesus; both books are published by the Bible Society. The other item being carried home very carefully was a cone-shaped plastic bag full of hot chocolate powder and miniature marshmallows for Rudolph as it was complete with antlers and a red nose!! January 2017 Daniel, the first of our Bible Heroes It was not long before everyone was busy finding out about the story of Daniel. Models were made of Daniel and the angel in the Lions Den or stick people to take home and retell the story. Making a lion mask to wear or painting a lion were very popular but there was also a lion made with its mouth closed, through which one could post a prayer emphasising that it was praying to God that saved Daniel. The same theme also came through with the cup cake lions and the lion face made with heart shapes, reminding us all that God loved Daniel and looked after him.

There were some very pretty prayer boxes taken home and three of the prayers written in the Prayer Corner that afternoon were used in the Act of Worship. Daniel’s story was retold with the young people sitting on the mat in the centre, representing Daniel and all the adults, and others being the lions, roaring at the appropriate time. ‘Our God is a Great Big God’ was sung with gusto and really summed up the theme that had been used that afternoon before nearly one hundred sat down to enjoy our afternoon tea. ‰ 24 It maybe that YOU would like to help with the crafts (all equipment and details are provided) or make some of the party cakes all on a rota basis, the team would love to hear from you.

PS Pinning the tail on the lion, believe it or not, was won by a youngster called Daniel! Our next meeting is on Sunday 19th February, 3.30 pm at King William Street School. Gwen Knight on behalf of the Messy Church team

Nearly 100 people enjoying tea at Messy Church

Our Lions

A lion in the making

25 Getting Focused! There is a gathering that takes place every few months which you may or may not be aware of. It is called the Focus Group. Or, to give it its full title, The Old Town Partnership of Churches (OTPC) Focus Group. It is a small group tasked with the day to day running of the OTPC business. At the moment it consists of our Clergy: Mark, Robert and Simon, plus Margaret Williams of Christ Church, Anne Farrow of Immanuel, Godfrey Room of Bath Road (Chair) and Barbara Aftelak of Bath Road (Secretary).

Our last meeting in December included items such as the Partnership Project for 2017, Lent 2017, OTPC Constitution Review, Easter Cracked, Good Friday, Joint Confirmations, Prayer diary, the OTPC website and, inevitably, future dates for both the Focus Group and the full Council. At present the group meets 10 times a year. However, there are suggestions for changes afoot, which each of our Churches will hopefully be discussing very soon, that will reduce these meetings to 6/7 times a year.

Our Partnership is a great one and events are generally well supported but attendance at Council meetings over the past few years has reduced and the Focus Group has been trying to think of how to address this issue. Godfrey has put in a lot of time to get a paper together for discussion on a way forward and it is hoped lots of people will get involved in those discussions in each of our Churches to reinvigorate the running of the Partnership.

With this in mind, please note the extraordinary meeting that was planned for 22nd February has been postponed and will now be on Wednesday 3rd May, 7.30pm at Immanuel Church. This is to allow enough time for churches to consider fully the suggested changes to the running of the Partnership. The paper to be released shortly will include a suggestion that the Partnership Council should comprise the clergy, 3 people from the council of each church, plus 2 members from each of the congregations. Reasons for this change will be highlighted in the paper. It is hoped all member Churches will discuss fully the suggested changes at the meeting in May.

By the time you read this, the launch of the Partnership Project will be have taken place at our United Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Week service.

Barbara, OTPC Secretary

26 Bath Road MOPS, 10.30 am in the Crossland Room Feb 2 and Feb 16 Christ Church with St Mary's Mothers' Union Feb 1 8.00 pm at 39 Okus Road - Evening Group AGM Feb 8 2.15 pm in the Community Centre (large meeting room) Afternoon Group AGM Immanuel Women’s Fellowship, 2.30pm in Immanuel Church Hall Feb 1 Members’ afternoon: What did you do for Christmas? also Bring and Buy Feb 8 ‘Never a dull moment’, Dorothy Cook, midwife. Feb 15 Wiltshire Manor Houses Feb 22 Merribells

A Priceless Find – by accident! 70 years ago this month a couple of shepherds in the hills above Qumran near the Dead Sea idly threw a stone into what they thought was an empty cave. When they heard the sound of smashing pottery, they searched inside and found the most important biblical discovery of the century. Their stone had led them to what became known as the Dead Sea Scrolls, manuscripts of the entire Hebrew Bible except for the book of Esther, stored in clay vessels. The scrolls were the work of a religious community called the Essenes who lived near that site before and during the life of Jesus.

As scholars slowly unravelled them – and that task took decades - they discovered that they were handling manuscripts of the Bible which were hundreds of years older than any we had previously possessed. Most of the biblical manuscripts on which our translations had previously been based were copies of copies, carefully crafted in monasteries over the centuries by people dedicated to preserving the sacred text. But inevitably, in the process, there were occasional slips in the copying, and at times it’s obvious that those who were doing it didn’t understand the words they were copying.

So, in February 1947, the world had access to a much older and therefore more accurate record of the Jewish Scriptures – the Bible of Jesus and the first Christians. The most remarkable thing is actually how few ‘mistakes’ there were, seeing the centuries of copying – and not one that seriously affects our fundamental understanding of the Bible. Those two shepherds, 70 years ago, ensured that we today have a Bible text which is as close to the original as one could ever hope to get. I’m glad they threw the stone into the right cave! Canon David Winter

27 FLOODLIGHTING Nov 26 Kevin, always remembered with happy memories. All our love, Sarah and Barrie. Dec 3 Remembering, with everlasting love, James Cross on his birthday Dec 25 Dave, Happy Christmas. I hope you like the present from Stamford and Boo. Love, Donna. Dec 26 In loving memory of Kelsey Thomas on his 90th birthday (Caroline’s dad) 2017 Jan 6 In memory of my dear husband Michael John Chapman who died on January 6th 1987 and my beloved father John (Jack) Turner, Pat Chapman. Jan 6 In loving memory of Anne Jackson who died on 6th January 2015. Loving memories forever in our hearts of a very cherished Mam and Grandma. Love Divine. Jan 9 Remembering, with everlasting love, Roy Tilley on his birthday, from his brother and sisters. Jan 22 In memory of my beloved Aila who passed to her final rest after a long illness on Monday 2nd January. With love on my 103rd birthday, John. Jan 31 Geoffrey Groombridge. Special thoughts of you on your birthday. With love from us all, Margaret. Feb 2 In loving memory of Mum, Winifred Huband, on her 100th birthday. Margaret and families. Feb 3 In celebration and thankfulness for 10 years of marriage and God’s continued blessing on us. Martin and Wendy Hiscock, Feb 13 To celebrate the first wedding anniversary of Lizzie Pitt and Frankie Allwright

If you would like to sponsor the floodlighting of Christ Church in celebration of a birthday, wedding anniversary, special occasion, to advertise your Company, or in memory of a loved one, the minimum gift per evening is £30.00. Cheques to be made payable to ‘Christ Church PCC’. Please write to the PARISH OFFICE, COMMUNITY CENTRE AT CHRIST CHURCH, SWINDON, SN1 3HB at least a week before the date of the floodlighting. GIFT AID: If you are a UK taxpayer and wish Christ Church to reclaim the tax, you may Gift Aid your donation.

28 PARTNERSHIP DIARY FOR FEBRUARY 01 Wed 10.30 am Christ Church, Holy Communion 04 Sat 7.30 am Christ Church Men’s Breakfast 05 Sun 8.00 am Christ Church, 1662 Holy Communion 9.00 am St. Mary’s, Holy Communion 10.00 am Bath Road, Morning Service, Trevor Durston 10.00 am Christ Church, All-Age worship and Baptism 10.30 am Immanuel, Holy Communion, Revd. Robert Jordan 2.00 pm Wedding in Christ Church 4.00pm Sunday @ 4 in the Community Centre at Christ Church 6.30 pm Bath Road, Evening Service, Revd. Mark Barrett 6.30 pm Christ Church, Holy Communion 6.30 pm Immanuel, Evening Service, Revd. Robert Jordan 06 Mon 7.30 pm Christ Church staff team meeting at the Vicarage 07 Tues 7.30 pm Christ Church Standing Committee in the Parish Office 08 Wed 10.30 am Christ Church, Holy Communion 11 Sat 2.30 pm Partnership Foyer Project ‘Songs of Praise’ in Christ Church Community Centre 12 Sun 8.00 am Christ Church, Holy Communion 9.00 am St. Mary’s , Morning Prayer 10.00 am Bath Road, All-Age Service, Revd. Mark Barrett 10.00 am Christ Church, Family Holy Communion 10.30 am Immanuel, Morning Service, Revd. Robert Jordan 4.00 pm Sunday @ 4 in the Community Centre at Christ Church 6.30 pm Bath Road, Evening Service, Revd. Angela Overton-Benge 6.30 pm Christ Church, Book of Common Prayer Evensong 6.30 pm Immanuel , Evening Service, Revd. Robert Jordan 15 Wed 10.30 am Christ Church, Holy Communion 8.00 pm Healing prayer group at 39 Sandown Avenue 19 Sun 8.00 am Christ Church, Holy Communion 9.00 am St. Mary’s, Holy Communion 10.00 am Bath Road, Holy Communion, Revd. Mark Barrett 10.00 am Christ Church, Family Holy Communion 10.30 am Immanuel, Morning Service, Revd. Robert Jordan 3.30 pm Messy Church at King William Street School 4.00 pm Sunday @ 4 in the Community Centre at Christ Church 6.30 pm Bath Road, Evening Service, Revd. Mark Barrett 6.30 pm Christ Church, Healing Service 6.30 pm Immanuel, Evening Service, Revd. Robert Jordan 29 22 Wed 10.30 am Christ Church, Holy Communion 26 Sun 8.00 am Christ Church, Holy Communion 9.00 am St. Mary’s, Holy Communion 10.00 am Bath Road, Morning Service, Andrew Trowbridge 10.00 am Christ Church, Family Holy Communion 10.30 am Immanuel, Morning Service, Revd. Alyn Owens 4.00 pm Sunday @ 4 in the Community Centre at Christ Church 6.30 pm Bath Road, Evening Service, Geoff Rhodes 6.30 pm Christ Church, Common Worship Evensong 6.30 pm Immanuel, Holy Communion, Revd. Robert Jordan

The Ridgeway Sixth For m’s Hospice Quiz Friday 3rd March 2017, 7.00 pm at The Ridgeway School £3 per person with teams of up to 8 people Raffle, food and more! Details from Eleanor Dixon, Bath Road Church Tel. 820317 email: [email protected]

COPY for the MARCH MAGAZINE by SUNDAY 12th FEBRUARY, please. Contributions ahead of the deadline are always welcome.

Please send to Mrs. Diana Swann, 58 Sandown Avenue, SN3 1QQ email: [email protected]

30 A FRICKIN ELEPHANT

From the diary of a pre-school teacher:

My five year old students are learning to read. Yesterday one of them pointed to a picture in a zoo book and said, ‘Look at this, it’s a frickin elephant.’

‘What did you call it?’

‘It’s a frickin elephant. It says so on the picture.’

And so it does...

AFRICAN ELEPHANT