ASHA- update

Don’t forget Freddy Martin (husband of Dr Kiran Martin founder of ASHA) is coming to St Swithun’s on Saturday 22nd November at 7pm. There will be a bring and share supper and chance to hear an update of the work of ASHA with a particular focus on the recent project to support a slum child’s journey to higher education. Perhaps you are thinking about joining a team to work with ASHA. This will be a great opportunity to hear & talk to ASHA director Freddie.

Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

Road Peace will be holding the memorial service for crash victims on our roads on Sunday, November 16th, at 4.30pm at the Nexus Methodist Church, Walcot. If you have been affected by a road crash you are warmly invited, but if this is not possible and you would like a name remembered please contact Barbara Davies 461545.

A Stranger for Christmas

Visits from strangers at Christmas began with shepherds turning up at a Bethlehem stable, and continued with the arrival of wise men from a foreign land. You could carry on this tradition, by inviting an international student to spend Christmas in your home. HOST is a well-established charity, backed by the Foreign Office and many universities, which links adults studying in the UK with hospitable volunteers throughout Britain. Guests come from all over the world, including many from China. They speak English, are keen to share their own culture, while longing to know more about our way of life. Welcoming a student who might otherwise spend Christmas on a deserted campus, fosters international understanding, and will make Christmas special. See www.hostuk.org or call 0207 254 3039, for more information. HOST arranges visits throughout the year, so if your 'inn' is full this Christmas, you can still offer an invitation at another time.

Light Fantastic Party Friday 31st October 2008 5.30pm to 7pm

Come along to our free party for children aged 4 to 11.

This year as its olympics year we’re having our own olympics in Church. We’ll be kicking penalties, shooting basketball, sprinting down the aisle and throwing things, although not all at the same time! We’ll also be pretending that we’re on X Factor, so if you want to you can sing a long to one of your favourite songs. As well as all that they’ll be plenty of art and craft activities and a party bag of treats to take home!

A Service of Thanksgiving

A Service of Thanksgiving for the lives of those who have died will be held on Sunday 2nd November at 6.30pm. This will be a quiet service of reflection with some appropriate hymns. We hope very much that the service will be an opportunity to give thanks to God for a loved one and to be strengthened by him as we continue our lives. All Welcome.

Shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child

The power of a simple gift, meeting the critical needs of young victims of war, poverty, famine and natural disaster whilst sharing The Good News of Jesus Christ. For detailed information see the notice board in the North Aisle. Boxes to church or Barbara Jack's by Sunday 9th November

Christmas 2008 Programme

Here are some dates for your diaries.

Christingle service will be at 3.30pm on 14th December,

Lessons and Carols by Candlelight at 6.30pm on 21st December, Holy Communion at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve

Church Family Service at 10am on Christmas Day

'Carols on the Green' will now be 'Carols at the Shop' at 7pm on 18th December.

The choir will be singing carols at Shockerwick House at 7pm on 15th December and anyone who would like to join them for this special event is very welcome.

Looking ahead to 2009, we are hoping to hold some 'special' services, perhaps one each term. We are looking at the possibility of holding an Education Sunday event in the Spring term; the Mission Committee will be planning a Mission Sunday service in the Summer term; and we will be approaching the Wycliffe Bible Translators to see if they can send us a speaker for Bible Sunday in the autumn term. We also hope to have Gavin Tyte, the new coordinator of Rose Cottage in Twerton (a local mission project that we support as a church) to speak in the first half of next year.

Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

Road Peace will be holding the memorial service for crash victims on our roads on Sunday, November 16th, at 4.30pm at the Nexus Methodist Church, Walcot. If you have been affected by a road crash you are warmly invited, but if this is not possible and you would like a name remembered please contact Barbara Davies 461545.

November Sunday Services

The services during November will be: