First of all thank you to all who gave so generously to the Harvest Festival this year.  Gifts were received from Derry Tots, Rub-a-dub, the School and of course the congregations.  The church looked fabulous too with seasonal arrangements of flowers and vegetables by the Flower Guild, headed up by Claire Satchell.  Claire even managed to work with some of the children at school on arrangements for the church.

The children from school enjoyed delivering some of the produce to Tile Court, Bethesda and Kingston House. The rest was either given to Doorway or auctioned.  Doorway was delighted with Christ Church’s contribution to the care of the homeless in North Wiltshire and, of course, the £165 from the auction will help the volunteers to feed the homeless well after the last fruits and vegetables are gathered in!  Thank you again to all who have supported our harvest celebrations this year!

Next is the more reflective time of the end of October and November.  On the Sunday 27 October we have our annual commemoration of our loved ones that have departed this life to journey on into the next.  Please do come or/and add a name(s) to the list of those to be remembered.  A list is in church for your use.  Many have commented that the service is helpful.

On Sunday 10 November there is the annual remembrance service at Christ Church, meeting at The Memorial for the reading of the names, the last post and the reveille.  This will be a special time for all to remember the heavy cost of war for establishing peace and justice.

Saturday 23 November brings us to Christ Church’s Gift Day in the church from 10am – 2pm.  I hope you will come along and have a look around the church, and spend some time there, ask questions that you have been itching to ask and feel able to give something towards ensuring Christ Church will continue to be a place of worship.  On this special day we will have a transportable model of a church bell which people can try out – it has the action of a full size bell!  We hope that you will help us to assess the interest in supporting a ring of 8 bells in Christ Church by coming along and registering your interest.  There will also be a chance to view the tower where the bell ringers would be situated and have your questions answered!

The following day, on Sunday 24 November^, we will celebrate Christ Church’s patronal festival.  In Christ Church’s case the patron is Christ himself and so we celebrate Christ as the King.  Christ the King Sunday is the climax to the Church year.  This will be a Family Communion and children and adults of all ages are very welcome!  The following Sunday we begin Advent and the run-up to Christmas!!

Please make a note of the services for Christmas, there are some changes this year to dates so please check before you book your weekends away that you are available to come to those services that you like to come to!

With love
Ann