News from St Andrew's

Our news comes in two forms - Parish News, our online parish magazine and the email newsletter. The latest newsletter from 25 March is below:  you can subscribe here and see past issues here.

The Parish News is available from the links alongside.

There’s plenty going on at St Andrew’s in the next few months so I hope you will be able to join us on a Sunday for worship or on another occasion to get to know us better.  You will always find a warm welcome.  God bless,  Sally Sally Robertson, Vicar revd.sally.robertson@nschurch.org.uk, 07588594410 Sunday Evening Prayer on Zoom A new way to join us On those weeks when there is not an evening service at St Andrew’s we will be offering Evening Prayer on Zoom at 6pm.  Please join us from a computer, smartphone or tablet: http://bit.ly/StANS by phone,  0208 080 6592 and enter 813 6651 6924 # when asked.  Initial dates are 14 and 28 April, 12 and 26 May, 9, 23 and 30 June and 14 and 28 July.   Meals together Get to know our community better Saturday 20 April - Join us for the first of our 2024 Community Lunches.  We will be serving a simple lunch, free of charge, from 12 noon until 1.15pm.  Bring yourselves and your family and friends for a relaxed and informal meal.  Everyone is welcome!  If you feel able to volunteer to help out on the day, please let Karen know. Sunday 28 April - Lunch at the Moonrakers: please join us after the APCM for roast dinner at Moonrakers, Cricklade Road, SN2 5AA. Let Jo know if you are coming or sign the list at the back of church.  £8 for a small lunch or £12 for a big one to be paid on the day. St Andrew's Spring Fayre Saturday 18 May Save the date!  Take a trip back in time to a 1950’s style fayre with traditional stalls and games.  Can you spare some time to help?  We need more volunteers to help on the day.  We would also be grateful for donations of anything that can be used as prizes – please bring items to church or let us know what you have.  Talk to Sally or Karen if you are able to spare some time to help bring the Fayre to life and make a note in your diary to come and enjoy the fun on the day.  Bible Book Club Monday 15 April 7pm Our next book club will be looking at some chapters from the book of Isaiah to understand how the prophesies in the Old Testament are fulfilled by Jesus. You can find the recommended chapters and other details here: https://bit.ly/SANSIsaiah  We will be meeting at 7pm on Monday 15 April at church. Please join us to chew over God’s word together. Explore Everyday Faith The Diocese of Bristol are providing some excellent days to explore aspects of discipleship and the next one is at the Pattern Church in Swindon on Saturday 11 May from 9.30am-4pm.  The event will explore how churches can equip people to live as disciples making connections between our faith and every day life.  You can find out more and book a place here.   Forthcoming Events Dates for your diary in June 9 June -  10am Holy Communion with the Right Reverend Neil Warwick Bishop of Swindon 16 June - 10am Creation Praise - Songs of praise to celebrate creation 18 June - 7pm Evening concert welcoming back the tenor Gregory Steward Annual Parochial Church Meeting Sunday 28th April, 11.15am (after Communion) Come and vote for our Churchwardens and PCC and hear what we have planned for the year ahead. You can find the annual report for 2023 and information about how to stand for PCC here, or ask one of the current members of PCC. We have vacancies for 7 PCC members, so plenty of opportunity to get involved.  We are also in need of a Parish Safeguarding Officer, someone who, following appropriate training, will be able to provide wisdom and support to PCC on keeping children and others safe at St Andrew’s.  We are very grateful to Cathy Foot for being our PSO for the past few years, please speak to her or to Sally if you would like to know more. Craft Club Saturday 27 April The next meeting of the Craft club will be 27 April 10.30-12 noon, in church.  Please contact Coral to find out more or just turn up. ccvdk@outlook.com  or 07867303516. Boxes of Hope donations Gorse Hill Baptist church were delighted with our donations for Easter and snack meals, they have many referrals from schools for the Easter holidays so they will be well used.  They are currently short of hygiene items for men, women and children including baby wipes.  If you can slip a few of the cheapest into your shopping and bring them to church we will deliver them. Church and Churchyard tidy Saturday 4th May The next opportunity to show some loving care to our churchyard and church building this year is Saturday 4 May 9.30am-12.30pm.  Come along for as much time as you can spare and we will find you a job!    Services and events in April All 10am services in church and on video - others in church only unless otherwise specified Sunday 7 April 10am Children's Service  6pm Evening Prayer Wednesday 10 April 11am Coffee, Prayer and Chat  Sunday 14 April 10am Holy Communion 6pm Evening Prayer on Zoom (not in church) Monday 15 April 7pm Bible Book Club Saturday 20 April 12 noon-1.15pm Community Lunch Sunday 21 April 10am Morning Prayer - Speaker from Swindon Night Shelter 6pm Holy Communion Wednesday 24 April 11am Coffee, Prayer and chat Saturday 27 April 10.30am-12 noon Craft Club Sunday 28 April 10am Holy Communion 11.15am Annual Parochial Church Meeting 1pm Lunch at Moonraker's 6pm Evening Prayer on Zoom (not in church) Saturday 4 May 9.30am-12.30 Gardening and cleaning morning Sunday 5 May 10am Children's Service 6pm Holy Communion Please note we are now using the common chalice again for receiving wine in Communion services.  If you do not feel comfortable with this, you are welcome just to receive the bread.

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If you would like to give to St Andrew's, either a one off donation or regularly, you'll find details here. If you give by envelope you are welcome to deliver your envelopes to 8 Wicks Close SN25 1QH.  Or use the QR code to donate by card.    THANK YOU VERY MUCH!