Page 28 - link magazine

28 CHURCH NEWS

ANN THOMAS
WOMAN'S WORLD
DEACON DAY OF PRAYER

A packed Bristol Cathedral
witnessed the first ordination of This year we celebrated the
women in the Bristol Diocese on centenary of our day of prayer
Saturday 14th March. which is kept by women (and
Twenty—nine Deaconesses men) right across the world. Our
including Anne Thomas from theme was 'Come and Rejoice'
the West Swindon Team were and we met in St Peter's R.C.
ordained Deacon by the Bishop Church: Women from Purton
of Bristol. A decision as to and the whole Lydiards area.
whether the Church of England Readings and prayers were led
will ordain women to the by women from all the churches
priesthood has still to be taken, and this year for the first time we
but this revival of the permanent danced to the song 'Bind us
diaconate admits women to the together Lord.' Zinnia Symonds
House of Clergy for the first from Hong Kong spoke to us on
time. Anne is now known as the the theme, challenging us to take WE SENT THEM AWAY
"Parish Deacon", is styled seriously our commitment to
"Reverend" and, in addition to Jesus Christ as Lord and Well, that's what the word to them in Hong Kong. They
being able to assist in leading Saviour.
missionary means - someone have been very busy, starting a
administering
worship, We enjoy increasing who is sent away. And did you new Church and an Old People's
communion and to baptize, she support for this annual event - know that a family from Toothill Centre, on a brand new housing
will be able to officiate at see you next year at St Mary's Church in West Swindon was estate with lots of high rise flats.
marriages. -John Flory Church, Purton. sent away as missionaries? And of course, they've had to
Yes, 4 years ago, Tim and learn to speak Chinese, which is
CHURCH CONTACTS Zinnia Symonds, with their very difficult!
For information about West Swindon Churches: Daughter Caroline (then only 4 But it's worth all the hard
ANGLIAN - METHODIST - URC - BAPTIST years old) were asked by the work, to see people being
Church office Tel: 874221. Westlea Church Tel: 872822
FRESHBROOK EVANGELICAL CHURCH Tel: 694157 Church in Hong Kong to go all changed when they learn about
ST. PETER'S CATHOLIC CHURCH Tel: 874400 the way over there to help them! the difference Jesus can make to
Caroline always wanted a sister, their lives.
so while they were there, they We shall be sorry to say
Al HANDIHIRE adopted Susanna, a chinese girl, goodbye to them again in
August, when they are going
now aged 7.
Now the whole family is back to Hong Kong to carry on
back with us in West Swindon for the good work there.
TOOL AND PLANT HIRE a year, telling us what happened
FOR PROFESSIONAL OR D.I.Y.
THE CHANGING SCENE OF SHAW

CONCRETE BREAKERS DRILLS We live in a changing world, weeks before it is completed and
and nothing seems to change ready to serve the community.
CONCRETE EQUIPMENT GRINDERS
more than the Shaw area, with We hope, it is not going to be a
CAR MAINTENANCE CUTTERS houses springing up at building used just on Sundays
WOODWORK DECORATING EQUIPMENT tremendous rates. Gone are the but a building which will serve
GENERATORS TRANSFORMERS days when it was about 36 the people of Shaw in various
houses. At Christmas we ways. It is intended that the
LIGHTING HEATERS
distributed 1,000 Christmas Church Area, as well as at the
GARDENING COMPACTORS LADDERS cards, as against 500 cards the times of public worship, will
Easter before. However, one always be open during the day
DELIVERY AND COLLECTION SERVICE question that I am continually time, for the community to use as
asked is when is the area to the a haven, a place to pray or be
North of Shaw Village Square quiet and think, whilst the rest of
going to change, when are we the building will be available for
EASY going to see the church being all kinds of activities, such as
gas built? another pre—school playgroup,
j PARKING
parent and toddler group, the
The answer is very soon. It
is quite possible that, by the time one at the chapel is almost too
MON-FRI. 8am - 6pm; SAT. 8am - 5pm you are reading this copy of the big now, and a meeting place for
Link, work may have already the over sixties. The uses that the
started, for the starting date is building is put to depends chiefly
UNIT 8, MARLBOROUGH ROAD IND. EST. scheduled for sometime in April. on the residents of Shaw and is
WOOTTON BASSETT (The plans can be seen in the there, as the members of the
TELEPHONE: SWINDON 854821 library at The Link Centre). It is church are, to serve you!. Keith
estimated that it will take 40 Boxall (Vicar for Shaw).