Page 35 - link magazine

The Link Magazine • March 2006 35
Minister returns to the church in the park
It's not only Lydiard Park which is being restored. St Mary's, the church in the park, has a full time SAMARITANS
minister again following the appointment of Rev Stephen Skinner, writes Susan White.
The church has been without a "I think it is really important for
vicar since 2004 when the Diocese churches to reach out with the love Emotional Support
of Bristol had to make financial of Christ to individuals and corn-
cutbacks in the number of paid munities," said Stephen. "I'm look- 24 hours a day
clergy. Stephen, right, has 22 years' ing forward to building up the life
experience as an Anglican minis- of St Mary's with the folk there." ..if you need someone
ter, and is well know in West Swin- The church is a popular venue for
don, having been most recently at infantbaptisms and weddings. Ron to talk to in confidence
Holy Trinity Church, Shaw since Brock, ChairoftheMinistryLeader-
coming to the town in 2002. Born ship Team, welcomed the appoint- Tel: 08457 90 90 90
in North London, he has minis- ment. "Stephen has already been
tered at parishes in the Medway very helpful to us and it is great to www.samaritans.org
towns and Cumbria, including havehimasourspiritualleaderona
Carlisle for five years. more permanent basis." 6 Curtis Street, Swindon
Stephen, is enthusiastic about Stephen will also continue in his
evangelism and social justice. He role as team rector of the ecumeni- take over pastoral responsibility
is a regular contributor to BBC cal parish of 'West Swindon and for both Shaw and Toothill
Radio Swindon and the Advertiser. the Lydiards'. His wife Rev Jane Churches.
He is a member of the Swindon Skinner has taken over temporary Sunday services at St Mary's are
Churches Social & Economic leadership of Holy Trinity Church, at 10am and 6.30pm. The morning
Group and a trustee of the West Shaw. The plan is to appoint a new service includes Junior Church
v^ angelo
o
Swindon Family Centre. Baptist Minister later in the year to activities for children. Stephen can o Worsley Road d/
be contacted on 770568.
Choir sings church into its new home
Women's World Day
The Swindon Family Church, which started in Swindon with just 6 building with people
families meeting at the Link Centre in 1992 has now grown to 120 of Prayer Sunday services are at
members and has moved, via 14 other venues, into a permanent home Friday 3 March, 7.30pm
in a converted warehouse at the Bible Society in Westlea. Holy Trinity Church, Shaw IOam & 6.30pm
On 25 February the acclaimed cilities. Service prepared by the For further information you can
either ring (01793) 873050;
London Community Gospel Choir Church members have given Christian women of South Africa e-mail: [email protected]
will rock the congregation, VIPS £173,000 so far to foot the bill. Speaker: Heidi Lovelock or visit: www.freshbook.org
and hundreds of guests at an offi- Church leader Mark Thornett,
cial opening of the 8,500 sq ft who lives in Freshbrook, said, "a Traidcraft stall. Refreshments [God is Eternal Life IRum,ms G r_,
premises which provides a 350- church is the people, and not the
seater church hall, with smaller building. Even so, it's a relief after
rooms for teaching and other fa- somanyyearstofinallyhavesome-
where we can call our own. Our
centre is a place where people can
come and know they will be wel- Sunday Worship 10.30am
comed, a centre which we can use Sunday School and Creche
for the community in many ways." Meeting at Abbey Meads
Services are held every Sunday NSBC Community School
between 10.30am and 12.30pm and
visitors are very welcome. 1
^THAMESDOWN DRIV '
For details of all activities, i n-
Ab
cluding the popular child renS'Cl Ub:
www.swindonfamilychurch.org community
Primary
School
Baptism in the new venue on 15 Febru- t hooey
w•.as
ary. Dimple Francis-Cox emerges re- CO
born with the help of pastors Mark
Thornett, left, and Jerry Thornton
Photo: Laura Currie, www.andeye.com
J) z @ FRESHBROOK EVANGELICAL CHURCH West Swindon & the

Each Wednesday evening in March Lydiards churches
z u (1, 8, 15, 22, 29) we will be running
All Saints', Lydiard Millicent
a course looking at the
VJ Basics of Christianity. Holy Trinity, Shaw
0 St Mary's, Lydiard Tregoze
m
Interested? Each evening will run from 7pm-9pm
including a meal at the beginning of the evening. Toothill Church; Westlea Church
m THE ENTIRE COURSE IS FREE! For details of our weekly
services please contact the
If you want to know more why not let us know?
For God loved the world Partnership Office on 874221
Call 01793 873050 so much that He gave
,
partnershipoffice i hrupenworld.conr
or e-mail: o ice reshbrook.ora His only Son.' John 3:16
4 Freshbrook Evangelical Church, Worsley Road, Freshbrook