0St Swithin’s ‘SWAT’ (St. sWithins Assistance Taskforce) team

The plan is for Life Groups to provide the main focus for supporting one another through this difficult time, but situations may arise that are outside the ability of Life Groups to cover alone. To that end we are looking to set up a pool of volunteers (the SWAT team) who are able to provide help as and when needed. This could be at different levels, such as:

• Phoning those who are self-isolating (the ‘SI’s), due to illness or vulnerability, to have a chat and checking that they are OK.
• Cooking a meal for SI’s and delivering it (could be delivered by someone else). This should be a ‘last resort’ option.
• Collecting prescriptions for SI’s.
• Doing shopping for SI’s.

Becs Armstrong and Alastair Gibson have agreed to be the point of contact for the SWAT team so please could you email or phone them to let them know if you would like to be part of the team – indicating the sort of support you would be able to provide. Contact details are as follows:

Becs: 07779 102165 | bex_armstrong@yahoo.co.uk

Alastair: 07767 202830 | ag@charlcombe.com

This news sheet is a response to the unique times we are living in. As a diverse community, we are aware that some of us will be really struggling, whilst others will be seeing new opportunities open up. Either way, we are continuing to be a people of faith, prayer, love, generosity and hope in our city. We are a church family, a body united by Christ. And although our publicly gathered rhythm needs to adapt to the season, we are still renewing our trust in God, committed to loving one another and passionate about serving the world around us.

We have put together a web page with stories, thoughts, pictures and Bible passages shared by members of the church to encourage everyone in this season.

OPEN SPACE IS NOW POSTPONED
In light of current events our building is currently completely closed. We would love to have our space open for prayer and will let you know when that is possible.

In this season the church building is set up as a safe space to come in and be still and pray. It will be open from 9:15am - to 4:30pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. You can socially distance with some visual installations to help inspire us in our prayers.

You are invited to join us to be ‘As One at 10’ on Sunday morning... to continue to keep that time set aside for God in prayer, worship and by opening His word - with the whole church family - but to do so at home on your own, with your household, or wherever you happen to be. We want to stay and grow in our connection with one another during this time.

We have created a resource for ‘As One at 10’, which includes a recording of the reading and a short talk, as well as a few questions, some music and creative ways to respond and pray. You can find all the resources at www.stswithinswalcot.org.uk/talks .

Hopefully you will find it simple to follow, yet rich in substance.  We encourage everyone to use this time to engage with God and find his strength, to hear His voice and to follow where He is leading. 

You may want to wrestle with what comes up a bit more and we highly recommend talking to someone about it during the week, perhaps by picking up the phone and calling someone else from church, or by organising a communal electronic meeting with your Life Group. If you have any stories of encouragement or thoughts about what God might be saying to us in this season, please would you let us know by emailing office@stswithinswalcot.org.uk with the subject heading ‘God Is Here’.

The Beloved St Swithin’s Family
Thank You for taking time to read and listen and contribute to the life of St Swithin’s. The life of St Swithin’s is grown and enriched by all you give.
 
This first News Sheet is a response to the unique times that we are living in. In uncertain times we are continuing to be a people of faith, prayer, love, generosity and hope in our city. We are a church family, a diverse body united by Christ. And though our publically gathered rhythm of worship needs to adapt to the season, we are still renewing our trust in God, committed to love one another and passionate about serving the world around us.

We are in an exciting but challenging season of prayer.  Pretty much every Christian meet would love to see their prayer life grow and develop. 

If you are self-isolating and would like some help, please let us know on office@stswithinswalcot.org.uk or 01225 789168 . We are aware that not everyone is online and we are working on ways to keep connected with everyone.

Please contact us if you have capacity to help others who are self-isolating at the moment.

Dear St Swithins friends

Grace, Mercy and Peace to you in the saving name of Jesus Christ.

​If you’re reading this, please can I reassure you that I won’t be communicating as lengthily as this in the future.  I am generally not a man who would chose 50 words where I think 1 suffices, but in the circumstances I hope you will appreciate the reasons why!

The shadow of Coronavirus
As Janet, James and I were praying on Wednesday morning, Janet reflected on the fact that the chandeliers in the building were casting a shadow on the floor of St Swithin’s that looked like the image of COVID-19. The shadow was dark and real, was affecting all of us, but it was still just a part of a much greater reality within the whole building. 

At this time of crisis I would like to encourage you to reflect on what you think is the story of your life? What part does God have to play? Is your life defined by the shadow of Coronavirus? For some in our communities who have contracted the virus, who are literally suffering and dying, this may seem to be a true statement, but it’s not the whole truth, just a part truth. For two thousand years Christians have believed there is a bigger and more defining story than both our own suffering and the present circumstances of this world. The Christian story continues to be one of creation, fall, redemption and restoration.  Persuading people that the fall is real and all encompassing is not difficult at this time (witness our approach to toilet rolls), helping people realise that redemption and restoration in and through Christ are available both now and eternally is still the opportunity for us.

So how do we live as God’s beloved in lockdown? Over the last few days many people have been sharing their own worries and concerns as well as concerns for other people in their families and communities.  These concerns are real and painful and differ massively across a diverse community, but we have an amazing opportunity to walk lovingly and humbly with many people in this season.  In my experience times of hardship and suffering have also been time of growth in which God has often done something new and beautiful.  For those of you reading this unconvinced, maybe God will show us and teach us afresh what Paul says “for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4. 11) and that a first step to that might be choosing to set our minds on things above and following Paul’s exhortation that “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things” (Philippians 4. 8)
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One of my prayers for us in these testing and trying times is that as we renew our trust in Jesus Christ, God would come with fresh strength and fresh power that will help us shine brightly in both our words and actions.

If you have any stories of encouragement or thoughts about what God might be saying to us in this season, please would you let us know by emailing office@stswithinswalcot.org.uk with the subject heading ‘God Is Here’.

This year we are trialling “Lent Streams”. These will replace weekly Life Groups for these weeks in March, and everyone is encouraged to opt into one of the groups on offer – whether or not they are regular members of a Life Group.