​Dear St Swithin’s Church Family

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”. - Romans 15:13
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We’ve been thinking and praying about January and February for quite a while. January and February are often the toughest months in the year for people. Short dark days, cold weather, post-Christmas blues and lots of time indoors often seem to leave us all at sea in the world. It’s a time when we seem to need hope and light the most. Add Covid to the equation and these months were always going to be tough; now a lockdown has been added to that.

​We just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who is volunteering, praying and giving so generously this Christmas

Thank you to those who are decorating, setting up, writing, recording, stewarding, praying, delivering food hampers, reading, phoning the lonely, chatting on doorsteps, playing and preaching.

We also want to thank local businesses and friends we’ve teamed up with... 

To Crescent Flower Shop, Eades Greengrocers and St Andrews Church School for their huge help and generosity with the Christmas hampers. And to Primrose Hill Farm for their donation of a Christmas tree.

Together we hope to bring some light into the lives of many this Christmas.

Dear St Swithin’s friends,
​
“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.” – 1 Corinthians 15. 56-58

This Coronavirus Season
​Since March the nation has been in this unique and challenging season of Coronavirus. As a
church we’ve sought to continue to worship and meet in our homes, on-line, in gardens and
parks, in groups, and over the last couple of months in the church building and gardens, all
the time seeking to listen to God and respond to what He is calling us to do. The church has
been doing this for 2000 years.

We believe the local church is God’s hope for the world and we believe St Swithin’s purpose
is to display God’s Splendour and join in God’s mission. Whilst in the midst of a crisis we
have felt that it’s not right to panic, hide, jump ship or get fearful but that we’re called to
learn to walk by faith in this difficult season and look for the opportunities God is providing
each one of us. At the same time we’ve tried to be wise, faithful and generous in being a
good and faithful employer to our staff, who have worked tirelessly and sacrificially on our
behalf. We’ve utilised the government Furlough Scheme to help us navigate this season
well, unsure what’s ahead, but committed to the life and work of the church.
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This letter provides an update on the church’s Financial Position, which the PCC reviewed in
September.

We have worked hard to ensure that anyone who would like to gather to worship can join us this Sunday. We are committed to contend to be a whole church family, united and diverse, As One at 10.

It is deeply saddening that we may not all be able to gather on Sundays, either because of current capacity restrictions or because of the wellbeing of individuals. If you are unable to come for whatever reason, please make use of our service online.