Swindon CIO Return 2021 - 2022
Activities
The Trustees, the elders of the Church of God in Swindon, with the church members, aim to achieve the objects through a variety of activities requiring personal, social and spiritual skills. Our aim is to reach out, engage with and support those who live in the community. We do this by offering to the community, services that manifest our Christian faith, together with a variety of innovative activities and events. As we share with the local community, we also provide financial support to those in need by working together with local charities.
The previous year our programme was affected by COVID-19 and the UK government restrictions. We were able to benefit from last year’s programme where we gained from technology as well as keeping our members, friends and contacts safe. We learned from this experience - adapting, being flexible - as well as making some tough decisions. As we began to plan for April 2021 onwards, COVID-19 was still with us and we anticipated correctly that national guidelines could vary through the year. As before we made plans with the possibility for adaption and change over the horizon.
Whenever possible, we would welcome the local community to join our countryside church activities at Christmas , as well as the Craft Fayre and Bonfire night , and Quiz Nights and BBQs through the year. Alongside these, the use of on-line links, that have broadened our activities and welcomed friends who could not be with us in person, offer exciting prospects. Our youth work – at our pre-recorded Sunday Morning Services ( SVS ), which follows our Church Communion service, and Kids Club on Thursdays, when possible, would run as normal, and we would look ahead to our SE district Youth Camps (SEYC) in August.
Visitors of all ages are welcome to SMS as they are to the Wednesday Prayer & Teaching time. The Thursday evening Youth Club invites young people to join in sports, crafts, games and a Christian discussion. It enables friendships to develop - between young people and between youth workers and young people - in a safe and secure environment.
Live streaming the Remembrance of Bread & Wine is important to those who have not been able to attend prior to Covid and the technology required will be put in place.***
We determined in March 2021 that we should be more aware of the wellbeing of those who form the church and their families. Lockdown had been tough during the previous year. We agreed that when possible we must share more of our concerns and of our time with each other. Activities together will be even more important – open air events, picnics, walks & sport. consideration was given to the use of technology during a time of government restrictions, giant steps were made .
Reaching out to local people in need is now an important aspect of our role in the community and we wanted to build on what we do. Increasing our support for Julia’s house, our local Children hospice is important, and being a Samaritan’s Purse collection point will be established. Other occasions to benefit friends and visitors should be considered and added to our community activities.
We recorded last year that “the purchase of the Piggery and surrounding land by the church was completed and an established Phase 2 Working Group began pursuing the provision of an additional building.”
The church, led by the Phase 2 group, will continue looking at the possible building arrangements that will improve the provision for ourselves, our neighbours and the community.
Achievements
The continuing challenges this year firstly due to the effects of COVID-19 on ourselves and our community, and then the changing government restriction have been met full on and we have endeavoured to fulfil our core aims and specific goals. In the main this has happened.
Even when restrictions have lifted we have in some cases remained with our alternative arrangements.
SVS (Sunday Virtual Service), previously SMS, continued while restrictions were in place. Over time the viewing numbers reduced and by the time we were able to meet in person, in mid-July, it was appropriate that SMS was restored. The successful use of Youtube proved to be a learning experience for many of us, one that developed personal and collective abilities across the age range.
Our Wednesday Prayer & Teaching slot also reverted back to an in-person time. As with the Remembrance - our communion service - we were able to live-stream both activities. They continued to give more people the opportunity to be part of the activity – those caring for children or housebound adults and those unable to travel.
Our Sunday evening Honeycomb , introduced during the time of the Remembrance lockdown, continued as it had proved beneficial for many people. As well as the broad prayer focus and short talk, it has enabled all present, including those from members of 3 churches, to have an increasingly broad and deeper appreciation of each other.
Our monthly Bible Studies and our Thursday morning prayer time also remained on-line.
We noted last year that lockdown and isolation could have negative effects and this was still evident. Care for everyone remains essential and common interests have always been natural starting points. There has been evidence of greater awareness and looking out for each. Age and natural interest were seen as less defining boundaries. This is encouraging although more progress can be made.
Some indoor events were cancelled, including, Quiz Nights, Light Lunches and Carols by Candlelight, and the Christmas Charity Craft Fayre, although we held a similar event towards the end of March 2022, with an encouraging attendance.
We continued the youth club for younger children and hoped that some might be old enough to attend summer camp, held locally. However, as in the previous year, it was decided that CAMP for younger ones would not be wise in the circumstances, but ELEVATE, for teens and twenties, would run at Flaxlands. The campers – 30 maximum – operated as a ‘bubble’. Despite deciding not to receive any visitors and to stay on site, a safe and profitable time was enjoyed.
Our local community contacts were maintained and some progress was made, with the wellbeing of our members and families remaining a priority for us. Some of our members provided personal, valuable help for individual people and we will return to this. Helpful conversations with Royal Wootton Bassett’s community link officer. We have established a greater involvement with Julia’s House, a local Christian Hospice, as well as Operation Christmas Child.
With the purchase of the Piggery and surrounding land by the church completed, the Phase 2 Working Group continued their work. Resources from central church funds are being pursued in order to enhance and improve the provision for future growth in all areas of church activities.
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