Welcome to our weekly newsletter for the benefice. If you would like to be notified by email each week, please sign up using the form at the bottom of this page.
If you have any items for next week’s notices, please send them to manager@StGilesStMargarets.org by Wednesday.
Worship & Prayer
Sunday 28 September
Harvest Thanksgiving / Michael and All Angels / Trinity 15
8.00am – Holy Communion at St Giles’ (said, 1662 BCP)
10.30am – Holy Communion at St Margaret’s (sung, Common Worship)
10.30am – Holy Communion at St Giles’ (sung, Common Worship)
6.30pm – Choral Evensong at St Giles’ (sung, 1662 BCP)
Everlasting God,
you have ordained and constituted
the ministries of angels and mortals in a wonderful order:
grant that as your holy angels always serve you in heaven,
so, at your command,
they may help and defend us on earth;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Pew sheets
The pew sheets for our services on 28 September including the readings, prayers and music details, are available to download below:
Coming up this week
Morning Prayer: 8.30am Tuesday-Friday at the Vicarage, Church Walk
St Giles’ open for quiet prayer: 12pm – 2pm, Monday-Friday
Next Sunday (5 October):
Harvest Thanksgiving / Trinity 16
8.00am – Holy Communion at St Giles’ (said, 1662 BCP)
10.30am – Holy Communion with Baptism at St Margaret’s (sung, Common Worship)
10.30am – Holy Communion at St Giles’ (sung, Common Worship)
6.30pm – Choral Evensong at St Giles’ (sung, 1662 BCP)
From the Vicar
How can we as Christians respond to the ‘Raise the Colours’ movement?
Parish News
Harvest Thanksgiving
It’s Harvest Thanksgiving tomorrow (28 September) at St Giles’, and next Sunday (5 October) at St Margaret’s. Find out more details in our dedicated post:
Organ Signing Ceremony
At 17:30 on Monday 29 September, St Giles’ will host a ceremonial signing of a contract for a new organ. Please note that the deadline for letting Andrew know of your attendance has now passed – if you’re not sure, please email him (andrew.sillett@st-giles-church.org).
Worship and Faith meetings
If you would like to be involved in planning our worship and faith-related activities between January and March next year, now’s your opportunity!
On the evenings of Tuesday 30 September (for St Margaret’s) and Tuesday 7 October (for St Giles’) we’ll be starting our planning for the period which encompasses Epiphanytide and Lent.
Both meetings start at 7.30pm in the Vicarage on their respective dates, and are open to all members of the churches’ electoral rolls. Please email Daniel (vicar@stgilesstmargarets.org) for more information.
Coming up in October…
Monthly “What’s On” leaflet
Download October’s issue below:
Online events calendar
Thanks to our ChurchSuite system, you can now see all of the events that we have coming up in the next few months online, and get more information where relevant. You can view them as a list or in a calendar view:
Memory Café
The next Memory Café will take place on Wednesday 8 October. If you know of anyone who might benefit, or you would like more information, please contact St Margaret’s Parish Community Worker, Tricia Brant, on 07776 595456 or email her on triciabrant@stmargaretsoxford.org
Future dates are listed below:
Child Loss service
This year’s Child Loss service will take place at St Giles’ Church on Sunday 12 October at 6pm. Please do share it with any parents you know who may be affected – whether they want to be there in person, or would like their child to be remembered.
For more information, please email Eva (eva@stmargaretsoxford.org)
Jazz at St Giles’: Jacqui Dankworth and Trio
The next Jazz at St Giles’ concert is Saturday 11 October at 7:30pm: Jacqui Dankworth and Trio. Come and see the JASG favourite return to St Giles’.
Other Jazz events in the Autumn / Winter season include the Claire Jones Ensemble (25 October), the Ewan Bleach Sextet (8 November), and the The Velvet Tones (6 December).
Exploring faith and spirituality group
The new group on faith and spirituality continues on Tuesday 14 October at St Anne’s College from 5:15-6:45pm. This group is for anyone in the benefice who is interested in exploring faith and different approaches to spirituality. The only pre-requisite is an open mind and an interest in different points of view. This meeting will be about these passages from Julian of Norwich. If you are interested in attending, please contact Siân Grønlie.
First Communion classes
Benefice book group
The next meeting of the Benefice Book Group will be on Wednesday 12 November at 7.15pm, where we’ll be discussing Night Waking by Sarah Moss.
For more information, contact Siân Grønlie (curate@stgilesstmargarets.org).
Scientists needed!
Are you a scientist at St Giles’ or St Margaret’s? Would you be willing to discuss science and faith to a Year 6 class (10-11 year olds) at Ss Philip and James Primary School?
This term they are discussing the question “creation and science: conflicting or complementary?”, and would love to be able to discuss some questions of actual scientists who have a faith. (No expert biblical theological knowledge required – although if you have heard of the story of the six days of creation, it might help!).
Previous volunteers have really enjoyed the experience. If you might be able to give up an hour or so of your time, please let Eva know at eva@stmargaretsoxford.org
Call for bottles and jars
Please could you let Eva know if you have any small plastic or glass bottles (e.g. Orangina or Innocent Smoothie bottles or smaller), or any spare jam jars.
Join St Margaret’s choir!
If you, or someone you know, might be interested in joining St Margaret’s choir we would love to hear from you! Please get in touch with George: choir@stmargarets.org
Browser Extension to Raise Money for St Margaret’s
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Diocesan News
New issue of Pathways has arrived
Copies of the Summer 2025 issue of Pathways, the Diocesan magazine, will be available from church this Sunday – or you can download it from the Diocesan website below:
Community News
Tea & Talks at St Margaret’s Institute
A new season of Tea & Talks at St Margaret’s Institute begins on Wed 1 October at 1:45-3:30pm with a talk titled From Chocolate to Drug Discovery: The Magic of Crystals from Elspeth Garman. Entry is £2, including tea and cake. All welcome.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is a major priority in our Benefice as we work together to keep everyone in our community safe. It is often said safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, thank you for the part you play. If you are concerned about a person’s or activity’s safety in our community, please contact our Parish Safeguarding Officers (details below) or the Diocesan Safeguarding Team (details below). We are greatly helped by many volunteers, thank you for your time, including for completing required DBS checks, safeguarding training and safer recruitment forms.
St Margaret’s Church PSO Becca Rose: safeguarding@stmargaretsoxford.org
St Giles Church PSO Lorraine Desai: safeguarding@st-giles-church.org
Diocesan Team 01865 208 295 safeguardingreferrals@oxford.anglican.org
Out-of-hours: Thirtyone:eight on 0303 003 1111 for confidential advice, guidance and support.