Welcome to our weekly benefice newsletter. If you’d like to be notified by email each week, please click or tap here to sign up.
Items for next week’s notices can be sent to vicar@StGilesStMargarets.org by mid-day on Friday. (Please note that, until our new Benefice Manager begins in August, we may take a little longer to respond!)
Worship & Prayer
Sunday 31 May
Trinity Sunday
8.00am – Holy Communion at St Giles’ (said, 1662 BCP)
10.30am – Parish Eucharist at St Margaret’s (sung, Common Worship)
10.30am – Holy Communion at St Giles’ (sung, Common Worship)
3.30pm – Choral Evensong at St Giles’ (sung, 1662 BCP)
NB there is no evening service at St Margaret’s on the 31st, as it is a fifth Sunday.
Readings and Collect for 10:30am Services
Collect for Trinity Sunday
Almighty and everlasting God,
you have given us your servants grace,
by the confession of a true faith,
to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity
and in the power of the divine majesty to worship the Unity:
keep us steadfast in this faith,
that we may evermore be defended from all adversities;
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.
Amen.
- Old Testament: Isaiah 40.12–17, 27–end (NRSV)
- Psalm:
- Epistle: 2 Corinthians 13.11–end (NRSV)
- Gospel: Matthew 28.16–20 (NRSV)
Next Sunday (7 June):
First Sunday After Trinity (Proper 5)
8.00am – Holy Communion at St Giles’ (said, 1662 BCP)
10.30am – ‘Together’ All-age Eucharist at St Margaret’s (sung, Common Worship)
10.30am – Holy Communion at St Giles’ (sung, Common Worship)
3.30pm – Choral Evensong at St Giles’ (sung, 1662 BCP)
6.00pm – Holy Communion at St Margaret’s (said, 1662 BCP)
Clergy Updates
Claire’s Maternity Leave
We are really excited that Claire is expecting a baby and will be going on maternity leave for a year towards the end of June. During her leave she will not be working or worshipping in the Benefice.
During this time, please direct emails as follows:
- General Enquiries (including weddings, baptisms etc) – Benefice Manager (from August) (manager@stgilesstmargarets.org). Until then, contact Daniel (vicar@stgilesstmargarets.org)
- Safeguarding, including administration – safeguarding@stmargaretsoxford.org or safeguarding@st-giles-church.org or Daniel (vicar@stgilesstmargarets.org)
- Pastoral Care – Daniel (vicar@stgilesstmargarets.org) or Siân (sian.gronlie@st-annes.ox.ac.uk)
We wish Claire and her husband well and we ask that you respect their privacy during this time. Please do keep Claire in your prayers in the coming months.
We will have an opportunity, in both churches, to pray for and bless Claire ahead of her leave – 10.30am Sunday 7 June at St Margaret’s and 10.30am Sunday 14 June at St Giles’.
Change of Day Off for Daniel
In slightly less exciting news, from now on Daniel’s weekly day off will be on Tuesday (rather than Monday as previously).
Except for pastoral emergencies, he will not be available on Mondays, as this will be focused on trying to keep on top of the currently increased administrative aspects of the Vicar’s role.
Parish News
Phil & Jim School Fête
Phil and Jim School’s Summer Fête takes place on Saturday 6 June from 12-3pm. As usual, St Margaret’s Church will be running the book stall: can you help by staffing the stall for an hour (or even half-hour)?
Also, books needed for the stall. Good condition novels for grown ups, and chapter books, story books and board board books for children. Please bring them to church this Sunday.
Please contact Eva on eva@stmargaretsoxford.org.
Teens’ Film Night
This Friday (5 June) is Teen’s Film Night, open to all young people of secondary school age at St Margaret’s or St Giles’ – or their friends.
A movie plus pizzas or snacks with good company – if you know any young people who might like to come along, please email Eva at eva@stmargaretsoxford.org (booking in advance required, for both safeguarding and catering).
Summer Fields Choral Concert at St Giles’
The Chapel Choir of Summer Fields School presents A Summer Concert at St Giles’ on Saturday 6 June at 7:00 pm.
Entry free, with a retiring collection in aid of the St Giles’ New Organ Fund (Project 900), and free refreshments afterwards.
Please click or tap on the poster above for a larger version.
St Margaret’s Choir Taster Day
This taster day – on Sunday 7 June from 2:00pm – is for adults and children / young people who would like to try out being a chorister at St Margaret’s.
Please click or tap on the poster above for a larger version.
Oxford Peace & Friendship Walk
At a time of rising intolerance worldwide towards other faiths (particularly, in our own nation, towards Jews and Muslims), Oxford’s annual interfaith Peace & Friendship walk is more important than ever.
This year it takes place on Thursday 11 June, beginning outside the Oxford Jewish Centre in Jericho at 6pm, stopping outside St Giles’ Church and the University Church, before concluding with a delicious meal at the Stanley Road Madina Mosque. It’s a wonderful occasion – if you’re unable to make all of the walk, there is transport between the various locations, or just take part in as much as you can.
Please do try to support this important event if you can – click or tap on the poster above for a larger version.
(You may also be interested in reading the statement by faith leaders, including Bishop Steven, on the Oxford Union’s recent invitation to Tommy Robinson).
Jazz at St Giles’: John Law and Jon Lloyd
The next Jazz at St Giles’ concert is Saturday 20 June at 7:30pm: John Law and Jon Lloyd, who present Jazz Spiritualities: “Naissance”. After that, JASG will return in September.
St Margaret’s Children’s Concert
On Sunday 5 July, St Margaret’s will be having a young people’s concert immediately after the morning service. It is a friendly and informal event, and there is no minimum age or standard! Twinkle, twinkle, little star is just fine. Please let Sam Schad (samantha.schad@oup.com) know if your young person/people might be interested in taking part. We have even had non-musical entertainment in the past, including magic tricks and tumbling!
Hama beads wanted
If you, or anyone you know, have any spare, please let Eva know (eva@stmargaretsoxford.org) as they are needed for children’s craft activities at St Margaret’s.
“Can you be a scientist and a Christian?”
If your occupation is broadly scientific, could you come and speak to a class of Year 6 pupils (10-11 year olds) in Phil and Jim primary school in September? Or, if the dates don’t work, or you just prefer not to, would you record a conversation with one of the Year 6 teachers about how your faith is compatible with your scientific work?
If you’d be willing in principle, please speak to Eva (eva@stmargaretsoxford.org).
In memoriam Peter Ward Jones
Last month the funeral service of Peter Ward Jones took place in St Giles’. Four pipes in our new organ – spelling BACH – will be dedicated to Peter. To find out more, or to contribute, please click or tap below:
For sale for church funds
These are large and of quality terracotta. I can deliver to your home address as necessary. – Helen Dodd, St Giles’ Gardening Group
Memory Café
Our next Memory Café will be on Wednesday 27 May. If you know someone who might enjoy or benefit from coming along, or if you’d like more details, please contact St Margaret’s Parish Community Worker, Tricia Brant, on 07776 595456 or at triciabrant@stmargaretsoxford.org.
Youth Pilgrimage 2026
Booking is now open for the 2026 Youth Pilgrimage to Worcester Cathedral from 10-14th August. Spaces are limited so please contact Eva for more details.
Changes to Evening Services
Changes to Evening Services at St Giles’ and St Margaret’s
There have been recent changes to the evening services at both St Giles’ and St Margaret’s.
At St Giles’, the Evensong services have a new starting time of 3.30pm in the afternoon, as is common in many Cathedrals and larger parish churches. The hope is that this will allow more of our young choristers to be able to participate, without such a late finish on a school night!
At St Margaret’s, we have a new rolling programme of quiet, contemplative services at 6.00pm:
- First Sunday of the month: Said Holy Communion according to the 1662 Book of Common Prayer (in the Chancel)
- Second Sunday of the month: Taizé service, using chants from the Taizé community in France (in the Lady Chapel).
- Third Sunday of the month: Said Evening Prayer according to the 1662 Book of Common Prayer (in the Lady Chapel).
- Fourth Sunday of the month: Contemplative prayer / Christian meditation (in the Lady Chapel).
As with all of our services in the Benefice, anyone from either church is very welcome at all of the above.
Community News
What’s On at Wycliffe Hall
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.