Welcome to our weekly benefice newsletter. If you’d like to be notified by email each weekend, 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.
Worship & Prayer
Sunday 16 August
Eleventh Sunday After Trinity (Proper 15)
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)
Readings and Collect for 10:30am Services
Collect for the Eleventh Sunday After Trinity
O God, you declare your almighty power
most chiefly in showing mercy and pity:
mercifully grant to us such a measure of your grace,
that we, running the way of your commandments,
may receive your gracious promises,
and be made partakers of your heavenly treasure;
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.
Bible Readings for Proper 15
- Old Testament: Isaiah 56.1, 6–8 (NRSV)
- Psalm: Psalm 67 (CW Psalter)
- Epistle: Romans 11.1–2a , 29–32 (NRSV)
- Gospel: Matthew 15.21–28 (NRSV)
Next Sunday (23 August):
Twelfth Sunday After Trinity (Proper 16)
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)
Parish News
Ride and Stride 2026
Ride and Stride is a sponsored walk or cycle ride which takes place every September: this year, on Saturday 12 September. It’s organised by the Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust, which has financially supported both St Margaret’s and St Giles’ in the past.
The idea is that participants visit as many participating churches as possible, to raise as much money as possible for both the OHCT and your local church(es). Daniel is intending to do a cycle ride to visit all of the churches in the Oxford Deanery (a round trip of about 30 miles) – the sponsor link is below!
There are lots of ways you can help:
- You could ride or stride yourself to raise money – you could do all or part of the route with Daniel, or plot your own route (it doesn’t have to be in Oxford city, if you live elsewhere you could do it in your own town or group of villages);
- You could sponsor anyone you know who is participating (the link to sponsor Daniel is below);
- You could act as a host at either St Giles’ or St Margaret’s on the 12th, signing up to offer an hour or two during the day to weary walkers / cyclists who might appreciate a drink or the use of the facilities (the event only works if there are volunteers to welcome the participants!).
To take part yourself, visit the Ride and Stride website below – or to volunteer as a host, please email Mary (for St Giles’) or Daniel (for St Margaret’s).
Oxford Open Doors
On 12-13 September (the same weekend as Ride & Stride) is the Oxford Open Doors weekend. This is an opportunity to visit some of the historic buildings of Oxford, which might otherwise be difficult or impossible.
Hosts for Ride and Stride (see above) can also welcome visitors to the churches on the Saturday, but if anyone could offer an hour or two on the Sunday, please again email Mary (for St Giles’) or Daniel (for St Margaret’s).
Jazz at St Giles’: Autumn series
The line up for the Autumn 2026 series of Jazz at St Giles’ concerts is now finalised, with huge thanks to David Clover for organising these as always.
You can either click on the poster above for more information, or visit the Jazz at St Giles’ website below – where you can also pre-order tickets for any of these shows.
New Benefice Manager
Welcome to Anna Bell, our new Benefice Manager!
Anna started working with us this past week, and is already making a big impact. Anna has acted as a churchwarden and Sunday School leader at various points, and is an experienced primary school teacher and RE lead. She lives in Appleton with her husband Wealands, the parish Vicar there.
If you want to get in touch for support with any aspect of church life, or just to say hello, you can contact her at manager@stgilesstmargarets.org, or by phone on 07776 588712.
Phone request
Currently the benefice manager phone is an old “Nokia brick” – does anyone have an unused smartphone lying around which they are no longer using (to save using parish funds to buy a new one)? It doesn’t need to be fancy, but something that could cope with WhatsApp, email, calendar etc would be a big help! Please email Daniel if you can help.
Gatehouse job opportunities
Our friends and partners at The Gatehouse homelessness charity are recruiting for two new caseworkers: a Money Advice Worker (14 hours per week) and an Employment Support Worker (35 hours per week).
You can download the job descriptions and person specifications below:
Memory Café
Our next Memory Café will be on Wednesday 12 August (note – in St Margaret’s Church, instead of the usual St Margaret’s Institute venue).
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.
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.
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