Dear friends,
This Sunday we celebrate Harvest Thanksgiving in our churches, bookending the new ‘Season of Creation’ – by happy coincidence this year, Sunday also falls on the traditional date of the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, whose delight in God’s creation was a central part of his spirituality and of all those who have been inspired by him.
Ironically, the modern English form of Harvest celebrations in church began only in the first half of the 19th century (you’ll notice there’s no provision in the BCP) – at the same point in time when urbanisation was really picking up speed and people were increasingly being separated from the rhythms of the land and the agricultural seasons. Nowadays, with global trade and automation of agriculture, the annual harvests directly impact fewer people than ever. The festival has the potential to become nothing more than a quaint reminder of imagined days of yore.
And yet it is properly viewed as an urgent reminder not only of our reliance on God, and on God’s abundant goodness to humanity, but also a warning of our very human temptation of greed, of not sharing what we have been given on the illusion that we have “earned” what we have. Nothing says this more strongly than our contributions to those who have least – the very people who were always at the top of Jesus’ priorities – through our support of The Gatehouse. Please give as generously as you are able (details below).
Revd Daniel Walters
Vicar, St Giles’ and St Margaret’s
P.S. Please send your items for next week’s notices to me at vicar@StGilesStMargarets.org by mid-day on Thursday.
P.P.S. If you’d like to be notified by email each weekend, please click or tap here to sign up.
Worship & Prayer
Sunday 4 October
Harvest Thanksgiving / 18th After Trinity
8.00am – Holy Communion at St Giles’ (said, 1662 BCP)
10.30am – ‘Together’ 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 – Evening Prayer at St Margaret’s (said, 1662 BCP)
Readings and Collect for 10:30am Services
Collect for Harvest Thanksgiving
Eternal God,
you crown the year with your goodness
and you give us the fruits of the earth in their season:
grant that we may use them to your glory,
for the relief of those in need and for our own well-being;
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 Harvest Thanksgiving
- Old Testament: Deuteronomy 8.7–18
- Psalm: Psalm 65
- Epistle: 2 Corinthians 9.6–end
- Gospel: Luke 12.16-30
Last week’s sermons
I preached at St Giles’, while at St Margaret’s churchwardens Richard and James gave an address to launch our stewardship campaign.
Catch up or refresh by clicking or tapping below:
Prayer Diary
Our prayer diary has now transformed into a daily prayer email. Same content as before, but instead of downloading a PDF each week, you will receive an email in your inbox at 6am each day – but only if you sign up for it!
Enter your email address below and hit subscribe – you will be asked if you want to subscribe to “Weekly News”, “Daily Prayer” or both.
Next Sunday (11 October):
19th After Trinity (Proper 23)
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)
6.00pm – Taizé Service at St Margaret’s (said, 1662 BCP)
October’s “What’s On” leaflet
Download below, or pick up a printed copy from either church.
Parish News
Harvest Supper and Ceilidh
Whether you’re “from” St Giles’, St Margaret’s or somewhere else altogether, you’re very welcome to St Margaret’s Harvest Supper and Ceilidh, which takes place tomorrow evening (Saturday 3 October).
Don’t worry if you’ve never done a ceilidh or have two left feet – it is all in the spirit of fun and friendship. Speaking of which, do invite your friends as well!
Please talk to Sam or Eva if you think that you might be able to help by preparing / providing food, or help on the evening itself.
Harvest Thanksgiving
This Sunday is the final Sunday of the Season of Creation and (not coincidentally) is when both churches have our Harvest Thanksgiving services. These are an opportunity to give thanks for all that we receive from this world and to remember those who have not been as fortunate or privileged as us.
As has become custom in recent years, we will be supporting The Gatehouse. They tell me that this time of year tends to be quite slow for donations, so it is especially important that we give as generously as we are able.
Below are their particular current needs, if you are out shopping before Sunday morning. Please do NOT donate fresh vegetables or fruit.
St Giles’ EPCM to Receive Annual Accounts
For various reasons beyond anyone’s control, St Giles’ financial accounts for 2025 were not formally examined in time for the APCM.
Therefore, we will be having an EPCM (Extraordinary Parochial Church Meeting) so that members of the electoral roll can receive the accounts and ask any questions if desired. This meeting will take place in St Giles’ Church this Sunday (4 October) after the service at 12 noon.
The accounts will be shared electronically with electoral roll members, following the PCC’s meeting to approve them on Wednesday 30 September.
Tea & Talks: Robin Choudhury
The 2026-27 season of lunchtime “Tea and Talks” at the St Margaret’s Institute kicks off on Wednesday 7 October, with a talk from Robin Choudhury on A cultural history told through depictions of the heart: Botticelli to Banksy.
Details in the flyer below (click or tap to download):
Ewan Bleach returns…
…. to Jazz at St Giles’ with his superb ‘Fleeting Paradise Orchestra’ on Saturday 10 October at 7.30pm ‘In Mystic Mood’. We last heard them in September 2024 and they are back stronger than ever.
Games Club
The next Games Club is on Saturday 10 October. It is open to all children in school years 3 to 6 (roughly 7-11 years old) – but spaces are limited and pre-registration is essential. Contact eva@stmargaretsoxford.org.
Parish Giving Scheme
Following the St Margaret’s stewardship campaign launch on Sunday, below are the links for making a regular donation to either church through the Parish Giving Scheme – this automatically claims back Gift Aid (where applicable), which gives us a big boost to your giving at no cost to you. It also gives you the option to automatically increase your donations each year in line with inflation.
If you are already giving via standing order – thank you! We’d strongly encourage you to consider switching to this scheme – but there is no obligation if you would prefer not.
For those at St Margaret’s who picked up a paper form last Sunday and have been waiting to find out St Margaret’s PGS code – it is 270627221.
Running the Oxford Half
Jan Palmowski of St Margaret’s Church writes:
I am running the Oxford Half Marathon for Michael Sobell House Hospice – my first ever Half Marathon! If you’d like to support this amazing place, I’d be grateful for donations:
Road Closures
On the topic of the Oxford Half, this is your annual reminder that road closures for this event on Sunday 11 October may have an impact on your journey into church.
As always, the organisers have produced a handy leaflet explaining which streets will be closed and when. You can download it below:
Trip to Mascioni
A St Giles’ visit to the Mascioni organ workshop in northern Italy has been organised! 18–20 October 2026.
This will be a fascinating opportunity to see one of Italy’s most respected organ builders at work, learn about the craftsmanship and history behind their instruments, and find out more about the future instrument for St Giles’.
The trip promises to be both informative and enjoyable, with plenty of opportunities to explore, ask questions, and experience the world of organ building firsthand.
If you are interested in attending, please contact Nicholas Prozzillo.
More vacancies at The Gatehouse
The Gatehouse is advertising for two more roles: a Counsellor and a LEAF Project Worker: details are in the packs below (both have an application deadline of Friday 30 October) :
Children and Families at St Margaret’s
A message from Eva:
Working with children isn’t everybody’s cup of tea, even if you love having them as part of the church. If this is you and you’d still like to help, then I need a little group of people who can help me with preparing for our activities. It will mainly be cutting out cardboard or paper shapes. Nothing too strenuous and I’ll provide all the materials. Please do talk to me if you think you might be able to support the work in this way. Eva
Memory Café
Our next Memory Café will be on Wednesday 14 October at the St Margaret’s Institute.
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.
Community News
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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