Dear friends,
As we often do, we bring together two celebrations this Sunday – in the morning, that of All Saints’; in the evening, All Souls’. In the past, some Christians railed against the separation of the two, arguing that all those who have died in the peace of Christ – as well as the Church which gathers today around the world – should properly be called “saints”, and not reserved for some supposedly “elite” group.
The Church of England, in time honoured style, dodges the question by remembering throughout the year those whose actions in life are especially worthy of admiration and emulation, without getting into any debates about whether they are “saints” in some special or specific way. More recently, there has been a concerted efforts to remember such figures who aren’t necessarily white men.
Maybe this is wise. This whole mini-“season”, from All Saints to the eve of Advent (sometimes called the “Kingdom Season”) is marked above all by being a time of remembrance. Whether we remember those who we have known personally as a source of inspiration, or those we have read about in books: rather than arguing about exactly how we remember them, let’s celebrate that they are at peace with Christ; and that when we assemble together, we can join our prayers with their hymns of unending praise.
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 1 November:
All Saints’
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)
6.00pm – All Souls’ Requiem Eucharist at St Giles’ (sung, Common Worship / Latin)
Readings and Collect for 10:30am Services
Collects for All Saints’
Almighty God,
you have knit together your elect
in one communion and fellowship
in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord:
grant us grace so to follow your blessed saints
in all virtuous and godly living
that we may come to those inexpressible joys
that you have prepared for those who truly love you;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.
or
God of holiness,
your glory is proclaimed in every age:
as we rejoice in the faith of your saints,
inspire us to follow their example
with boldness and joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Bible Readings for All Saints’
- First: Revelation 7.9–end
- Psalm: Psalm 34.1-10
- Epistle: 1 John 3.1–3
- Gospel: Matthew 5.1–12
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 (8 November):
Third Sunday Before Advent (Remembrance Sunday)
8.00am – Holy Communion at St Giles’ (said, 1662 BCP)
10.30am – Parish Eucharist at St Margaret’s (sung, Common Worship)
followed by Act of Remembrance at our war memorial
10.45am – Oxford Civic Act of Remembrance at the city war memorial
11.15am – Shortened Holy Communion at St Giles’ (sung, Common Worship)
3.30pm – Choral Evensong at St Giles’ (sung, 1662 BCP)
5.00pm – Choral Evensong at St Margaret’s (sung, 1662 BCP)
October’s “What’s On” leaflet
Download below, or pick up a printed copy from either church. (November’s issue is coming soon!)
Support St Giles’ and
St Margaret’s
It often surprises people to learn that the parish churches of St Giles and St Margaret receive no regular funding from the Church of England or the Government. In fact, it is quite the reverse: the “parish share” payments we make to the Diocese not only pay for our clergy and essential services like legal, property, and safeguarding, but also help support churches in less affluent areas.
Following the disruption of the pandemic and major projects in both our churches, we are currently struggling to cover the day-to-day costs of running our parishes and maintaining our key work – including music, youth and family activities, and community care for the elderly.
Compared to many churches, we are fortunate to have additional revenue sources, and we are doing everything we can to minimise expenditure while maximising income (such as venue hires). However, for our churches to sustain what we currently offer – let alone expand – we rely on the regular support of our members and friends.
How you can help:
Please pray and reflect on whether you are able to support us regularly – or increase your existing contribution – via Direct Debit through the Parish Giving Scheme. Every contribution, no matter the size, makes a huge difference.
Use the buttons below to log in or set up your regular gift – and if you need help, please contact our Benefice Manager, Anna:
Parish News
All Souls’ Service
Our annual All Souls’ service, featuring a choral performance of Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem, will take place at St Giles’ Church tomorrow (Sunday 1 November) at 6pm. (Please wrap up warm if you are coming – see below).
If you would like to have someone remembered by name in the prayers in this service, please write their name in the lists which are at both St Giles’ and St Margaret’s churches. Alternatively, you can email them to me at vicar@StGilesStMargarets.org
All Together Now…
St Margaret’s next “Together” service will take place tomorrow (Sunday 1 November) with the theme of All Saints.
Note that with the start of the new liturgical year in Advent, we are changing our Together services from December to the second Sunday of the month, instead of the first. Our next service will be on Sunday 13 December with our pop-up nativity (that time already?!).
Brrrrrr!
You will have noticed that it is getting decidedly autumnal outside, and at St Giles’ we are waiting for heating engineers to replace the control panel that was damaged earlier this year – this will be late November.
As soon as we have any updates we will let you know. But if you are coming to any of the services at St Giles’ this weekend please wrap up warm. (We do have fleece blankets for those who are especially vulnerable to the cold – please do ask the welcoming team).
(The good news is that St Margaret’s heating is up and running properly again now).
Funeral of Hilary Hiorns
Those who remember Hilary Hiorns might like to know that her funeral will take place at St Giles’ Church on Tuesday 3 November at 12:00 noon. All are welcome.
History of Oxford
The next talk in the St Margaret’s Institute’s “Tea and Talks” series is on Wednesday 4 November and features Professor William Whyte who will be speaking on The University: a history in stone, silk, and blood.
All events in the series run from 1.45pm to 3.30pm, with the talk itself between 2.00pm and 3.00pm. Entrance is £2, including tea and biscuits. All welcome.
“City Context” and “Inclusion & Welcome” meetings
As part of St Giles’ Our Church, Our Future strategic planning, we have brought together two of our key working strands – “City Context” (outreach) and “Inclusion and Welcome” (er, “inreach”?) – to help shape St Giles’ vision for the next five years. Together, we are looking at how we make the most of our central Oxford location and support local partners like The Gatehouse, while ensuring we dismantle barriers so everyone coming through our doors feels truly valued.
We’ll be holding the second of three focused, 90 minute online meetings via Google Meet this Wednesday 4 November at 7:30 PM. Whether you’re a regular churchgoer or simply invested in the future of our church and local community, you are very welcome to join!
If you’d like to attend, please email me at vicar@StGilesStMargarets.org
Oxford University Jazz Orchestra
Once again, we welcome the fabulous OUJO for what we know will be a wonderful evening on Saturday 7 November at 7.30pm.
A premier student-run big band based at the University of Oxford, founded in 1991. They released their second studio album, Checkmate, and toured internationally, including a tour to Japan. This concert will support development work in St Giles’ including the St Giles Organ Fund.
First Communion and Confirmation
If you would like to explore First Communion for your child, or Confirmation for yourself or your young person, please do get in contact with Daniel, as the ministry team makes plans for the coming months.
Please note that this doesn’t commit you to anything! At this point we are just gauging interest. If you would like a longer conversation with Daniel about what these sacraments mean or about whether this might be right for you at this stage, again please don’t hesitate to ask.
Budding photographer(s) needed!
Both St Giles’ and St Margaret’s websites are currently being redeveloped, but one thing that we are short of is good up-to-date photographs of the churches, or people at church, or people doing churchy things!
If you fancy yourself as the next Jimmy Olsen and could provide some good photos for our websites or social media channels, please contact Daniel.
Children’s Singing Afternoon
Here at St. Giles’ Church Oxford, we’re running a free afternoon of music-making for young people from 6 to 12. We’ll start at 2:00pm, rehearse great Christmas music, and then perform it to parents, families, and friends.
We welcome boys and girls from age 6. Choristership is a great foundation for future musicianship. Recent former choristers have moved on to music college, or hold choral and organ scholarships in Cambridge, Oxford and elsewhere.
The afternoon is welcoming and low‑pressure: pupils learn and sing music together, meet current choristers informally, and share a short, optional end‑of‑day showcase with parents. No prior musical experience is required, and participation is entirely free.
To register for a free place, click or tap the button below:
Community News
For more information on these events, download this term’s newsletter from the St Theosevia Centre:
University of Oxford – St John Henry Newman celebratory public event on Thursday, 19 November 3-5pm
To celebrate St John Henry Newman being declared a Doctor of the Church, the University of Oxford is putting on a public event at the new Stephen A Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities (OX2 6GG) on Thursday 19 November, 3-5pm.
The event will be chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Irene Tracey. The speakers will be:
The Rt Hon Lord Patten of Barnes, KG, CH, PC, Former Chancellor, University of Oxford
The Rt Revd Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, Anglican Bishop of Chelmsford
The Rt Revd Monsignor Roderick Strange – expert on Newman
Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe OP, Blackfriars Priory and Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford
To book a place, here is the link:
The organisers are expecting high demand. Please book early to avoid disappointment. There is no charge for the event.
Featuring St Giles’ very own Paul Rutterford! Book tickets below:
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.
Leave a Reply