Welcome to our Weekly News email for the benefice, replacing the notices in the weekly pew sheet (for those who cannot receive this email, there will be some hard-copy printouts at the back of each church).
This week in the Benefice
Sunday 21 May
Seventh Sunday of Easter
8.00am – Holy Communion at St Giles’ (said, 1662 BCP)
10.30am – Benefice Confirmation Service at St Margaret’s (sung, Common Worship)
4.00pm – Piano & Violin Concert at St Giles’ (see below)
5.30pm – Evening Prayer at St Margaret’s (said, with hymns, 1662 BCP)
6.30pm – Evensong at St Giles’ (1662 BCP)
Note that there is no separate 10:30 service at St Giles’ tomorrow morning.
The pew sheets for the Sunday services above, with readings, prayers and details of the music, will be available electronically via our website.
Monday 22 May
Please note that there is no weekday Morning or Evening Prayer this week.
Tuesday 23 May
Wednesday 24 May
John and Charles Wesley, evangelists, hymn writers, 1791 and 1788
Thursday 25 May
The Venerable Bede, monk, scholar, historian, 735
Aldhelm, bishop, 709
Friday 26 May
Augustine, archbishop, 605
John Calvin, reformer, 1564
Philip Neri, founder of the Oratorians, spiritual guide, 1595
9.00am – Little Fishes at St Margaret’s (for toddlers and parents)
Saturday 27 May
Sunday 28 May
Pentecost
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)
5.30pm – Evening Prayer at St Margaret’s (said, with hymns, 1662 BCP)
6.30pm – Evensong at St Giles’ (1662 BCP)
Daily readings and collects for all of the dates above are available to download from our website.
Confirmation service – 21 May
The Benefice Confirmation service is tomorrow (21 May) at 10:30am. Please join us as we support all the candidates from across the benefice, including several of our young people, and keep them in your prayers over the coming week.
Bishop Steven has also agreed to come to the service a little earlier to meet any of our young people from either church (aged 9-18) at 9:30am, and answer any questions they might have about the Church of England, theology or being a Christian. Bishop Steven has a wonderful origin story from his own youth and is a great supporter of young people being part of every aspect of church life. It would be lovely if as many of our young people could attend this, even if it is an early morning!!
This is a joint benefice event, so there is no separate 10:30 service at St Giles’ tomorrow morning.
At the Confirmation service, the collection will be for the Bishop of Oxford’s Outreach Fund. To learn more about the fund, or to donate online, please use the buttons below:
Piano & Violin Concert: Ishani Bhoola and Jennifer Carter
At St Giles’ tomorrow (Sunday 21 May) at 4pm. Mozart K454; Beethoven D Major Sonata; Elgar Sonata. Tickets £5 from Eventbrite. All proceeds to St Giles’ Organ Fund.
Michèle Crawford
Many will be aware that Michèle sadly died last week, on Monday 8 May. She was a huge part of St Margaret’s Church for many years, from helping to re-start the choir many years ago, to her work with children and young people over several generations (including many that remain active members of our church community as adults), and from her role as flower co-ordinator to PCC Secretary. Most importantly, she was a friend, companion and adviser to many of us, and she will be sorely missed. We pray that she may rest in peace and rise in glory, and pray especially at this time for her husband David.
Michèle’s funeral will be a requiem mass which will take place at St Margaret’s Church on Tuesday 6 June at 12pm. All are welcome.
As many are aware, Michele devoted her life to children and young people, who have wonderful memories of her. So Liz and the Senior Sunday School Class spent some time last week making and adding to a Memory Box for Michele. This box and a condolence card are available at the back of church for anyone to add their memories of Michele and sign the card. Both the card and the memory box will be given to David when we have finished.
Christian Aid Week: 14-20 May
Christian Aid Week comes to an end today, but it is not too late to donate online directly to Christian Aid’s appeal – please use the button below:
Envelopes are still also available at both churches, with a collection bucket available at the back of each.
St Margaret’s Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM)
The Annual Parochial Church Meetings for St Margaret’s will take place after the 10:30 service Sunday 28 May
The Annual Reports will be made available electronically to all members of the electoral roll in advance of the meetings, and printed copies will also be available at the meetings.
Electoral Rolls
The Electoral Roll of St Margaret’s will be revised in advance of the Annual Parish Meetings above. The Roll is a list of members in a church aged 16 or over. If you would like to be added to the Roll, please fill in and sign the simple form which can be found at the back of church, and pass it to the David Smith, St Margaret’s Electoral Roll Officer (you can also leave your form in the shoebox provided at St Margaret’s).
If you or your child will become 16 by May 2024, the name can be added to the list during the coming year. The current list of names is on display in the church. It’s important that we are able to be in touch with our whole church community, so please do join in!
Diocesan consultation
A few weeks ago, Eva attended a diocesan consultation day for Children, Families and Young Peoples Ministers, where she found out more about a national funding bid being made by the Diocese of Oxford to specifically to enable the church to re-engage and build our mission and ministry among and with children, young people and families. The diocese is now asking everyone in and around church communities to engage with their consultation.
During half term (instead of Sunday School) Eva will be trying to collect some of our children, families and young people’s opinions to send off. She’ll also be asking the children who come to film night, games night and attend our group at school to contribute. You can find out more here: Consultation for National Bid – Diocese of Oxford (anglican.org) where if you scroll to the bottom you can find section 3 for adults to complete. Please consider taking part in this important process.
Phil and Jim Summer Fete – 10 June
St Margaret’s Church will be again running the book stall at the Phil & Jim Summer Fete on Saturday 10 June, so we need donations of books for any age and volunteers on the day to do one hour slots. Please let Eva (eva@stmargaretsoxford.org) know if you can help, and a labelled box will be left at the back of St Margaret’s for book donations from next week. Last year, we raised the largest amount after food and beverages so help us do the same again!
BeSpace
In early October (dates tbc), St Margaret’s will be running Be Space prayer spaces in school for a full week at Phil & Jim School. We need several volunteers (from St Giles’ or St Margaret’s) to commit to a morning or a day in school. It sounds like a lot of fun and Eva will be leading it, so will make sure that we have nice treats along the way! If you would like more information or would like to sign up then please contact Eva – eva@stmargaretsoxford.org
Organ recital in Italy
Nicholas Prozzillo (Director of Music at St Giles’) will give an organ recital in Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Bergamo, on Sunday 27 August. If anyone is on holiday in the area, do get in touch.