Welcome to our weekly newsletter for the benefice. If you would like to be notified by email each week, please sign up using the form at the bottom of this page.
If you have any items for next week’s notices, please send them to manager@StGilesStMargarets.org by Wednesday.
Pew Sheets
The pew sheets for Sunday 17 November, including the readings, prayers and music details for Sunday’s services, are available to download below:
Sunday 17 November
Second Sunday Before Advent
8.00am – Holy Communion at St Giles’ (said, 1662 BCP)
10.30am – Holy Communion at St Giles’ (sung, Common Worship)
6.30pm – Choral Evensong at St Giles’ (sung, 1662 BCP)
Heavenly Father,
whose blessed Son was revealed
to destroy the works of the devil
and to make us the children of God and heirs of eternal life:
grant that we, having this hope,
may purify ourselves even as he is pure;
that when he shall appear in power and great glory
we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Worship & prayer this week:
Morning Prayer: 8.30am Tuesday-Friday at St Giles’
St Giles’ open for quiet prayer: 12pm – 2pm, Monday-Friday
Evening Prayer: 5.30pm Monday-Saturday at St Giles’
Next Sunday (24 November):
Christ the King
8.00am – Holy Communion at St Giles’ (said, 1662 BCP)
10.30am – Holy Communion at St Giles’ (sung, Common Worship)
6.30pm – Choral Evensong at St Giles’ (sung, 1662 BCP)
Parish News
Safeguarding Sunday
Tomorrow (Sunday 17 November) we, along with many other local churches of all denominations across the country will be marking Safeguarding Sunday, an initiative led by the safeguarding charity Thirtyone:eight.
It is an opportunity not only for us to celebrate the work of our wonderful Parish Safeguarding Officers, Lorraine and Becca, but also to emphasise the importance of all of us playing our part to help protect, and create safe environments for, the most vulnerable members of our communities.
Of course, in the Church of England the timing is grimly ironic, given the revelations that have come to light through the Makin Review into John Smyth and the subsequent resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The lead bishop for safeguarding, Rt Revd Joanne Grenfell, has written a letter to parish and diocesan church officers ahead of Safeguarding Sunday, while the Bishop of Oxford, Rt Revd Steven Croft both published a statement after Archbishop Justin’s resignation this week, and made a (longer) statement to Diocesan Synod this morning. All three are commended to church members:
Finally, for anyone who has been affected, within the Church or otherwise, the Diocese of Oxford have a list of both local and national resources for support:
Saturdays at St Margaret’s
Before the pandemic, many local families found out about St Margaret’s by coming to SAM’s (craft morning) or Sammy’s (music lessons and play).
We are now in the process of trying to reimagine Saturdays at St Margaret’s and we’d love to get the views of local families – whether you attend St Margaret’s, St Giles’, somewhere else or nowhere! If you have time, please can you fill in this questionnaire:
Thank you so much for helping us decide what to do next.
Jewellery Sale
The Famous FASHION JEWELLERY SALE returns! In aid of CHURCH FUNDS. A table with exciting fashion jewellery will be at the back of St Giles’ Church on Sundays 1st, 8th, and 15th December . Buy your last minute little gifts for Christmas – donations – mostly all at £3! Enjoy a good rummage. If you have items you can offer to replenish stock from last year, please see Jane Finnerty or Helen Dodd or leave in a labelled container in the kitchen.
Toy Appeal
As in year’s past we are organising a collection for the Salvation Army Christmas Toy Appeal. The local Salvation Army partner with social services to provide gifts for children at Christmas time who might otherwise go without. They gave gifts to over 100 families year and with the on-going impacts of the cost of living the need continues to rise in our city. All gifts need to be new. Please bring donations to St Giles’ on Sundays, or at lunchtimes in the week – there will be a labelled box at the back. Donations needs to be received by the Sunday 8th December. Thank you for your support!
They are especially interested in receiving colouring and craft sets and do not want soft toys.
- 0-3 years: dolls, cot mobiles, baby clothes, bath toys, puzzles
- 3-5: dolls and action figures, cars, lorries, colouring sets, pencils, crayons, books, puzzles
- 5-9: educational games & toys, stationery (colouring sets, pencils, crayons, school sets), books, puzzles, wordsearch, crosswords
- 9-12: games and toys, stationery, books, t-shirts, hair accessories, gloves, scarves, hats
- 13-16: books, make-up and toiletries (please try to ensure non-allergic ingredients if possible), gloves, scarves, hats, t-shirts, hair accessories and gift vouchers
DEC Humanitarian Middle East Appeal
Christian Aid, together with the 14 other charities that make up the DEC have now launched this national appeal. Please donate your emergency gift for people who are fighting for their very survival, to: caid.org.uk/DECMiddleEast or call 08080 004 004. Please see the church noticeboard for details of Christian Aid’s work in Gaza and other middle east crisis areas.
SOLD OUT: Jazz at St Giles’: The Budapest Café Orchestra
The next Jazz at St Giles’ concert on Sunday 8th December 7:30pm is now SOLD OUT. Sorry to anyone who missed out – make sure to book early to avoid disappointment! The next one after that is Saturday 11th January 7:30pm: A Child’s Christmas, an evening of Jazz inspired by Dylan Thomas’ poem.
St Margaret’s Cook Book
The St Margaret’s Cook Book is now available – the best way to purchase it to support the church is either to get the hard copy in person from Cara Thomas, or get the e-book from Amazon. The church would like to thank everyone who worked to make the book happen.
Little Fishes
Please note that Little Fishes is taking place at the Vicarage while the church is closed.
Browser Extension to Raise Money
Raise a free donation for St Margaret’s Church, Oxford when you shop online via #easyfundraising. Add the extension to your browser and whenever you shop online with one of 7,500+ easyfundraising’s partners they will make a donation to us! This includes Tesco, Sainsbury’s, John Lewis, Argos, Trainline and more! If you’re not supporting us on easyfundraising yet, now’s the perfect time to get involved.
Community News
Tea & Talks
This series of Tea & Talks at the St Margaret’s Institute continues on Wednesday 4th December at 1:30pm with a talk on Put an end to crises: we can revive Britain’s prosperity, society and environment from Colin Mayer CBE, professor and author. Tickets are £2 on the door.
Open Study Days at St Theosevia’s
St Theosevia Centre for Christian Spirituality (2 Canterbury Road) is holding two open study days in November. On Saturday 16 November 10:30-4 there will be a session on “Our Sister Bodily Death”: Pastoral Care, Death as Gift, & Memorialisation in West and East from speakers Dr David Boswell, Revd Canon Prof. James Woodward (Sarum College), Dr Renée Hirschon. On Saturday 30 November 10:30-4 there will be a session on The Holy Land: a Land Contested, from the Old Testament to the Present from speakers Professor John Day, Dr Brian Klug, Brendan Metcalfe (Friends of the Holy Land). All welcome, no registration required. Free for students, non-students £5 cash on door. Free tea and coffee provided. You are welcome to bring a sandwich lunch.