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 15 December, including the readings, prayers and music details for Sunday’s services, are available to download below:
Sunday 15 December
Third Sunday in Advent
8.00am – Holy Communion at St Giles’ (said, 1662 BCP)
10.30am – St Margaret’s Parish Eucharist at Phil & Jim School (sung, Common Worship)
10.30am – Holy Communion at St Giles’ (sung, 1662 BCP)
6.30pm – Choral Evensong at St Giles’ (sung, 1662 BCP)
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’
Wednesday: 8pm Compline by Candlelight at St Giles’
Next Sunday (22 December):
Fourth Sunday in Advent
8.00am – Holy Communion at St Giles’ (said, 1662 BCP)
10.30am – St Margaret’s Parish Eucharist at Phil & Jim School (sung, Common Worship)
10.30am – Holy Communion at St Giles’ (sung, 1662 BCP)
6.30pm – Christmas Carol Service at St Giles’ (sung, 1662 BCP)
Parish News
Benjamin Grønlie Concert
Former St Giles’ Chorister and Organ Scholar, Benjamin Grønlie, returns to give a piano recital in St Giles’ on Sunday 15 December at 16:00
Beer & Carols
Join us for Beer and Carols in the Rose and Crown on North Parade on Tuesday 17th December at 7:30pm. Help us raise a joyful noise and hopefully some money for The Gatehouse counselling service. All welcome from both parishes!
Christmas services
Details of all of our Christmas services are available on our parish websites – as well as on our Christmas cards (see below!).
Phil & Jim Parking
We do not have access to the school car park on a Sunday morning, unfortunately, so please park respectfully on the nearby streets.
Benefice Magazine
The latest issue of the Benefice Magazine is now out: please download it using the button below. If you would like to have a look at a paper copy there will be a handful in each church, but to save paper do browse digitally or leaf through the paper copies in church and return them!
New electoral roll for 2025
In 2025, all Church of England parishes wipe their electoral rolls blank, and everyone who wants to be on one needs to apply or re-apply. Both St Giles’ and St Margaret’s are starting the process a little early, from today.
If you’re not sure what an electoral roll is or why you should be on it – or if you do know and just want to re-apply – use the buttons below:
Choir Christmas Party
Come and join us for a festive celebration and raffle in the Parish Hall adjacent to St Giles’ on Saturday 21 December at 18:55. Food and drink for all will be provided. Contributory tickets may be purchased at choir rehearsals and after Sunday services on 8 and 15 December: £6 Adult (16+), £3 Child, £15 Family Ticket (2 Adults; 2 Children under 16).
We will hold a raffle on the night. Raffle tickets are on sale for a £1 a strip. Please do let Miss Harris know if you can sell some. We already have some fantastic prizes Please do consider donating a prize for the raffle – there is a box in the choir vestry. We very much hope to see you on 21 December!
Help out at St Margaret’s
St Margaret’s could do with a few more people to do readings, lead intercessions and help with after service refreshments, now that we are having our “own” services again. Any level of commitment is appreciated, even offering to take a slot just once or twice a year is welcome – and of course you can swap dates or be replaced should your plans change! Please send details of your availability for January and February 2025 – or any questions you might have – to Frances Bagnall-Oakeley. A big thank you to all those who have already been in touch!
Recycled Christmas Cards
As last year, I have a huge number of beautiful old cards. Please take one from the box in church, contribute £1 and fashion your own unique card using some new card to glue your chosen image on. Children love to make cards for the family too! These beautiful ‘old ‘ cards collected over 50 years still carry the same Christmas message. If anyone would like to take a number and make them into new cards for return to church, we can then receive donations for these too – all funds to go to the Gatehouse. If you are at St Margaret’s, I can deliver any to you. – Helen Dodd
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 Sunday 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.
Jazz at St Giles’: A Child’s Christmas
The next (non-sold out) Jazz at St Giles’ concert is Saturday 11th January 7:30pm: A Child’s Christmas, an evening of Jazz inspired by Dylan Thomas’ poem.
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.
Diocesan News
Winter issue of Pathways is here
The latest issue of Pathways, the Diocesan magazine, is out now – you can pick up a paper copy from church or download it from the Diocesan website below:
Community News
Tea & Talks
This series of Tea & Talks at the St Margaret’s Institute continues on Wednesday 8th January at 1:30pm with a talk on Chaucer’s The Wife of Bath from Marion Turner, the university’s Tolkien professor and authority on Chaucer. Tickets are £2 on the door.