Photo from Christian Ferrer
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.
Worship & Prayer
Sunday 14 September
Holy Cross Day / Thirteenth Sunday After Trinity
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)
6.30pm – Choral Evensong at St Giles’ (sung, 1662 BCP)
Almighty God,
who in the passion of your blessed Son
made an instrument of painful death
to be for us the means of life and peace:
grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ
that we may gladly suffer for his sake;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Pew sheets
The pew sheets for our services on 14 September including the readings, prayers and music details, are available to download below:
Coming up this week
Morning Prayer: 8.30am Tuesday-Friday at the Vicarage, Church Walk
St Giles’ open for quiet prayer: 12pm – 2pm, Monday-Friday
Next Sunday (21 September):
Matthew, Apostle & Evangelist
8.00am – Holy Communion at St Giles’ (said, 1662 BCP)
10.30am – Listening Service at St Margaret’s
(followed by Holy Communion service: said, Common Worship)
10.30am – Holy Communion at St Giles’ (sung, Common Worship)
6.30pm – Choral Evensong at St Giles’ (sung, 1662 BCP)
From the Vicar
Does Christianity have anything to say about mental health?
Parish News
TODAY & TOMORROW: Ride and Stride & Open Doors at St Giles’
This weekend, the annual Ride and Stride and Oxford Open Doors events take place.
To enable us to steward St Giles’ and welcome visitors, we need volunteers who could give some time over the weekend. Please email mary@st-giles-church.org if you are able to help.
TONIGHT: Jazz at St Giles’: Ben Holder Trio
The next Jazz at St Giles’ concert is tonight at 7:30pm: Ben Holder Trio. Come and see the award winning jazz violinist return to St Giles’.
Other Jazz events in the Autumn / Winter season include the Jacqui Dankworth and Trio (11 October), Claire Jones Ensemble (25 October), the Ewan Bleach Sextet (8 November), and the The Velvet Tones (6 December).
Exploring faith and spirituality group
Beginning this Tuesday (16 September), a new group on faith and spirituality will be meeting once a month at St Anne’s College from 5:15 to 6:45 (while the girls’ choir is rehearsing at St Giles’). This group is for anyone in the benefice who is interested in exploring faith and different approaches to spirituality. The only pre-requisite is an open mind and an interest in different points of view. We will be reading passages from the Bible and excerpts from some of the great spiritual writers, including Julian of Norwich, Ignatius of Loyola, and Teresa of Avila. If you are interested in attending, please contact Siân Grønlie.
21st September, Listening Service at St Margaret’s
St Margaret’s Sunday morning service will look rather different next Sunday (21 September). We are inviting you to join us to spend time listening to each other and God about how we might continue to grow and flourish as a church now that the building works are nearing their conclusion. There will be refreshments and pastries, and separate activities for children. It will be a followed immediately by an optional short Eucharist service.
This discussion will be facilitated by Rhodri Bowen, Parish Development Adviser for the Diocese of Oxford, who has been working with our PCC over the last few months as we have been considering this question of ‘what next?’. We really hope you will come and share your views. For more details see: https://stgilesstmargarets.org/2025/09/01/st-margarets-church-an-invitation/
Organ Signing Ceremony
At 17:30 on Monday 29 September, St Giles’ will host a ceremonial signing of a contract for a new organ. If you would like to attend this event, please email andrew.sillett@st-giles-church.org by Monday 22nd September.
Memory Café
The next Memory Café will take place on Wednesday 8 October. If you know of anyone who might benefit, or you would like more information, please contact St Margaret’s Parish Community Worker, Tricia Brant, on 07776 595456 or email her on triciabrant@stmargaretsoxford.org
Future dates are listed below:
Scientists needed!
Are you a scientist at St Giles’ or St Margaret’s? Would you be willing to discuss science and faith to a Year 6 class (10-11 year olds) at Ss Philip and James Primary School?
This term they are discussing the question “creation and science: conflicting or complementary?”, and would love to be able to discuss some questions of actual scientists who have a faith. (No expert biblical theological knowledge required – although if you have heard of the story of the six days of creation, it might help!).
Previous volunteers have really enjoyed the experience. If you might be able to give up an hour or so of your time, please let Eva know at eva@stmargaretsoxford.org
Call for bottles and jars
As well as the previous call for spare wool and thread and wooden curtain hoops, please could you let Eva know if you have any small plastic or glass bottles (e.g. Orangina or Innocent Smoothie bottles or smaller), or any spare jam jars.
Join St Margaret’s choir!
If you, or someone you know, might be interested in joining St Margaret’s choir we would love to hear from you! Please get in touch with George: choir@stmargarets.org
Coming up in the parishes…
Monthly “What’s On” leaflet
Download September’s issue below:
Online events calendar
Thanks to our ChurchSuite system, you can now see all of the events that we have coming up in the next few months online, and get more information where relevant. You can view them as a list or in a calendar view:
Browser Extension to Raise Money for St Margaret’s
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
New issue of Pathways has arrived
Copies of the Summer 2025 issue of Pathways, the Diocesan magazine, will be available from church this Sunday – or you can download it from the Diocesan website below:
Community News
Tea & Talks at St Margaret’s Institute
A new season of Tea & Talks at St Margaret’s Institute begins on Wed 1 October at 1:45-3:30pm with a talk titled From Chocolate to Drug Discovery: The Magic of Crystals from Elspeth Garman. Entry is £2, including tea and cake. All welcome.
Gerard Manley Hopkins Study Day
Oxford Centre for Spiritual Growth presents Gerard Manley Hopkins: A Companion on the Way. An introduction, in three stopping places, to the poet’s life and poetry. 10:30am-3.00pm, 20 September at Church of St Michael at the North Gate. A reflective exploration led by Dr Jill Robson, Journal Editor of the Hopkins Society (UK). Attendance in person £25 Online/recording access £10.
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.