Subject: News from the University Church

 

Requiem


by the Revd Dr William Lamb


We live in a culture which is not used to speaking of death. As the President of St John’s College, Professor Sue Black suggests in her book, All That Remains: “in the modern world (death) has become a hostile stranger. For all the progress humanity has made, we are little closer to deciphering the complex bonds between life and death than we were hundreds of years ago. Indeed, in some respects, we are perhaps further away than ever before from understanding her. We seem to have forgotten who death is, what her purpose is, and, where our ancestors perhaps considered her a friend, we choose to treat her as an unwelcome and devilish adversary to be avoided or bested for as long as possible”.


Professor Black is a forensic anthropologist. She speaks of the way we frequently blunt the sharp edges of death. “We talk about ‘losing’ someone, whisper of their ‘passing’, and, in sombre respectful tones, we commiserate with others when a loved one has ‘gone’.” She asks why we use these circumlocutions, when they only serve to accentuate our denial of death: “With all our twenty-first-century sophistication, why do we still opt to take cover behind familiar, safe walls of conformity and denial,….?”


We are not used to speaking of death, and yet the irony is that every time we celebrate the Eucharist, we speak of death. “In the same night that he was betrayed, he took bread and gave you thanks; he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 


It is for this reason that we mark the Commemoration of All Souls with a Requiem Eucharist. There will also be a Requiem Eucharist on Remembrance Sunday. At both Requiems, there will be an opportunity to remember loved ones by name. These observances may have a sombre tone, but we do all of this in the light of our celebration of the Feast of All Saints, albeit in a minor key. As we celebrate the Eucharist on the Feast of All Saints, we remember that the Eucharist does not simply remind us of the past. It places before us a vision of the future. We are invited to open our hearts to the promise of eternal life - to the truth that, along with all the saints through the ages, our lives are hid with Christ in God. This is the hope of the resurrection. This is the mystery which lies at the heart of the Christian faith.

COMMEMORATION OF THE DEPARTED

If you have lost loved ones who you would like to be remembered by name at the Choral Requiem service at 3:30pm on 13th November, please print their names onto the list at the back of church (before 12pm on Sunday 13th November) or email admin@universitychurch.ox.ac.uk (before Thursday 10th November).

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Notices


POPPY APPEAL

The Poppy appeal runs from 29th October - 13th November (Remembrance Sunday) during which time Lyn Robertson will be available after the service if you wish to purchase a poppy in support of the Royal British Legion, supporting ex­ service personnel and their families.


COFFEE AND DOUGHNUTS: 11.15AM WEDNESDAYS UNTIL 7 DECEMBER

During Michaelmas Term we are offering Coffee and Doughnuts on Wednesday mornings in the De Brome Chapel as a way of extending our ministry of hospitality during the week and reaching out to our wider community. Do come and invite others for this weekly informal chance to drop in and chat.


BIBLE STUDY: 12:45PM THURSDAYS UNTIL 1 DECEMBER

The Psalms are a treasury of poetry at the heart of the Hebrew Bible and the spiritual life of the Christian Church. From the writings of St Augustine of Hippo, it is clear that his theological imagination was fed by the Psalms of David. In this series of Bible Studies, we are exploring the Psalms with the help of the expositions of St Augustine.


POETRY HOUR: 5.30PM WEDNESDAY, 2 NOVEMBER, OLD LIBRARY

Poetry Hour is a forum for a diverse group of poets who have been reading and writing poetry together since 2015 in a relaxed and supportive environment. This week we will be writing in response to sensory stimuli and workshopping poems.


FREE LUNCHTIME RECITAL SERIES: 1PM THURSDAYS

The next in our Thursday lunchtime recital series will take place on 3 November as we welcome pianist Bochang Wang, a student at the Royal Academy of Music. His programme includes works by Bach, Chopin, Rachmaninov and Stravinsky.


AN EVENING WITH THOMAS MERTON: THURSDAY 3 NOVEMBER, 7.30PM

Join Esther de Waal, Writer, and Jane Baun, Chaplain of Wadham College, as they explore the spiritual insights and photography of Thomas Merton. Participants will spend some time in the presence of our current exhibition and will be invited to integrate the spiritual nourishment offered both in written and visual forms with their own lives. Places are limited, so please book online.


SCHUTZ 350 CONCERT, SATURDAY 5 NOVEMBER, 8PM

The 350th anniversary of Schütz's death (6 November, 1672) is an ideal moment to celebrate his contribution to German music. Instruments of Time and Truth will present a representative selection of his choral settings, from the madrigalian motets of the 1625 Cantiones sacrae to the gigantic 21-part setting of 'Zion spricht' in the Psalmen David of 1619. Tickets online.


GODLY PLAY, SUNDAY 6 NOVEMBER 

We are delighted to have children worshipping with us at St Mary’s at the 10.30am service. A selection of toys and books are available in the Newman Room (behind the glass brick wall) next door to the baby changing facilities. Godly Play takes place monthly in the Old Library on the first Sunday of the month during the first 45 minutes of the 10.30am Sung Eucharist. It is particularly suitable for children aged 3-8 years old and their families.


SUPPORTING UKRAINIAN REFUGEES

The Diocese of Oxford has joined Citizens UK in providing a safer, more streamlined system designed to provide support for those undertaking the sponsorship process for supporting Ukrainian Refugees. For more information on hosting or supporting refugees visit: www.oxford.anglican.org/everyday-faith/becoming-a-christian/how-to/make-a-difference-in-ukraine.php


NEW TO ST MARY’S? If you are new to St Mary’s and have started coming to services in the last six months or so, we may not have your contact details. If you would like to find out more about what is going on at the University Church, please email admin@universitychurch.ox.ac.uk with your name, address and telephone number and ask for your name to be added to the Parish Directory. This directory is used only by parish staff but it enables us to get in touch with you as the need arises.

Events elsewhere in the University


TODAY, October 28th, starting at 5pm a public reading from Martin Luther's "Letter from Interpreting" will take place at the Taylor Institution Library, Room 2, St. Giles, OX1 3NA. Members of our German Lutheran congregation are also participating. Prof. Henrike Lähnemann, Oxford, has made a revised and expanded new edition based on the edition in the Taylor Library. It is accompanied by an introduction to Luther's translation criteria and a new English translation.

 

Martin Luther's Letter of the Interpreting and Intercession of the Saints from 1530 is a kind of open letter. In it, eight years after his Bible translation of the New Testament, Luther writes on the principles of translation and translation from Latin and ancient Greek into German. The document is considered a characteristic testimony to his perception of the translator's role. The Sendbrief is still a valid plea for an understandable language and a meaningful reproduction and interpretation of texts. It was written in response to the Catholic accusation of falsification of texts in Luther's translation of the Bible.

 

https://historyofthebook.mml.ox.ac.uk/launch-of-the-sendbrief-vom-dolmetschen/

 

Lesung aus Luthers "Sendbrief" in Oxford | Deutsche Evangelische Kirchengemeinden London-West ∙ Registered Charities (ev-kirche-london-west.org.uk)

St Mary's Church, High Street, OX1 4BJ, Oxford, United Kingdom

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