Subject: News from the University Church

 

When the land dries up


by Al Dutton


When the land dries up, all life dies: the plants wither; birds and animals starve; the soil turns to dust and is blown away; the sun-baked ground becomes so hard that little rain soaks in; the land becomes drier still.

 

In February I visited one of several valleys in northern Ethiopia where water conservation reversed this arid story of desertification.  Where there was once a dry rocky gully in all but the rainy season, now a gushing stream flows through verdant fields all year round. I saw it with my own eyes.

 

How is this possible? With so much talk of climate change, and increasing desertification and food crises, it’s easy to think that we’re fighting a losing battle but much can still be done to improve things dramatically.  Working with the Church about ten years ago, the Ethiopian Government built a series of low earth-dams, about 10m high at the top of the valley. 

 

On relatively flat plateaus, these trapped the rains and held them upstream in lakes.  Slowly this water percolated into the land and over several years created large underground reservoirs, which hold the water in the sediment all year round.

 

The Church then worked with the community to build irrigation ditches which follow the contours to take the water high up the sides of the valley below.  Using compost and animal manure, the villagers improved the organic content of the soil, thereby increasing the absorption and retention of water.  Similarly, putting a mulch – even a simple one of maize stalks – on the land prevents evaporation, increases absorption, and encourages ground-level insect life which breaks down the vegetation and increases the fertility further.

 

Where once the villagers only had one, increasingly unreliable, harvest of cereals a year, they now have three harvests and are growing many vegetables, including tomatoes, ground nuts, carrots, and cabbages to increase the variety of their diet and sell at market.  For the last two years Tigray – this region in northern Ethiopia – has been cut off by brutal civil war.  While people have under siege and no supplies could be delivered, this stream has continued to flow and these fields have fed the surrounding towns and villages.


BRITISH SUMMER TIME REMINDER

The clocks go forward one hour on Sunday 26 March.

Livestreamed Services

at the University Church

We livestream our 10.30am Sung Eucharist every Sunday.

Please follow the links below for our social media channels.


If you have any feedback or questions about our livestreamed services,

please email ana-maria.niculcea@universitychurch.ox.ac.uk

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Ecohints of the week

We are heading towards the Ecochurch Silver award and the Green Team at SMV is encouraging whole church participation in taking actions towards caring for Creation. Each week in epistle, we will provide one nudge to help us all live more lightly.


This is a big week for the environment, with World Water Day (22nd) and the global Earth Hour (at 8.30pm on 25th). Join the global Earth Hour on 25th at 8.30pm.

Click the image to see services over Holy Week & Easter

Notices


LENT QUIET MORNING – 10AM SATURDAY 25 MARCH

The Lent Quiet Morning will take place tomorrow between 10am-1pm in the Old Library. All are very welcome.


SUNDAY FORUM: PLANS FOR THE FUTURE - 12PM THIS SUNDAY

Join us as we meet together to consider the shape of St Mary’s in the years ahead. The Vicar will guide us through the draft strategic plan and help us consider how God might be calling the University Church to grow in the next season.


HOLYWELL CEMETERY TALK - WEDNESDAY, 29 MARCH, 4.30PM

Our next volunteer meeting is on 29 March in the Old Library and Liz Adams will give us a talk about Holywell cemetery, its famous and not so famous residents and its biodiversity. This talk is open to everyone, volunteer or not, so please invite friends.


FREE LUNCHTIME RECITAL SERIES - 1PM THURSDAY

The next in our lunchtime recital series will take place on Thursday 30 March as we welcome Tomos Boyles, a student of the Royal Academy of Music, who will give a piano recital.


INTRO TO MINDFULNESS - 10AM-12.30PM, SAT 1 APRIL

This workshop will provide an opportunity to deepen understanding of what mindfulness is, and to explore various mindfulness practices that can be supportive in daily life. Chris Cullen is a teacher at the University of Oxford’s Mindfulness Centre, and a member of St Mary’s choir and congregation.


PALM SUNDAY – 10.15AM, SUNDAY 2 APRIL

Next week the service will begin at the earlier time of 10.15am, gathering outside the Clarendon Building on Broad Street from 10am. The route involves travelling over cobblestones. The procession will arrive in Church c.10.30am.


GODLY PLAY - SUNDAY 2 APRIL

Godly Play will take place on Sunday 2 April during the 10.30am service. All children and families are welcome.


EXPLORE EASTER – 2PM, TUE 4 APRIL

This Easter, we invite children and adults of all ages not just to hear the story of Easter but to become a part of it and to join us from 2.00pm -3.30pm on Tuesday 4th April as we creatively explore it together through words, prayer, craft and play. Places are limited, so please book on the website.


STATIONS OF CREATION – 11AM, WED 5 APRIL

On Wednesday 5th April, from 11am, a group will be walking from St Mary's to Holywell Cemetery (a ten minute walk), to spend time reflecting on the suffering of the natural world. This has been organised by the Green Team; we hope you can join us.


HOLYWELL CEMETERY GARDENING DAY

There will not be a Gardening Day in April. The next one will take place on 13 May. 


ELECTORAL ROLL

If you are baptised and over the age of 16, and are either resident in the parish or have regularly attended worship here for the last 6 months, you are eligible to join the church electoral roll. This enables you to attend and vote at the annual parochial church meeting and to stand as a member of the PCC. We update the electoral roll annually so if you would like to join or to amend your details, please pick up a form from the back of church.


BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION CLASSES

If you are considering taking the next step in faith and would like to be baptised or confirmed at Pentecost (28th May), it would be wonderful to hear from you. Please be in touch with Hannah for an informal chat and put the following dates of baptism and confirmation preparation classes in your diary, all 5.30-6.30pm: 18 April, 25 April, 9 May, 16 May. On 23 May will be a rehearsal. To make it as accessible as possible we will be taking a hybrid approach with some sessions in the Old Library and some on zoom.


VICAR’S SABBATICAL

After Easter, the Vicar has been granted a sabbatical for a period of three months by the Bishop. This will be a time of study, travel, and rest. Please keep Will in your prayers and be in touch with Hannah or the Wardens for all Church matters.


SUPPORTING OUR MINISTRY   
If you would like to support the ministry of the University Church, you may wish to make a cash donation at the offertory or via the contactless card machine by the High Street entrance. You can also make a donation online (please use the QR code) through the Parish Giving Scheme or by sending a text: Text "SMV X" to 70085 to donate £X. E.g.: "SMV 5" to 70085 will donate £5.00. Texts cost £X plus one standard rate message. Thank you!

EVENTS ELSEWHERE


TAIZE PILGRIMAGE

Christ Church Chapel are organising a trip to Taizé, France (13-20th August) with a group from Oxford Diocese and this is open to students from across the university. For more information, please contact Clare Hayns: clare.hayns@chch.ox.ac.uk

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

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