Subject: News from the University Church

 

Ordinary Time


by Alice Willington


In the Church calendar, Ordinary Time began last Monday (29th May), the day after Pentecost, and it will last until the first Sunday of Advent (3rd December). More Googler than Scholar, I dived into the internet to write this epistle. I quickly got caught in the lobster pot of church language (surely designed by Piranesi), where the meaning of “ordinary” is more concerned with ordinal numbers than the everyday, and “proper” is used as a noun rather than an adjective.


But wrestling with language made strange is what I do both when I write poetry and when I pray. This year, as we travelled through the seasons from Ash Wednesday to Pentecost, I noticed that my mind got caught on distinct phrases in the liturgies for Morning Prayer. Last week (after Ascension Day and before Pentecost), it was “Come, Holy Spirit….. kindle in us the fire of your love.”


Noticing gives rise to questions, such as ‘What do these words mean?” and “Why are these resonating just now?”. Noticing is the beginning of a conversation; with ourselves, with others and with God. Noticing is the beginning of prayer, and it is something that those who lead the intercessions on Sunday do in preparation: who needs our prayers right now, where is justice required?


Noticing requires of us that we admit (in both senses of acknowledging and letting in) what might seem strange and new. Pentecost is not the beginning of a time that is ordinary, but a time when into our everyday lives comes a generous, compassionate, forgiving and freeing love, and when our daily work is to let that love dwell with us. We are given six months, for it requires practice, just as prayer and poetry writing are helped by regularity. And then Advent begins again and gives us a fresh start.

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

youtube
twitter
facebook

Click the image to see our events for Trinity 2023

Ecohints of the week

 In St Mary's new Vision and Strategy document 'Faith Seeking Understanding', one of our missions is to 'seek to safeguard the integrity of creation, working with partner organisations to sustain and renew the life of the earth'. Would you like to be more involved in this whole church mission? Get in touch today: admin@universitychurch.ox.ac.uk


It’s peak gardening season, are you supporting biodiversity whilst reducing your carbon consumption? Allow your lawn to grow longer (for the pollinators) use no pesticides or herbicides (eg RoundUp) and avoid peat based compost. Let us know if you achieve this HERE

Notices


OXFORD PRIDE SERVICE – 10.30AM SATURDAY 3 JUNE

Oxford Pride, the annual celebration for the LGBTQIA+ community, takes place on Saturday 3 June. There will be a brief act of worship at St Mary’s at 10.30am before the Pride Parade sets off from Radcliffe Square. We’re delighted to be welcoming priest, author and advocate The Revd Ruth Harley to preach at this special service. Whether or not you are LGBTQIA+ yourself, all are welcome to join in solidarity and support. There will also be a service of closing prayers at the end of the march.


PARISH LUNCH – 12PM THIS SUNDAY

There will be a Parish Lunch in the Old Library on 4th June at 12noon. If you are able to contribute a dish, please contact Katie Hicks at hickscm@uwclub.net


CORPUS CHRISTI FESTAL EUCHARIST – 6PM THURSDAY

On Thursday there will be a Choral Eucharist for Corpus Christi taking place at Corpus Christi College at 6 pm starting in the Quad to which all at St Mary’s are warmly invited.


COFFEE & DOUGHNUTS – 11.15AM WEDNESDAYS

All are welcome to join us for coffee, doughnuts, and conversation in DeBrome.


FREE LUNCHTIME RECITAL SERIES - 1PM THURSDAY 8 JUNE

This week we welcome Kasparas Mikuzis to play works by Chopin.


THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES BIBLE STUDY – 12.45PM FRIDAYS

Theologian Willie James Jennings describes Acts as a book of ‘revolution’, that highlights the disrupting, joyful presence of the Spirit of God, and our reading will be guided by his recent commentary The Book of Acts in the Belief: A Theological Commentary on the Bible series. All are welcome to join us in the Old Library.


CHILDREN’S CHURCH & GODLY PLAY – NEXT SUNDAY 11th JUNE

Please note that Children’s Church with Godly Play will take place on 11th June this month.


SUNDAY FORUM – 12PM SUNDAY 11th JUNE

The Revd Dr Erica Longfellow, Dean of Divinity at New College, will help us consider our current debates about marriage through the lens of the radical changes that took place at the Reformation. We will challenge some of the myths about ‘traditional marriage’, and ask what we might like to keep from our Anglican past, and what we might need to change, as we think about equal marriage.


ANNUAL INTERFAITH FRIENDSHIP WALK - THURSDAY 15 JUNE, 6PM

Join us for a walk through the city centre with people of many faiths. We will begin our journey from the synagogue in North Oxford via St Giles Church and then on to the University Church in Radcliffe Square before ending our journey at the Mosque in Stanley Rd. This is a great community celebration and everyone is very welcome to join us.


WALKING BOOTS - SATURDAY 17 JUNE, 10.30AM - 2PM

A walk from the church to Iffley via Christ Church Meadow and the Thames Path to look at the church of St Mary which is one of the finest 12th century churches in England. Fine dogtooth carving over west and south doors, and a John Piper window inside. Returning to the church along Meadow Lane to take in Ascot’s Ayot nature reserve. Bring a picnic/refreshments for an en route break.


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!

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

You may unsubscribe or change your contact details at any time.

Powered by:
GetResponse

    This is an online snapshot of a newsletter created by the owner of universitychurch (University Church of St Mary, St Mary's Church, High Street, OX1 4BJ Oxford, United Kingdom) and sent via GetResponse on 2023-06-02. Report abuse