News from the University Church

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Subject: News from the University Church

Very old trees

by Tess Blenkinsop

Very old trees are often found in churchyards, the most ancient often being yews. The reason for their long survival could be that these are unprotected areas, unthreatened by felling. It may also be that yew trees and their poisonous berries were kept away from grazing cattle by boundary walls.

As Thomas Gray describes in his poem ‘Elergy Written In A Country Churchyard” it is a place ‘far from the madding crowd’. Holywell Cemetery with its mature trees has that sense of peace and removal from the bustle of Oxford life. It is a place of refuge and for reflection.

Those whose earthly lives have ended are marked by many and varied tombstones, a geologist’s delight, giving brief details pf their time. How little their titles, lifespan and occupations tell the onlooker. What great and what ordinary people now reside there as neighbours. The main theme of Gray’s poem is that death is a great leveler. Although many of those buried in his churchyard were poor uneducated workers, they had their own merits and dignity.

‘Full many a gem of purest ray serene

The dark unfathom’d caves of ocean bear

Full many a flow’r is born to blush unseen

And waste its sweetness on the desert air.

You can read the rest of the editorial here.

HOLYWELL NATURE SURVEY, SAT 10 JUNE, 10AM

Our annual survey ‘Count on Nature’ will take place at Holywell Cemetery this Saturday 10th June.
We have been carrying this out for the past two years. The number of species increase at the last count by 20; perhaps this year we can top 100 different varieties of flora and fauna. We will be starting at 10 am and will have guides and recording sheets. If you have any bird or flower reference books that would be helpful. Do please come along for as long as you wish.

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

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

Switch Up Your Lunch: Take the Pledge

📅 Tuesday 13 June 2023

At Oxfordshire Greentech and Good Food Oxfordshire’s sustainable food initiative “Switch Up Your Lunch”, organisations across Oxfordshire are taking the pledge and will be eating a vegetarian/vegan lunch, taking photos and sharing them on social media with the hashtag #SwitchUpYourLunch.

Notices

SUNDAY FORUM – 12PM THIS SUNDAY

Join us at 12pm today in the Old Library as 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.

CHORAL EVENSONG – 3.30PM, THIS SUNDAY

Join us for Choral Evensong according to the Book of Common Prayer. The service draws on Scripture and the ancient monastic offices of Vespers and Compline, offering a simple, elegant framework for reflection and prayer, sung by the University Church Choir.

POETRY HOUR - 5.30PM WEDNESDAY, HOLYWELL CEMETERY

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. For this final Poetry Hour of Term, we will be meeting at the gate to Holywell Cemetery and reading John Clare.

ANNUAL INTERFAITH FRIENDSHIP WALK – 6PM THURSDAY

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 - 10.30AM - 2PM SATURDAY

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.

VISITING CHOIR – NEXT SUNDAY 18th JUNE

Next Sunday we welcome the Choir of Shipton-under-Wychwood to sing the services as the University Church Choir begin their well-earned summer 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!

Faith in Action

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Subject: News from the University Church