Subject: News from the University Church

Prayers in three dimensions


by Dr Sarah Mortimer


Do prayer books still matter? At St Mary’s we are used to Sunday service sheets where everything is laid out for us and we are literally all on the same page – very much in keeping with Archbishop Cranmer’s Reformation desire to have a standard service accessible to all. By making sure there was a common structure and pattern to the service, Cranmer hoped to draw together the worshipping community across the whole of England. Set out in the Book of Common Prayer, the practices and devotions of the Church of England could be shared by all. True, there were some who felt constrained by the set, written forms, wanting more scope for the Spirit to guide their worship and prayer. Gradually more alternatives were included, balancing some individual choice with a sense of unity – as we see in the pages of Common Worship today (and even in the app!).


Prayer books are powerful, over time they help create a common community, they help to cement and shape its values and its experience of the divine. But they can also be divisive, if their words and structure do not seem to reflect that community’s relationship with God. At Christ Church we have an amazing collection of prayer books, most well-loved, others less so – one from the 1630s even helped to spark Civil War... Seen together they show how shared prayers and liturgy can unite us and sometimes divide us, and from next week we will be displaying them in the Upper Library. Everyone is welcome to come and see these physical embodiments of our historic, dramatic, culture of prayer. (More details soon at www.chch.ox.ac.uk.)

Notices


SUNDAY FORUM: 12NOON, THIS SUNDAY

Arts at the Old Fire Station share a building and deep partnership with the homelessness charity Crisis. Join us in the Old Library after coffee (up the stairs via the shop) as Dr Suzi Attree, Head of Development and Fundraising, speaks to us about their growing work in bringing creativity and community to all.


LATIN LITANY: THIS SUNDAY 3.30PM

The Latin Litany is sung at the beginning of Hilary term at 3.30pm today.

The Revd Stephen Hearn will officiate and Dr Tristan Franklinos will preach.


PARISH LUNCH: NEXT SUNDAY, 12NOON 21 JANUARY

The next Parish lunch will take place on 21 January in the Old Library. If you would like to contribute a dish or assist with this, please speak to Katie Hicks.


OXFORDSHIRE TOGETHER FOR HUMANITY: 3.00PM NEXT SUNDAY

Oxfordshire Civic, Community and Faith Leaders Group is hosting this event, one of a series of national events being held across the country, on 21st January 2024 at Oxford Town Hall. The purpose of this event is to draw together Oxfordshire's communities in friendship, understanding and peace. For further details see: www.tickettailor.com/events/theoxfordfoundation/1093431


BAPTISM: 3.30PM NEXT SUNDAY 21 JANUARY

Naomi and Matthew warmly invite the congregation to join them as they celebrate baby Martin’s baptism at 3.30pm next Sunday. The service will take place in the Chancel.


WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY, TAIZE: 1.00PM 23 JANUARY

Join us for a special, simple ecumenical service of sung Taizé Prayer after the Eucharist on 23rd January. The service is organised in collaboration with the Churches Together in Central Oxford for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. All are very welcome.


BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION

If you would like to take the next step in faith and be baptised or confirmed on May 12th 2024, there will be classes taking place on Tuesday lunchtimes in the Old Library, 12.45pm – 1.30pm, beginning on 16th Jan with ‘Why Confirmation?’. For more info contact Hannah: hannah.cartwright@universitychurch.ox.ac.uk


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

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