| | Discernment of Spirits
by the Revd Naomi Gardom
In the days since President Joe Biden’s decision to step away from the American presidential race, he has been praised for his discernment. This is one of those words, like ‘covenant’ or ‘atonement’, that pop up in public discourse, freighted with Christian association and symbolism (although this may not be obvious to those who use them). Discernment, in the Christian life, is often applied to people hoping to follow a particular calling, perhaps to the consecrated religious life or to ordained ministry. But this conceals its status as an important part of the tradition for all Christians, as we seek to become more aware of God’s will for us, and to follow that will in our actions and our lives.
In the Western Church, the most influential figure in shaping our understanding of discernment is Ignatius of Loyola. His Spiritual Exercises constitute a rigorous four-week course of discernment for the individual Christian, accompanied by a spiritual director. But even if we cannot find the time to spend a month in intensive discernment, we can still learn to exercise this faculty.
There are several hallmarks of the process of discernment. Firstly, it takes time, time spent praying, listening, revisiting decisions and letting them settle. It also requires attentiveness, an ability to recognise our interior promptings and test them against our knowledge of God and our increasing understanding of his will. It needs courage, to face up to the ways in which we try to deceive ourselves. In the Ignatian tradition this is called the ‘discernment of spirits’, the process of locating the origin of different thoughts and noticing their potential for good or for harm. And it relies on a recognition that this is always an ongoing process: we will never ‘get there’.
A few days before he announced his withdrawal, Biden stated that he would only quit if ‘the Lord Almighty came down’ and told him so. We don’t know how he eventually came to his decision; since he is a practicing Roman Catholic, we can assume that prayer formed a significant part of the process. Few of us are privileged to receive unequivocal messages direct from the voice of God, but we can all seek to hear and follow his will for us, through the work of discernment. | | This Sunday
8.30am Holy Eucharist - Chancel
Preacher: The Revd Hannah Cartwright
10.30am Sung Eucharist - Nave Preacher: The Revd Dr Andy Shamel 3.30pm Choral Evensong
| | This Week
Saturday 11.00 Blessing - Nave (Church closed 10.00 - 13.00) 20.00 Concert - Corvus Consort
Monday 9.00 Morning Prayer - Chancel 10.00 Storytelling Workshop Old Library 12.15 Eucharist - Chancel 19.30 - Concert - Nave
Tuesday 9.00 Morning Prayer - Chancel 12.15 Eucharist - Chancel
Wednesday 9.00 Morning Prayer - Chancel 12.15 Eucharist - Chancel
Thursday 9.00 Morning Prayer - Chancel 12.15 Eucharist - Chancel 13.00 Free Lunchtime Concert - Nave
Friday 9.00 Morning Prayer - Chancel 12.15 Eucharist - Chancel 19.30 Concert - Nave | | | | | Current Exhibition
Faith
1 July - 15 September Adam de Brome Chapel
Faith is the complete trust and confidence in someone, something, or a concept,’ says Rob Judges, reflecting on the essence of his latest photographic exhibition. Titled ‘Faith,’ this exhibition explores the profound expressions of religious devotion across the boundaries of denomination and religious affiliation. Emerging themes such as the importance of food, light, and water— basic elements that nourish life—are beautifully grouped together in this collection. Inspired by a survey revealing that less than 50% of people in the UK identify as religious, Rob felt it was timely to document this aspect of society. ‘Many people of faith, initially wary, soon became warm, calm, confident, and welcoming,’ says Judges. ‘Some were very reticent, but in the end, I have captured a view of Faith that resonates deeply.’ Rob hopes these images will resonate with both people of faith and secular viewers, appreciating the strength and serenity that Faith imparts. The exhibition also continues to grow, and he invites anyone with ideas or from unrepresented faiths to contact him at rob@robjudges.com. | | Special Events
STORYTELLING WORKSHOP – 10AM MONDAY 29 JULY This half-day workshop is aimed at children aged 7-12 with a passion for stories, whether that is reading them, watching them, writing them, or acting them out. Sign up here.
OXTRAIL – 6 JULY - 29 AUGUST This summer, we are proud to be working with Sobell House, our local hospice, and hosting one of the Oxen, which will form part of the Oxtrail initiative. This sculpture trail in Oxford’s city centre is made up of 31 bold and beautiful life-sized sculptures intricately designed by local and international artists. For more information visit: www.oxtrail2024.co.uk and please make a donation to support Sobell House.
CHORAL EVENSONG SUMMER SERIES – 3.30PM SUNDAYS The summer series of Choral Evensongs begin next week and run throughout July and August. The form of service was devised during the English Reformation by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, who would later be martyred in Oxford. His trial took place at the University Church. The service is sung by the University Church Choir and draws on the Christian Scriptures and the ancient monastic offices of Vespers and Compline; it offers a simple, elegant framework for reflection and prayer. Everyone is welcome. | | Upcoming Concerts
Corvus Consort
Saturday 27 July, 8pm
“Byrd Takes Flight” sees vibrant vocal ensemble Corvus Consort join forces with instrumental duo Music on the Edge to present a groundbreaking convergence of old and new, where voices and instruments intertwine to create a timeless blend of soundworlds spanning centuries.
Commemorating 400 years since the death of William Byrd in 1623, four newly-commissioned works explore the enduring strength of Byrd’s influence, which stretches right through to the 21st century. Each new commission is a response to a particular work by Byrd, placing Byrd’s musical voice in direct dialogue with the voices of some of today’s most exciting young composers.Stunning new music by young composers Shruthi Rajasekar, Derri Joseph Lewis, Harry Baker and Anna Semple sits alongside glorious vocal polyphony by William Byrd, one of Renaissance England’s greatest musical masters. Byrd's music is also paired with works by his mentor Thomas Tallis (c.1505-1585), to reveal the ways in which Byrd's own musical voice was shaped by his great teacher and partner. Book a ticket here.
Barry Douglas and the Carducci Quartet
Monday 29 July, 7.30pm
When the power of a solo piano meets the force of a string quartet, the results are truly irresistible. In the atmospheric surroundings of the University Church of St Mary, Barry Douglas and the Carducci Quartet present two of the greatest piano quintets in the repertoire. After Shostakovich in unusually carefree and charming mode comes Brahms’s great chamber music epic. A sense of adventure is hard-wired into the German composer’s F minor Piano Quintet, a work of many faces and tremendous scope, filled with the composer’s characteristic rhythmic verve and thematic sweep.
Shostakovich Piano Quintet in G minor, Op. 37
Brahms Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34
Book a ticket here.Piano Recital - Kevin Chen
Friday 2 August, 7.30pm
Generations of musicians have responded unusually yet fiercely to Domenico Scarlatti’s strangely enigmatic yet crystal-clear piano sonatas – micro-dramas in which musical motifs form the characters, from the villainous and heroic to the lonely and lost. Poulenc described them as ‘my favourite Brut Champagne’. A young colleague of the composer’s talked of Scarlatti’s ‘ingenious jesting with art’. Kevin Chen launches his recital at the University Church with a selection of these intriguing works in the fine company of repertoire staples by Chopin and Schumann, and the most affectionate of Ignaz Moscheles’s vivid set of Étude caractéristique.
Scarlatti Sonata in D minor, K. 1
Scarlatti Sonata in B flat major, K. 266
Scarlatti Sonata in G major, K. 124
Scarlatti Sonata in B minor, K. 87
Chopin Polonaise-Fantaisie, Op. 61
Chopin Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23
Moscheles Étude caractéristique, Op. 95 No. 7, ‘Zärtlichkeit’
Schumann Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 14
Book a ticket here.If you would like to join our brand new team of volunteer concert stewards, please get in touch with us at info@universitychurch.ox.ac.uk | | | Care for Creation - July
Taste the benefits of seasonal and local food. Plan to incorporate locally grown produce into your diet and shopping list throughout the seasons, as it is harvested at its peak ripeness, ensuring superior flavour compared to imported alternatives that have travelled thousands of miles. If saying grace before a meal is a regular practice in your household, this month, include giving thanks for your local food producers. From: https://arocha.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/ARUK-Eco-Tips-Calendar-2024.pdf | |
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