| |
One Song to the Tune of Another
In the classic Radio 4 comedy show ‘I’m Sorry, I Haven’t A Clue’, there is a game in which panellists (with varying musical abilities!) are asked to sing one familiar song to the tune of another, with hilarious and unexpected results. At my theological college, at the end of term revue, this was adapted to apply to hymn tunes. Thus, we discovered that ‘Praise, my soul, the king of heaven’ goes quite well to Taylor Swift’s ‘Blank Space’; that ‘All I once held dear’ is a good fit for ‘I Will Survive’, and that the words of the Agnus Dei could have been written to the tune of ‘Baby Shark’. (Don’t expect these to appear in orders of service in the coming weeks!)
The comedy of this lies in making the familiar to be unfamiliar. And in this, there is also a revelation of unexpected resonances within the well-known texts. It is similar to the way that a new outfit or a new haircut can reveal a beauty in someone – beauty that has always been there, but which becomes apparent in this new vesture.
There may be a lesson for us, regarding our lives of prayer. We know that there is something beautiful and very important about familiarity and routine in our prayer lives: having prayers by heart makes it easier to speak from the heart. But if you feel that familiarity is beginning to verge into staleness, I wonder whether it is worth singing one song to the tune of another: for example, you could try using the contemporary version of the Lord’s Prayer, if you’re used to the traditional version. If you like to pray aloud with words, why not try singing your prayers, or going to the other extreme and spending some time just in silence with God? You may find that, in this combination of the familiar and the unfamiliar, you open a new door into God’s presence.
by the Revd Naomi Gardom | | This Sunday
8.30am Holy Eucharist - Chancel
Preacher: The Revd Naomi Gardom
10.30am Sung Eucharist - Nave Preacher: The Revd Naomi Gardom 3.30pm Evening Prayer - Chancel
| | This Week
Saturday 11.00 - Nuptial Mass - Nave (Church closed 10.30 - 12.30)
Monday 9.00 Morning Prayer - Chancel 12.15 Eucharist - Chancel
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 Lunchtime Recital - Nave
Friday 9.00 Morning Prayer - Chancel 12.15 Eucharist - Chancel
Saturday 19.30 Concert - Nave
| | | | | Special Events
PILGRIMAGE - TOMORROW, SATURDAY 21 SEPTEMBER On Saturday 21st September, there will be a pilgrimage walk from Abingdon Abbey to the University Church of St Mary the Virgin. If you’d like to join us please email the Vicar, at vicar@universitychurch.ox.ac.uk.
SEX, BODIES AND CHRISTIANITY - THURSDAY 3 OCTOBER Come along to the launch of two significant and long-awaited books this autumn and listen to the authors in conversation. Professor Diarmaid Macculloch, Professor Emeritus of the History of Christianity in the University of Oxford, will talk about Little Lower than the Angels: a history of sex and Christianity (Allen Lane, 2024) and Professor Helen King, Professor Emerita, Open University and a prominent lay member of General Synod, will talk about her book Immaculate Forms: Uncovering the History of Women’s Bodies (Profile, 2024).
OXFORD HALF MARATHON: 13 OCTOBER Please be aware that there will be road closures affecting access to the University Church on 13th October due to the Oxford Half Marathon.
READ WITH FAITH IN ACTION FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH For Black History Month in October, you are invited to join the Faith in Action Group in reading Is God Colour-Blind?: Insights from Black Theology for Christian Faith and Ministry by Anthony Reddie, Professor of Black Theology, and Director of the Oxford Centre for Religion and Culture at Regent’s Park College. If you would like to borrow a copy Hannah has some available. You are encouraged to share your reflections with others in the congregation and in your social, work and study circles to keep this important conversation going. | | Upcoming Concerts
Oxford Sinfonia - 40th Anniversary Concert
Saturday 28 September, 7.30pm
On 28 Sept, we welcome the return of Joe Davies to conduct our 40th Anniversary concert. And in celebration, Joe has arranged Tallis’ iconic 40-part ‘Spem in alium’, with players occupying all corners of the church. It will be memorable.
We will also play Elgar’s fabulous Introduction and Allegro for strings, Stravinsky’s Concerto for Piano and Winds and end with Dvorak’s Symphony no. 6 in D.
David Palmer (piano) joins us for the Stravinsky. After Graduating from Oxford in 2019, David is now much in demand, including recently being a Britten Pears Young Artist (2022-23) and a Leeds Lieder Young Artist (2024). Since he conducted us 2 years ago, Joe has gone on to become Assistant Conductor of the English Symphony Orchestra and the Musical Director of the UK Proms in the Park Orchestra.
As always accompanied children are free, programme is included and seating unallocated. Join us for a special occasion!
Book a ticket here.Martin Randall Travel - The Divine Office: Choral Music in Oxford
30 September - 4 October
Fourteen choirs and instrumental groups, seven chapels and churches, 17 concerts (including the complete Divine Office), three lectures.
The Divine Office (the eight services of the monastic day, performed at their intended times between 1.00am and 10.00pm) is the most spiritually charged and aesthetically intense experience to have emerged from western civilisation.
The oldest and finest of college choirs participate – Christ Church, Magdalen, Merton, New College and The Queen’s College.
Internationally acclaimed professional choirs – Stile Antico, Tenebrae, Recordare, Siglo de Oro, Choir of the London Oratory, I Fagiolini, Collegium Gregorianum and Contrapunctus – and top-class period instrument ensemble The Instruments of Time & Truth.
Based in Oxford throughout, one of the world’s great historic cities, whose magnificent college chapels are uniquely apposite for this celebration of church music.
Music from the Renaissance to the present day, and from many European countries as well as Britain, including many Oxford alumni.
More details and how to book tickets 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 | | | | |
|
|
