| View this email online if it doesn't display correctly |
| | | | SERMON WITHOUT WORDS
This Sunday we have a sermon without words. Music instead of doctrine.
The brilliant young violinist, Savitri Grier, will play, for twenty minutes in the middle of the morning mass, some movements from JS Bach’s B minor Partita no 1 and Malinconia and Danse des Ombres from Ysaÿe's Second Solo Sonata.
Bach’s music is steeped in religion and seems capable of conveying something about spiritual meaning even to those who are not religious. But this short recital of solo instrumental music, obviously without words, juxtaposes work by one who composed for the church and one who is clearly secular. Will this music bring a greater sense of transcendence to worship? To quote Jesus, ‘Let anyone with ears to hear listen.’
John Eliot Gardiner writes, the ‘dedication of [Bach’s] art to God’s glory was not confined to signing off his church cantatas with the acronym S[oli] D[eo] G[loria]; the motto applied with equal force to his concertos, partitas and instrumental suites.’
I hope you can make it on Sunday.
|
|
|
|
|
| | |
|
| |
|
|
|
| | | Services this Week
—
Tuesdays & Thursdays
12.15 pm Lunchtime Eucharist
—
Sunday 15th November 2015
Second Sunday before Advent
10.30 am Choral Eucharist
Savitri Grier, violin
Children's Church and a discussion group for teenagers will meet on Sunday during the service. All Welcome. |
| | Tonight- Joint service for students
The joint service with the Wesley Memorial Church for students is this evening at 7pm in the Chancel at the University Church. |
| | The Moot - 7.45pm, Oriel College Small SCR - Monday 23rd November
The Moot is University Church's wide-ranging discussion group. Our next meeting will be on Monday 23rd November at 7.45pm in Oriel College Small SCR. We will be joined by Timothy Walker, former head of the University of Oxford Botanic Garden and presenter of the BBC documentary 'Botany: A Blooming History'. His title is: Is Biology without a price tag worthless or priceless?
He writes: 'At a conservation tutorial last term, an undergraduate stated that the only species worth conserving are those with a monetary value. The other three students in the tutorial attacked him vociferously and he later wrote to apologise for his views. For this meeting of The Moot I would like to examine whether the monetary value of biology is the only value it has.'
All are welcome and refreshments will be provided. Email tim.middleton@worc.ox.ac.uk if you have any queries.
|
| | Servers Rota
We are looking to recruit some new members to our serving team in the coming year. It's a great way to get involved in church services and is suitable for anyone from around the age of 10 up. If you would be interested in finding out more about what serving involves or would like to volunteer please talk to our head server Ellie Williams after the service or email her on 'eleanorpolly.smith@gmail.com'.
|
| | Forthcoming Events
—
Tuesdays 8pm, Vaults & Garden: Bible Study
The Bible Study for students meets in the Vaults cafe every Tuesday evening in term time.
— Monday, 23rd November, Oriel SCR
The Moot, details as above.
|
| | On Death Series
Why do we want to talk about death? Does facing our mortality help us live better? And how do we want to be remembered?
University Church presents a series on the theme of death. Each
evening will include a talk, Q&A, and discussion over cheese and
wine.
Thursday 19th November - What will you make of me? Dr Jim Harris
Gravestones, tombs and memorial sculptures have always been an important part of remembering the dead. But why do we need these objects or places? And should we be involved in their planning before our death? Dr Jim Harris will discuss the various material ways people have been remembered
throughout history. He will also explore new trends in death ritual, such as roadside altars and ‘white bikes,’ forming our visual landscape today.
Dr Jim Harris is an art historian specialising in late-medieval
and Renaissance sculpture and a Teaching Curator at the
Ashmolean Museum, working with colleagues from the
English, Modern Languages, Medical Sciences, Theology
and History faculties at Oxford University. In a previous life
he was an actor and in his current life he is a Reader at St
Olave Church, Hart Street in London and a contributor to
‘Pause for Thought’ on Radio 2.
|
| | Fireside Tales series
A six-part series combining creative workshops, talks and performances, looking at the tradition of storytelling throughout the timespan of University Church. From the earliest Christian verse, relayed by Old English bards; by way of the familiar essay, unlocking complexities of thought on religion and philosophy; to the early modern puppetry designed for an illiterate congregation – this series gets to the very heart of storytelling.
Each session will be preceded by a one-hour creative writing workshop, 5.30–6.30pm, to which all are welcome. The talks and performances begin at 6.45pm and last approximately 45 minutes. Events take place in the Old Library unless otherwise stated.
6th week – Wednesday 18th November Dr Tiffany Stern, Professor of Early Modern Drama at the University of Oxford, explores the world of the Early Modern marionette show. The talk will be preceded by a creative workshop on satire (5.30–6.30pm).
Full details here.
|
| | Forthcoming Concerts
—
Monday 30th 7.30pm
Hertford Music Society - Michaelmas Term Concert
Saturday 12th December 7.30pm City of Oxford Choir - Time of Snow
Saturday 19th December 7.30pm Instruments of Time & Truth - Handel's Messiah
|
| |
| |
| |
|
