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Chalking the Door
Many Anglican churches have adopted in recent years a custom to mark the Feast of the Epiphany. The tradition comes from Eastern Europe and is shared with Catholics and Protestants. It involves taking a piece of chalk which has been blessed and writing the following above the front door of your home: ’20 + C + M + B + 18’. The reason for the numbers is easy to identify, but the C M B? For some, these letters are a reminder of the traditional names of the three kings who are remembered on the Feast of the Epiphany, Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. For others, the letters are an abbreviated version of the Latin blessing, ‘Christus mansionem benedicat’, which means ‘May Christ bless this house’.
It is good at the beginning of the year to reflect on the blessing of our homes. We bless them because they are a blessing to us. Their shelter brings refuge and security. They are places of hospitality. They are shared with family and friends. As we bless them, we have much to be thankful for. But the blessing of our homes has a particular poignancy, because we are reminded at the same time of those who have no home, those who are homeless and those who are anxious about where they may find a safe place to be. As the churches of Oxford City Centre open their doors to offer shelter to many of the homeless in our city, please pray for the Oxford Winter Night Shelter as it begins its work. St Mary’s is working together with Wesley Memorial Church to support this venture, and Wesley Memorial Church will be opening its doors with financial support and volunteer help from St Mary’s. My particular thanks to all those who have supported this venture in recent months. May Christ bless this house.
Revd Dr William Lamb
Vicar |
| | Ella May Taylor
Ella May Taylor, a long standing member of the congregation at St Mary’s, has died at the age of 106. She had worshipped at St Mary’s since the late 1930s. There will be a Memorial Service on Tuesday 23 January at St Mary’s at 3.00pm.
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| | The Week Ahead:
—This Sunday
Sunday 7th January Epiphany
10.30 All Age Eucharist
Preacher: The Revd Dr William Lamb in conversation with young people of St Mary’s
This Week
Monday Baptism of Christ
9.00 Morning Prayer Chancel 12.15 Eucharist Chancel
Tuesday
9.00 Morning Prayer Chancel
12.15 Eucharist Chancel
Wednesday William Laud, 1645
9.00 Morning Prayer Chancel
12.15 Eucharist Chancel
Thursday Mary Slessor, 1915
8.00 Latin Communion Chancel
9.00 Morning Prayer Chancel
12.15 Eucharist Chancel
Friday Aelred, 1167
9.00 Morning Prayer Chancel
12.15 Eucharist Chancel
Saturday Hilary of Poitiers, 367
Next Sunday
Sunday 14th January The Second Sunday of Epiphany
9.30 Latin Litany with University Sermon
University Preacher: Fra’ John Eidinow
10.30 Choral Eucharist
Preacher: The Revd Dr William Lamb
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| | Hilary Termcard
Our termcard for Hilary will be out next week. In the meantime, you can access the online version by clicking here or by visiting our website (http://www.universitychurch.ox.ac.uk/). |
| | Music and Mind
A three-part series on Wednesday nights in 2nd, 4th and 6th week, exploring concepts of music, transcendence, and psychology. Old Library, 19:30-21:00.
24 Jan Mellifluous Music in Early Western Christianity – Canon Prof Carol Harrison
Although we have no music from the early Church, this talk will examine the work of some early Christian theologians in the West who were prompted to reflect on the nature, role and effect of music while hearing and performing it in various contexts. The ‘sweetness’ of music was one of the most common ways in which they articulated these reflections. We will explore what this idea of sweetness reveals about some of the theological, practical and affective qualities attributed to music in this early period.
Carol Harrison is the Lady Margaret Professor of Divinity and Canon of Christ Church, Oxford. Her research focusses on early Christianity, especially Augustine of Hippo, and her publications include: Revelation and Beauty in the Thought of Saint Augustine, Augustine: Christian Truth and Fractured Humanity, and the forthcoming volume Reading Augustine on Music: Sense, Affect, Voice.
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| | Singing the word
Delve into the rich and beautiful world of plainchant, monasticism, and the medieval musical landscape with this workshop series. The evening will start in the Old Library with a glass of wine and a short talk, followed by singing practice, during which participants will learn to tackle a difficult piece of chant. At 9pm, we will move to the chancel to sing compline together.
8.00pm Talk and Singing Workshop (Old Library)
9.00pm Compline by Candlelight (Chancel)
1 Feb Why Compline? – Wilf Jones
15 Feb Hildegard von Bingen – Esther Brazil
1 Mar Singing the Word – Fr Peter Allan CR (Mirfield)
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