| View this email online if it doesn't display correctly |
| |
|
|  |
The Crucifixion
We are approaching the season of Passiontide. This Sunday is often described as ‘Passion Sunday’ and so our observance of Lent begins to take on a different register as we begin to turn our thoughts to Holy Week and the story of the Passion. This year, for the first time in many years, St Mary’s will be hosting a performance of Stainer’s Crucifixion on Saturday 6 April at 6.00pm. The choir will be made up of volunteers (including me!), directed by Robert Howarth, our Director of Music, with Felix Leach (Tenor) and Giles Underwood (Bass).
John Stainer was the Organist and Director of Music at the University Church from 1861-1871. He eventually became the Organist at St Paul’s Cathedral. In February 1887, as part of a series of Lenten services, the choir of Marylebone Parish Church in London gave the first performance of a Passiontide cantata that was to become an established favourite in churches throughout the country, and still lives on today, The Crucifixion: A Meditation on the Sacred Passion of the Holy Redeemer.
In composing this oratorio, Stainer aimed to provide an extended Passiontide meditation, which could be performed by ordinary choirs, and to which congregations could relate. Though perhaps rather more modest than Bach’s Passions, The Crucifixion is clearly modelled on the same scheme of choruses, chorales, recitatives and arias. The libretto was compiled by a clergyman, the Revd William Sparrow-Simpson. It drew on the Gospel accounts for the passion narrative. While some of the music is a little sentimental (John Stainer himself was rather less complimentary about it later in his life), it still retains a power to move and inspire the listener. It draws us to meditate on the passion of Christ.
This performance is also intended to raise money for the project at Littlemore (tickets will be available on the door). If you want to sing, you are welcome to join us in the rehearsal at 2.00pm. For the last twelve months, we have partnered with the parish of Littlemore to support their building project as they seek to open the parish church to the local community, and to support people who are isolated or living below the breadline. There will be a cake-sale and tea immediately before the performance from 5.00pm-6.00pm. We will then listen to the performance, and this will be an opportunity for us to prepare for the season of Passiontide and our observance of Holy Week.
‘God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,that whoso believeth in him should not perish,but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the worldto condemn the world;but that the world through him might be saved.’ (John 3.16-17)
Vicar |
| | Annual Parochial Church Meeting
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will take place Sunday 7 April at 12.00 in the Old Library, open to all those on the Electoral Roll. As well as hearing about the life of the parish over the last year, we will be electing churchwardens and new members of the Parochial Church Council (our Board of Trustees). |
| | The Week Ahead
Next SundaySunday 7 April The Fifth Sunday of Lent (Passion Sunday) 10.30 Sung Eucharist - Nave
Preacher: The Revd James Crockford 15.30 German Lutheran Service
Monday 09.00 Morning Prayer - Chancel 12.15 Eucharist - Chancel
Tuesday Bonhoeffer, 1945 09.00 Morning Prayer - Chancel
12.15 Eucharist - Chancel
Wednesday William Law, 1761 09.00 Morning Prayer - Chancel
12.15 Eucharist - Chancel
Thursday George Selwyn,1878 09.00 Morning Prayer - Chancel
12.15 Eucharist - Chancel
Friday 09.00 Morning Prayer - Chancel
12.15 Eucharist - Chancel
Next Sunday
Palm Sunday 10.15 Procession of Palms, from Clarendon Building
10.30 Sung Eucharist with Passion Gospel Preacher: The Revd Dr William Lamb 15.30 Organ Vespers
Holy Week Services
Monday 12.15 Eucharist 20.00 Compline with Homily
Tuesday 12.15 Eucharist 20.00 Compline with Homily
Wednesday 12.15 Eucharist 20.00 Compline with Homily
Maundy Thursday 11.00 Chrism Eucharist at Dorchester Abbey
20.00 Choral Eucharist of the Last Supper
Good Friday 10.30 All-Age Stations of the Cross
12.00 The Seven Last Words of Christ
14.00 The Liturgy of Good Friday |
| | | BRING AND SING: STAINER’S CRUCIFIXION
On Saturday 6th April, we mark the start of Passiontide with a ‘Bring and
sing’ performance of The Crucifixion by John Stainer (Organist at the
University Church, 1861-1871), directed by Robert Howarth, with soloists
Giles Underwood and Felix Leach. The rehearsal will run 2-5pm, with a
performance at 6pm in aid of the Littlemore Church Building Project.
Tickets (£5) available on Eventbrite or on the door.
|
|
|
| | The Almond Tree
This week an Almond Tree (prunus dulcis) was planted on the south side of the University Church so that people passing the church on the High Street will once again enjoy the sight of almond blossom in the spring. The Revd Toddy Hoare, a member of our community, has produced a linocut of the old almond tree. He writes: 'Dismayed as anyone at the demise of the old Almond Tree I captured it on a linocut and printed it through the Bodleian Press with a couple of sonnets to match. Limited edition framed/unframed will be available on Sunday morning. Also on display limited edition prints: Beating the Bounds + sonnet (Oriel 2019). Trinity of Hares + sonnet'. |
| | |
