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A grain of wheat
Jean Vanier died last week. In 1964, Vanier became aware of the plight of thousands of people with learning and developmental difficulties living in institutions. He invited two men, Raphael Simi and Philippe Seux, to leave the institutions where they resided and to live with him. Others came to join them. From the beginning, the characteristic of this household was that it was a community - those with disabilities and their carers lived together and learned from one another. The network grew. L’Arche eventually became an international federation dedicated to the creation and growth of a network of homes devoted to the support of people living with intellectual or learning disabilities.
Over the years, Jean Vanier wrote many books and told many stories about his experiences. No-one could doubt his profound Christian faith, but at the same time, his faith was always characterised by a willingness to embrace the other and to see the face of Christ in the stranger. Here is one of his reflections on John 12.14: ‘If a grain of wheat that falls to the ground does not die, it remains alone. However, if it dies, it bears much fruit’.
’These words are very strong! Jesus is surely speaking about his own death. The mystery of Jesus is a mystery of weakness. From his wounded heart will flow blood and water. He will give life. There at the cross he will give us the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit. But he has to die.This text does not only refer to Jesus, but it speaks also to each of us, teaching us that to the extent that we wish to protect our ego, our power, and our sense of being greater than others, we will remain alone. To give life, to work for unity and peace, there are things within us that must die. If we accept this death, then there is something even deeper within each of us, like what is hidden in the little grain of wheat, that will open as a powerful source of love and fruitfulness. When a grain of wheat falls into fertile soil, life will spring forth from it - perhaps forty, perhaps a hundred, other grains of wheat.’
The Revd Dr William Lamb Vicar |
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The Week Ahead
This Sunday
Sunday 19 May The Fifth Sunday of Easter
10.30 Choral Eucharist with University Sermon
Preacher: The Very Revd Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury
15.30 Jazz Vespers - Nave
James Crockford, saxophone
Peter McMullin, piano Joseph Bradley, bass
Monday Alcuin, 804 9.00 Morning Prayer - Chancel
12.15 Eucharist - Chancel 18.15 Choral Evening Prayer - Worcester College
Tuesday Helena, 330 9.00 Morning Prayer - Chancel
12.15 Eucharist - Chancel 18.00 Book Club - The Mitre
Wednesday 9.00 Morning Prayer - Chancel
12.15 Eucharist - Chancel 17.30 Poetry Workshop - Old Library 18.00 Choral Evensong - St John's College
Thursday 9.00 Morning Prayer - Chancel
12.15 Eucharist - Chancel
12.45 Bible Study: Ecclesiastes 5 - Old Library 18.15 Choral Evensong - Merton College
Friday John and Charles Wesley 9.00 Morning Prayer - Chancel 12.15 Eucharist - Chancel 18.30 Choral Evensong - Queen's College
Saturday 18.15 Choral Evensong - New College
For full listings of weekly evening services across the University, see our website.
Sunday 26 May The Sixth Sunday of Easter 10.30 Choral Eucharist
Preacher: The Revd Dr Melanie Marshall (Chaplain, Lincoln College) 15.30 Choral Evensong - Chancel
Inglott, Short Service Stanford, When Mary thro' the garden |
| | | Sponsor Jackie Mundell-Perkins
Next Sunday (26 May), Jackie will be running the Liverpool Marathon, to raise money for Restore, a local charity helping people who have experienced mental health problems to get back to work. If you would like to sponsor her, go to justgiving/fundraising/jaqueline-mundellperkins3. |
| | | Oxford Pride Exhibition
From 21 May – 2 June we will be hosting this year’s Oxford Pride Exhibition in the De Brome Chapel. This is a collaborative exhibition of queer art exploring connection, identity and love, with paintings by Jack Smith and Daniel Swan, and photography by Maddy Whitby, Mazz Image, texas and
glory, and Bicester LGBTQI+ Youth Action Team from OYAP.
#HoldTight: Oxford Pride Exhibition
Tuesday 21 May – Sunday 2 June
Group exhibition of queer art exploring connection, identity and love, with paintings by Jack Smith and Daniel Swan, and photography by Maddy Whitby, Mazz Image, texas and glory, and Bicester LGBTQI+ Youth Action Team from OYAP
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Tuesday 28th May, 14:00-16:00
Meet the artists from this year’s Pride Exhibition, and talk to them about their work. Refreshments will be served.
Pride Prayers
Saturday 1 June, 10:30-11:00
We begin the day of the Oxford Pride Parade with a simple service reflecting on freedom, love and identity. Pride Prayers is a chance to pause, to give thanks, and to pray that we each may find the courage to be ourselves.
Parade: Christians at Pride
Saturday 1 June, 12:00, Radcliffe Square
Join a group from local chapels, churches and Christian communities to march in support of diversity.
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| | | Trinity Termcard
Click here to see our new termcard for Trinity term 2019. It provides information about service and forthcoming events at St Mary's.
Highlights this term:
1 - 3 May, 13.30 in the Nave : May Music Recitals 9 May, 20.00 in the Nave: Newman and Ecumenism 21 May - 2 June: Celebrating Oxford Pride 5 June, 19.30 in the Old Library: Baroque Unlocked |
| | Bookclub
Tuesdays 30 April - 18 June 6 - 7pm
The Mitre, High Street, Oxford
A Parisian Affair and Other Stories is a darkly humorous set of short stories by Guy de Maupassant. These witty explorations of the human character take us from Parisian prostitutes and the bourgeoisie to the isolation of rural Normandy, portraying romantic, familial and economic relationships with devastating honesty.
Each week, someone introduces a discussion on one of the stories. 21 May - Dr Spencer Klavan, Moonlight
28 May - Andrew Bennison, The Christening 4 June - Professor Elisabeth Dutton, Mother Of Invention 11 June - Anna Dill, The Lull-A-Bye 18 June - John Olson, The Necklace |
| | Fear, Faith and Free Speech
The panel discussion, ‘Fear, Faith and Free Speech: Belief in the University’, will not only seek to highlight the important practice of an academic, multi-faith approach to theological enquiry, but it shall also highlight some of the issues which faiths encounter in this endeavour, particularly the challenges which religious belief faces in a University context. The speakers are Prof Alister McGrath (Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion and Director of the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religions) and Prof Anna Sapir Abulafia (Professor of the Study of Abrahamic Religions) and the discussion will be chaired by Prof Jane Shaw (Principal of Harris Manchester College, Oxford). This event will take place on Thursday 23rd May at 7:30pm in the Warrington Room of Harris Manchester College, Oxford. |
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