Subject: News from the University Church of St Mary the Virgin

The Harvest is Plentiful…


It is a time of new beginnings for many, myself included, as I began my Ministry among you as Assistant Priest just last Sunday. It has been wonderful to already connect with some of those coming up to the University for the first time, as well as to start to get to know folk who have been a part of the community for much longer too. One thing which has struck me through each of my conversations is the astonishing array of gifts which this community holds collectively, and how many people quietly use their gifts individually in the service of others and the world throughout the week.


So many of these acts of service happen without fanfare; especially in the mundane and unglamorous moments of life. Yet it is ordinary acts of love which can often have the most extraordinary impact on the world; as small buds of kindness, with time and nurturing, bear fruit in due season. As we approach the church’s harvest festival on Sunday, we celebrate the gifts we have been entrusted with by God and re-commit to sharing our material gifts more fairly too. Whether you use your gifts to nurture the green space in Holywell Cemetery at the gardening day on Saturday, make a donation of tins or funds to support the Oxford Community Emergency Foodbank, or give of your time unseen to care for others, God knows that the harvest will indeed plentiful. God’s invitation to us, is to dedicate our daily labour to him and to use our God-given gifts to bring-in and share-out the fruits of his Kingdom.

 

by the Revd Hannah Cartwright, Assistant Priest

This term we welcome three ordinands from local theological training colleges to our community to hone their ministerial skills and continue learning and reflecting. Find out more about each of them below:


Ben Thompson

Ben is a 3rd Year ordinand at Ripon College Cuddesdon, where he lives with his wife (Sarah), daughter (Emily-Jane), and ‘bump’, who is due to be born in March next year. Ben is currently waiting to graduate with a BA in Theology and Religion from Oxford and is now studying for a Postgraduate diploma through Durham University. Prior to training, he worked in education as a music teacher and as a freelance musician having trained in Orchestral Conducting at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.


Christina Peacock

Chrissie Peacock is a second year ordinand studying at Wycliffe Hall. She grew up in Kent and has lived in London, Italy and the USA, but moved to Oxford with her husband, Jonny, after their lockdown wedding last year, as it’s their favourite city. In her spare time she enjoys long walks, cooking Italian food, and being a bit of a Tolkien geek.


Anne Curtis

Anne read Natural Sciences (Physics) at Queens’ College Cambridge. She is married to Tom and has two daughters who are at university. Anne is studying at Ripon College Cuddesdon for the Durham BA and is a tutor at Greene’s Tutorial College. She was previously Licensed Lay Minister at St John the Baptist, Kingston Bagpuize.

Livestreamed Services:


Every Sunday, we livestream the 10.30am service on our YouTube channel.

You can watch it here: https://youtu.be/0fjkQokUq5E


Please subscribe to our social media channels to ensure you see the videos in your newsfeed and you are alerted to all our other online events.

Book your visit to the Tower online


The Tower is now open and you can book a ticket online for your visit at the link below. You can find more information as well as our Terms & Conditions on our website.

Online Bookings

Notices


MICHAELMAS TERMCARD Our new termcard for Michaelmas 2021 is out now! Pick one up in church after a service or visit this page on our website. Lots of new exciting events coming up.


HARVEST FESTIVAL

Next Sunday we will be celebrating our harvest festival, and we will be

making donations to the Oxford Community Emergency Foodbank, either by

cash (a retiring collection) or tins and dried goods. Please support us.


GARDENING DAY: HOLYWELL CEMETERY There will be another gardening day at Holywell Cemetery on Saturday 9 October from 10am – 1pm. You do not need to be an experienced gardener. If you have secateurs and other tools, feel free to bring them, but please make sure that you have some suitable clothing. Gloves are also a good idea!


NAVE ROOF REPAIRS

A major project to replace the nave roof of the Church will begin on Monday

11 October. This work will also include high level repairs to the stonework,

including the pinnacles and south clerestory. This has been made possible by

the careful stewardship of our resources in recent years and a substantial

grant from the Cultural Recovery Fund. The work has received all necessary

permissions and the contractors estimate that the work will be finished by

the end of March/beginning of April 2022.


BIBLE STUDY

Bible Studies will resume this term on Thursday lunchtimes in the Old Library

(12.45-1.30pm). We will be exploring the Politics of Paul and thinking about

the ways in which Paul’s letters illuminate traditional political questions as

well as issues of identity in the modern world. We will be using a hybrid

format so people will be able to access these meetings online as well. Contact us at admin@universitychurch.ox.ac.uk for more information.


FAITH IN ACTION/GREEN TEAM FILM SHOWING

The University Church's Faith in Action Group and Green Team have booked

the Old Library for a film screening of ’Thank for the Rain’ on 20th October.

This is a film highlighting the increasing difficulties faced by a Kenyan farmer

Kisilu Muysa as climate changes bring hugely challenging conditions.This

event will be held in the Old Library on 20th October 19.00 – 21.00.

Book a ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/182547794367


NEW TO ST MARY’S? If you are new to St Mary’s and have started coming to services in the last six months or so, we may not have your contact details. If you would like to find out more about what is going on at the University Church, please email admin@universitychurch.ox.ac.uk with your name, address and telephone number and ask for your name to be added to the Parish Directory. This directory is used only by parish staff but it enables us to get in touch with you as the need arises.


St Mary's Church, High Street, OX1 4BJ, Oxford, United Kingdom

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