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

 

Gatehouse


by Victoria Mort


The Gatehouse has been in existence for over 30 years, having started as the outcome of initiative by Churches Together in Central Oxford. Church people were very concerned to see the number of homeless people, often drinkers, who used to congregate in particular in Bonn Square, so they wanted to know what they could do to help. Our previous vicar, Brian Mountford, was Chair for many years, I was a prime mover, and lots of SMV people and others have given their service. 

 

The Gatehouse is situated in St Giles’s Hall, just behind St Giles’s church, and has started offering their original services again: alternative café from 5 – 6.30 weekdays and from 4 – 5.30 on Sundays. They also provide other services and activities, in particular a clothes store. for which suitable donated items are welcome: chiefly men’s new underclothes, some women’s new underclothes, toiletries, candles and sanitary products for men and women, shoes and boots.   Outer clothes for men and some women are welcome too but telephone first to make sure they want them. Volunteers for the sessions are expected to get there soon after 4pm on a weekday in order to help prepare everything, and to stay afterwards to clear up.

 

Also needed is food: sandwiches and cakes have to have their ingredients listed, in accordance with the law, and they have to be taken there in a cool bag.  It would be great if we could get together a team of St Mary’s people to make sandwiches and cakes on one particular day a month, and have a co-ordinator take them to the Gatehouse in a cool bag (which is provided).  In the winter they need homemade soup. There’s a procedure for leaving the stuff if there’s no-one there, involving a numbered code to unlock the door.   

 

Being on the team on Gatehouse opening sessions is extremely rewarding and interesting. Being in a safe place and treated courteously makes such a difference to people living on the streets. Volunteers tend to enjoy it very much and to make lots of friends. Making sandwiches etc is an excellent way to support the project if you can’t do sessions in person, or don’t want to.  I hope we can get St Mary’s supporting the Gatehouse fully again, as we have in the past.  Look at the Gatehouse website for more information: www.oxfordgatehouse.org

Monday 19 September


The church will be open for morning prayer from 9am to 9.30am.

The shop & Tower will be closed and will reopen on Tuesday 20 September.

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Notices


THANK YOU

We are deeply grateful to all who have given of their time and care to help welcome the large number of visitors coming to St Mary's to pray and to remember her late majesty Queen Elizabeth II. So many people have come together to welcome and care for those in the building and to serve at additional services and behind the scenes. We are hugely thankful for the compassion, dedication and witness you have shown to so many in need at this time.


TAIZE PRAYER: 8PM 16th OCTOBER

Due to the University Memorial service at 4:30pm today, the Taize Prayer team have kindly agreed to reschedule to 16th October at the later time of 8pm.


STILE ANTICO: ENSEMBLE IN RESIDENCE

Stile Antico, our Ensemble in Residence, will be offering two events in the

autumn. There is a concert, A Garden of Delights, which will take place at 8.00pm on 23 September 2022, and a workshop for singers on Saturday 12 November 2022 beginning at 2.30pm. Please make a note in your diaries if you would like to attend either of these events. You can book on the church website.


COFFEE AND CROISSANTS

During Michaelmas Term we would like to offer Coffee and Croissants on a Wednesday morning in the De Brome Chapel as a way of extending our ministry of hospitality during the week and reaching out to our wider community. Alice Willington and Janet Greenland would love to hear from you about whether 9:30am or 11:15am would be a more suitable time and also would be really grateful of some volunteers to assist. We very much hope that lots of friendly faces will join us and invite others for this weekly informal chance to drop in and chat.


SUPPORTING UKRAINIAN REFUGEES

The Diocese of Oxford has joined Citizens UK in providing a safer, more streamlined system designed to provide support for those undertaking the sponsorship process for supporting Ukrainian Refugees. For more information on hosting or supporting refugees visit: www.oxford.anglican.org/everyday-faith/becoming-a-christian/how-to/make-a-difference-in-ukraine.php


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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