Recent Events
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SAMMYS: A music group for under 7s 14 January
SAMMYS first session was held on Saturday 14th January, with about 20 children and their accompanying grown-ups.. Music and singing took place from 10.00-10.30am, followed by refreshments, chat and play.
Join us next Saturday! -
Greening the West Front of St Margaret’s 07 January
Take a look at the results of Saturday’s planting alongside and behind the War Memorial.
For a full report follow this link. -
Christmas Tree Festival at St Margaret’s Church 17 December
A grove of glittering Christmas trees…
Carol-singing by candlelight.
Coffee, cakes, & mulled wine.
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Toddlers’ Christingle Service 02 December
Our Toddlers’ Christingle Service on Friday 2 December was well attended and much enjoyed. At story time the meaning of the “Christingle”, which shows how God’s love goes all around the world, was explained and each family received one of the symbolic Christingles – an orange, surrounded with a red ribbon (God’s love) with sweets and a candle, Christ the Light of the World.
For more pictures, see this page. -
Anthony Aston Smith Memorial Concert 13 November
In keeping with the theme of Remembering, this year our concert in memory of Anthony Aston Smith who encouraged music making in North Oxford/St Margaret’s Parish was held on the afternoon of Remembrance Sunday. New music stands had been purchased from the Fund, and young people had especially been asked to perform, both solo and as ensembles.
We were also entertained by several older musicians, by the St Margaret’s Choir, (extracts from Haydn’s Creation) and St Margaret’s Orchestra (Handel’s Water Music). We heard Michael Brooker perform his own composition, Nocturne in E flat minor, and Bertie Baigent made his conducting debut (at St Margaret’s) for the Handel.
The concert ended on joyful note, with Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus and refreshments.For pictures from this concert visit this page.
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Rededication of the War Memorial 11 November
On 11.11.11 a large number of people, both from the parish and beyond, attended the Rededication at 10.45 and Act of Remembrance at 11.00, including children from SS Philip & James and St Aloysius’ School.
Further information here.
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Exploring Practical Spirituality 08 November
We looked at the subject of Desire and made just a small start on our set book, Martin Laird, Into the Silent Land. You can join us at any meeting: you won’t be at a disadvantage! Here is a taster from the last meeting:
Spirituality is not about serenely picking or rationally choosing certain spiritual activities… It is far more basic than that. Long before we do anything explicitly religious at all, we have to do something about the fire that burns within us. What we do with that fire…is our spirituality… We all have a spirituality whether we want one or not.
Ronald Rolheiser, Seeking Spirituality.
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Saturdays at St Margaret’s (SAMS) 05 November
SAMS for November was one of our best ever, with 60 people doing craft, reading newspapers, chatting, eating croissants, drinking coffee…
We made our footprints in paint, and tiny Moses baskets with the baby in an edible bed of chocolate rushes.
Why not come along next time: Saturday 3 December 9.30am (refreshments from 10.00am)
And many thanks to Sally, Liz, and Kathryn for the hard work side!
“Moses led his people across the sea”
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Family Ceilidh in St Margaret’s Church 30 October
Our Family Ceilidh, again organised by Sam and James Fairbairn, was of course a great success. Thanks also to Michele for catering. Photos show the lively action, and as St Margaret’s is a singing church, there were also appropriate (secular) Scottish songs.
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Minipilgrimage from Thrupp to Hampton Gay 08 October
The Exploring Spirituality Group enjoyed and completed their walk along the Canal from the ruined cross at Thrupp to the churches of Holy Cross, Shipton and St Giles’s Hampton Gay. We spent a short time of led contemplation in each stopping place, considering Should a ruined Cross be the symbol of our faith (rather than a complete one); Water, friend or foe?; and what might be the symbolism of a church in a ruined hamlet.
Thanks to Paula for leading our thoughts.
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Saturdays at St Margaret’s (SAMS) 08 October
The topic on October 8th was Noah’s Ark, and we made a picture of the Ark, with help from Lucy Mori, and stuck onto it some of the animals we’d coloured.
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Harvest Festival 25 September
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Mini-pilgrimage to West Oxfordshire 20 August
The Exploring Spirituality Group’s Mini-Pilgrimage took place on the morning of Saturday 20th August (as rain was forecast for the afternoon). A group of eleven adults and children, plus 2 dogs, walked from Asthall to Swinbrook, and on to Widford, visiting each of the churches. At each church we had a reading and prayers on the subject of the Holy Spirit after Pentecost led by Paula Clifford.
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Teddy Bears’ Picnic 22 July
Our Teddy Bears’ Picnic party for the Toddler Service Leavers took place in the church (as it had been raining) on Friday 22nd July. Lots of leavers (and younger ‘stayers’) attended, along with their bears, and heard a story about Going to School with undertones of the Good Samaritan. After the story, songs and prayers, there were Teddy Bear biscuits, fairy cakes, and play.
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Phil and Jim Leavers' Service 21 July
This year saw the first Leavers’ Service for everyone moving on to Secondary School. The service was held in the Church, and the Leavers had prepared a colourful display presenting the sad and the happy things about moving on, aptly backed by a rainbow linking cloud and rain, and sunshine.
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Patronal Festival at St Margaret’s Church 17 July
Paula making the declaration of assent of a new deacon:
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Benefice Cricket Match 10 July
Chris Brown writes:
The St Margaret’s batsmen, producing many fine performances, reached a total of 52 runs. Despite some gutsy bowling and spirited fielding St Giles successfully chased this total down. With the series now standing at one victory apiece there’s everything to play for next year! Both the weather and tea were glorious.
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Ordination of Paula Clifford at Christ Church 02 July
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Pentecost 12 June
Pentecost was celebrated this year with candles lighting the church for the 10.30am service, to remind us of the Gift of the Holy Spirit. And with “Songs of Praise” followed by tea, in the afternoon.
Here is a picture of our Pentecost Window: the flames on each of the heads is an emblem of the Spirit.
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Rogationtide Procession 29 May
We walked in procession from the church and around the central points of St Margaret’s parish: the canal bridge, Phil & Jim School, the Allotments, Port Meadow, the railway bridge, the Recreation Ground, the Anchor pub, and St Margaret’s Institute, with prayers for blessing on every aspect of the life of our community.
Here we are at Port Meadow:
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Parish Eucharist and Baptism 24 April
For Easter Day, our flower arrangers spent 4 hours decorating the Church with lilies contributed in memory of friends and relations with lilac, greenery and other flowers, and made an Easter Garden.
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Service of Light and First Eucharist of Easter 23 April
Easter Eve
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Blessing of Palms at St Giles’ Church followed by procession to St Margaret’s Church 17 April
Palm Sunday
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Saturday Morning at St Margaret’s 02 April
We made Mothering Sunday presents and iced biscuits. 20 families came this month.
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Labyrinth Walk 29 March
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SAM’s (Saturdays at St Margaret’s) 05 February
New craft area: we have moved the craft area down the church to be nearer the breakfast tables and have more space.
This month we made Valentines cards and items
And planted anemone corms
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Celebrating the Church’s Year 23 January
As we continue the Epiphany season, the Sunday School last week iced a cake to illustrate the seasons of the Church’s Year as a coloured pie-chart. The cake was then eaten after the service!
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Toddlers’ Service at St Margaret’s 24 December
