We are fortunate at the University Church in having so many committed volunteers who give generously of their time and skills. In addition to the Church Wardens and PCC, it is the invaluable contributions of all our welcomers, stewards, readers, intercessors, servers, flower arrangers, coffee makers, Sunday school teachers, those who provide the parish lunches, the Grapevine team and others which make our parish the flourishing and outward looking community that it is. To those who fulfil these vital roles, I want to take this opportunity to extend my particular thanks. This Sunday, after the 10.30am Choral Eucharist, there will be an opportunity to find out more about volunteering opportunities at St Mary’s and in the wider community. There will be stalls in the Chancel will lots of information available, so please feel free to browse while you are enjoying refreshments after the service. This is a chance for you to get involved!
I also want to thank you for your financial support of the parish. Our tourist and business enterprises mean that the fabric of our buildings is well maintained and your regular giving allows us to budget sensibly for the whole range of ministries and activities of the parish through the course of the year. Moreover, if you pay income tax, the Gift Aid Scheme allows us to claim tax on anything you may give. We have just updated our website and this means that we have also been able to introduce online giving by Direct Debit (which offers the security of the Direct Debit Guarantee). For further information, please follow this link to our new website: https://www.universitychurch.ox.ac.uk/content/ways-giving.
For those who wish to give by other means, there will be an information pack available at the back of church for you to collect this Sunday. It is important to emphasise that our contributions help to subsidise poorer parishes within the Diocese, and the Parochial Church Council has recently made a commitment to support the parish of Littlemore, originally part of our parish. Our support will enable the church in Littlemore to serve the needs of that community, and to be a sign of welcome and hospitality for all.
The Church of England continues to maintain a visible presence in every single community in the country, providing ministry, education, care and service to literally millions of people. All of this has been made possible by the generosity of parishes up and down the country. On average, a member of the Church of England gives £14.96 per week to support this ministry. It is your giving which can make all the difference.
Thank you for everything you contribute in terms of your time, your gifts, your money, and your prayers.
GO before us, O Lord, in all our doings,
with thy most gracious favour,
and further us with thy continual help,
that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee,
we may glorify thy Holy Name,
and finally by thy mercy obtain everlasting life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
