This coming Sunday is the Feast of St Michael and All Angels, commonly known as Michaelmas. We celebrate this festival every year, even though it doesn't always fall on a Sunday. It is this festival which lends its name to the approaching University Term.

It seems appropriate to mark this festival with the publication of our 'What's On' programme for the coming term. You will see that there are lots of events and activities, and plenty of opportunities to get involved. This term we will have our first volunteer fair since the pandemic, and I hope that this will provide opportunities for people who sometimes struggle to find a 'way in' to get involved with the life of the parish. There are a few new initiatives, particularly a regular 'Canterbury Lunch' for students, and we will continue with Second Coffee and other social activities for members of both Universities. We have also reintroduced our series of talks and conversations for the term, which will offer some reflection and input on questions about death and dying. The brochure also includes details about all our services, including services for Advent and Christmas.

And next week, we kick off this great programme with a conversation between Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch and Professor Helen King as they talk about sex, bodies and Christianity. The session is at 5.30pm on Thursday 3 October. We would love to see you there.

https://www.universitychurch.ox.ac.uk/content/michaelmas-2024