St Edburg's Church - Bicester

Message from Verena for Sunday 22nd March 2020

 

Dear St Edburg’s family,

 

St Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians: “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.” (12.27) We are indeed the body of Christ, though we cannot come together, we remain connected through the Spirit in Christ.

 

I would like you to know that I will celebrating Holy Communion at 10.30am on Sunday. 

 

This is not a public service and though you won’t be able to be with me in body I would like to invite you to join me in spirit.

 

I will be sending you the order of service beforehand; you will also be able to find it on our website.

 

You are all in my thoughts & prayers.

Stay safe & well.

God bless

Verena 

 

Revd Canon Verena Breed,

Team Rector

Message from The Revd Canon Edmund Newey

Dear Friends,

As I am sure you will already know, on recent national advice we have taken the painful decision to postpone our public worship in the Cathedral for the coming days and weeks. We know that this is the time when gathering together for worship would normally be our most natural instinct - to pray for those in need, and for one another, and for our wider community. However, this is an unprecedented time in our country and the wider world and of course you'll understand that other events such as concerts have also been cancelled for the foreseeable future.

The Dean, Chapter and clergy colleagues are maintaining the daily round of prayer with Morning Prayer at 7.15am, the Eucharist at 7.45am and Evening Prayer at 6pm, and we warmly invite you to join with us in spirit, though sadly not in person.

I am pleased to say that the Cathedral remains open for private prayer between the hours of 8am and 5.30pm. In addition we are working hard on a number of resources to share over the coming week. These will include:

• A daily psalm and reflection, posted each morning on the Cathedral blog, beginning this Sunday www.chch.ox.ac.uk/blog/category/cathedral

• A topical prayer and accompanying anthem, sung by the Cathedral Choir, posted as an audio file on the Cathedral blog each Sunday and Thursday

• Ensuring that we maintain regular pastoral contact with our volunteers and congregations by telephone and email, and that the needs of the most needy and vulnerable among us are properly looked after. 
  
  We are also exploring ways in which some services may be shared more widely, beginning with a live-streamed eucharist on Mothering Sunday at 10am, at which the Bishop of Oxford will preside and preach:  https://www.oxford.anglican.org/coronavirus-covid-19/livestream/#toggle-id-3-closed
  
  Please do keep a regular eye on the Cathedral website’s FAQ page www.chch.ox.ac.uk/oxfords-cathedral/pastoral-care-and-resources-during-covid-19-outbreak which we are keeping constantly updated.
  
  In all of this uncertainty, we invite you to remember the great Christian truth of Emmanuel: God with us. God is with us and meets us where we are. God chose to be amongst us and God never leaves us. Whatever we face, God is with us - in the darkness and the light, and in times of great need and abundant plenty. Please pray for us and for one another as we are praying for you, as together we work to manifest the love of God with us all at this time.
  
  With every blessing,
  
  Edmund Newey, Sub Dean

​

The Revd Canon Edmund Newey

Sub Dean, Christ Church, Oxford, OX1 1DP

01865 276278

www.chch.ox.ac.uk/cathedral/covid

www.chch.ox.ac.uk/cathedralblog