Palm Sunday - Procession and Eucharist 10.15 Gather at the Clarendon Building for the Blessing of the Palms and Procession to the Church 10.30 Sung Eucharist in the Church Preacher: The Revd Professor Andrew McGowan

Today at 12pm, we welcome the choirs from St Albans School and The National Cathedral School from Washington DC, USA.

Happy Monday! The word pyx (Lat., pyxis, which transliterates the Greek, πυξίς, box-wood receptacle, from pyxos, box-tree) is applied generically to all vessels used to contain the consecrated Host. Our beautiful pyx is actually made of silver and was designed by local artist, Stella Campion. One of the possible explanations as to why it is usually hung up quite high is so that the mice won’t reach it and eat the wafers within. You can see the pyx in the Chancel, to the left of the main altar. (Credit @lasquirrel) https://instagram.com/p/Bgf4-XblmFa/

You wouldn’t say it by looking at the weather today but spring arrived at St Mary’s. (Credit @lasquirrel ) https://instagram.com/p/BgWBpsfAj61/

Introducing “Faces of St Mary’s”, a series of portraits of the staff, volunteers and members of our community who make St Mary’s great! . Esther is our Ministerial Assistant, which means that she deals with everything from organising extreme compline to leading the bookclub meetings, and singing last-minute service solos. She loves bees, ravens, and baking, and for Lent, she has been trying to read more fiction. She is currently reading Lolly Willowes, a 1926 novel about a middle-aged woman who moves to a village full of witches. "I value paring down my life in Lent and focusing on preparing myself for Easter. It's a reflective season, and while I wouldn't want to be penitential all the time, it's good to have that focus compressed into a forty-day period. I think you get the best music in Lent, especially choral polyphony, which fits the space in St Mary's so well. After Lent, where the focus is so much on your own imperfections, it is such a relief to be joyful at Easter - the thing that people forget is that Easter isn't just one day; it's another forty days of joyful feasting. The Church is just as much about celebration as it is about introspection. The way people welcomed me as a newcomer is one of the best things about working at St Mary's. This was particularly obvious during my Plainchant series. I knew I liked that kind of music, but I was surprised and delighted when the workshop series brought in so many others. Everyone was so generous with their time and their skills, and sang so well at compline afterwards!" (Credit @lasquirrel ) https://instagram.com/p/BgUFHMsAfR6/

Join us for a unique concert on Friday 16th March at 7.30pm. Bojan Cicic will perform Telemann's 12 Fantasias for solo violin followed by drinks in the Adam de Brome Chapel. Entry is free, with a retiring collection to support Bojan's second solo disc with Delphian Records, which will be recorded this summer.

Blue skies over the SMV tower this past week. Not long ago, James Crockford was telling us he gave up grumpiness for Lent. So pretend tomorrow is full of sunshine and come listen to another Crockford cracker of a sermon at 10.30am at our Mothering Sunday All-age, full of daffodils 🌼 Sung Eucharist. Credit @lasquirrel) PS. We’re having pink fizz after the service, thanks to @vaultsandgardencafe . https://instagram.com/p/BgJQKA_h75X/

The E-pistle is out! Read all about it: http://www.universitychurch.ox.ac.uk/thinking/

This Thursday, 7.30pm: Don't forget to grab a ticket for this panel discussion with Rev’d Rose Hudson-Wilkin and Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell celebrating International Women's Day. Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell will be exploring the roles and impact of women in STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths) both here and abroad. Rev'd Rose Hudson-Wilkin will be discussing the role of imagination and its potential to enable women to work towards creating a new world order in which everyone has an opportunity to be in the room and have a seat at the table. In the Chancel, entry through the High St.

The West door with a surprise appearance from our Outreach Officer, Dr Mariama Ifode @careersdr. (Credit @lasquirrel) https://instagram.com/p/BftiHUyh6k3/

To celebrate International Women’s Day, on Thursday 8 March, we welcome Rev’d Rose Hudson-Wilkin and Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell. Each will give a 20-minute talk on challenges and opportunities for women in the 21st-century. Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell will be exploring the roles and impact of women in STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology and Maths) both here and abroad. Rev'd Rose Hudson-Wilkin will be discussing the role of imagination and its potential to enable women to work towards creating a new world order in which everyone has an opportunity to be in the room and have a seat at the table. At 7.30pm, in the Chancel (entry via High Street). Tickets £3 on Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.com/e/women-a-new-world-order-tickets-43353613826?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&aff=esfb&utm-source=fb&utm-term=listing

We've got Book Club again tonight at The Nosebag Oxford - Official - see you there at 6pm! All are welcome.