23 WHAT S ON www.chch.ox.ac.uk/cathedral 01865 276155 Advent, Christmas and Epiphany 2016/2017
Advent Prepare and Rejoice If you come to a service or concert in Advent you will find the Cathedral illuminated by candlelight. The candles point to the light of Christ coming into the world. Advent marks the beginning of the Christian year. It is the point when we anticipate the end of history, when time will be no more. The four weeks that precede Christmas are punctuated by calls to wake up, watch and pray. As this comes at a time when it is easy to be caught up in the feverish consumerism of pre-christmas preparations, it can be hard to contemplate ultimate things. But an awareness of eternity helps us live well in the here and now. Having a sense of our ultimate destination prs us from getting too caught up in irrelevances. At this time of year, it is good to pray the prayer of purification: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts, by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit. This prayer also captures the Advent hope. This is the season when we look for light to pierce the darkness, when purity trounces pollution, when salvation overcomes sin. Advent, then, is a serious time of preparation. For Christmas, yes. But also for the rest of our lives, and beyond. 2
Service Free No tickets required Cathedral Advent Carol Service Saturday 26 November 2016 Cathedral 6.00pm The Cathedral Choir sings a selection of Advent music old and new. The service involves choir processions around the building and congregational participation in the hymns. Concert Parkinson s UK Christmas Charity Concert Sunday 4 December 2016 Cathedral 8.00pm Christmas Concert with Rory Bremner, Ian Hislop, Tom Poster (piano), Commotio Chamber Choir, Clemmie Franks (alto), John Foster, Paul Mayhew-Archer (comedy writer), and the Parksingers, alongside the world premiere of a new carol by Bob Chilcott. Tickets 15 and 20. Please email pmahippotown@sky.com Concert Family Carol Concert Saturday 3 December 2016 Cathedral 2.30pm The boys of Christ Church Cathedral Choir present an afternoon concert for families, including favourite carols for audience participation. With plenty of popular carols and a couple of special surprises this is something for the whole family to treasure in the build up to Christmas. Unsighted areas of the cathedral will have screens to enable all to fully enjoy the choir. Tickets essential advance booking recommended. Tickets available from Music at Oxford www.musicatoxford.com 01865 244806 3
Concert Macmillan Charity Concert Friday 9 December 2016 Cathedral 8.00pm This 20th Anniversary Concert includes celebrity readings by Freddie Jones, Gemma Jones, Toby Jones, Jeany Spark and Kevin Whately. Uplifting and imaginative music by the world renowned Schola Cantorum and the celebrated operatic baritone Roderick Williams, as well as your favourite Christmas Carols. Tickets available from www.oxfordplayhouse.com/ticketsoxford Tel: 01865 305305 Concert Christmas at Christ Church Friday 16 and Wednesday 21 December 2016 Cathedral 8.00pm Doors open at 7.30pm Concert Music at Oxford s now famous, and ever-popular Christmas concerts, held in the evocative and atmospheric Carols for Choir and Audience Saturday 17 December 2016 Cathedral 8.00pm Tickets 15 (nave, chancel, transept), 6 (unsighted). Christmas carols old and new, sung by the Cathedral Singers of Christ Church a popular highlight of the festive season at Christ Church. More information from cathedralsingers.org.uk 4 surroundings of Christ Church Cathedral, provide the perfect means of preparing for the joy of Christmas. Directed by Stephen Darlington, the boys and men of the Choir perform a wide range of glorious Christmas music, alongside carefully chosen readings, and favourite carols for audience participation. With low lighting, and television screens to provide a close-up of the music-making, these two identical concerts are truly unmissable. Tickets essential advance booking recommended. Tickets available from Music at Oxford www.musicatoxford.com 01865 244806
Christmas all are welcome Come to the Cathedral at Christmas and you will see a great many figures gathered round the crib. Christ s coming as the saviour of the world is God s work, but it also involves a great many people. Mary must say yes to the angel, at some personal cost. The innkeeper offers hospitality when his hotel is bursting at the seams. The wise men bring their strange and extravagant gifts. The shepherds mirror the spontaneity and searching of Christ you may find him, but if you don t, he will come looking for you anyway. And the people of Egypt support those unlikely asylum seekers, the holy family. Small wonder, then, that as an adult, Christ will preach on the importance of welcoming the stranger. God involves many people in his work of gathering up all things in Christ. We are all partners in this extraordinary work. As anyone who has ever had a child will tell you, a tiny inarticulate infant is utterly absorbing and demanding. And God has come amongst us as a tiny child. As such he shows that all are welcome, all are needed. We hope you will find that welcome in our cathedral services this Christmas. 5
Friends s Service Christmas Carol Service and Supper 6 Tuesday 20 December 2016 Service at 6.00pm and supper at 7.30pm A special Friends service of five Lessons and Carols, sung by the Cathedral Choir. The service, at 6.00pm, is open to the public, and no tickets are required. This is followed by a two course supper at 7.30pm, with wine, mince pies and coffee, for which tickets are required. Tickets for the Supper are available at 33 from: Elizabeth Harrison, Hon Secretary, Friends of Christ Church Cathedral, Priory Room Office, Christ Church, OXFORD OX1 1DP Exhibitions THE FACE A private viewing Wednesday 25 January 2017 5.00 7.00pm Jacqueline Thalmann traces the development of representations of the human face, introducing a fascinating new angle on the Christ Church picture Gallery s collection. Wine and soft drinks will be served. Tickets at 18 are available from: Ruth Jolly, Event Organiser, Friends of Christ Church Cathedral, Priory Room Office, Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford OX1 1DP. Viewing limited to 25 persons. Dinner Black-tie dinner with the Dean of Christ Church Tuesday 7 February 2017 7.30 for 8.00pm Martyn Percy has been Dean of Christ Church since October 2014, the youngest head of an Oxford College. He reflects on A Dean in Wonderland? Some reflections on life and work at Christ Church. Tickets at 40 from: Elizabeth Harrison, Honorary Secretary, Friends of Christ Church Cathedral, Priory Room Office, Christ Church, Oxford, OX1 1DP
Concert Organ Meditations Messiaen, La Nativité du Seigneur Thursday 22 December 2016 3.00pm Free No tickets required Service Service of Nine Lessons and Carols Friday 23 December 2016 at 7.30pm Saturday 24 December 2016 at 3.00pm Cathedral Free entry Clive Driskill-Smith and Makoto James perform Messiaen s iconic meditations on the birth of Jesus on the Cathedral s famous Rieger organ. Olivier Messiaen composed La Nativité du Seigneur in 1935. The composer wrote of his inspiration by theology, the mountains of the French Alps, and the The Cathedral Choir sings a selection of Christmas music old and new. The service involves choir processions around the building and congregational participation in the hymns. Entry is free, but tickets are required ( 1 postage). www.oxfordplayhouse.com/ ticketsoxford 01865 305305. If you don t have a ticket, you are welcome to queue on the day but we cannot guarantee entry. stained glass windows in medieval cathedrals. 7
Epiphany In the Cathedral the figures of the wise men are now added to the crib. The wise men come late and they mark the end of Christmas. The season after Christmas is called Epiphany which means manifestation : who Jesus is, for everyone, is now clear. Like many of the stories surrounding the first Christmas, it is important to look beyond the literal to find some real meaning. The story of the Magi provides a wonderful insight into how the early Church understood the incarnation. Consider the problem of recognition: shepherds rejoice, Magi worship and Herod panics and over-reacts. The story shows us that not everyone will see Jesus. God is subtle. If you want to see him, you may need to look harder. In the season of Epiphany we celebrate the Baptism of Christ. The Gospels tell us that Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist, and the Holy Spirit appeared in the form of a dove, a sign of his special nature. Epiphany carries the hope of Christmas into the darkest places of the world. The season ends with Candlemas, always a joyful in the Cathedral, a final blaze of light before the austere journey of Lent. 8
Seasonal services at the Cathedral NOVEMBER 2016 DECEMBER 2016 (continued) JANUARY 2017 JANUARY 2017 (continued) Saturday 26, 6.00pm Christmas Eve, Saturday 24 The Naming of Jesus Second Sunday of Epiphany Cathedral Advent Carol Service 3.00pm: Service of Nine Lessons Sunday 1 January Sunday 15 January Sunday 27, 5.30pm College Advent Carol Service (Entry by ticket only) and Carols 11:30pm: Midnight Choral Eucharist Christmas Day, Sunday 25 8.00am: Holy Communion 9.45am: Matins 11.00am: Choral Eucharist 6.00pm: Choral Evensong 8.00am: Holy Communion 9.45am: Matins 11.00am: Choral Eucharist 6.00pm: Choral Evensong DECEMBER 2016 Thursday 8, 6.00pm Choral Eucharist with Britten s Ceremony of Carols sung by Consort Iridiana Tuesday 20, 6.00pm Friends Carol Service 8.00am: Holy Communion 9.45am: Choral Matins (The Dean) 11.00am: Choral Eucharist (The Bishop) with Haydn s Little Organ Mass 6.00pm: Said Evening Prayer Friday 6 January 6.00pm: Epiphany Festal Evensong Epiphany Sunday Sunday 8 January 8.00am: Holy Communion 9.45am: Matins 11.00am: Choral Eucharist Third Sunday of Epiphany Sunday 22 January 8.00am: Holy Communion 9.45am: Matins 11.00am: Choral Eucharist 6.00pm: Choral Evensong Presentation of Christ in the Temple Thursday 22, 6.00pm 6.00pm: Choral Evensong Sunday 29 January Choral Eucharist with Haydn s Little Organ Mass Friday 23 4.00pm: Crib Service 7.30pm: Service of Nine Lessons Saturday 14 January, 6.00pm Epiphany Carol Service 8.00am: Holy Communion 9.45am: Matins 11.00am: Choral Eucharist 6.00pm: Candlemas Carol Service and Carols 9
Schools Christianity and the Bible: a professional development day for Primary teachers and RE Coordinators 8 March 2017 9.30am 2.30pm Teachers are invited to come to Christ Church for a Schools Icons and Icon Writing 25 January 2017 9.15am 2.15pm Secondary and Sixth Form Study Day at Christ Church. Students will be able to meet the iconographer, Dr Irina Bradley, and explore what the term icon means within different contexts. Choose from a variety of workshops, including studying the icons in the Christ Church Picture Gallery. Meet the Librarian and look at artefacts relating to the City, College and Cathedral. Inside the Cathedral students can enjoy a short tour, followed by some time to draw and be creative, with guidance from a local artist. Tickets 8 per head (plus VAT). For more information please contact: jacqueline.holderness@chch.ox.ac.uk 01865 286003 10 one day conference to work with experts in the field of RE. We will explore ways to develop and deepen pupils knowledge, spirituality and understanding. Colleagues will discover meaningful ways to bring the Bible and Christian faith into their schools. Find out how to use stories, parables, places of worship, Godly play, and Prayer Spaces to bring the Bible to life. We have an exciting line-up of guest speakers and access to inside the Cathedral. The day will include a Lenten Art exhibition and a guided tour of the Cathedral, designed to demonstrate how places of worship can bring the RE curriculum to life. Cost: 60 plus VAT (incl. buffet lunch, in Christ Church College). For further information, please contact the Cathedral Education Officer education@chch.ox.ac.uk or call 01865-286003
Our regular pattern of worship at Christ Church Cathedral Book a parish visit to your cathedral The Dean and Chapter of Christ Church warmly invite parishes in the Diocese of Oxford to visit the Cathedral, to share in its worship and discover its history. The programme for the day is as follows: 3.00pm Arrive at Christ Church for a guided tour of the Cathedral 4.00pm Visit to the Treasury and Cathedral Shop 4.30pm Afternoon tea in the Great Hall 5.00pm Visit to Upper Library or Picture Gallery 6.00pm Choral Evensong 7.00pm End of visit The daily offering of worship to God is at the heart of Christ Church. Everyone is welcome to join the worshipping community of Christ Church Cathedral, whether for a single service, or more regularly. Sundays 8.00am Holy Communion (1662) 9.00am College Communion (College Community) * 09.45am Matins and Sermon (1662) 11.00am Sung Eucharist (CW) 6.00pm Choral Evensong (1662) Weekdays 7.15am Morning Prayer (CW) 7.35am Holy Communion (CW) 1.00pm Holy Communion (Wednesdays only) (1662) 6.00pm Choral Evensong (1662) On Mondays, Evening Prayer is either a said service or, during university term time, sung by the College Choir. On Thursdays, the evening service is usually a Sung Eucharist. The programme runs during university term-times throughout the year: 15 Jan 11 Mar / 23 Apr 17 June / 8 Oct 2 Dec 2017. There will be a charge for the tea but not for the guided tours. For further information email the Cathedral Visitors Officer miranda.hockliffe@chch.ox.ac.uk Cathedral Services begin five minutes later than normal time (GMT or BST), because the Cathedral still keeps the old Oxford Time which is five minutes west of Greenwich. Thus 6pm Oxford time is 6.05pm. * Term time only. 11
N P RIVER CHERWELL BEAUMONT ST. P ST. GILE S P OXFORD STATION P PARK END RD. GEORGE ST. CORNMARKET ST ALDATES HIGH ST. OXPENS RD. CANTURBURY GATE P TOM GATE CHRIST CHURCH RIVER THAMES P MEADOW GATE THAMES ST. CHRIST CHURCH MEADOW Who s who at Christ Church Cathedral Dean: The Very Revd Professor Martyn Percy Sub Dean: The Revd Canon Dr Edmund Newey Precentor: The Revd John Paton Organist: Canon Dr Stephen Darlington Registrar: John Briggs The Cathedral Office, Christ Church St Aldates, Oxford OX1 1DP cathedral@chch.ox.ac.uk Tel: 01865 276155 To find out more about the life and work of the Cathedral, see www.chch.ox.ac.uk/cathedral