Latest Service Arrangements

Happily we are now able to open the church for communion services on Wednesdays at 11.00 and Sundays  at 8.00 a.m.and 10.00 a.m respectively, but on the 1st Sunday of the month there will  be a Children's service in the Church Hall at 10.00 in place of a communion service.
Services will be socially distanced, but booking is no longer required  - details of the new arrangements are available by clicking here.

These new arrangements have been subject to a Risk Assessment, a copy of which is available  by clicking here.

As the situation continues to change please come back and see the Vicar's letter for details by clicking here.
 

If you'd like to be kept up to date with news of the latest services and developments, please email services@stoswaldschurch.org.uk and ask to be added to the mailing list.

We will also be posting on this website, services, reflections and prayers which we hope you will find helpful during this time when we are unable to gather together in church in the way we used to. Do check back regularly to see what is new and join us in prayer and worship. 

There is currently no weekly notice sheet, but a weekly Letter from the Vicar is issued online, and a link to it can be found on the "What's On" page of the website, or on MyChurchSuite. 
 

Suggested prayers for the times can be found in the "Resources" section of this website
 

All Souls memorial and thanksgiving service  - Sunday November 7th at 3.00 p.m. Names of those to be commemorated to the Vicar by Nov. 1st please.

 

Worship at St Oswald's 

Shown below are services currently available, as well as a list of those which are in abeyance at present. At St. Oswald’s in 'normal' times (which  we hope will fully return in the not too distant future) you will find a range of service formats, ranging from traditional to contemporary, formal to informal and from the active to the contemplative. Music ranges from well-known hymns, accompanied by organ and robed choir, to modern worship songs accompanied by the church music group. We hope that amongst these different services you will find a style of worship you find accessible and helpful. In the main, our worship follows the order provided in the Church of England Common Worship book, although the Family Services and regular "Spotlight" services are at least in part devised by ourselves.
 

Sunday Morning Services
 

8 a.m Holy Communion every Sunday – this is a simple, quiet and reflective service, in modern language and includes a brief sermon
10 am. Main Sunday Service. The content and style of this service varies through the month, as outlined below:.
The monthly Family Service at 10.00am on the first Sunday of each month has now resumed its usual format with singing in church and no need for advance booking. All are welcome.
2nd, 3rd. 4th, and 5th Sundays  - Parish Communion. This service is in modern language but with a more traditional style, accompanied by the choir and organ. It finishes around 11.15 a.m

Weekday Services

Short reflective  mid-week Communion services are held  at 11.00 a.m. every Wednesday.

Weddings, Funerals and Christenings

If you need more information on weddings, christenings or funerals, please click here.
 

Feast Days

For services on major Feast Days, please take a look at our 'What's on' calendar.

 

These are some of the  services that we will run again once Covid restrictions are lifted further:

"TEEN CHURCH", is held in the church hall at 10.00 a.m. for younger teens, every 2nd and 4th Sunday.  If you, or someone you know, are in Y7-10 we'd love to see you; please just turn up or contact Jenny Bartlett (details here).

'Spotlight’ Communion Service – in this service we spotlight a Christian perspective on a topical issue. The service is more flexible and contemporary in style and is accompanied by our music group. It finishes around 11.15 a.m.

Sunday Evening Services
These take place from time to time, regularly on the first Sunday in the month but also on other dates, usually at 6.30 p.m. except during the winter months when it is at 4.30 pm.  (It reverts to 6.30 p.m from April onwards).  They include Choral Evensong (a traditional Book of Common Prayer service accompanied by the choir), less formal Songs of Praise and a variety of other services. Details of times and type of service will appear on the website calendar.


General description
In the main we follow the Church of England Common Worship orders of service (with robed clergy and choir) , although the Family services and regular Contemporary services are at least in part devised by ourselves and presented in informal dress.  

Children are of course welcome, and in the church hall we provide a crèche for babies & toddlers, and Sunday School for 31/2 year olds upwards. After communion, they are welcomed into the congregation and join them for the rest of the service.
 
Members of the congregation are closely involved in many aspects of all services, whether (amongst other roles) singing in the choir, reading lessons, or devising and leading the less formal services.