11:00am - Sung Parish Eucharist (Common Worship) on the Feast of Christ the King, followed by Refreshments in the InstituteOfficiant and Preacher: The Rector6:00pm - Said Evensong with Hymns (Book of Common Prayer) on the Sunday next before AdventOfficiant: The RectorThou art the King of Glory : O Christ.Thou art the everlasting Son : of the Father.When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man : thou didst not abhor the Virgin's womb.When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death : thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers.Thou sittest at the right hand of God : in the glory of the Father.We believe that thou shalt come : to be our Judge.We therefore pray thee, help thy servants : whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.From the Te Deum (The Book of Common Prayer, 1662)Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness.Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say, The Lord liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;But, The Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.A Lesson for the Feast of Christ the King: Jeremiah 23:5–8, King James Version Eternal Father, whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven that he might rule over all things as Lord and King: keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit and in the bond of peace, and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.Amen.The Collect for the Feast of Christ the King (Common Worship)
***Please note that we are currently experiencing an issue with the heating system in church, so due to the severe cold conditions, both of our services on Sunday 15th November will take place in the Institute across the road. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause.***Sunday, 15th November 2026 - Ordinary Time: The Second Sunday before Advent (The Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Trinity)11:00am - Parish Eucharist in the Institute (CW) followed by Tea and Coffee6:00pm - Choral Evensong in the Institute (BCP)Wednesday - Ordinary Time: The Feast of St Elizabeth of Hungary, Princess of Thuringia, Philanthropist, 1231 [Lesser Festival] 10:00am - Midweek Holy Communion (BCP)Saturday - Ordinary Time: The Eve of Christ the King; The Eve of the Sunday next before Advent (The Eve of Stir-up Sunday)7:30pm - The Durham Singers Concert at DCM Elvet (please see note below)Sunday, 22nd November 2026 - Ordinary Time: The Feast of Christ the King; The Sunday next before Advent (Stir-up Sunday)11:00am - Parish Eucharist in the Institute (CW) followed by Tea and Coffee 6:00pm - Said Evensong with Hymns in the Institute (BCP)Wednesday - Ordinary Time: The Feast of St Catherine of Alexandria, Martyr, 4th Century [Commemoration]; The Feast of Isaac Watts, Hymn Writer, 1748 [Commemoration]10:00am - Midweek Holy Communion (BCP)7:00pm - PCC Meeting Saturday - Ordinary Time: The Eve of Advent Sunday7:00pm - Durham Shakespeare Group Performance in the Institute (please see note below)Sunday, 29th November 2026 - Advent: The First Sunday of Advent/Advent Sunday (The First Sunday in Advent); The Eve of St Andrew***Lectionary Year B begins.***11:00am - Parish Eucharist (CW) followed by Tea and Coffee in the Institute6:00pm - Choral Evensong (BCP)Wednesday - Advent10:00am - Midweek Holy Communion (BCP)Friday - Advent: The Feast of St John of Damascus, Monk, Teacher of the Faith, C749; The Feast of Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon, Founder of the Little Gidding Community, 1637 [Commemoration]7:30pm - Durham University Orchestral Society Chamber Ensemble Michaelmas ConcertSaturday - Advent: The Eve of the Second Sunday of Advent (The Eve of the Second Sunday in Advent) 7:30pm - Durham University Foot Notes A Cappella Michaelmas ConcertSunday, 6th December 2026 - Advent: The Second Sunday of Advent (The Second Sunday in Advent)11:00am - Parish Eucharist (CW) followed by Tea and Coffee in the Institute6:00pm - Said Evensong with Hymns (BCP)Tuesday - Advent: The Feast of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary [Lesser Festival]2:00pm - Tea & Talk in the Institute 7:30pm - DUPO Palatinate Ensemble Michaelmas Concert Wednesday - Advent: Ember Day10:00am - Midweek Holy Communion (BCP)Sunday, 13th December 2026 - Advent: The Third Sunday of Advent (The Third Sunday in Advent)11:00am - Parish Eucharist (CW) followed by Tea and Coffee in the Institute6:00pm - Said Evensong with Hymns (BCP)Wednesday - Advent 10:00am - Midweek Holy Communion (BCP) Sunday, 20th December 2026 - Advent: The Fourth Sunday of Advent (The Fourth Sunday in Advent); O Clavis David (O Key of David)11:00am - Parish Eucharist (CW) followed by Tea and Coffee in the Institute6:00pm - Christmas Carol ServiceWednesday - Advent; O Emmanuel 10:00am - Midweek Holy Communion (BCP) Thursday - Advent: Christmas Eve4:00pm - Family Nativity Service8:00pm - The First Eucharist of Christmas (Christmas Night Mass)Friday - Christmastide: Christmas Day11:00am - The Eucharist of Christmas Day (Christmas Day Holy Eucharist)***Please see the Calendar of Services attached.*** The Next Durham Singers Concert: The next concert to be performed by the Durham Singers will take place on Saturday 21st November at 7:30pm, at Elvet Methodist Church. The programme centres around a choral arrangement by Donald Fraser of Elgar's song cycle Sea Pictures, and we present a number of other nautically-themed works, including music by Cecilia McDowall, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, and Rebecca Clarke. We're joined by soprano soloist Katy Thomson and pianist Ana Manistireanu and will also be bidding a fond farewell to music director Tom Edney at the end of his tenure with the choir. Tickets (£15.00 each, or £10.00 each for students) are available from David Harris or online: https://www.ticketsource.com/durhamsingersChurch Christmas Tree 2026: This year's Christmas tree has been ordered, costing £74.00. If anyone would like to help pay for it, please pass any contributions to Roz. Thank you.Durham Churches Together Monthly Vigil for People and Planet: Durham Churches Together Committee invites everyone to join us in a Vigil for People and Planet. This will be held at 11:00am on the third Monday morning of each month in the Parish Room at St Cuthbert's Catholic Church, Old Elvet, by kind permission of Father Downie. We are responding in hope to wide-spread concerns about the increasing consequences of climate change across the world, including in the UK, and to fears of escalating war. The first vigil, on 16th November, will seek God's blessing on Climate Change COP 31.Go through the gate to the front of the church, then follow the path round the side of the church to the door to the Parish Room. The 30-minute silent vigil will commence with a short prayer and end with saying the Grace together. We hope that you will stay for conversation and a cup of tea/coffee. Please bring an early packed lunch if it fits your arrangements. For more information, please contact Charles Jolly, Durham Churches Together Chair: charles.jolly13@btinternet.com.Food Bank: Weekly Message from Lynda Delf - On Sunday 8th November, £20.00 was donated by a parishioner, and £20.00 was posted anonymously through our letterbox. Thank you so much. Our current shortages include long-life milk, fruit juice, sugar, rice, jam, tinned fruit, rice pudding, custard, meat, potatoes, tomatoes, fish and spaghetti hoops. We always need household cleaning materials and toilet rolls. We are also collecting festive food such as Christmas puddings, cakes, biscuits and sweets. Many thanks, your support is greatly appreciated.Durham Shakespeare Group Performance: On Saturday 28th November at 7:00pm in the Institute, Durham Shakespeare Group will give a performance of Romeo and Juliet with a twist.This will be followed by cheese and wine. Tickets cost £7.50 each, and you can purchase these from either Sondra or Jenifer, or pay at the door.Thank you.Parish Magazine: The Autumn issue is now available and is being delivered to regular subscribers. As usual, extra copies are available (£2.00 each) from the back of church.St Oswald's Parish OfficeTel: 0191 383 0830Email: stoswaldschurchoffice@gmail.com
