All are very welcome to join us at the Cathedral for a special service of Choral Evensong in commemoration of our patron saint, Oswald of Northumbria.

The Collect for the Feast of St Oswald:

Lord God almighty, who so kindled the faith of King Oswald with your Spirit that he set up the sign of the cross in his kingdom and turned his people to the light of Christ: grant that we, being fired by the same Spirit, may always bear our cross before the world and be found faithful servants of the gospel; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

(Common Worship)

A Reading for the Feast of St Oswald:

But the righteous live for ever,
and their reward is with the Lord;
the Most High takes care of them.
Therefore they will receive a glorious crown
and a beautiful diadem from the hand of the Lord,
because with his right hand he will cover them,
and with his arm he will shield them.
The Lord will take his zeal as his whole armour,
and will arm all creation to repel his enemies;
he will put on righteousness as a breastplate,
and wear impartial justice as a helmet;
he will take holiness as an invincible shield,
and sharpen stern wrath for a sword,
and creation will join with him to fight against his frenzied foes.

(Wisdom 5:15-20, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition)

The First Reading for the Principal Feast

'Be strong and courageous. Behold, I will be with you. This night set out from your camp to battle, for the Lord has granted me that your enemies will flee and Cadwallon, your enemy, will be delivered into your hands and the victory in battle will be yours and you will rule happily.'

(From King Oswald's vision of St Columba on the Eve of the Battle of Heavenfield)