Durham University Palatinate Orchestra's Palatinate Ensemble presents Voices of the New Era.

Please click on MORE INFO for ticket prices and to book. Tickets are also available on the door.

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The worshipping heart of parish life, with refreshments afterwards in the Institute across the road.

Sunday, 7th December 2025 - The Second Sunday of Advent

Readings:
Isaiah 11:1-10
Romans 15:4-13
Matthew 3:1-12

The Collect of the Day:

O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power and come among us, and with great might succour us; that whereas, through our sins and wickedness we are grievously hindered in running the race that is set before us, your bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit, be honour and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Post Communion:

Father in heaven, who sent your Son to redeem the world and will send him again to be our judge: give us grace so to imitate him in the humility and purity of his first coming that, when he comes again, we may be ready to greet him with joyful love and firm faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

***Unless otherwise stated, all hymns are from Common Praise: A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern. Please click on the attachment for further information regarding music.***

All are very welcome.

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A prayerful and reflective service of either Evensong or Evening Prayer with Hymns, from the Book of Common Prayer. Roughly every other Sunday in term time, a full choral evensong is held.

Sunday, 7th December 2025 - The Second Sunday in Advent

The Collect of the Day:

Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

***Unless otherwise stated, all hymns are from Common Praise: A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern. Please click on the attachment for further information regarding music.***

***Please note that the 6 pm service taking place on Sunday, 30th November 2025 will be our Advent Carol Service, and the 6 pm service taking place on Sunday, 14th December 2025 will be our Christmas Carol Service . There will not be an evening service at St Oswald's on Sunday, 28th December 2025.***

All are very welcome.

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A prayerful, reflective service from the Book of Common Prayer, held in the chancel.

Tea, coffee and chat afterwards in the vestry.

Wednesday, 3rd December 2025 - Advent; The Commentation of St Francis Xavier, Missionary, Apostle of the Indies, 1552

The Collect for the First Sunday in Advent:

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Post Communion for the First Sunday in Advent:

O Lord our God, as we wait for the coming of thy Son our Lord, preserve us in watchfulness and faith, that when he shall appear he may not find us asleep in sin but active to serve him and joyful to praise him; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect for St Francis Xavier, from The Book of Common Prayer According to the Use of the Episcopal Church:

God of all nations, Raise up, we beseech thee, in this and every land, evangelists and heralds of thy kingdom, that like thy servant Francis Xavier we may proclaim the unsearchable riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

All are very welcome.

All are very welcome.

The Collect for the Third Sunday in Advent:

O Lord Jesus Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee: grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so prepare and make ready thy way by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Words from It Came Upon the Midnight Clear:

Still through the cloven skies they come,
with peaceful wings unfurled;
and still their heavenly music floats
o'er all the weary world:
above its sad and lowly plains
they bend on hovering wing;
and ever o'er its Babel-sounds
the blessèd angels sing.

Edmund H. Sears 1810-1876; Common Praise - A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern

A joyful service which retells the story of Jesus' birth.

Preacher:
The Reverend Alan Middleton

The Collect for Christmas Eve:

Almighty God, you make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of your Son Jesus Christ: grant that, as we joyfully receive him as our redeemer, so we may with sure confidence behold him when he shall come to be our judge; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

All are very welcome.

A special service of Holy Communion celebrating the birth of Christ.

Readings:
Isaiah 52:7-10
Hebrews 1: 1-18
John 1:1-14

The Collect for Christmas Night:

Eternal God, who made this most holy night to shine with the brightness of thy one true light: bring us, who have known the revelation of that light on earth, to see the radiance of thy heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Post Communion for Christmas Night:

God our Father, who in this night hast made known to us again the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: confirm our faith and fix our eyes on him until the dawning of the day when Christ the Morning Star shall rise in our hearts; to whom be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

All are very welcome.

A special service of Holy Communion celebrating Jesus' birth.

Celebrant and Preacher:
The Reverend Alan Middleton

Readings:
Isaiah 9:2-7
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-14

The Collect for Christmas Day:

Almighty God, you have given us your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin: grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; 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.

The Post Communion for Christmas Day:

God our Father, whose Word has come among us in the Holy Child of Bethlehem: may the light of faith illumine our hearts and shine in our words and deeds; through him who is Christ the Lord. Amen.

All are very welcome.