We are a Church of England parish with a strong tradition of music in worship, where all are very welcome. As an ancient Church in the centre of Durham, St Oswald's is a reservoir of peace for all who enter it.

The Sunday Eucharist is at 11:00am, and we have a play and books corner by the font for any younger worshipper who feels a parent or carer would enjoy it there. Evensong is at 6:00pm on Sundays, either in the chancel, or roughly every other week during term time when the usual hymns expand to a full choral setting, in the body of the church. Midweek Holy Communion is at 10:00am on Wednesdays, and the church is usually open from 9:30am till round about 5:00pm (or dusk, if earlier) on weekdays.

***A very warm welcome to all new and returning Durham University students! Please do join us this Sunday, 27th September 2026 at 11:00am for our Harvest Festival Sung Parish Eucharist, followed by tea, coffee, soft drinks and biscuits, and/or at 6:00pm for Said Evening Prayer with Hymns. We look forward to welcoming you in Church.***

God of peace, as young people and young adults begin higher education, university, or enter the world of work, may they know your presence with them in this time of change. Grant them courage, wisdom, and confidence and inspire those they encounter to have welcoming hearts.

Amen.

Diocese of Bath & Wells

Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Romans 15:7, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition

Sunday, 27th September 2026 - Ordinary Time (Creationtide): Harvest Thanksgiving; The Seventeen Sunday after Trinity; Disability Awareness Sunday

The Collect of the Day:

Almighty God, thou hast made us for thyself and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in thee: pour thy love into our hearts and draw us to thyself, and so bring us at the last to thy heavenly city where we shall see thee face to face; 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.

Common Worship 

The Gospel Reading:

The Authority of Jesus Questioned

When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?’ And they argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say to us, “Why then did you not believe him?” But if we say, “Of human origin”, we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.’ So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And he said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

The Parable of the Two Sons

‘What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax-collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.

Matthew 21:23-32, New Revised Standard Version - Anglicized Edition

A Prayer for Disability Awareness Sunday 2026 - One Body, Many Parts (1 Corinthians 12:12-27):

Heavenly Father,

Thank you that in Christ we are one body with many parts.

Thank you that by your Spirit you have made us one, different yet united, unique yet belonging together.

Lord, on this Disability Awareness Sunday, forgive us for the times we have judged by appearances, or believed that some parts are more important than others.

Your word tells us that the parts that seem weaker are indispensable, and that every part is worthy of honour.

Thank you for the gifts, perspectives, creativity, and faith of disabled and neurodivergent members of your church.

Thank you that we are dependent on one another - that we are both in need and needed.

Help us to be a church where barriers are removed, where support is given freely, where differences are welcomed, and where every person can belong, serve, and flourish.

If one part suffers, teach us to suffer together. If one part is honoured, teach us to rejoice together.

Make us a community that reflects your heart - a body that thrives under Christ our head.

We are one body. We are all needed. We are all honoured.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Becki Harbour, Cambridge Vineyard Church

A Poem for Harvest Thanksgiving:

Lord in Thy Name Thy Servants Plead

Lord in Thy Name Thy servants plead,
And Thou hast sworn to hear;
Thine is the harvest, Thine the seed,
The fresh and fading year:

Our hope, when Autumn winds blew wild,
We trusted, Lord, with Thee;
And still, now Spring has on us smiled,
We wait on Thy decree.

The former and the latter rain,
The summer sun and air,
The green ear, and the golden grain,
All Thine, are ours by prayer.

Thine too by right, and ours by grace,
The wondrous growth unseen,
The hopes that soothe, the fears that brace,
The love that shines serene.

So grant the precious things brought forth
By sun and moon below,
That Thee in Thy new heaven and earth
We never may forego.

For the Rogation Days, John Keble 

The Post Communion:

Lord, we pray thee that thy grace may always precede and follow us, and make us continually to be given to all good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Common Worship

Durham Diocesan Prayer Cycle Deanery Intention for the Month:

September 2026: Durham Dales Deanery

A Prayer of St Oswald of Northumbria:

Let us all kneel, and together beseech the true and living God Almighty in his mercy to defend us from the proud and cruel enemy; for he knows that we have undertaken a just war for the safety of our nation.

Amen. 

(Prayed by King Oswald of Northumbria and his army on the battlefield on the eve of the Battle of Heavenfield)