Past Activities

The 4pm service was a new style of service that started in May 2021. (Find out more here.) It met inside the church hall from 16:00 every third Sunday each month and replaced the 10am morning service on these days. The service is welcome to all and is followed by refreshments. For more information please contact 01865-202988  musicdirector@stnicholasmarston.org.uk.

The 4pm took place in the church hall and included: a welcome activity, sung worship, Bible discussion, food, an interview, fellowship. One of aims will be to consider what ‘Living Life and the Christian Faith’ might mean for us.

Our final 4pm service was held at the church hall on 19th February 2023 starting at 16:00. You can download the poster for the service here. The team planning these service hope that everybody of all ages will feel welcome at these services. For more information please see Neil Barker – musicdirector@stnicholasmarston.org.uk.

We have greatly enjoyed two Alpha courses in Autumn 2015 and Spring 2016 which were attended by a good number of people of different ages and backgrounds. We found them to be thought-provoking and encouraging of our growth in faith. You can find details of other churches who are currently running Alpha courses at uk.alpha.org.

What is Alpha?

Alpha is a series of interactive sessions that freely explore the basics of the Christian faith.

Who’s it for?

Alpha is for anyone who’s curious. The talks are designed to encourage conversation and explore the basics of the Christian faith in a friendly. open and informal environment. No question is out of bounds and you are free to discuss as much or as little as you wish.

How does it work?

Alpha is nine sessions with the option of a day away on towards the end of the course. Each session includes a meal, a short talk by Nicky Gumbel or another speaker, and a discussion at the end where you can share your thoughts. At any point, if you think Alpha isn’t for you, that’s not a problem. There’s no pressure, no follow up and no charge.

How much is it?

There’s no charge to do Alpha, but for any who would like to make a donation towards the food there will be an opportunity to do so if you wish.

What sort of topics will be covered?

Is there more to life than this? (first session) Who is Jesus? Why did Jesus die? How can we have faith? Why and how do I pray?

St Nicholas Church Marston supported the work of Divya Shanti for many years and raised over £500,000 to support the various projects that made a difference to the children, young people,  families and the wider community in Bangalore helped by the trust. Due to changes politically in India the trust is unable to receive funding from over-seas.

The mission of Divya Shanthi Christian Association and Trust is to work with economically poor and socially excluded familes and support them in the education of their children and in their efforts to improve their quality of life.

Who we are:

Divya Shanthi is a community motivated by the love the Lord Jesus Christ and called to express it in serving those in need.

Vision: 

The vision of Divya Shanthi is communities where justice, freedom, economic inclusion and flourishing, human dignity, religious harmony and sustainable environments flourish and contribute to nation building.

Our programs include high school, open school, school for special needs, learning centers, credit and savings groups, vocational training centers, adult literacy, health care and awareness, clinics and camps, supporting victimes through advocacy and counselling, community organisation, legal support, housing and environment, development in business and micro enterprise, co-operative society and spiritual growth.

Our support partners are both local and international. Our main support groups are Divya Shanthi Mission Support Organisation (DSMSO), Oxford, UK and Barnabas Aid International, UK.

Partnership

St Nicholas Church Marston has been supporting the work of Divya Shanti for many years and actively raises funds to support the various projects that make a difference to the children, young people,  families and the wider community in Bangalore helped by the trust.

Divya Shanti Website: Home (divya-shanthi.org)

More about our links with Divyia Shanti

What is our eat pray love gathering?

• A café style meeting place
• Conversations with the gospels
• Contemporary worship
• Reflections on living for christ

Eat pray love is a gathering for everyone. There are usually three parts: ‘eat’ – reading and discussing a gospel passage while sharing a simple meal together; ‘pray’ – sung worship sometimes with a time of stillness; ‘love’ – listening to someone reflect or be interviewed on living as a christian.

• Third sunday evening of the month (February to October) – currently cancelled due to covid-19
• 18:00 to 19:15
• St Nicholas’ Church Hall room, Elsfield Road OX3 0PR

You cand find out more on their website: Eat Pray Love Oxford – A Christian gathering for all (wordpress.com)

Eat Pray Love

Our first Eco Market was held on Sunday 18th July 2021. We hope to make this a regular event after approximately 150 people attended our first event and many local groups took part. Our final Eco Market took place on Sunday 17th July 2022 running from 11:30 to 14:30. There is now a regular community market: marstonmarket.com.

We collect items for the Oxford Food Bank. Please put your donation in the box outside Marston Vicarage Refill Station (OX3 0PR)

All tins & packets of food are welcome but the following items are needed the most:

1. Tins Vegetables (not tomatoes or pulses)
2. Tins, Packets of Puddings
3. Sugar
4. Jams/other spreads 
5. Tins Meat, Tins Fruit
6. Cereal, Biscuits
7. Bottled Sauces
8. Coffee/Hot Chocolate
9. Practical Toiletries

Items 1, 2 and 3 are the most needed.

When donating food please ensure that items have a ‘sell by date’ of at least 3 months and is clearly marked.

Download our poster here.

Please support the Oxford Community Emergency Foodbank.   http://www.cefoxford.co.uk/

THANK YOU

Junior Church is for children aged three and over. We do not have an upper age limit, and young people leave us to attend the main church service when they feel ready. It mets usually alternative Sundays between 10:00 and 11:00 during the 10am Sunday morning church service, before the children join the later part of the service. We do various activities such as games, crafts, a short video and group discussions as we look at and learn more about the bible. All our Junior Church leaders are DBS checked and have received training in safeguarding, and there will be a minimum of two present. Contact Gill Hale 01865 248260 gilhale_uk@yahoo.com for more information. You can also download a copy of our safeguarding policy here.

Junior Church – St Nicholas Church (stnicholasmarston.org.uk)

Due to the pandemic, Junior Church was unable to meet so it went online and became the Sunday Club. You can find links to their videos below:

The Taize service would usually fall on the fifth Sunday of the month when there was a fifth Sunday in a particular month. It is a communion service based upon the style of worship of the Taize community in France and using the worship songs from Taize. You can find out more about Taizé at their website: Taizé (taize.fr)

This service has now been discontinued as very few people attended. We will be starting new activities for the community soon. Visit our website, Facebook page and noticeboards for more information.

Archive Information

Wednesday Welcome is a new community social gathering which started on 2nd November 2022. and initially met every Wednesday in the church hall (on Elsfield Road, Old Marston) from 15:00 to 17:30. Dates for 2023 will be confirmed soon.

All ages are welcome to join us in our warm church hall! There will be activities for children and quieter spaces for older people. Hot drinks, soup and snacks will be provided.

Download the poster here.

Wednesday Welcome – St Nicholas Church (stnicholasmarston.org.uk)

In June 2018 the congregation spent a weekend at Murcott House, enjoying getting to know each other, good food, beautiful countryside, sunshine and learning more about our faith. During this time we reflected on what it means to be a church in our community and how we can best serve our local community. We hope to have to meet again in the not to distant future.