vision
The people of St Columba's URC come from both the city of Oxford and the surrounding area. It's a bit like a wheel. The Sunday service provides a hub when the community comes together to share worship. This is the highpoint of our life together. The hub holds together all the spokes – all the activities that the church and its members are involved in. These spokes are key parts of the church's life, and through them the church engages with the 'world' and the world with the church. Our newsletter (currently December 2011) is now available online. It's a 36-page PDF of about 4.5MB. Please contact us if you need it in a more accessible format.
the hub
Worship takes place every week. The Elders meet regularly to pray and to plan for the life of the congregation. The Church Meeting (all members and friends are encouraged to come) assembles at least four times a year to seek God's will.
the spokes
Please see below
| activity | description | links | initiated by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asylum Welcome | To relieve poverty, sickness and distress and to advance the education of asylum seekers and refugees and those who have been detained by the immigration authorities...with particular reference to ...Oxford | Asylum Welcome | Asylum Welcome, 276a Cowley Rd, Oxford, OX4 1UR |
| Faith in Action | Working for a better world with churches in central Oxford | Wesley Memorial, New Road Baptist, St Michael's, and others. | St Columba's |
| First Sunday | Christian fellowship for LGBTs | First Sunday | St Columba's |
| Gatehouse | To welcome the homeless and lonely, and to provide a place where dignity, companionship and refreshment can be found... | Oxford Gatehouse | Oxford's churches and others |
| HomeStart | Part of a national venture supporting families | HomeStart Oxford | HomeStart Oxford |
| Junior Church | groups for children and young people growing in faith | St Columba's | |
| Living the Questions | A series of Christian nurture exploring progressive and inclusive Christianity | More information | St Columba's |
| Manse Discussion Group | An open theology book group with lively and 'no holds barred' discussion | St Columba's | |
| Oxford–Bonn Link | Opportunities for exchange trips and discussions with Christians from Bonn | St Columba's | |
| Oxford Credit Union | Savings facility and affordable loans for all its members. Regulated by the Financial Services Authority. | Oxford Credit Union | Oxford Credit Union |
| Oxford Reformed Christian Union | Space where people can reflect openly and honestly about the issues of faith in contemporary society and culture. Open to people from any of the academic institutions of Oxford. | Oxford Reformed Christian Union Facebook group |
St Columba's Students and others |
| Oxford Street Pastors | Ecumenical outreach by Oxford churches. Caring for, helping and listening to people on the streets of the City Centre 10pm-4am on Friday nights | Facebook Group | Oxford Street Pastors |
| Sunday Coffee | After morning services – fellowship and random connections | St Columba's | |
| Sunday Lunch | Occasional Sundays – good food and company | St Columba's | |
| Traidcraft Sunday Stall | Promoting fairly traded goods from Traidcraft and others | Traidcraft | St Columba's |
| University Chaplaincy | Chaplaincy to members of the University of Oxford from Reformed and Independent traditions. | Closely linked with Mansfield College | St Columba's/ Oxford University |
| Wednesday Welcome | Lonely city folk are welcome in this space, run with the charity Archway | St Columba's |
