Newsletter delivery help… This week our usual, faithful deliver of paper copies of the newsletter in Goring and Streatley is away so if you might be able to help please call the Benefice mobile (07502 194674) to offer your help. Next week the wonderful deliverer of paper copies in South Stoke is away so please call the office (875651) if you might be able to help next Friday/Saturday.
Lilies at Easter in memory of Family or Friends In previous years many of you have generously contributed to the Easter flowers at St Thomas’. The church has been scented by lilies and looked beautiful. Should you wish to remember family members or friends again this year by donating a lily, please contact Jenny via the church office (875651).
Review of Concert by Christopher Burrows in St Mary’s Last Sunday’s concert at St Mary’s was very successful. Many thanks to all who helped or attended to contribute to this. Please click here to read a full review.
This week we are asked to pray:
Prayers for the week Thank you to Ann for this week’s prayers. Prayers for the Church Gracious God, thank you for your mothering and fathering of all Creation. All things exist from You, every man, woman and child, and all creatures are loved by You. All families are blessed in You. May our human loving reflect, however faintly, Your boundless, infinite Love until we all come gladly to our eternal home in Christ our lord. (Bishop John’s prayer) Dear Lord, thank you for Mother Earth who provides for us. Thank you for Mother Church who guides us. Thank you for Mother Mary who prays for us. Dear Lord, thank you for everyone who has mothered us, in our homes, in our schools, in colleges and universities, in the Church, and care homes, and in every place. Thank you for all those who have come alongside us as you do, through all the changing scenes of life. May all who have mothered us, and all who have cared about us, know your blessing this day. Prayers for Creation Hear our humble prayer, O God, for our neighbours, the animals; for any that are lost, or deserted, or frightened, or hungry, and especially those caught up in war. We entreat for them all, thy mercy and pity. We ask for those who care for them a heart of compassion and gentle hands and kindly words. Make us ourselves to be true carers of your beloved creatures and so to share the blessings of the merciful. (Albert Schweitzer’s prayer). Dear Lord, you said consider the lilies of the field, and when the churches are bereft of flowers in this Lenten season you fill the highways and byways, and cracks in the pavements, with Spring blossoms that bless our journeys. You fill the heavens with the birds of the air, and they sing your praises. Please walk with us, and especially those experiencing dark days, that they may behold your Glory all around them and find new hope in the coming Eastertide. Dear Lord, as you know, when I was at school, I was not very keen on daffodils because I had to learn a poem about them, and recite it in front of the class. Now I see them as you intended, trumpets of Spring, heralds of Easter, proclaiming your Glory along our pilgrim paths, and alongside fields where lambs play. Thank you for these dancing golden witnesses of the angels, sounding their trumpets in heaven. Prayers for human society Dear Lord, thank you for the safe arrival of Elizabeth Miguel to Steve and Lindsey in Talanga. Thank you for adding one more precious life to all the young people for whom they care. Lord Jesus may your great Love for all children through us provide for their individual special needs. May their cries be heard in the torment of war so that they may find, with their families, safe haven. May every child everywhere know healing, light, peace and joy which is your special gift to them whose guardian angels stand continually in Heaven in Your Presence. Prayers for the World Dear Lord, when days are dark, Light of the World please come to us. Where there is war, Prince of Peace please come to us. Where there is illness, Healer of the sick, please come to us. Where there is hunger, Bread of Life, please feed us. Where there is thirst, Living Water, please refresh us. Where there is homelessness, please shelter all under the Shadow of thy wing. Where there is bereavement, thou who art the Resurrection and the Life, please comfort us. Son of Man lead us, Son of God receive us. Prayers for the sick Dear Lord, who healed the sick who were brought to you, we bring to you now. Please bless and hold them close. Thanksgiving for the communion of saints Holy Spirit of God, we ask your blessing upon our loved ones departed, that in You they may know the fullness of life and the joy of your presence. Unite us with them in your love through Him whose love unites heaven and earth. Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.