Banner Image:   pen-g104861c15 1920

Weekly Notices

[ See here for Notice archives ].

BeneficeLogoWithText
Sunday 30th March                                                Lent 4, Mothering Sunday
British Summer Time begins on 30th March, clocks go forward one hour

Welcome to our weekly newsletter
MotheringSundayPosie

Merciful, loving care is what we all love to receive.
Let’s give thanks for where we experience it, and ask God for his mercy for where we do not show it.
Mothering is what God gives us and what we are called to copy.


 
The Collect, the prayer for the week
  God of compassion,
  whose Son Jesus Christ, the child of Mary,
  shared the life of a home in Nazareth,
  and on the cross drew the whole human family to himself:
  strengthen us in our daily living
  that in joy and in sorrow
  we may know the power of your presence
  to bind together and to heal;
  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.
Readings for this Sunday: 2 Cor. 5: 16-21, Ps. 32 and Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-32.

This Sunday:
8:00am        BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
9:30am        Mothering Sunday Family Communion at St Thomas’
11:15am      Mothering Sunday Family Communion at St Mary’s
11:15am      Mothering Sunday Family Communion at St Andrew’s
Preparations for Mothering Sunday. There will be Posy Making for St Thomas' and St Mary's this Saturday, 29th March, in the Canterbury Room at 11.15am.
All welcome!
Prayer Breakfast, this Saturday 29th March
CoffeeAndCroissant
Please come and pray for the life of our parishes as we ask for guidance in our priorities and life.
In the Canterbury Room at St Thomas’, coffee and croissants from 8:15am, followed by prayer for the life of our churches. Finished by 9.30am. Please do join us.

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.

St Andrew’s Annual Parochial Church Meeting
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting for St Andrew’s will take place next Sunday, 6th April, at noon after the Family service.
There is currently a vacancy for the role of Churchwarden at St Andrew’s. If anyone is interested in taking on this important and interesting position please contact Ben.
Paper copies of the annual report and accounts will be available in the church.
Lent ideas from A Rocha
Week four - Plan a Wild Time! Plan something completely wild in nature for later this year. Experience kayaking, wild camping, forest school, forest church…
A Rocha wk 4
Make sure to take the opportunity to really enjoy what nature has to offer beyond Lent. Break out of your normal routine and join a volunteer work party or take to the water for wild swimming. Whatever you do – do something different and have fun!
Easter lily 3 JB

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.

Your chance at mothering… We are drawing up a new rota for first Sunday of the month parish breakfast in St Thomas’ This is served to follow the 8am service and for early birds for the 9.30am Family Service. A chance to meet and be refreshed together… Might you be willing to serve it once in a while? Please contact Ben or the office.
Start your day listening to God and praying together. Why not join in one day? We listen to the Bible and pray for our world and church members in turn.
Monday: 8.30am Goring,     Tuesday and Thursday: 8.30am Streatley.
Friday: 9am Goring.

This week we are asked to pray: 

  • Give thanks for any of us who have mothered us at keypoints in our lives.
  • For foster parents and god-parents and adoption agencies.
  • For our exhausted nurturing Earth which has kept on giving.
  • That our justice system will not favour those who can afford a bigger, better legal team but will protect all.
  • For the prevention of supplying arms to civil wars in Congo, Sudan, Israel and perhaps to Ukraine, Russia…?
  • For us all to engage with the true price for peace.
Diary for the week
Wednesday 2nd April
10:30am      BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
                     followed by coffee in the Canterbury Room
The readings will be Isa. 49. 8-15, Ps 145. 8-18 and John. 5. 17-30.


Sunday 6th April
8:00am        BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
8:45am        Parish breakfast in the Canterbury Room
9:30am        Family service at St Thomas’
11:15am      Holy Communion at St Mary’s
11:15am      Family service at St Andrew’s
12:00pm      APCM at St Andrew’s
4:00pm        Choral Evensong at St Thomas’

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.

Daily readings for the week beginning 31st March
Monday am: Ps 77 Jer. 17. 5-18 John 9. 18-end pm: Ps 25 Heb. 9. 1-14
Tuesday am: Ps 79 Jer. 18. 1-12 John 10. 1-10 pm: Ps 80 Heb. 9. 15-end
Wednesday am: Ps 90 Jer. 18. 13-end John 10. 11-21 pm: Ps 91 Heb. 10. 1-18
Thursday am: Ps 86 Jer. 19. 1-13 John 10. 22-end pm: Ps 94 Heb. 10. 19-25
Friday am: Ps 102 Jer. 19.14-20.6 John 11. 1-16 pm: Ps 16 Heb. 10. 26-end
Saturday am: Ps 32 Jer. 20. 7-end John 11. 17-27 pm: Ps 46 Heb. 11. 1-16
Please send any notices or articles for the next news sheet by noon on Thursdays to vicarofgsandss@yahoo.com.
DioceseOfOxford
Copyright © 2025 The Benefice of Goring and Streatley with South Stoke, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
The Benefice of Goring and Streatley with South Stoke
The Vicarage
Manor Road
Goring, Berkshire RG8 9DR
United Kingdom