Sunday 4^th September - TRINITY 12

The Collects

The prayer for the week

Almighty and everlasting God,
you are always more ready to hear than we to pray
and to give more than either we desire or deserve:
pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid
and giving us those good things
which we are not worthy to ask
but through the merits and mediation
of 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: Philemon 1-21, Ps. 1 and Luke 14: 25-33.

This Sunday:

8:00am BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
9:30am Family service, “Education Sunday”, at St Thomas’
11:15am Holy Communion at St Mary’s
11:15am Baptism service at St Andrew’s and prayers for School
4.00pm Choral Evensong at St Thomas’

Piano Recital at St Mary’s, this Saturday, 3rd September

A final reminder that Russell Thompson, Concert Pianist, will be giving a recital at 7:30pm with the program comprising works of the great classic composers, from Mozart to Liszt including Liszt’s Transcendental Etude No. 10. The recital will be followed by tea and cakes in the Morrell Room.
Tickets £10 full, £9 concessions, on sale on the door only but advance bookings/enquiries can be made by emailing StMarysConcerts@hotmail.co.uk.

Bank Holiday Teas and Open Gardens

Thank you to all those who helped with Bank Holiday teas at St Mary’s and to Janet for playing the piano.
Thank you also to those who helped with the Open Gardens in South Stoke.

DEC appeal for Pakistan

We will have buckets in our churches for the next couple of weeks to collect for the DEC appeal for the devastating floods affecting Pakistan. If you prefer to give online you can do so at https://www.dec.org.uk/appeal/pakistan-floods-appeal

Care for Creation

We are hosting a marketplace showcasing local action in the Rectory Gardens and would love for you to be a part of it! Saturday 1st October, 10am-2pm.

Every step matters. Come and get advice and each make our own difference.

We need help with the day, running a clothes swap and toys swap stall.
Our next meeting is on Wednesday 7th September at 7.45pm in the Vicarage.

Wallingford Food Bank - Thank You

We have been thanked by the Wallingford Food Bank for the donations they have received from St Thomas’ and St Andrew’s. In their latest report they note they have been supporting a record number of children by sending food to families missing the term-time support of free school meals as well as sending electronic supermarket vouchers to Ukrainian refugees to help them to buy food while waiting for Universal Credit. They have also been busy putting up new shelving to hold donations ready for Harvest and the challenges ahead.

Ride and Stride

We have fabulous church buildings all around us, reflecting a deep commitment and worship of God, which our ancestors had so central to their lives.
Do get out and enjoy them. Everywhere should be open and welcoming for the annual Ride and Stride in aid of Berkshire and Oxford Historic Churches Trusts which will take place on Saturday 10th September.

If you would like to bake a welcoming biscuit for any riders passing by, or be on duty to welcome them, or would like a time sitting in our own gems please do offer.

Ben will be leading a short ride from 10am from St Thomas. Do join him or sponsor him.

Please see https://ohct.org.uk/ride-and-stride/ (Oxfordshire) or http://www.berkschurchestrust.org.uk/ride-and-stride-2/ (Berkshire) for more information.

Morning prayer

Praying and reading the Bible together is better than Weetabix. The usual pattern of Monday and Friday in St Thomas’ at 8.30am and Tuesday and Thursday in St Mary’s at 8.30am has resumed. Why not plan to make it a new season gift to come and join in, say one day a week? Try it once..? :)

Diary for the next week

Wednesday 7th September
10:30am    BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
followed by refreshments in the Canterbury Room
The readings will be 1 Cor. 7. 25-31, Ps. 45. 11-end & Luke 6. 20-26.

Thursday 8th September
11.00am    Funeral at St Andrew’s

Saturday 10th September
All day         Ride and Stride at all our churches
2:00pm      Baptism at St Mary’s

Sunday 11th September
8:00am      BCP Holy Communion at St Mary's
9:30am      Holy Communion at St Thomas’
11:15am    Family service, “Education Sunday”, at St Mary’s
11:15am    BCP Holy Communion at St Andrew’s
2:30pm      Baptism at St Andrew’
5.00pm Discoverers

n.b. The monthly calendar for September can be downloaded by clicking here.

Daily readings for the coming week

Monday am:	Ps 98	2 Sam. ch. 11	Acts 8. 26-end	pm: Ps 105	Mark 6. 45-end
Tuesday am:	Ps 106	2 Sam. 12. 1-25	Acts 9. 1-19a	pm: Ps 107	Mark 7. 1-13
Wednesday am:	Ps 111	2 Sam. 15. 1-12	Acts 9. 19b-31	pm: Ps 119. 129-152	Mark 7. 14-23
Thursday am:	Ps 115	2 Sam. 15. 13-end	Acts 9. 32-end	pm: Ps 116	Mark 7. 24-30
Friday am:	Ps 139	2 Sam. 16. 1-14	Acts 10. 1-16	pm: Ps 130	Mark 7. 31-end
Saturday am:	Ps 121	2 Sam. 17. 1-23	Acts 10. 17-33	pm: Ps 118	Mark 8. 1-10

Sunday 4th September - TRINITY 12