Benefice of Goring and Streatley with South Stoke : Sunday 15th January 2023

Sunday 15th January Epiphany 2

Welcome to our weekly newsletter

Snow drops - God’s lanterns -
making clear God’s promise, hope and light.

Our readings explore God’s calling for each of us. What is your particular calling?…

The Collect, the prayer for the week
Almighty God,
in Christ you make all things new:
transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace,
and in the renewal of our lives
make known your heavenly glory;
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 Sunday: 1 Cor. 1: 1-9, Ps 40: 1-12 and John 1: 29-42.

This Sunday:
8:00am      BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
9:30am      Holy Communion at St Thomas’
11:15am    BCP Holy Communion service at St Mary’s
11:15am    Holy Communion at St Andrew’s
3:00pm      Wild Church

Prayer is vital. It changes things (us included!).

Prayer Breakfast, this Saturday 8.15am for 8.30am-9.30am
in the Canterbury Room

Please join us to pray the life of our churches, specifically this week for a new organist (being advertised at the moment), completion of the organ project for St Thomas’ and plans for the Families worker and the bereavement group.
And to discern God’s way for us.

Warm Space
Our doors are open on Mondays, 10am-12 noon, in the Canterbury Room, offering a warm space, a welcome, company, tea, coffee and toast.
Do come, or invite anyone who might be alone.

Please pray for this venture. Do ask if you need help with a lift.
Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to make it possible.

New Year, New Hospitality?
We have a band of people who are on a rota for unlocking St Thomas’ on three mornings a week and locking it again in the evening. They do this for a week every 6 to 8 weeks. Would you please consider joining them and incorporating a walk past the church into your daily routine? Please speak to Ben or e-mail officeofgsandss@yahoo.com if you might be able to help.

Bereavement course – Heal the Gap
Please pray for this group as they prepare to start next week.
There are a couple of spaces. Please think who you could invite to join this very supportive group, a 4 week small group course, on Sunday afternoons in the Canterbury Room at St Thomas’ Church.

We are so fortunate to be able to offer this, but need people committed and signed up in time for it to be prepared.
In order to register or for more information please contact the church office (vicarofgsandss@yahoo.com or 875651).

Piano recital at St Mary’s
Paul Page, Concert Pianist, will be giving a Recital on Sunday January 22nd at 4pm. Pieces will include On an Overgrown Path by Janacek and works by Bach, Chopin, Debussy and Schumann.

We are delighted to be able to welcome Paul back for his third concert with us, which has been repeatedly delayed due to the Covid pandemic.
Tickets £10 full, £8 concessions, sold on the door only, cash only please.
Advance reservations and enquiries by text only to 0776 233 9853.

Try Out the Organ Day at St Thomas'
On Saturday 28th January from 2pm to 4pm there will be the opportunity for young musicians up to the age of 25 who are interested in learning to play the organ, to experience playing the rebuilt instrument under the guidance of local organist Bryan Almond.
If you are interested in taking part, please contact the parish office (e-mail officeofgsandss@yahoo.com or call 875651) to book your place. More details about the event can be found on the benefice website by clicking here.

Inaugural Organ Recital, Saturday 11th February 2023 at 7pm
To mark the completion of the organ rebuild project at St Thomas' there will be a recital by Thomas Trotter, an organist of international renown.
Tickets are £12 and are available online at eventbrite.co.uk (click here) or there may be limited availability on the door.
The concert will include music by Handel, Stanley, Mulet, Dupre, Dove and more and promises to be a wonderful event.

We are asked to pray

for the new Warm Spaces initiative on Monday mornings.
For the PCC meetings and actions following them this week and our reflection and response on the Away Day.
For a right candidate to respond to the advert now out for a new organist/director of music at St Thomas’.
The bereavement group beginning next week.

Diary for next week:

Monday 16th January
10:00am Warm Space in the Canterbury Room

Wednesday 18th January
10:30am    BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
The readings will be Heb. 7. 1-3, 15-17, Ps. 110. 1-4 and Mark 3. 1-6.

Sunday 22nd January
8:00am      BCP Holy Communion at St Mary’s
9:30am      Good News service at St Thomas’
11:15am    Mattins at St Mary’s
11:15am    Good News service at St Andrew’s
4:00pm      Piano recital at St Mary’s
5:00pm      Discoverers

Daily readings for the week beginning 16th January

Monday am:	Ps 146	Amos ch. 6	1 Cor. 6. 1-11	pm: Ps 71	Matt. 24. 1-14
Tuesday am:	Ps 132	Amos ch. 7	1 Cor. 6. 12-end	pm: Ps 89. 1-37	Matt. 24. 15-28
Wednesday am:	Ps 81	Amos ch. 8	1 Cor. 7. 1-24	pm: Ps 97	Matt. 24. 29-end
Thursday am:	Ps 76	Amos ch. 9	1 Cor. 7. 25-end	pm: Ps 111	Matt. 25. 1-13
Friday am:	Ps 27	Hos. 1.1-2.1	1 Cor. ch. 8	pm: Ps 73	Matt. 25. 14-30
Saturday am:	Ps 122	Hos. 2. 2-17	1 Cor. 9. 1-14	pm: Ps 61	Matt. 25. 31-end

Please send any notices or articles for the next news sheet by noon on Thursdays to vicarofgsandss@yahoo.com.
For more information please see our website: http://www.thomandmary.org.uk/