Benefice of Goring and Streatley with South Stoke : Sunday 26th February 2023

Sunday 26th February Lent 1

Welcome to our weekly newsletter

Lent is for Learning to be closer to God and more like Jesus.
How are you making this time a learning time?

The Collect, the prayer for the week
Almighty God,
whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness,
and was tempted as we are, yet without sin:
give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit;
and, as you know our weakness,
so may we know your power to save;
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: Gen. 2: 15-17; 3: 1-7, Ps 32 and Matt. 4: 1-11.

This Sunday:
8:00am      BCP Holy Communion at St Mary’s
9:30am      Holy Communion at St Thomas’
11:15am    Mattins at St Mary’s
11:15am    Holy Communion at St Andrew’s
4pm           Ikuko Inoguchi and Jean-Francois Lagroste –
                   Flute and Piano Duets in St Mary’s

In our churches this Sunday we will have a final collection via the Disasters Emergency Committee for the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

Prayer for the Turkey and Syria Earthquake Appeal
God of mercy,
We pray for the people of Turkey and Syria
following the recent earthquakes.
We mourn the death and destruction.
and pray for those who have died and those who grieve.
Lord, bring them comfort, strength and renewed hope.

We hold in our hearts those who are injured,
and those who have lost loved ones, livelihoods, and homes.
Lord, bring them comfort, strength and renewed hope.

Sustain and guide all responding to this disaster.
Grant those affected courage and resilience,
as they rebuild their lives and communities.
Lord, bring them comfort, strength and renewed hope.

Inspire us to unite in solidarity,
acting swiftly and generously,
so that help may reach all who need it.
Lord, bring them comfort, strength and renewed hope.
Amen.

Lent, a special season, 40 days to practice a new discipline, or grace, and to listen to God’s voice.
How will you mark it?
Join morning prayer once a week, take part in the Ecumenical Lent course, pick up a book from the church library to read, (do share from your own library, especially if it was last year’s brilliant booklet on Embracing Justice), sign up for a daily message by email from the Diocese (https://oxford.anglican.org/come-and-see) or…
Please tell us of any initiative you are trying.

Last call for Real Easter Eggs
Once again Real Easter Eggs are not being sold by supermarkets so the only way to obtain one is to order directly. The eggs are Fairtrade, palm oil and plastic free and many come with a 24 page Easter story/activity book.
There are sign up sheets in our churches or please contact the church office to order. We will be sending in our order on Tuesday 28th February as the eggs sell out quickly

St Mary’s concert, 26th February, 4pm
Ikuko Inoguchi gave a brilliant Piano Recital in St Mary's last year and is a very accomplished pianist. She writes: "Enjoy an afternoon concert (with tea and cake afterwards) performed by Ikuko and the shakuhachi player and flautist Jean Francois Lagrost. This concert provides a rare opportunity to experience the beautiful sound of the shakuhachi (the Japanese bamboo flute) and works for flute and piano by French composers".
Jean Francois Lagrost is a French flautist and also Professor of Art Education at the Conservatories of Le Kremlin-Bicêtre and Asnières. He plays both the flute and the shakuhachi. He is on a European tour and we are very fortunate that he is able to fit us in. Tickets on the door only £10/£9, cash payment only. Advance bookings to StMarysConcerts@hotmail.co.uk.

Personal invitation works better than anything. This is an easy way for you to offer our treasure to someone who you know, who just might be interested…
Please pray who you could invite…
Come and See Tuesday evenings from 7 March
We will be running a group, in person and by Zoom, in the Canterbury Room on Tuesdays at 7.45pm.

This is designed for those who might be curious about who Jesus really is, what he really meant by his words and life. It uses 6 ways to look at him, and unpacks the 9 statements in the Beautitudes.

Thank you from Jodie
Jodie provided delicious cakes and coffee after the Healthcare Sunday service at St Thomas’ last Sunday to raise funds for the Meningitis Research Foundation and for people to sponsor her for her forthcoming climb of Mt Kilimanjaro.

She says “Thank you so much for Sunday, it was a huge success!! We raised £605 from the cake morning! Isn’t that amazing?! Everyone at the church was SO supportive & so generous!”

Audibility surveys
Please take time to fill out one of these in church today and over the next few weeks. We really do want everyone to hear and find it helpful. (Goring are waiting 2 more weeks till we have all the speakers working!)

Prayer Breakfast, Saturday 4th March, 8.15-9.30am in the Canterbury Room
“When two or three gather in my name I will be there” said Jesus. God loves it when we bring our prayers to him and ask for his guidance.
All welcome. This is just before the interview for the Goring organist post.

Warm Space
Come and enjoy some company, tea, coffee, toast and a chance to chat or do a jigsaw in the warmth of the Canterbury Room. Do bring a puzzle, a game or your knitting! Everyone is very welcome.

Our doors are open on Mondays from 10am – 12noon.
Please pray for this venture and telephone the vicarage (875651) if you need help with a lift.
Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to make it possible.

We are asked to pray

For the relief operation in Syria/Turkey.
For our growing closer to God this Lent
Who can you invite to explore the treasure of Jesus and the Come and See course?

Daily Prayer is offered each morning in one of our churches. Why not join in one day? We listen to the Bible and pray for our world and church.
Following a request we are trying a new time on Friday.
Monday: 8.30am Goring, Tuesday and Thursday: 8.30am Streatley,
Friday: 9am Goring

Diary for next week:

Monday 27th February
10:00am Warm Space in the Canterbury Room

Wednesday 1st March
10:30am    BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
followed by coffee in the Canterbury Room
The readings will be Jonah ch. 3, Ps. 51: 1-5, 17-18 and Luke 11: 29-32.

Saturday 4th March
8:15am Benefice prayer breakfast in the Canterbury Room

Sunday 5th March
8:00am      BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
9:30am      Family service at St Thomas’
11:15am    Holy Communion at St Mary’s
11:15am    Family service at St Andrew’s
12:30pm Baptism at St Mary’s
4pm           Evensong at St Thomas’

The monthly calendar for March can be downloaded by clicking here.

Daily readings for the week beginning 27th February

Monday am:	Ps 11	Jer. 4. 19-end	John 5. 1-18	pm: Ps 13	Gal. 3.23-4.7
Tuesday am:	Ps 44	Jer. 5. 1-19	John 5. 19-29	pm: Ps 49	Gal. 4. 8-20
Wednesday am:	Ps 6	Jer. 5. 20-end	John 5. 30-end	pm: Ps 28	Gal. 4.21-5.1
Thursday am:	Ps 42	Jer. 6. 9-21	John 6. 1-15	pm: Ps 142	Gal. 5. 2-15
Friday am:	Ps 22	Jer. 6. 22-end	John 6. 16-27	pm: Ps 55	Gal. 5. 16-end
Saturday am:	Ps 63	Jer. 7. 1-20	John 6. 27-40	pm: Ps 4	Gal. ch. 6

Please send any notices or articles for the next news sheet by noon on Thursdays to vicarofgsandss@yahoo.com.

The Benefice of Goring and Streatley with South Stoke

The Vicarage

Manor Road

Goring, Berkshire RG8 9DR

United Kingdom