Benefice of Goring and Streatley with South Stoke : Sunday 9th July 2023

Sunday 9th July Trinity 5

Welcome to our weekly newsletter

His yoke is easy!
We are called to find and fit into our harness, with Jesus at our side. He will give us rest, refreshment, adventure and company.

Where is this week's picture from? Answer below Songs of Praise!

The Collect, the prayer for the week
Almighty and everlasting God,
by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church
is governed and sanctified:
hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people,
that in their vocation and ministry
they may serve you in holiness and truth
to the glory of your name;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Readings for this Sunday: Rom. 7: 15-25a, Ps. 145: 8-15 and Matt. 11: 16-19, 25-30.

This Sunday:
8:00am      BCP Holy Communion at St Mary’s
9:30am      Holy Communion at St Thomas’
11:15am    Family Service at St Mary’s
11:15am    BCP Holy Communion at St Andrew’s

Steve and Lindsey Poulson’s visit
Come along on Sunday 16th July, but also book in now for a lunch together with them. Steve and Lindsey are now here in the UK.

We look forward to seeing them. They will be joining us at all our services. Afterwards you are invited to lunch in the Canterbury Room to hear more about their work with street children in Honduras. We will be providing lunch for £10 per head (£5 for children) which includes a glass of wine/soft drinks with any proceeds to Steve and Lindsey’s work. There are sign up sheets in each church or call the office on 875651 to reserve your spot. Please reply by 9th July so the catering team can plan accordingly. After lunch there will be games (in Spanish!) in the Vicarage garden. (You can bring your own lunch and no-one will be turned away, but why not have it served and ready – on a plate.) All welcome!

The Big Sing
Last Saturday we welcomed a choir of 80 - singers from choirs which Michael Howell had directed or played for, and a congregation of a 100.

The programme comprised some of Michael’s favourite anthems as well as his choral compositions and arrangements. The choirs and newly refurbished organ raised the roof in a memorable and uplifting afternoon of music-making which was a fitting farewell to a well-loved musician. Thank you so much to Elizabeth Parkinson who made it happen and to all who put in so much.

Delaware Choral Scholars
St. Mary's welcomed the Delaware Choral Scholars this week, culminating in a highly enjoyable, powerful concert on Wednesday night in the Church, featuring around fifty singers.
This concert was the first one of their tour of England and Wales, centred

around their appearance at the Eisteddfod International Choral Competition next Saturday at Llangollen. It has been a real pleasure to host them over the last few days, and to attend their rehearsals. More photographs and review of their Concert will follow. John Rogers

Songs of Praise service
It is good to sing together. It cheers the soul to be thankful and be united in praise.
What is your favourite hymn /song and why?

We would love to hear your requests and reasons. These can be brought together for our Benefice Songs of Praise on Sunday 30th July at 10.30am in St Andrew’s. The organist and choirs from Streatley and Goring will be there to help raise the roof.
Hymn suggestions to the office (875651 or officeofgsandss@yahoo.com) by Wednesday 12th July. Thank you v much.

This week's picture: not-so-hidden stained glass under the tower in St Mary’s.

Organist and Director of Music at St Thomas’
Further to the news about the new organist and Director of Music for St Thomas’ here is some more information about Matthew:

Matthew graduated in 2023 with a BA in music from the University of Oxford. He was organ scholar at Lincoln College where he trained, conducted, and accompanied the choir in services, concerts, and recordings.

Matthew began his musical career in 2008 as a chorister at Chelmsford Cathedral. In 2016, he was offered an organ scholarship at St Mary’s Church, Maldon. Upon this appointment, he began studying the organ under the tutelage of Laurence Lyndon-Jones, Assistant Director of Music at Chelmsford Cathedral, whilst continuing to study the piano with Tim Carey. During his time at St Mary’s, Matthew played for a variety of services and concerts in Chelmsford, Newcastle, Peterborough, Carlisle and Coventry Cathedrals, and abroad in Bavaria and Ghent. After completing his A-levels, he took up the position of Organ Scholar at St Edmundsbury Cathedral, and taught A-level music at King Edward VI School. After his first school term, Matthew became Acting Assistant Organist at the cathedral. During the pandemic, Matthew helped provide a wealth of free online theory tuition, educational resources, singing and piano lessons, virtual rehearsals, performances, concerts, and services, to ensure people still had access to music, education, and worship.
During his time at Lincoln College, Matthew has undertaken many recitals, tours, concerts, and recordings, both as a soloist and as a director. In his second year, Matthew directed the choir of Lincoln College for their CD “Tresors du Paradis”, a record of monumental choral works for organ and choir, including Durufle’s Requiem, Catagnet’s Messe Salve Regina, and a new commission by Jonathan Dove. This CD went on to gain favourable reviews, including a 4-star rating from the prestigious BBC Music Magazine.
Matthew is in demand as a director, performer, and musical consultant within Oxfordshire. Matthew already holds posts as the musical director of the Wychwood Chorale, and choir master at Wolfson College, Oxford.
Matthew is also an accomplished saxophonist and enjoys other hobbies such as parkour, backpacking, driving his car, fixing said car when it inevitably breaks, and is also on the Oxford University ice hockey team.

Daily Prayer will be taking place as usual. Why not join in one day? We listen to the Bible and pray for our world and church.
Monday: 8.30am Goring,
Tuesday and Thursday: 8.30am Streatley.
Friday: 9am Goring.

We are asked to pray

We give thanks and pray for the NHS.
For the people of Jenin and a wise and just way to protect the vulnerable of all the peoples in that land and a desire to courageously work for reconciliation.
For our church to be a place where people can dare to be vulnerable, ask questions and for help, and so grow and learn.

Diary for next week:

Wednesday 12th July
10:30am Little Lights at St Mary's
10:30am    BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
The readings will be Gen. 41. 55-end, 42. 5-7, 17-end, Ps. 33. 1-4, 18-end and Matt. 10. 1-7.

Thursday 13th July
12:30pm   Marriage at St Mary’s

Saturday 15th July
12:30pm   Marriage at St Andrew’s

Sunday 16th July
8:00am      BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
9:30am      Good News service at St Thomas’
11:15am    BCP Holy Communion at St Mary’s
11:15am    Good News service at St Andrew’s
1:00pm      Benefice lunch with Steve & Lindsey Poulson

Daily readings for the week beginning 10th July

Monday am:	Ps 98	Neh. 12. 27-47	2 Cor. 1. 1-14	pm: Ps 105	Luke 19. 28-40
Tuesday am:	Ps 106	Neh. 13. 1-14	2 Cor. 1.15-2.4	pm: Ps 107	Luke 19. 41-end
Wednesday am:	Ps 111	Neh. 13. 15-end	2 Cor. 2. 5-end	pm: Ps 119. 129-152	Luke 20. 1-8
Thursday am:	Ps 115	Esth. ch. 1	2 Cor. ch. 3	pm: Ps 116	Luke 20. 9-19
Friday am:	Ps 139	Esth. ch. 2	2 Cor. ch. 4	pm: Ps 130	Luke 20. 20-26
Saturday am:	Ps 121	Esth. ch. 3	2 Cor. ch. 5	pm: Ps 118	Luke 20. 27-40

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