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Sunday 27th August                                                                    Trinity 12
Welcome to our weekly newsletter
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Jesus asked his disciples,
‘Who do you say I am?’


May we take time to pray and to deepen our understanding of who Jesus is.
The Collect, 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: Rom. 12: 1-8, Ps. 138 and Matt. 16: 13-20.

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
Tea & home-made cakes outside St Mary’s
Bank Holiday Monday, 28th August, 2-5pm
This annual event is a lovely opportunity for people to get together and we often also welcome those visiting the area. Janet will be playing the piano in the church during the afternoon and people can go in to listen as and when they wish.
If you are able to help please do get in touch with Sara or speak to John, the Church Warden. Perhaps you can spare an hour that afternoon or are able to make a cake, sandwiches or buns; home-made items are always delicious and really do make it special.
And most importantly of all please do come along and join us.


South Stoke’s annual Open Gardens event will also take place on Monday from 1pm to 5:30pm. There will be flowers in St Andrew’s, tea and cake in the village hall and tours of the bell tower will take place during the afternoon.
Young Couples’ Get-together
On 13th August a group of young married and soon-to-be-married couples gathered in the vicarage garden for an enjoyable afternoon of tea, croquet and making new friends. We are seeking to encourage one another in God’s ways and further events are in the planning. Please contact the church office if you would like more details.
A Musical Visitor at St Mary’s
At our service on Sunday 3rd September we will be joined by the German tenor, Maximilian Kiener, who will be singing the introit and anthem as well as “Let all the world in every corner sing” to close the service. We look forward to welcoming Maximilian and his family at the service and refreshments afterwards.
Piano plus music 2
Piano Recital at St Thomas'
Saturday 9th September at 3pm

Unfortunately this weekend’s organ recital by Graham Howell has been postponed due to illness but we have a piano recital to look forward to in early September,
Geoff Brown and Mary Daniels will be playing works by Mozart, Beethoven, Debussy, Sibelius, Mendelssohn and Shostakovich.  There will be no charge for the recital, but donations are welcomed to go towards Church Expenses.
Ride and Stride, Saturday 9th September, 10am-6pm
Ride-and-Stride
Annual sponsored Ride and Stride event raising money for Oxfordshire and Berkshire Historic Churches Trusts.
Setting up you own page on InvestMyCommunity (also known as Goodhub) makes sponsorship even easier for your supporters.
St Thomas’ Church Coordinator: Brenda 

St Mary’s Church Coordinator: Angela 
Please see https://ohct.org.uk/ride-and-stride/ or https://www.berkschurchestrust.org.uk/ride-and-stride-2/
for more information.
Spare curtains/blinds?
We have had a request from the Hub in Goring for some curtains and blinds for someone who has recently moved into the village. Please contact the church office on 01491 875651 if you might be able to help. Thank you!
Daily Prayer Next week there will only be daily prayer on Thursday (at 8:30am in St Mary’s) and Friday (at 9am in St Thomas’).

We are asked to pray for

  • Young people receiving exam results and making decisions about their future.
  • Schools, colleges and teachers as they prepare for the new academic year.
  • All those suffering as a result of wild fires in various parts of the world.
Diary for next week
Wednesday 30th August
10:30am      BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
The readings will be 1 Thess. 2. 9-13, Ps. 126 and Matt. 23. 27-32.


Sunday 3rd September
8:00am        BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
9:30am        “Back to School” family service at St Thomas’
11:15am      Holy Communion at St Mary’s
11:15am      “Back to School” family service at St Andrew’s
4:00pm        Evensong at St Thomas’

Prayers for this week

Thank you to Simon for this week’s prayers.

Father God, help us to still our hearts and centre ourselves on your saving grace.

Thank you, that as the holiday period draws to a close, you are by our side, and we can trust in you for our strength and inspiration.

As we celebrate the first year of the reign of King Charles, we ask for wisdom for him and the Ministers that form his government.  With so many difficult challenges ahead, we ask for your guidance and inspiration to all those making decisions about how to address the cost-of-living crisis, as well as your provision and protection for all those suffering under these extreme conditions.

With the close of the results season, we lift to you all those moving forward to the next stage in their education or into the world of work. We particularly pray for those who did not achieve what they had hoped for and now face a period of uncertainty over what to do next.  May you be with them in their anxiety, and guide those around them to provide a willing ear and good counsel.

Looking out into the world, we continue to pray for a resolution to the war in Ukraine, asking that you would strengthen and protect those defending the country and that you would give grace and forbearance to their families and supporters.  Guide their leaders and international partners in the best way to provide the support required to bring this conflict to a swift conclusion.

We ask that you bless the leaders at our Churches here in our Benefice; for Gavin our Bishop, Ben and the ministry team.  Help us to support them as activities gather pace again into the Autumn.

Finally, we pray for our congregations. We especially remember any known to us who are ill or in distress at this time.

We commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray, to the mercy and protection of God our Lord and Father.

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Daily readings for the week beginning 28th August
Monday am: Ps 98 Mic. 7. 1-7 Mark 6. 45-end pm: Ps 105 Acts 8. 26-end
Tuesday am: Ps 106 Mic. 7. 8-end Mark 7. 1-13 pm: Ps 107 Acts 9. 1-19a
Wednesday am: Ps 111 Heb. 1. 1-11 Mark 7. 14-23 pm: Ps 119. 129-152 Acts 9. 19b-31
Thursday am: Ps 115 Heb. 1.12-2.5 Mark 7. 24-30 pm: Ps 116 Acts 9. 32-end
Friday am: Ps 139 Heb. 2. 6-end Mark 7. 31-end pm: Ps 130 Acts 10. 1-16
Saturday am: Ps 121 Heb. 3. 2-19a Mark 8. 1-10 pm: Ps 118 Acts 10. 17-33
Please send any notices or articles for the next news sheet by noon on Thursdays to vicarofgsandss@yahoo.com.
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The Benefice of Goring and Streatley with South Stoke
The Vicarage
Manor Road
Goring, Berkshire RG8 9DR
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