Benefice of Goring and Streatley with South Stoke : Sunday 22nd October

Sunday 22nd October Trinity 20

Welcome to our weekly newsletter

Please pray for Israel and Palestine, for peace and equal life for all there.

We are encouraged to keep some time on Wednesday as a day for prayer and fasting. There will be an extra time of prayer at 11.15-11.30am after the morning Communion in St Thomas’.
Possible prayers to join in are available in each church any time.

The Collect, the prayer for the week
God, the giver of life,
whose Holy Spirit wells up within your Church:
by the Spirit’s gifts equip us to live the gospel of Christ
and make us eager to do your will,
that we may share with the whole creation
the joys of eternal life;
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 this Sunday: 1 Thess. 1: 1-10, Ps. 96: 1-9 & Matt. 22: 15-22.

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

Road closure in Streatley
You are probably already aware of the closure of Streatley High Street for repairs to the gas main from Friday 20th October for approximately 10 days. Updates will be posted here: https://www.sgn.co.uk/our-gas-works/major-planned-projects/streatley-high-street
It will be possible to walk through the closure by the Swan hotel.

Benefice service next week
Next Sunday (29th October) we will have the chance to join together for our morning Service – at St Mary’s at 10.30am.
Please do come and meet your fellow members.

Prayer Breakfast, Saturday 28th October
Advance notice that our next Benefice prayer breakfast will take place in the Canterbury Room at St Thomas’ from 8:15am.
Join us as we pray for the life of our churches.

Goring Chamber Choir Concert – We Will Remember Them
As the season of remembrance approaches, Goring Chamber Choir is taking a fresh look at music that has been written over the centuries for times of grieving. Familiar music such as the In paradisum from Fauré's Requiem and Purcell's Thou knowest, Lord (sung at the funeral service for HM the late Queen Elizabeth ll), set beside new and contemporary settings giving a positive light, such as Richard Shepherd's Holy is the true light. The choir will also sing glorious ecstatic music, such as Bainton's And I saw a new heaven, Ireland's Greater love and Wood's Hail, gladdening light, which will ensure that everyone comes away uplifted! The audience will also have a chance to join in amidst choir and readings.
The concert will take place at St Thomas’ on Saturday 28th October at 3pm.
Tickets are £15 (free for under 18’s) and obtainable from Inspiration or from a choir member or on the door.

Thanksgiving for the Departed, Sunday 29th October

The Ministry Team invite all who have lost loved ones, whether recently or longer ago, to come together at St Thomas’ on the 29th October at 4.00pm to remember those who have died, to give thanks for and to celebrate their lives.

The service is gentle and allows time for reflection and thanksgiving as well as an act of remembrance for those who have died.
Following the service light refreshments will be served in the Canterbury Room, giving an opportunity to talk with others and with members of the Ministry Team, if you wish.
All are most welcome to come and join in this celebration of the lives of departed loved ones and do please invite others you may know to the service.

2023 Advent Course
You are invited to join an Ecumenical Advent group study, Journeying with the Magi by Keith Duke. This is a fresh approach to thinking and praying about our own inner journey through Advent. Each session includes a time for scripture, prayer, music, poetry, reflection and discussion focusing on the theme of spiritual journeying in the Celtic tradition.
There are four study groups to choose from to best suit your location and availability. There are four weekly sessions in the lead up to Christmas starting in the week commencing 20th November 2023. Groups are usually 8 to 10 people and are hosted in someone’s home, with refreshments provided at the start of the session. The only cost is a donation to cover the price of the course booklet.
Join a group for 4 weeks of fellowship as we study God’s word and prepare for the arrival of Christ into our lives. Sign-up sheets are available in the back of the church.
For further information, please contact Catherine via the church office (875651).

Advent candles and calendars

We will soon be ordering chocolate Advent calendars from the Meaningful Chocolate company (https://meaningfulchocolate.co.uk/pages/real-advent-calendar), if people are interested in these. They are no longer sold in supermarkets and would cost £5 (to cover postage costs). Please put the money with your order through the Vicarage door by November 12th.
Advent candles are now available in church with a new card this year, an ideal present for yourself, a friend or grand/godchildren, offering calming hope at the opening moment in each day in December.
These cost £4. Cash please.

Demonstration Organ Recital by Paul Hale

Another date for your diary! On Saturday 4th November Paul Hale, Cathedral Organist, organ advisor and consultant, will be putting the recently re-built organ at St Thomas’ to the test!

Paul will be playing pieces by a variety of composers including Bach, César Franck and Sigrid Karg-Elert. The recital at 2:30pm followed by refreshments, will be free.
Donations to our musical outreach programme welcomed.
Full programme details on the website (What’s On, Events).

Daily Prayer continues its usual pattern. 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.

This week we are asked to pray for

Our Discoverers (10-15 group) as they break for half term, but for our support of them.
Our care of all creation.
Ongoing reflection and prayer about how Jo will be missed and how we cover her work and move forward with families’ and children’s work.
Forgotten places in the world such as women in Afghanistan.
Our sharing of the news that we are all loveable.
the lonely and anyone who feels misunderstood in our community.

Diary for next week

Wednesday 25th October
10:30am    BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
The readings will be Rom. 6. 12-18, Ps. 124 & Luke 12. 39-48.

Thursday 26th October
2:30pm      Thanksgiving service at St Mary’s

Saturday 28th October
3:00pm      Goring Chamber Choir concert at St Thomas’

Sunday 29th October – British Summer Time ends
8:00am      BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
10:30am    Benefice Holy Communion at St Mary’s
4:00pm      Thanksgiving for the Departed service at St Thomas’

Prayers for this week

Thank you to Mike for this week’s prayers based on the prayers of David Adam.

God of grace and peace, we rejoice that you have chosen us, and empowered us by your Holy Spirit. Lead us, that we may lead others. Guide us, that we may be the people you would have us be. Direct us, that we may do what you would have us do; through Christ, the Prince of peace. Amen.

Heavenly Father, we pray for the many people whose lives have been torn apart by conflict in Israel and Gaza. We pray especially those who have died, those who are grieving, the injured and those now without food, shelter or medical supplies. Strengthen and support the work of all relief organisations. We pray also for those who have the power to bring peace. May they be touched by a spirit of compassion and kindness. And we pray for resolution of the terrible war in Ukraine.
Lord hear us as we pray in the power of your Spirit, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Spirit of God,
Guide us and strengthen us.

May we show your love and salvation in our lives, that the Church may grow in holiness and outreach. We pray for the mission of your Church, for Ben Phillips and our Ministry Team. And we pray for Steve and Lindsey Poulson in their work for the young in Honduras.
Spirit of God,
Guide us and strengthen us.

We pray for all who hunger for goodness and righteousness, for all who serve you by serving others. We pray for all world leaders and all who influence our future, for all those who work in the media, for artists, musicians and writers, for all who seek to care for and improve our environment.
Spirit of God,
Guide us and strengthen us.

May we set a good example by how we live. Let our homes be places of grace and goodness, of hospitality and holiness. We pray for good relationships and honest dealings. We remember homes where loved ones are betrayed, where relationships are breaking down.
Spirit of God,
Guide us and strengthen us.

We pray for all who are weak and for all who are led into crime and vice. We pray for people who work for the rehabilitation of criminals or addicts. We pray for those who have lost their way and are caught up in darkness. We remember the depressed, the despairing, and all who have lost vision and hope. We pray for all in sickness especially those in the Benefice Newsletter.
Spirit of God,
Guide us and strengthen us.

We entrust to your power our friends and loved ones in this world, and those who have departed from our sight. We pray that we may all at the last share in the joy and peace of your Kingdom.
Spirit of God,
Guide us and strengthen us.

Merciful God,
Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

Daily readings for the week beginning 23rd October

Monday am:	Ps 126	Ezek. 37. 1-14	John 15. 1-11	pm: Ps 127	1 Tim. 1. 1-17
Tuesday am:	Ps 132	Ezek. 37. 15-end	John 15. 12-17	pm: Ps 135	1 Tim. 1.18-2.end
Wednesday am:	Ps 119 153-end	Ezek. 39. 21-end	John 15. 18-end	pm: Ps 136	1 Tim. ch. 3
Thursday am:	Ps 143	Ezek. 43. 1-12	John 16. 1-15	pm: Ps 138	1 Tim. ch. 4
Friday am:	Ps 144	Ezek. 44. 4-16	John 16. 16-22	pm: Ps 145	1 Tim. 5. 1-16
Saturday am:	Ps 116	Isa. 45. 18-end	Luke 6. 12-16	pm: Ps 119. 1-16	Jude 1-4, 17-end

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