Please note: We have a special United Benefice service at 9.30am in Goring this week, focussing on what we feed on – spiritually and physically, with live jazz from the Royal College. Please come and invite your friends and neighbours.
This vital occasion to help us to play our part will give encouragement that what we eat makes a huge difference. 9.30am: United Benefice Service in St Thomas’ with live jazz, Food glorious Food. And Bread of Heaven. Only with God’s help can we change our hearts, and then our ways and hopes.
11.00am-2.00pm in the Rectory Garden: Bring a picnic or buy food and drink in the garden. There will be live music, stalls and activities for all the family, to inspire and encourage. 12noon-1:00pm: Special Question Time... in the marquee with visiting experts facing our questions and sharing their insights. They will guide us in discovering what a difference our eating habits make to the world and how we can all have a positive impact on climate change and biodiversity. You can guarantee your seat and encourage us to have a full marquee, by booking online for this part: https://www.thegapfestival.org/events/climate-change-question-time-ask-the-experts/
Please come and pray for the life of our parishes. This will take place in the Canterbury Room at St Thomas’. Coffee and croissants from 8:15am, followed by prayer for the life of our churches. Finished by 9.30am. Please do join us.
Filing cabinet looking for a new home We have a small (40cmx40cmx66cm) two drawer metal filing cabinet which is no longer needed. The width is smaller than a regular filing cabinet but there are some hanging folders included. Please contact the office (875651) if you are interested.
This week we are asked to pray
Prayers for this week Thank you to Simon for this week’s prayers.
Father God, we thank you for the power of prayer to bring about change in our lives and in the world. Give us wisdom to know what to pray for most effectively and help us to raise our ambition and expectation from the transforming impact that our prayers can invite.
This week as we consider our stewardship of the world’s resources, and the food choices that we make, we thank you for the progress made by the food industry here in the UK towards developing a more sustainable supply chain. The significant and consistent reduction in packaging, food waste and carbon consumption is world-leading, and we ask that other nations can follow our commitment and example. We pray that any future government will be brave enough to keep the standard high. At an individual level, help us to recognise the impact of our own daily choices and actions in what we eat and how we shop; and show us the changes that each one of can make to contribute to a more positive future.
Looking out into the world, we continue to pray for a resolution to the war in Ukraine, and an end to the hostilities in Gaza. We ask for your grace, provision and strength for all those engaged in humanitarian relief for the displaced, hungry and injured. May the efforts for a ceasefire ultimately be successful.
At home, we bring before you King Charles and continue to ask for a positive response to treatment. We also remember Princess Catherine also undergoing medical attention – bless them and their families at this anxious and uncertain time.
With a General Election campaign underway, we give thanks for the privileges and freedoms that we enjoy in this country, despite our many challenges. We pray for a fair and due process – help each of us to listen carefully to the candidates and give us wisdom as we exercise our democratic responsibility.
Here in our Benefice, we lift to you the leaders at our churches - for Gavin our Bishop, Ben and the entire ministry team. Finally, we pray for our congregations, for health and wellbeing and for the depth of our spiritual journey together. We also remember any who are ill or suffering.
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.