The season of annual meetings begins… so we give thanks for all who help in so many ways, especially churchwardens, treasurers secretaries and yes, so many more taking on a vital role. Please pray for them that they will be sustained and blessed in the responsibilities they carry for us all.
Reading Bach choir concert, this Saturday, 16th March The Reading Bach choir will be performing Dvorak’s Stabat Mater in a concert at St Thomas’ at 7:30pm. They will be directed by Daniel Mahoney and accompanied on the piano by Nick Shaw. Four young soloists, all training under the Sixteen Young Artists programme, will be taking part. Tickets are £15, £5 under-18s and are available from any choir member or via their website: readingbachchoir.org.uk.
Church Times What is happening in the church worldwide and nationally? What needs to be challenged, changed and what celebrated and shared? An independent charity runs this weekly national paper, which happens to employ a local journalist in our congregation. There is a special offer on this month for new subscribers to give it a go - £10 for 10 editions delivered through your door... Do pick up a leaflet from church.
This week we are asked to pray
Prayers for this week Thank you to Brenda for this week’s prayers.
Creator God, we thank you that you hear us when we pray in faith through your Son.
Dear Lord, we pray for your Church.
Give wisdom and courage to our Archbishops and Bishops. We pray for our own ministry team that they may teach us and lead us in your way for this place. We pray that each one of us may play our part sharing your Good News in these villages and everywhere we go. We pray for the spirit to listen to one another when considering issues affecting church life as we know it.
O Holy Spirit come breathe within us, renewing thought and will and heart. Come love of Christ afresh to win us, revive your church in every part.
Jesus, Lord of life, in your mercy, hear us.
Lord Jesus, light of the world, bring the light and peace of your gospel to the nations.
Bless and guide Charles our King. We thank you for his witness and pray that he will be restored to good health.
We pray for his ministers. Give them wisdom in their deliberations that they may honour all people and seek the common good.
We pray for the leaders and peoples of countries where there is war – particularly the Holy Land and Ukraine.
Show them the destruction caused by violence that they may seek to find ways for dialogue and reconciliation.
We pray for the people of Haiti where the streets are currently ruled by gangs.
We pray for our fellow Christians who suffer persecution and experience daily fear. Give them courage and a deep sense of your presence with them.
Longing for peace our world is troubled, longing for hope, many despair, your word alone has power to save, make us your living voice.
We praise and thank you for this beautiful world. We see the woods and hear the birds sing. We look down from lofty mountains and feel the breeze. May our souls sing ‘How great Thou art’.
Teach us to nurture and preserve your world, ensuring its fruits reach those less fortunate than ourselves.
We pray for all those people who are experiencing times of hardship maybe displaced by war or famine or in financial difficulty. We pray that you will give us generous hearts to help.
We pray for those in our community who are sick or housebound.
Give them courage in their weakness and we pray that they may know your peace in their hearts.
We pray for those who care for them that they may have strength and patience.
We remember those who have died and ask that you will comfort those who mourn.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.