Weekly Notices

[ See here for Notice archives ].

3rd May 2026 Easter 5

Welcome to our weekly newsletter

Alleluia, Christ is risen…
He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

The risen Christ calls us to be his living body in the world today. Let yourselves be built together, building up each other.
These star of Bethlehem flowers remind us of all that is going on in the Middle East. As we hear about the denying of human rights in the

occupied West Bank, may we have determination not to join in anti-Semitism but instead to ask the Jewish community to call out injustice there. May we also be told of our own misuse of power.

The Collect, the prayer for the week
Risen Christ,
your wounds declare your love for the world
and the wonder of your risen life:
give us compassion and courage
to risk ourselves for those we serve,
to the glory of God the Father.

Readings for this Sunday: 1 Peter 2: 2-10, Acts 7: 55-end, Ps. 31: 1-5, 15-16 and John 14: 1-14..

This Sunday:
8:00am      BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
8:45am      Parish breakfast in the Canterbury Room
9:30am      Family service at St Thomas’
11:15am    Holy Communion at St Mary’s
11:15am Family service at St Andrew’s
4:00pm Choral Evensong at St Thomas’

Visit to St Thomas' by Immanuel Gospel from Stockholm
This Saturday, 2nd May, the choir, Immanuel Gospel, from Stockholm will be running a workshop from 5pm to 6pm, followed by a concert from 7pm to 8pm at St Thomas'. We do hope you will be able to come to the concert and, even better, attend the workshop too! More details can be found on the church website by clicking here.

On Sunday the choir will be singing at the 9.30am family service before going by train to Reading in early afternoon.
Help with catering for Immanuel Gospel?
Thank you to all those who have kindly offered to make something or have given a gift of money towards the catering.

Possible help with transport to Reading for Immanuel Gospel
Later on Sunday the singers in Immanuel Gospel are catching the 13.22 to Reading. We all know that the trains can be heavily delayed or cancelled, especially on a Sunday. Would you be able to help by offering to be a back-up driver for if the train is cancelled? If so, please would you contact Elizabeth Parkinson directly or via the benefice office.

This Sunday, 3rd May,
Parish Breakfast at St Thomas’
Come along for toast, fruit and coffee on this first Sunday of a month from 8.45-9.15am.
This is a wonderful way to integrate our different church members of all ages and stages.
Thank you to Laura and family for providing this!

Monday 4th May is the Bank Holiday "May Day"…
… and you are invited to visit The Almshouses at Goring Heath at 10:15am when the Kennet Morris Dancers will perform their traditional May dances. It's only a 12 minute drive from Goring, and you'll have a chance to see the famous "village" built in 1726 by Henry Alnut, with its own little church and an old schoolhouse. After the dancing you will have a chance to go inside the lovely little church and walk around the historic grounds.

This is followed in the afternoon with the South Stoke May Fayre
This traditional event with Morris men, maypole dancing, the Goring and Streatley concert band and local stalls will be taking place in The Street from 12-4pm. Tea/coffee and cakes will be served in St Andrew’s from 12-4pm. Also, join local wildlife photographer Simon Booker for "Wild Connections" - A 20 minute talk featuring wildlife stories, a stunning short film and live demos with Otters, Snipe and more local wildlife. Don't miss it! Starts 2pm in St Andrew’s. All funds raised go to village groups and South Stoke Primary school.

Christian Aid Week, 10-16 May
A big ‘THANK YOU’ to all those who helped to prepare the envelopes on Wednesday. The folders for Goring are now available in St Thomas’ Church, (but please don’t start to deliver them until 10 May). If you are able to deliver envelopes in Streatley please contact the church warden, John..

Last year we weren’t able to deliver envelopes to some roads because we didn’t have enough volunteers, so please try to persuade your friends to

help. It’s much more enjoyable if you do it in pairs.
We raised just over £2,000 in 2025. Let’s see if we can beat that total this year!
Judith

Church locking and unlocking at St Thomas’
We have a band of people who are on a rota for unlocking St Thomas’ up to four mornings a week and locking it again each evening. They do this for one week every 6 to 8 weeks. Tom Worthington has been central to this, but is no longer able to continue.

Could you enjoy/endure daily strolls through our gorgeous churchyard and take your part in keeping our church open and enjoyed?
Tom is kindly going to carry on drawing up the rota. We thank him for all his help with this.
Please speak to Ben or e-mail officeofgsandss@yahoo.com if you might be able to help.

Decorator for curate’s house. Can you recommend a decorator to ask to work on the house in Bull Meadow? Please tell Ben.

Ascension Day, 7am Holy Communion on top of Lardon Chase
This year we are trying something a little different. In Matthew’s gospel Jesus’ final commission to his disciples is on a mountain top.

We will hold an early morning Communion service on Thursday 14th May. At 7.45am we will descend for breakfast together.
Access on the flat from the top car park or parking can be arranged at the bottom of the hill. I will speak to The Bull. An idea of numbers for breakfast would be very helpful please.

Please book for the service and breakfast (cooked or cereal) using the sign up sheets in church or email the office (officeofgsandss@yahoo.com).
If v wet we will be in St Mary’s.

Join in Morning Prayer together. We offer ourselves in worship, listen to the Bible and pray for our world and church members in turn.
Monday: 8.30am Goring Tuesday and Thursday: 8.30am Streatley,
Friday: 9am Goring.

This week we are asked to pray for:

Street Pastors, including Melissa this Saturday night. Also for all who work in hospitality.
Those starting exams this summer.
Those displaced from their homes by war and occupation, especially in Lebanon and the West Bank.
For the Jewish community here and all who because of their ethnicity or faith live in fear across the world.
Our Bereavement Journey course.

Diary for the week

Monday 4th May
Noon South Stoke May Fayre

Tuesday 5th May
7:30pm      The Bereavement Journey in the Canterbury Room

Wednesday 6th May
10:30am    Little Lights at St Mary’s
10:30am    BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
                       followed by coffee in the Canterbury Room
The readings will be Acts 15: 1-6, Psalm 122: 1-5 and John 15: 1-8.

Sunday 10th May, Christian Aid week starts
8:00am      BCP Holy Communion at St Mary’s
9:30am      Holy Communion at St Thomas’
11:15am    Family service at St Mary’s followed by APCMs
11:15am BCP Holy Communion at St Andrew’s
5:00pm Discoverers/Family meal

The monthly calendar for May can be downloaded by clicking here

Prayers for the week from Roots on the web
God of light and love
may the beauty of your peace
encircle the peoples of the earth
and fill our prayer with hope.
Let your face shine upon us and upon your world.
Save us in your steadfast love.

God of light and love
You have called us to live together in community
sharing what we have and carrying each other’s burdens.
May we walk faithfully where you lead us
and may our actions show your love in the world.
We pray for the small and big choices that lie ahead for us this week
and ask that we would honour you in the ordinary things of life,
knowing that you are with us always.
We pray that you would surround all who are struggling or feeling alone
with your presence and peace.
Let your face shine upon us and upon your world.
Save us in your steadfast love.

God of light and love,
we bring to you the places in our world
where the darkness of war casts its shadows over people’s lives.
We pray today for Ukraine, for the Middle East, for Gaza, for South Sudan
and ask for just and lasting solutions to long-running conflict.
Give us persistence in prayer, hope in believing that peace will come
and trust in your promise that you make all things new.
Let your face shine upon us and upon your world.
Save us in your steadfast love.

God of light and love
you hold our lives in your hand.
We pray for all who are in trouble, pain or distress.
In the quiet we name those we know who need to know your protection today.

(Silence)

Be close to all who suffer and surround them with tender care.
May we, your Church, be a protecting space for those who are battered by life
and a place of healing and hope in a troubled and divided world.
Let your face shine upon us and upon your world.
Save us in your steadfast love.

God of light and love,
we bring to you the change and uncertainty that is all around:
feelings of being left behind or unheard; high distrust of leaders;
disconnection from politics; and a lack of faith in those who govern us.
Save us from extremes and from too-easy answers to complex issues.
Show us how we should respond to the anger that simmers in our society.
Make us campaigners for a more just world
and may we never disregard the voices of those on the margins.
As elections approach in many areas of our nation,
we pray for leadership that is unselfish and dedicated to the good of others.
Let your face shine upon us and upon your world.
Save us in your steadfast love.

God of light and love
may the beauty of your peace
encircle us
and fill our homes and our hearts
today and always.
Let your face shine upon us and upon your world
Save us in your steadfast love. Amen.

Daily readings for the week beginning 4th May

Monday am:	Ps 145	Num. 9: 15-end; 10.33-end	Luke 4. 38-end	pm: Ps 105	1 Pet. 1. 1-12
Tuesday am:	Ps 19	Num. 11: 1-33	Luke 5. 1-11	pm: Ps 97	1 Pet. 1. 13-end
Wednesday am:	Ps 30	Num. ch 12	Luke 5. 12-26	pm: Ps 99	1 Pet. 2. 1-10
Thursday am:	Ps 57	Num. 13: 1-3, 17-end	Luke 5. 27-end	pm: Ps 104	1 Pet. 2. 11-end
Friday am:	Ps 138	Num. 14: 1-25	Luke 6: 1-11	pm: Ps 66	1 Pet. 3. 1-12
Saturday am:	Ps 146	Num. 14: 26-end	Luke 6. 12-26	pm: Ps 118	1 Pet. 3. 13-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