St Thomas' - helping us pick hymns for services At St Thomas', we have a hymn committee (Alun, Ben, Jenny, Mary and Elizabeth) who meet 3 times a year to plan hymn choices for services for the next 4 months. Our next meeting is on 7th May. If you have a favourite hymn you would like to see included, please let one of the hymn committee know or email Jill at the benefice office. Thank you
We will be marking this anniversary with a short gathering with an act of Reflection, Thanksgiving and Prayer for Peace at our church war memorials or in church if wet or wild. This will be at noon at St Thomas’, Goring and at 6:15pm at St Mary’s, Streatley and St Andrew’s, South Stoke. Church bells will ring out at 6:30pm as they did 80 years ago to mark the end of war in Europe.
We give thanks for all who gave of themselves, their time, their skills, their lives and their loved ones to overcome the evils of nationalism and war to win Victory in Europe and herald decades of peace here and across the world. May we take forward and treasure this fragile gift. Help us play our part in the world. In gratitude, let us be ready to walk the path of costly love to overcome fear, division, and selfishness and find the ways to harmony, hope and reconciliation. O God of love we ask for your help. Amen.
Please come and pray for the life of our parishes.The prayer breakfast 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.
for roads in Goring, or volunteer your help to your Church Warden for roads in Streatley. Your help will be greatly appreciated. In addition this year, Ann will very kindly be hosting a Bread and Cheese Lunch in aid of Christian Aid on Wednesday 14th May, 12.00-2.00pm at her home in Goring. Do, please, come along! Please contact the church office for details of the venue.
Piano Concert at St Mary’s, “Lilting and Lovely” Ikuko Inoguchi will be joined by Sally Goodworth to play sonatas and suites for four hands on Sunday May 11th at 4pm. The programme will include pieces by by Mozart, Faure, Poulenc and Debussy. Tickets are £10 full, £9 concessions on the door only and please bring cash not cards!
Tea and cakes will be provided by the Friends of St Mary’s in the Morrell Room after the concert. Any enquiries please text to 0776 233 9853.
This week we are asked to pray:
Prayers for the week, adapted from Roots on the web Almighty God, we recognise that you are the fire, the spark, the vision, the calling, that brings us to our knees to pray for those near and far and so we pray this day for those people and situations that are on our minds and in our hearts. Almighty God, hear our prayer For those who lead the nations, that you will bless them with your wisdom. Just as St Paul was changed, may we be prepared to apologise for past mistakes and change our minds. May we always seek to do your will for the greater good of humanity and creation. Almighty God, hear our prayer For the peoples of the nations especially those who decide, whatever the risk to themselves, to speak out against injustice and unfairness. For those who risk their lives for the well being and the good of neighbours near and far and for those who bear the scars of war. Almighty God, hear our prayer For those caught up in conflict and those dragged into violence and revenge trying to protect peoples and lands, heritage and borders. We pray for the courage to work for reconciliation and peace. Almighty God, hear our prayer For the homeless, the hungry, the dispossessed, for those who face discrimination and injustice, those who feel isolated, lonely and alone, unloved, unwanted and fearful. Almighty God, hear our prayer For the ill and those who treat them, who bind their wounds and care for body, mind and soul. For those who are nearing the end of their earthly life that they may find comfort, strength and peace. For those who mourn the loss of loved ones, who feel the emptiness and loss, who live with guilt and regret of things not said and deeds not done. Almighty God, hear our prayer And finally we pray for ourselves, that we may follow in the steps of Christ and in so doing find peace, love and contentment, healing, hope and joy. Almighty God, hear our prayer And hear all the prayers of our hearts, spoken and unspoken. In the name of the risen Christ, we pray. Amen.