Good News services As part of our preparing resilience for the future a different member of our “Ministry Calling” group will lead our Good News services each month in Goring and South Stoke. They have been preparing and learning some of the factors involved in leading services. However, none of us, not even the vicar, has finished learning or needing feedback and encouragement. Please do take your part in helping this new cohort to grow and blossom. Please pray for Jo Brook from South Stoke church who is leading this Sunday and give her encouragement and Ben any feedback to share! Thank you.
Piano Concert, “Take a Peaceful Moment”, at St Mary’s Very sadly Janet Pound is unable to play at this concert on Sunday July 20th at 4pm however we have been very fortunate in that virtuoso pianist Rachel Neiger from Oxford has volunteered to step up and play instead.
This will be a recital of peaceful piano pieces including works by Beethoven, Schumann, Elgar and Satie along with poetry about peace. 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.
Meal for parents 17 parents managed to leave their offspring and come together to be encouraged, fed and watered and to take a moment to consider how we can let the love of Jesus into our homes and lives more. It was a great evening. Thank you to all who prayed for and supported this.
Adult baptism/confirmation preparation course. We have a 15 year old and an 80 something year old and would welcome others to join a group. Timing will depend on what people can do but will probably be in the evenings in September. A chance to review your faith and ask questions and grow closer to God. Do speak to a member of the ministry team about this if you are interested.
Songs of Praise service Live in harmony, join together in songs of praise the Bible urges us. So we can look forward to doing as we are told, for once!
Our Benefice Songs of Praise on Sunday 31st August at 10.30am is in St Andrew’s. The organist and choirs from Streatley and Goring will be there to help raise the roof.
This week we are asked to pray:
Prayers for the week from Roots on the web Loving God we come to place into your hands ourselves, our lives and our concerns for the world in which we live. As our attention is divided and our world becomes increasingly rushed and noisy and we feel the constant pressure to be doing more and more with fewer and fewer resources, we pray that we would find our still centre in you and that our actions would be rooted and grounded in your abundance. Come close to us O God Hear our prayer. As world leaders struggle to make and keep the peace and the suffering caused by wars seems unending, we pray that you would keep alive our hope in a better future for all the peoples of the earth, remembering particularly the efforts to build a just and lasting peace in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine. Come close to us O God Hear our prayer. As social media scatters our attention and fragments society and shouting replaces conversation, listening and debate, we pray that we would be disciplined in our use of technology and that we would pay attention to others and use our words to build up other people. Come close to us O God Hear our prayer. As four areas of England move into drought following extreme heat and wildlife and crops are under threat, we pray for more careful stewardship of Earth’s precious water resources and for accountability where water is polluted by carelessness or choices driven by greed. Come close to us O God Hear our prayer. As our rights to peaceful protest become increasingly limited and challenging the status quo comes at great cost, we pray for wisdom to discern the actions to which you are calling us and courage as we respond to issues that threaten life and stability on this planet. Come close to us O God Hear our prayer. As people struggle with life’s challenges or are overwhelmed by trouble and some we know are ill or in hospital we pray for peace in body, mind and soul for all who are suffering and strength for those who care for them. Come close to us O God Hear our prayer. As so many people are rootless and lonely in our communities and young and old seek a place to belong and to be heard we pray that our churches would be places of hospitality, where bread is broken and shared and friend and stranger find a welcome home. Come close to us O God Hear our prayer. Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.