Banner Image:   pen-g104861c15 1920

We have had good PCC meetings this month! Not always something we hear shouted out but thank God we have!  (And thank you to those who faithfully serve on them when they are a bit more mundane.)

I will speak in church on the 26th October and thereafter regarding the prayers for Living in Love and Faith. But I want to tell you now of a bold but exciting project which Goring PCC has chosen to back with money from the generous legacy of Daphne Prue, a botanist and horticulturalist involved in education. We have fruitfully spent half of this legacy on repairs, starting the organ scholarships and trying to employ a youth worker. The latter has not been successful but with help from church members our care of families has been increasing.

An opportunity has now arisen to participate in a project that entails buying a piece of land in Goring with the vision of linking people with the earth. This will entail encouraging community connection with growing food and participation of people of all ages, with God central to it all.

We believe this will have significant social and spiritual benefits and could have a lasting impact on generations to come.

Andrew Bastawrous and Sarah Morton made a presentation to Goring PCC and the PCC were deeply inspired and caught this vision. Madeleine Bastawrous’s work as a paediatrician, in youth work and growing food all come together in this project.

The particular plot of land in mind has to be bid for by Friday 24th October and so further offers of financial support to help the church be seen as central to this must be made this weekend.

There will be a brief talk and a chance to ask questions about this on Sunday 19th October at 4.40pm in the Canterbury Room.                                              Ben
BeneficeLogoWithText
Sunday 19th & 26th October                       Trinity 18 and Last after Trinity
Welcome to our newsletter for the next two weeks
autumn leaves all saints WM
The Collect, the prayer for the week
Sunday 19th October
God, our judge and saviour,
teach us to be open to your truth
and to trust in your love,
that we may live each day
with confidence in the salvation which is given
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sunday 26th October
Blessed Lord,
who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
help us so to hear them,
to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them
that, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word,
we may embrace and for ever hold fast
the hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Readings for 19th October: 2 Tim. 3:14 - 4:5, Psalm 121 and Luke 18: 1-8.    

Readings for 26th October: 2 Tim. 4: 6-8, 16-18, Psalm 84: 1-7 and Luke 18: 9-14.

This Sunday
8:00am                BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
9:30am                Good News service (with children’s activities) at St Thomas’
11.15am              BCP Holy Communion at St Mary’s
11:15am              Good News service at St Andrew’s
3:00pm                Bereavement café in the Canterbury Room
4:00pm                Goring & Streatley Clarinet Ensemble at St Mary’s
5:00pm                Church families meal in the Canterbury Room


Next Sunday (26th October) N.B. Clocks change, going back 1 hour
8:00am                BCP Holy Communion at St Mary’s
9:30am                Holy Communion at St Thomas’
11.15am              Mattins at St Mary’s
11:15am              Holy Communion at St Andrew’s
4:00pm               Thanksgiving for the Departed service at St Thomas’
Heal the Gap Bereavement Café
Our Bereavement Cafe has its next session this Sunday, October 19th, at 3pm in the Canterbury Room.
Heal the Gap colour
The aims of this group are to demystify the topic of grief and remove its status as a taboo subject and to equip everyone with the self-assurance necessary to engage in a meaningful conversation with those grappling with loss, focusing primarily on active listening. 
The sessions are managed by trained group bereavement facilitators. The group is open to anyone, regardless of how long ago your loss occurred, and you will be welcome whether or not you have been before.
We hope to offer some friendship, advice and hope as well as tea, coffee and refreshments. We look forward to seeing you there.              Melissa & Matt

Families Meal, Sunday 19th Oct, 5.00-7.00pm in the Canterbury Room     

Family meal tomato 25.07

Also on Sunday we will be holding a meal for families and their children. Children will be able to play while adults chat with a drink from 5pm. The meal will start at 5:45/6pm. Please could anyone who’d like to come email Sarah via the office (875651) and give any dietary requirements.

Goring & Streatley Concert Band Clarinet Ensemble
David Slarks GSCB Clarinet Ens
On Sunday October 19th at 4pm at St Mary’s the Goring and Streatley Concert Band (GSCB) Clarinet Ensemble will be playing pieces “From Medieval to Modern” including works by Schubert, Juan Perez, Valentin Hude, Pergolesi, Mahler, Bratton, Dorff, Bochsa&Schmidt and Grundman. Pieces include both the Stabat Mater
and the Teddy Bears Picnic so there is lots of variety for those of all ages to enjoy.
Tickets on the door only, £10 full, £8 concessions which includes any members of GSCB, £5 for 11-16 year olds, free for under 10s.
We will fit everyone in! Enquiries please text to 0776 233 9853.
Digging Deeper – fortnightly, Tuesdays at 10.30am
Digging deeper
All are warmly welcome to come along to this study and fellowship group on Paul’s letter to the church in Rome.
We continue on Tuesday 21st October, 10.30am-12.00pm in the Canterbury Room. With coffee and a biscuit we will dig deeper into Romans chapter 12: a self-giving, living sacrifice and how the post-Communion prayer helps link this passage to our total worship. All welcome!

new small group aimed at parents of young families is taking place  fortnightly on Tuesday evenings, 8-9.15pm.
Prayer, study and fellowship.
Please speak to Ben or Madeleine for more information.

StAndrewsCoffeeAndCake
St Andrew’s coffee morning
The monthly coffee morning with cakes will take place in St Andrew’s on Wednesday 22nd October from 10:30am.
All welcome!
Thanksgiving for the Departed, Sunday 26th October
autumn leaves all saints WM
The Ministry Team invite all who have lost loved ones, whether recently or longer ago, to come together at St Thomas’ on the 26th October at 4.00pm to remember those who have died, to give thanks for and to celebrate their lives.
The service is gentle and allows time for reflection and thanksgiving as well as an act of remembrance for those who have died. 
Following the service, light refreshments will be served in the Canterbury Room, giving an opportunity to talk with others and with members of the Ministry Team, if you wish.
All are most welcome to come and join in this celebration of the lives of departed loved ones and do please invite others you may know to the service.
Concert by VentiQuattro, Sunday 2nd November
Ventiquattro logo 25.11
A concert of “a cappella” singing at St Thomas's church awaits you on Sunday 2nd November at 6pm courtesy of VentiQuattro, a choir of auditioned and semi-professional singers. At their Goring debut last year, VentiQuattro tackled contemporary American music. 
Entitled ‘Inspirations’, this time the concert features two of Bach's beautiful motets ("Komm!" and "Singet dem Herrn"), and a selection of later music inspired by him -  from Stanford and Harris to Macmillan and Tavener, with some folk pieces thrown in for good measure. Tickets £20 (with free refreshments, including some very decent wine) from www.vq24.fun - admission free for under 18s. Each ticket also includes a donation to charity (Mind for this concert).

This week we are asked to pray: 

  • For our MPs, Freddie van Mierlo and Olivia Bailey and Maggie, our County and District Councillor.
  • Preparations for our Thanksgiving for the Departed service and season of Remembrance.
  • For our care of the land, discerning ways to protect and improve it for future generations as well as now. For those selling land deciding who to sell it to and for what purpose. 
  • For Jane Collins our curate designate. For her and our training and preparing for this.
Diary for the next two weeks
Tuesday 21st October
10:30am             Digging Deeper in the Canterbury Room


Wednesday 22nd October
10:30am             Little Lights at St Mary’s
10:30am             Coffee morning at St Andrew’s
10:30am             BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
The readings will be Romans 6: 12-18, Ps. 124 and Luke 12: 39-48.


Thursday 23rd October
11:00am              Funeral of Roy Hunt at White Hill Burial Ground

Sunday 26th October
8:00am                BCP Holy Communion at St Mary’s
9:30am                Holy Communion at St Thomas’
11.15am              Mattins at St Mary’s
11:15am              Holy Communion at St Andrew’s
4:00pm               Thanksgiving for the Departed service at St Thomas’


Tuesday 28th October
Noon                    Funeral of Philip Coote at St Thomas’

Wednesday 29th October
10:30am              BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
The readings will be Romans 8: 26-30, Ps. 13 and Luke 13: 22-30.


Sunday 2nd November
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                Evensong at St Mary’s
6:00pm                VentiQuattro concert at St Thomas’

Prayers for the week from Roots on the web
This autumn, as the leaves change colour, we remember all those people who are facing change. We remember those getting used to being away from home at college and university, and adjusting to new lives in new places. We remember those who prefer the light and warmth of the summer, and fear the cold and darkness of this season. We remember those who are searching, displaced, lost, or feeling that they have no hope and no purpose. We remember all those for whom this is a difficult time, and we seek your help for them.
Where does our help come from?
Our help comes from the Lord.

This autumn, as the guns and sirens of the Middle East are quieter, we remember those caught up in that conflict. We remember those in Gaza who have returned to their homes to find nothing but wreckage and destruction. We remember those who mourn the death of loved ones, and those who have been subject to imprisonment and cruel handling. We remember all the pain and anguish that thousands of people have and will continue to feel. We remember this tentative ceasefire, and we seek your peace for the future.
Where does our help come from?
Our help comes from the Lord.

This autumn, as we gather as the people of God, we remember all those that help us to learn and to worship. We remember those who give their time to serve you in children’s and youth work, sharing the gospel with the young. We remember our church leaders, ministers, and key volunteers who seek to make the joy of faith alive and real for our congregations. We remember all of the people who quietly serve as Martha served your son Jesus, doing practical things and helping others feel welcomed and valued. We remember that you have given us your Word to learn, to live by, and to cherish. We remember all those who serve us, and seek your strength for them in all they do.
Where does our help come from?
Our help comes from the Lord.

This autumn, as parliament has just returned after their long break, we remember all those in power and opposition. We remember those who aim to make the lives of others better, and who are motivated by their love for you. We remember those who make big and important decisions, and whose words can affect the lives of all people in our country. We remember those who seek fame and influence for the wrong reasons, and ask that they may be filled with wisdom and caution. We remember all in local and national politics, and seek your guidance for them.
Where does our help come from?
Our help comes from the Lord.

This autumn, as another season passes, we remember all those facing sadness, sickness, and fear. We remember those who have recently lost family or friends who were close to them, and feel that mourning and emptiness inside. We remember those who are struggling with their health, who are patiently waiting for treatment, or who are facing an uncertain future. We remember those who have heard life-changing news, and are coming to terms with what it means. We remember all in need, and ask for your hope and healing to fill them as we pray.
Where does our help come from?
Our help comes from the Lord.

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Daily readings for the week beginning 20th October
Monday am: Ps 80 2 Chron. 17. 1-12 Mark 15. 1-15 pm: Ps 85 Acts 26. 1-23
Tuesday am: Ps 89. 1-18 2 Chron. 18. 1-27 Mark 15. 16-32 pm: Ps 89. 19-end Acts 26. 24-end
Wednesday am: Ps 119. 105-128 2 Chron. 18.28-19.end Mark 15. 33-41 pm: Ps 91 Acts 27. 1-26
Thursday am: Ps 92 2 Chron. 20. 1-23 Mark 15. 42-end pm: Ps 94 Acts 27. 27-end
Friday am: Ps 88 2 Chron. 22.10-23.end Mark 16. 1-8 pm: Ps 102 Acts 28. 1-16
Saturday am: Ps 97 2 Chron. 24. 1-22 Mark 16. 9-end pm: Ps 104 Acts 28. 17-end
Daily readings for the week beginning 27th October
Monday am: Ps 98 2 Chron. 26. 1-21 John 13. 1-11 pm: Ps 105 Phil. 1. 1-11
Tuesday am: Ps 116 Isa. 45. 18-end Luke 6. 12-16 pm: Ps 119. 1-16 Jude 1-4, 17-end
Wednesday am: Ps 111 2 Chron. 29. 1-19 John 13. 21-30 pm: Ps 119. 129-152 Phil. 2. 1-13
Thursday am: Ps 115 2 Chron. 29. 20-end John 13. 31-end pm: Ps 116 Phil. 2. 14-end
Friday am: Ps 139 2 Chron. Ch 30 John 14. 1-14 pm: Ps 130 Phil. 3.1-4.1
Saturday am: Ps 15 Isa. ch 35 Luke 9. 18-27 pm: Ps 148 Heb. 11.32-12.2
Please send any notices or articles for the next news sheet by noon on Thursdays to vicarofgsandss@yahoo.com.
DioceseOfOxford
Copyright © 2025 The Benefice of Goring and Streatley with South Stoke, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
The Benefice of Goring and Streatley with South Stoke
The Vicarage
Manor Road
Goring, Berkshire RG8 9DR
United Kingdom