Benefice of Goring and Streatley with South Stoke : Sunday 2nd November 2025

Sunday 2nd November 4 before Advent

Welcome to our weekly newsletter

God wants to make a difference in how we see ourselves and how others see us.

We are all called to be “saints”.

The Collect, the prayer for the week
Almighty and eternal God,
you have kindled the flame of love
in the hearts of the saints:
grant to us the same faith and power of love,
that, as we rejoice in their triumphs,
we may be sustained by their example and fellowship;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

Readings for Sunday: 2 Thess. 1: 1-4, 11-12, Psalm 32: 1-7 and Luke 19: 1-10.

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 Evensong at St Mary’s
6:00pm VentiQuattro concert at St Thomas’

This Sunday,
Parish Breakfast at St Thomas’
Come along for croissants 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 Sarah for coordinating this.

Chalice
In trying to please everyone… well I know I cannot! But we said we would use the common cup in the traditional, sharing way over the summer months.

Now as winter returns (after Remembrance Sunday) we have to review.
Each church has different feelings on this and I sense that Goring is more inclined to return to intincting for everyone during these winter months.
At Streatley and South Stoke please let your views be known to Ben. Thank you.

Digging Deeper – fortnightly, Tuesdays at 10.30am

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 4th November, 10.30am-12.00pm in the Canterbury Room. With coffee and a biscuit we will dig deeper into Romans chapter 13: 1-14: “Love, the law and the coming day”. All welcome!

Advent Groups

This year’s Ecumenical Advent Groups will be using the book ‘Long Ago in Bethlehem’ by Amy Scott Robinson. Focussing on the book of Ruth – described as a jewel of the Old Testament – and the early chapters of Luke’s Gospel, it relates the story of Naomi and Ruth to that of Mary and Joseph, both beginning with a journey to Bethlehem.
The four week course starts on November 24, with a choice of four times and venues. Sign-up sheets can be found in each church from this weekend, with a deadline of Sunday November 16. The cost of the book is £7, to be paid to the group leader.

An Invitation to arrange Flowers at St Thomas’

Flowers placed on the altar reflect the seasons and give pleasure to our congregation. Here at St Thomas’ there has been a faithful and creative team who have made sure that there are always arrangements in place. Each individual looks after their vases for two weeks before handing over to the next person on the rota.
As well as this we all come together to create a more ambitious display for the various festivals of Easter, Harvest and Christmas.

For a variety of reasons, we are now much reduced in numbers and are looking for new flower arrangers to join us. We would welcome anyone who would enjoy the activity. It is not necessary to have experience as we arrange our flowers in vases, without floral foam, so our creations are essentially a lot simpler than in past times.
Please do get in touch via the church office (875651) if you would like to help us keep this lovely tradition going and would like more information. I am very happy to give guidance or tuition if you think you might need it. You will be most welcome! Jenny B

Same Sex Blessings update
The PCCs all had very thoughtful and thorough chances to discuss this question. We were determined that there are no subjects that we cannot talk about, listening carefully to each other and those who honestly reach heartfelt and faithful, but different, positions on subjects.
Voting was taken on whether the Church Councils would allow blessings of committed lifelong partnerships to take place when allowed to do so. Every church passed this by a significant majority. No church was unanimous and we wish to continue to follow this open hospitality to each other on this and other subjects. Only God is the final judge on all matters. We are all inclined to get things wrong and we all need his grace and mercy. We thank God for his presence and guiding in these debates.
Thank you to our PCC members & for all the responsibility they take & do for us all.

Concert by VentiQuattro, this Sunday, 2nd November

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).

“Across the Atlantic”, Goring Chamber choir concert

Saturday 8th November at 3pm
Goring Chamber Choir will be giving a concert at St Thomas’ of music from the USA and Canada.
From the beautiful and accessible works of Toronto's Eleanor Daley to the lesser-known Stephen Hatfield from Vancouver Island and Barry Peters from Nova Scotia on the Atlantic coast,

this concert will transport you through Canada's vast musical landscape of remarkable discoveries. You'll also hear hauntingly familiar folk songs—from the beloved Red River Valley that began its journey in Canada to the achingly beautiful Newfoundland song She's like the swallow.
Tickets cost £15 (free for under 18s) and are available at Inspirations or from a choir member or by e-mailing tickets@goringchamberchoir.org.uk More information here: https://www.goringchamberchoir.org.uk

This week we are asked to pray:

Remembering Guy Fawkes, all in government and for our system of representation and the right way to be able to protest.
For our MPs, Freddie van Mierlo and Olivia Bailey and Maggie Filipova-Rivers and Laura Coyle, our County and District Councillors.
Preparations for our 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 week

Tuesday 4th November
10:30am             Digging Deeper in the Canterbury Room

Wednesday 5th November
10:30am            BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
                             followed by coffee in the Canterbury Room
The readings will be Romans 13: 8-10, Ps. 112 and Luke 14: 25-33.

Saturday 8th November
8:15am              Benefice Prayer Breakfast in the Canterbury Room
3:00pm Goring Chamber Choir Concert at St Thomas’

Sunday 9th November
8:00am              BCP Holy Communion at St Mary’s
9:30am Said Morning Prayer at St Thomas’
10:50am Act of Remembrance at St Thomas’
10:50am            Act of Remembrance at St Mary’s
10:50am            Act of Remembrance at St Andrew’s
5:00pm Discoverers

The monthly calendar for November can be downloaded by clicking here

Prayers for the week based on Roots on the web
Father God as we celebrate you at work, we are aware of many in the world trapped in circumstances where it is hard to see your hand.
We think of those whose lives are destroyed by war: homes flattened, families lost, loved ones maimed and hungry.
We pray for peace between Ukraine and Russia. Move hardened hearts and bring about change. Lead those in power to the negotiating table so there can be an end to the devastation and a laying down of arms.
We pray for the Middle East where the fragile tightrope of peace strains to breaking point as more strikes are ordered. There were recent celebrations of homecoming hostages but there are still families mourning those not returned.
Sustainer of Saints
Father God, please bless the poor in spirit and the peacemakers.

Our hearts go out to those caught in the path of hurricane Melissa, the magnitude of which has not been seen for a generation. We pray Father, for your world where sea levels are rising and winds and rains are intensifying with each year that passes. Please help us to be humble in our use of resources and change our behaviour. Please help all those who bring aid and those rebuilding their lives.
Sustainer of Saints
Father God, please bless the poor in spirit and the peacemakers.

We pray for this country and the struggling economy. May your hand be known in this nation, and with this government. Evaporate simmering tensions within society.
We pray for our prison service and justice system; for all convicted and on trial. We pray for the abused and victims of crime, for justice and healing.
We pray for all our emergency services: police, firefighters, ambulance workers, and our overstretched NHS. May you comfort the sick and suffering and all who care for them. Meet the needs of all still waiting for appointments.
Sustainer of Saints
Father God, please bless the poor in spirit and the peacemakers.

Father God, we bring before you our own communities, the struggling businesses, the lonely, the hungry, those in danger of losing their jobs and wondering how they are going to meet financial pressures. Remove all fear of the future.
We pray for your church. May it be true to your Word, looking only to you and not pandering to worldly influencers. May your church give hope, reaching out to the lost, breaking chains that bind.
Sustainer of Saints
Father God, please bless the poor in spirit and the peacemakers.

Father God of all power and grace, we join our prayers with all those that have gone before. We exalt and celebrate you, lifting our prayers to you, our loving God who has ultimate power over all things. Hear our prayers.
Amen.

Daily readings for the week beginning 3rd November

Monday am:	Ps 2	Isa. 1. 1-20	Matt. 1.18–end	pm: Ps 92	Rev. ch 1
Tuesday am:	Ps 132	Isa. 1. 21-end	Matt. 2. 1-15	pm: Ps 100	Rev 2. 1-11
Wednesday am:	Ps 9	Isa. 2. 1-11	Matt 2. 16-end	pm: Ps 112	Rev 2. 12-end
Thursday am:	Ps 15	Isa. 2. 12-end	Matt ch 3	pm: Ps 118	Rev 3. 1-13
Friday am:	Ps 16	Isa. 3. 1-15	Matt 4. 1-11	pm: Ps 143	Rev 3. 14-end
Saturday am:	Ps 18. 31-end	Isa. 4.2-5.7	Matt 4. 12-22	pm: Ps 145	Rev. ch 4

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