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7th December                                                                                Advent 2
Welcome to our weekly newsletter
Advent 2 G 2022
The light on our second Advent candle represents Peace: Philippians 4: 7 “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
We pray for peace in all the world.
Collect for the week
   O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power
   and come among us,
   and with great might succour us;
   that whereas, through our sins and wickedness
   we are grievously hindered
   in running the race that is set before us,
   your bountiful grace and mercy
   may speedily help and deliver us;
   through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
   to whom with you and the Holy Spirit,
   be honour and glory, now and for ever.
Readings for Sunday: Isaiah 11: 1-10, Psalm 72: 1-7, 18-19 and Matt. 3: 1-12.

This Sunday
8:00am        BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
9:30am        Holy Communion at St Thomas’
11:15am      Holy Communion at St Mary’s
11:15am      Christingle service at St Andrew’s
1:00pm        Bereavement café lunch in the Canterbury Room
4:00pm        Christingle service at St Thomas’ with Goring Primary school choir
Church Christmas Cards
Our villages’ Christmas cards from all the churches with details of the Christmas services have been printed. These now need to be delivered to every house in the benefice, please.
Cards are in folders sorted by streets in St Thomas’ for delivery in Goring. Please pick up a folder (or more!) and enjoy a walk around the village delivering these.
We will be asking people in Streatley to deliver cards to specific roads as usual. Thank you to those who have already volunteered to do this. If anyone else is able to help please contact John.
There are also cards to deliver round South Stoke so do please let Ben know if you might be able to help with this.
StAndrewsCoffeeAndCake
St Andrew’s Christmas
coffee morning

The monthly coffee morning with cakes will take place in St Andrew’s on Wednesday 10th December from 10:30am. We are looking forward to the South Stoke school children joining us to sing Christmas songs.
All welcome!
Prayer Breakfast, Saturday, 13th December
CoffeeAndCroissant

Please come and pray for the life of our parishes and seek God’s guidance for the new year ahead. This 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. 

Christmas at Cleeve Lodge
Cleeve Lodge would like to welcome residents, families, friends and the local community to their Christmas activities. Further details can be found by clicking here. Cleeve Lodge are also opening on Christmas Day to anyone that may be on their own or unable to cook a Christmas meal for themselves. Please contact them at management@cleevelodge.co.uk to book.

This week we are asked to pray: 

  • For the people of Honduras as they await their election results, those overseeing the election, the Poulson family and the projects as they prepare to return from the USA.
  • For the kidnapped children in Nigeria and their families.
  • For the Advent groups, and our own examination of our hearts and preparation for the coming of our Lord.
Diary for the week
Monday 8th December
                     Advent groups continue

Tuesday 9th December
1:45pm        Streatley Primary School carol service

Wednesday 10th December
10:30am      Little Lights at St Mary’s
10:30am      South Stoke coffee morning at St Andrew’s with carols
10:30am      BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’  
The readings will be Isa. 40: 25-end, Psalm 103: 8-13 and Matt. 11: 28-end.


Thursday 11th December
2:00pm        Funeral of Helen Rosemary Vincent at St Mary’s

Saturday 13th December
8:15am        Prayer breakfast in the Canterbury Room

Sunday 14th December   Advent 3
8:00am        BCP Holy Communion at St Mary’s
9:30am        Holy Communion at St Thomas’
11:15am      BCP Holy Communion at St Mary’s
11:15am      BCP Holy Communion at St Andrew’s
5:00pm        Discoverers

Prayers for the week 
Thank you to David for this week’s prayers.

As we gather in the presence of the Almighty,
We pray for the Church, the Body of Christ
We pray for our benefice clergy and volunteers
Give us the grace to recognise
That in your spirit we are one,
And curb the tendency to division,
We pray for those working in the ecumenical movement…
Lord, hear us, Lord, graciously hear us

We pray for the world
in all its beauty and richness.
Give us the generosity
to share our planet’s food and resources,
by careful attention to the climate that impacts them.
We pray for those caught up
in poverty and hunger in Sudan, Gaza and other conflict zones
and for those that have the power
to alleviate their plight……
Lord, hear us, Lord, graciously hear us

We pray for our King and his family,
For our Prime Minister and his government,
and all those working, on our behalf, in public services,
in defence and in charitable works.
We pray for those who we love,
those we see each day, and those who we don’t and miss.
Help us to cherish one another
and draw our families together
Lord, hear us, Lord, graciously hear us

Dear Father, help us to understand why the world,
creates waves of immigration across the globe
through a combination of tyrannical leaders, inter sectarian wars, terrorism, starvation and struggling politicians.
We pray that our leaders, in conjunction with those of our European neighbours, find equitable solutions to both the opportunities
and risks that this influx of peoples represents here in UK.
We pray for the safety, health and welfare of all immigrants…
Lord, hear us, Lord, graciously hear us

Lord, we thank you for our achievements,
our families and our friends
new life and old.
We thank you for your interventions in the past
and pray to you for them today and in the future.
May your will be done
Lord, hear us, Lord, graciously hear us

All knowing God, grant strength to those who are oppressed and persecuted worldwide. We pray for those who are sick and in pain, and for those who nurse them.
We pray for the lonely and the homeless,
for all children living in poverty – in some cases close to our doorstep – and those who look after them,
give them the strength to face their shared difficulties.
And help us to be sensitive to their needs….

Lord, hear us, Lord, graciously hear us
We pray for those who have recently died
And for those who miss them.
Have mercy on them.
May they, and we in our turn
Rest in the peace of your enfolding arms…

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

Daily readings for the week beginning 7th December
Monday am: Ps 44 Isa. 30. 1-18 Matt 14. 1-12 pm: Ps 144 1 Thess. ch 1
Tuesday am: Ps 56 Isa. 30. 19-end Matt. 14. 13-end pm: Ps 11 1 Thess. 2. 1-12
Wednesday am: Ps 62 Isa. ch 31 Matt 15. 1-20 pm: Ps 10 1 Thess. 2. 13-end
Thursday am: Ps 54 Isa. ch 32 Matt 15. 21-28 pm: Ps 73 1 Thess. ch 3
Friday am: Ps 86 Isa. 33. 1-22 Matt 15. 29-end pm: Ps 90 1 Thess. 4. 1-12
Saturday am: Ps 145 Isa. ch 35 Matt 16. 1-12 pm: Ps 94 1 Thess. 4. 13-end
Please send any notices or articles for the next news sheet by noon on Thursdays to vicarofgsandss@yahoo.com.
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