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1st February 2026                                 Epiphany 4 / Presentation of Christ
Welcome to our weekly newsletter
TreesAndSun

And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6: 8
Collect for the week
   God our creator,
   who in the beginning
   commanded the light to shine out of darkness:
   we pray that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ
   may dispel the darkness of ignorance and unbelief,
   shine into the hearts of all your people,
   and reveal the knowledge of your glory
   in the face of 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: Micah 6: 1-8, Psalm 15 and Matt. 5: 1-12.

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        Choral Evensong at St Thomas’ 
This Sunday, 1st February, Parish Breakfast at St Thomas’
Tea and toast px

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 Elizabeth and Henry for providing this!

Digging deeper
Digging Deeper, Tuesday 3rd February
This Tuesday, 10.30am-12.00pm in the Canterbury Room is the last session before Lent groups begin.  All are warmly welcome to come along to this fellowship group on Paul’s letter to the church in Rome.
With coffee and a biscuit we will dig deeper into Romans 15:25 – 16:27, “Family and Friends”.
Lent groups
Acts of Hope Lent 26
This Lent, journey with us through the book of Acts and reflect on the attitudes and acts of the disciples that can encourage us to be bringers of hope through Holy Spirit-led attitudes and actions in our own age. Sign up sheets will be at the back of the church from Sunday for this year's ecumenical course which starts the week beginning 23rd February.
Real Easter Eggs
Once again Real Easter Eggs are not being sold by supermarkets so the only way to obtain one is to order directly. The Original and Dark eggs include a 24 page Easter story-activity book. They are Palm Oil and plastic free, and include a competition. The Fun Pack has an Easter story activity poster and 6 milk chocolate eggs.
Real Easter Egg 26
Please contact the church office to order. The makers have asked us to order early so the deadline for orders is 22nd February.
The cost of the eggs this year is the same as last year:  
£6.20 milk; £6.90 dark; £6.50 fun pack egg box. Please see https://meaningfulchocolate.co.uk/collections/real-easter-egg for more information.
Consultation about the new Bishop of Oxford - deadline approaching!
The process of seeking views from across the Diocese as we look for a new Bishop, following Bishop Steven’s retirement announcement, has begun.
The Diocese is keen that members of our congregations take part in this process. The Diocese needs to create a “Statement of Needs” document that will set out information about the Diocese, including its hopes and challenges, and what people have told us is important to them in a new Bishop. 
You can give your views via a short survey which you can access here: https://oxford.anglican.org/consultation. If you are unable to fill this in online there are paper copies in our churches. The survey features four questions and will take less than ten minutes to complete. The online survey will close on Wednesday 4th February at 5pm. Please return paper copies of the survey to a member of the ministry team or church warden (in a sealed envelope if you prefer) or put through the Vicarage door by Monday 2nd February.
Clarinet and piano recital, Sunday 8th February, 3pm
Olivia's photo jpg
St Thomas’ will be hosting a recital by mother and son Olivia Canolle (piano) and Elisha Canolle-Forkin (clarinet) . Elisha and Olivia will be playing works by Poulenc, Debussy, Saint-Saëns and André Messager. French-born Olivia is a Guildhall-trained pianist and accompanist whose career has spanned performances across the UK and Europe.
Elisha's photo jpg
Her son, Elisha, is a gifted young clarinettist currently balancing A levels with his musical life. He was a finalist in the Berkshire Maestros Young Musician of the Year 2024 and is principal clarinet of the Berkshire Youth Symphony Orchestra.
There will be no charge for the recital, but donations are welcomed to go towards Church Expenses.

Join in Morning Prayer together. Please do. We offer ourselves in worship, listen to the Bible and pray for our world and church members in turn.

Monday: 8.30am Goring,     Tuesday and Thursday: 8.30am Streatley.
Friday: 9am Goring.

This week we are asked to pray: 

  • For international relations and for justice, mercy and peace to be seen in all the earth.
  • For the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally.
  • For the discernment process for the new Bishop of Oxford.
  • For all those locally who have been bereaved recently.
  • That we may be channels of God’s justice and mercy.
Diary for the week
Tuesday 3rd February
10:30am      Digging Deeper in the Canterbury Room   

Wednesday 4th February
10:30am      BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
                     followed by coffee in the Canterbury Room
The readings will be 2 Samuel 24: 2, 9–17, Psalm 32: 1-8 and Mark 6: 1-6a.


Friday 6th February
2:00pm        Funeral of Eileen Lee at St Andrew’s

Sunday 8th February
8:00am        BCP Holy Communion at St Mary’s
9:30am        Holy Communion at St Thomas’
11:15am      Family service at St Mary’s
11:15am      BCP Holy Communion at St Andrew’s
3:00pm        Piano and Clarinet recital at St Thomas’ 
5:00pm        Discoverers
The monthly calendar for February can be downloaded by clicking here

Prayers for the week from Roots on the web
Gracious God, thank you that you call us to walk with you, living lives that reflect your justice and mercy in all we do and say. Trusting in your promise to hear us, we bring our prayers to you now.
Loving God, make us a channel of your justice and mercy
 
Lord, as we read and listen to the news, we wonder at all the accounts of greed and abuse of power, intolerance and lack of compassion, violence and war; concepts so alien to the way you have taught us and yet at times even being carried out in the name of religion. We pray for those living in fear: fear for their freedom, fear for their wellbeing, fear for their safety and even their lives. And we pray for those in a position of power or leadership, that their hearts may be filled with compassion, co-operation and wisdom.
Loving God, make us a channel of your justice and mercy

We bring our prayers for those parts of your creation and your world that are under threat as greed, selfishness and ignorance have led us to disregard the wellbeing of the environment. We ask your blessing on those who campaign and raise awareness of the climate emergency, for those who strive to find a better way, and we pray for wisdom and determination for those who have the money, influence and authority to make a difference.
Loving God, make us a channel of your justice and mercy

We pray for your church across the world. We pray for the people of faith in all countries who take a stand for justice and mercy, understanding and right living, as you call each one of us to do. We pray for a spirit of co-operation between different denominations and different faiths striving to do your will. We pray for our church family in this community. Strengthen and encourage us as we follow your call individually and together. Let us not become despondent or discouraged, rather fill us with your spirit of hope and peace.
Loving God, make us a channel of your justice and mercy

We pray for those in our community who are in need. We pray for newcomers, that they will find a warm welcome and not judgement or hostility. We pray for the lonely and isolated, that they will find company and support. We pray for healing and comfort for those who are sick in mind or body or spirit and for those that love them. And we remember those who are affected by poverty, unemployment, homelessness and the rising cost of living. May they find the support and security they need.   
Loving God, make us a channel of your justice and mercy

Finally, Lord, we bring before you our own needs and the needs of those we love, naming them before you now in a moment of silence...
Loving God, make us a channel of your justice and mercy

Daily readings for the week beginning 2nd February
Monday am: Ps 48 Exod. 13. 1-16 Rom. 12. 1-5 pm: Ps 132 John 2. 18-22
Tuesday am: Ps 5 Gen. 18. 16-end Matt. 27. 27-44 pm: Ps 9 1 Cor. ch. 13
Wednesday am: Ps 119. 1-32 Gen. 19. 1-3, 12-29 Matt. 27. 45-56 pm: Ps 11 1 Cor. 14. 1-19
Thursday am: Ps 15 Gen. 21. 1-21 Matt. 27. 57-end pm: Ps 18 1 Cor. 14. 20-end
Friday am: Ps 19 Gen. 22: 1-19 Matt. 28. 1-15 pm: Ps 22 1 Cor. 16. 1-9
Saturday am: Ps 23 Gen. ch. 23 Matt. 28. 16-end pm: Ps 24 1 Cor. 16. 10-end
Please send any notices or articles for the next news sheet by noon on Thursdays to vicarofgsandss@yahoo.com.
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