Please come and pray for the life of our parishes and seek God’s guidance for the period of Lent.. 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. Please do join us.
Families Meal, 22nd February, 5.00-7.00pm in the Canterbury Room Next Sunday we will be holding a meal for families and their children.
Our prayers in church It is always a joy to have our intercessions prepared by different church members. They are then different and heartfelt and God is able to use all of us more fully. Might you be willing to prepare our intercessions every few months? If so please talk to Ben or Wendy. We are holding an intercessions training evening on Monday 23rd February at 7.30pm. Please let Ben know if you can or might come. Thank you.
Piano Recital, “Peaceful Dreaming”, at St Mary’s Our first St Mary's Concert of the year is on Sunday February 22nd at 4pm. We are very pleased to welcome back the very talented virtuoso pianist Rachel Neiger who was kind enough to step in at a fortnight's notice last July and enjoyed it so much she is returning for another recital.
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.
Prayers for the week from Roots on the web
Almighty God, aware that there is so much in our world today which needs your transforming love, we trust that you will hear our heartfelt prayers, even when we can’t find the words to express them.
Many of us feel unsettled as we witness news reports and images recently. We see influential people involved in scandal and wrongdoing and we don’t know whom to trust. We see the powerful running rough-shod over the most vulnerable in society and we don’t know how to stand against them. We see international disunity, division and conflict and we wonder what will happen next. Take pity on us, Lord, and strengthen those who work for peace, for reconciliation, for compassion and for truth. Ever-present God, may we witness the transforming light of your love.
We bring before you all victims of those who abuse or have abused their position of power in any way. May their voices be heard and wrongs righted. And we ask that you will fill all those in leadership with wisdom and a desire truly to follow your way with integrity. Ever-present God, may we witness the transforming light of your love.
Loving God, with poverty levels in this country at just over one in five and food price inflation at almost 5%, we think of those affected by the increasing poverty in our communities and those who struggle to make ends meet. We remember those who struggle to get employment because of disability or ill health, criminal records, unpaid caring roles, homelessness, or due to discrimination. We pray for those facing redundancy or the collapse of their workplace. Bring them hope and relief from anxiety; enable those who can offer them practical and emotional support; and open up ways to change their circumstances. We pray that the most vulnerable will be prioritised in political decision making at all levels and that those with economic influence might promote a more equitable distribution of resources. Ever-present God, may we witness the transforming light of your love.
God of those who mourn, we pray for those who struggle with illness of body, mind or spirit and for those who care for them, whether as professionals or as those who love them. Bring comfort and healing, patience and endurance into those lives. We pray for insight and clarity for those who work to find new ways of improving life for those who suffer or struggle in any way. We ask your blessing on those known to us who are in any kind of trouble… Ever-present God, may we witness the transforming light of your love.
God of the everyday, we pray for our community, our church, our friends and families, and for ourselves. You alone know the thoughts of our hearts and the concerns we carry; the deepest need of those around us, spoken and unspoken. Where there is need, Lord, bring your transforming love and help us to serve, not for our own wellbeing, reputation and gratification but in your name. Amen.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen