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22nd February 2026                                                                             Lent 1
Welcome to our weekly newsletter
Lent
Our 40 day season of growing lovelier has begun. But it is not too late to start: with a focus on prayer, fasting and study (while resisting polishing our halo, but rather being lighter in the world.)
Facing temptations and difficulties, while not pleasant at the time, can in the end be a chance to grow.
Collect for the week
   Heavenly Father,
   your Son battled with the powers of darkness,
   and grew closer to you in the desert:
   help us to use these days to grow in wisdom and prayer
   that we may witness to your saving love
   in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Readings for Sunday: Gen. 2: 15-17 & 3: 1-7, Psalm 32 and Matt. 4: 1-11.

This Sunday:
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        Piano recital by Rachel Neiger at St Mary’s
5:00pm        Families meal in the Canterbury Room     
Lent opportunities: Start to read the New Testament with a daily guide. I recommend trying Chris Mitton’s "Further Up and Further In": https://mitton.substack.com/ or you can buy a paper copy – a big tome for your armchair!
Lent groups – last chance to sign up!
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 are at the back of our churches for this year's ecumenical course which starts the week beginning 23rd February.
Prayer Breakfast, Saturday, 21st February
CoffeeAndCroissant

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
This Sunday we will be holding a meal for families and their children.   

Family meal tomato 25.07
We meet, eat and share faith together and the kids have a brilliant time eating, playing and sharing faith in their way. Families of all ages are very welcome. The meal will start at 5:45/6pm. Please could anyone who’d like to come contact Sarah via the church office (875651/officeofgsandss@yahoo.com) and give any dietary requirements.
StAndrewsCoffeeAndCake
South Stoke coffee morning
The monthly coffee morning with cakes will take place in St Andrew’s on Wednesday 25th February from 10:30am.
All welcome!
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.

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.

Rachel Neiger head and shoulde
She is continuing the theme of peacefulness for the soul through music with a delightful selection of short pieces, both well known and less well known, with works by Bach, Schubert, Debussy, Grieg, Gluck, Joplin, Grainger and Marianelli.
Tickets are £12 full, £10 concessions on the door only and please bring cash not cards! Tea and cakes will be provided by the Friends of St Mary’s in the Morrell Room after the concert.
Any enquiries please text to 0776 233 9853 or send e-mail to StMarysConcerts@hotmail.co.uk

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.

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 those imprisoned unfairly.
  • For humanity and equal human rights for citizens of all nations particularly in the West Bank.
  • For the church not to put up barriers to God’s gracious saving love.
  • For our keeping of Lent to be life-giving to those around us!
Diary for the week
Monday 23rd February
Lent groups begin
11:00am      Funeral of Robert Small at St Andrew’s


Tuesday 24th February
Noon             Memorial service for June Harper at St Thomas’

Wednesday 25th February
10:30am      Coffee morning at St Andrew’s
10:30am      BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
The readings will be Jonah ch. 3, Psalm 51: 1-5, 17-18 and Luke 11: 29-32.


Sunday 1st March
8:00am        BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
9:30am        Family service at St Thomas’
11:15am      Holy Communion at St Mary’s
11:15am      Service with Baptism at St Andrew’s
4:00pm        Choral Evensong at St Thomas’

Prayers for the week 
Thank you to Sally for this week’s prayers based on David Adam’s “Glimpses of Glory”.

Almighty God, give us strength to stand against all that is evil:
keep us firm in the times of trial and temptation;
make us resolute in obeying your will and in seeking your kingdom;
give us the power to stay true to you and proclaim your salvation;
through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen

Loving God, throughout all ages you have rescued and restored your people;
we come to you for refreshment and renewal.
Lord, protect us from all the terrors of the night and the dangers of the day.
We pray for all who are seeking to know their vocation, all who are trying to sort out their priorities.
We pray for all who are called to minister to others, for spiritual counsellors and advisers.
Lord in you we trust.
You are our refuge and our strength.

In the light of all the recent scandals, we pray for all in positions of authority, that they do not misuse their powers;
for leaders of peoples and for all who make decisions about our future.
We remember all who are suffering from hunger or poverty,
all who are experiencing a time of dryness or aridity in their lives.
We pray also for all who are living below par, all who have lost their way.
Lord, in you we trust.
You are our refuge and strength.

We give thanks for all who have provided for us and protected us, for those who inspired us or directed us.
We pray that we may be sensitive to your call and ready to do your will.
We ask you to bless and protect our loved ones and friends.
Lord, in you we trust.
You are our refuge and strength.

We pray for all who are caught up in crime or addiction,
for all who are wasting their lives or giving their allegiance to the wrong things.
We pray for all who regret what they have done and are full of remorse;
may they find new hope and courage in you, O Lord.
We remember all who are ill and longing to live full lives,

for all who are restricted in any way.
Lord, in you we trust.
You are our refuge and strength.

We give thanks for all who have escaped the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil and are now at peace in your eternal kingdom.
We pray for all who have once been part of this church and community, for the saints and all who have enriched our world.
May they, with our dear ones departed, rejoice in doing your will in your kingdom.
Lord, in you we trust.

You are our refuge and strength.

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

Daily readings for the week beginning 23rd February
Monday am: Ps 11 Gen. 41. 25-45 Gal. 3.23-4.7 pm: Ps 13 John 5. 1-18
Tuesday am: Ps 44 Gen. 41.46-42.5 Gal. 4. 8-20 pm: Ps 49 John 5. 19-29
Wednesday am: Ps 6 Gen. 42. 6-17 Gal. 4.21-5.1 pm: Ps 28 John 5.30-end
Thursday am: Ps 78. 1-39 Gen. 42. 18-28 Gal. 5. 2-15 pm: Ps 78. 40-end John 6. 1-15
Friday am: Ps 22 Gen. 42. 29-end Gal. 5. 16-end pm: Ps 55 John 6. 16-27
Saturday am: Ps 63 Gen. 43. 1-15 Gal. ch. 6 pm: Ps 4 John 6. 27-40
Please send any notices or articles for the next news sheet by noon on Thursdays to vicarofgsandss@yahoo.com.
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