Families Meal, Sunday 22nd March, 5.00-7.00pm in the Canterbury Room
Passia, The Passion retold through women’s voices Friday 27th March, 6pm-7.15pm in St Thomas’ This service of reflection before Holy Week will incorporate much of this brand new composition by Liz Dilnot Johnson inspired by the women in the gospel accounts of Jesus’ life leading up to the cross.
Easter Fun day, Monday 30th March, 11am-3pm We will be running a special day for primary school aged children (5-11 years) in St Thomas’ on the Monday of Holy Week. We are encouraging children to come and explore Easter celebrations from around the world and help prepare for us all to celebrate on Easter Sunday. Activities include:
● Hot cross bun making - Ireland + England ● Kites - Bermuda ● Egg decorating - Greece + Egypt ● Carpets of flowers - Honduras + Peru ● Chapatti + injera - Kenyan + Ethiopia flatbreads ● Easter flowers - Native spring blooms - England
Donating a lily this Easter Signs of Spring are all around us and the joyful festival of Easter is not so far away now. It is time to ask if any of you would like to dedicate a lily, or other flowers, to the memory of a friend or family member. If that is something you would like to do, please contact Jenny via the church office (875651) or talk to me after the Sunday morning service. Jenny
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.
Holy Father, you have challenged the powers of darkness through your Son, and have committed your Church to share in your redeeming works; grant that we, who bear witness to your saving powers in words, may do so in deeds; through him who died for us and rose again, Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit is one God for ever and ever. Amen.
Come, Lord, like the wind, move us, direct us. Come as the breath, fill us, refresh us. Come into your Church which without you is dull and dry, and fill us with your Spirit. Call us out of death and darkness into life and light. We pray for the refreshment of your Church in its devotions and mission, for all who proclaim your life-giving powers and share your redeeming love. Come, Lord, restore, renew. Revive your people.
We pray for all whose hope is lost, who feel cut off from life, for refugees and displaced peoples, for all who flee from oppression and tyranny, for all who are made homeless, for all who have suffered abuse or violence. We pray for the people of Ukraine, the nations around the Gulf, Lebanon, Gaza, Israel, Sudan and other regions of tumult. Come, Lord, restore, renew. Revive your people.
We pray for areas of bad housing, where communities have broken down or have collapsed. We pray for friends and loved ones who are worn out, for relationships which are in danger of dying. Come, Lord, restore, renew. Revive your people.
We pray for all who are ill, for all who are in weakness, for all who are bereaved. We remember all who have given up on life. We pray for the disturbed, for the mentally ill, for all who walk in darkness and in the shadow of death and we pray for all who are sick or homebound. Come, Lord, restore, renew. Revive your people.
We give thanks for all who set us an example of love and vitality and who have now entered your greater glory. And we pray for the families and friends of all who have died recently. May we be inspired by their lives and seek to live to your praise and glory. Come, Lord, restore, renew. Revive your people.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.