Benefice of Goring and Streatley with South Stoke : Sunday 7th June 2026

7th June 2026 Trinity 1

Welcome to our weekly newsletter

After our blessed open-air service and family pizza night last Sunday we thank God for the rooves over our heads, also we treasure the foundations we can stand on, including our Faith in God, Father Son and Holy Spirit.
Our study of the good news, richness and blessing found in the Creed helps us explore God’s very nature and so our relationship with him.

The Collect, the prayer for the week
God of truth,
help us to keep your law of love
and to walk in ways of wisdom,
that we may find true life
in Jesus Christ your Son.

Readings for this Sunday: Gen. 12: 1-9, Psalm 33: 1-12 and Matt. 9: 9-13 and 18-26.

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’
4:00pm      Confirmation of Jed at Shiplake College

This Sunday, 7th June,
Parish Breakfast at St Thomas’
Come along for toast, fruit 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 Simon and Sylvia for providing this!

The Creed course
We begin a series on The Creed - its good news and gospel content. It is 1701 years since the Nicene Creed was set out to celebrate all that God is and all that unites and identifies us as Christians.
There will be five sermons over the coming two months with follow up study / fellowship groups. Wk 1: 7th June in St M, 14th June in St T and St A
Wk 2: 21st June in all churches.
Five Digging Deeper sessions will happen on Tuesday mornings at 10.30am every other week from 9th June in the Canterbury Room and a new fortnightly evening group on Thursday evenings at 7.30pm from 11th June at Jon and Margaret's home.
Please sign up if you are interested. Thank you.

Our new curate
This is the “Ember Card” asking for your prayers please for Jane Collins who will be ordained as deacon in Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday 4th July at 2pm.
This marks the beginning of Jane’s time with us for her curacy.
Jane will be moving into the curate’s house in Bull Meadow in the middle of June.
Please speak to our wardens if you would like to help with making Jane feel welcome.

Churches Count on Nature
Please join Jo and Mariya on early Tuesday evening as they explore St Andrew’s churchyard and record the plants and wildlife they find there. We look forward to hearing the results of the survey. This recording of the biodiversity to be found in churchyards will be taking place across the country. More information can be found at https://www.caringforgodsacre.org.uk/

Eco tip for June from A Rocha
Take part in citizen science or a local nature event. Citizen science is a way for ordinary people to get involved in scientific research or data collection. There are many projects to choose from and it’s easy to make a contribution. Invite others to get involved with you too. Here are some projects that you could help with:

Search your local beach with a shore survey: wildlifetrusts.org/shoresearch
Spend ten minutes counting pollinators: ukpoms.org.uk
Join in with Churches Count on Nature (6-14 June): arocha.org.uk/what-we-do/churches-count-on-nature/
Do a Bee Walk: beewalk.org.uk
Join Great Big Green Week (6-14 June): greatbiggreenweek.com

Update from Wallingford Food Bank
We have received the monthly update from the food bank. They report that they are now entering their ‘lean’ months as they traditionally have fewer extra donations over the summer months and become dependent on our regular supporters, so do please consider giving some food, or a cash donation.

They still have lots of pasta, baked beans and tinned fish so please avoid donating those but are very short of decent carrier bags (see picture) so if you are able to help with that it would be appreciated.

South Stoke newsletter delivery
A huge thank you to Catherine who has delivered the church newsletter around South Stoke through rain and shine for many years.

Sadly for us, Catherine and her family are moving very soon so we need someone (or several people to share the task) willing to take this on. The newsletters are delivered to St Andrew’s by a Friday lunchtime and need delivering before Sunday.

The route devised by Catherine is a walk of approximately 45 minutes. Please contact the church office if you might be able to help with this in any way.

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:

Final preparations for the GAP Festival. Thanks and strength for all who are working hard to bring it to us.
A willingness to look at the environmental crisis and each take costly action for the sakes of future generations.
Our police and leaders, so easily attacked for their inability to make society right.
All of our need of you, O God, to be wholeheartedly accepted.
Give thanks for progress in the fight against the Ebola outbreak.

Diary for the week

Tuesday 9th June
10:30am    Digging deeper in the Canterbury Room

Wednesday 10th June
10:30am    BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
The readings will be 1 Kings 18: 20-39, Psalm 16: 1, 6-end and Matt. 5: 17-19

Thursday 11th June
7:30pm      Evening study and fellowship group

Saturday 13th June
4:00pm      “Queentet” concert at St Mary’s (GAP festival)

Sunday 14th June
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
5:00pm Discoverers/Families meal in the Canterbury Room

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

Let us pray to God who calls out to each one of us.

Father, we thank you for giving us our lives, our health, our children, our grandchildren, our families and friends and the many blessings you bestow on them and us. Thank you for the beautiful villages in which we live. Thank you for the schools, clubs, and community facilities. Bless our dedicated leaders, teachers, instructors and staff who bring them to life.
Father, hear us… Father, graciously hear us

We pray for all those with Faith, of whatever creed, to live out their calling with loving, merciful and holy lives. Father, help us to stand firm in the face of bigotry and discrimination. Help the police and other agencies striving to quell the wave of antisemitism in London to restore the treasured racial integration and harmony for which our country is rightly renowned. Help us to find the right way to question religious nationalism and protest against the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza and the West Bank.
Give those involved the grace and perseverance to keep faithfully to promises made to God and each other.
Father, hear us… Father, graciously hear us

We pray for our clergy, our wardens, our volunteers and all parishioners of the Benefice of Goring & Streatley with South Stoke. Father, grant Ben and his team, and all of us the confidence and strength to lead our lives as an example to our neighbours.
Father, hear us… Father, graciously hear us

We pray for harmony and understanding in our relationships with family and neighbours; and for the willingness both to give and receive. We look to you to endow upon us the generosity of forgiving love. Give us the strength to always listen to the other side of an argument and take the lead in healing any division or hurt.
Father, hear us… Father, graciously hear us

We give thanks for the King & Queen’s steadfastness and leadership of the Royal Family. We pray for our Prime Minister and our government. Give them the strength and confidence to play a pivotal role in the de-escalation of the dangerous situation in the Middle East. Give them the understanding of their opponents’ positions, even if that costs them popularity at home
Father, hear us… Father, graciously hear us

Father, guide these leaders towards creating peaceful solutions in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran in order to avoid the furthering suffering to their peoples. May they be mindful of the plight of displaced people incurring endless homelessness and hunger. Father. bless these refugees and those trying to help them.
Father, hear us… Father, graciously hear us

Father, bless the homes in which children, at every level, at this time of year are studying for and facing public examinations. Give strength to those that don’t find study easy and help them and their parents to remain supportive and calm.
Father, hear us… Father, graciously hear us

We pray for those whose weariness or pain make it difficult for them to pray; may they sense the support and love of the church of God and encourage them to share these feelings with others. We pray for the sick and those who care for them.
Father, hear us… Father, graciously hear us

We pray for those whose souls have left behind their frail or broken bodies and can now move freely to live in God’s company. Bless and comfort their loved ones and bring us all in good time to share the joy of heaven
Father, hear us… Father, graciously hear us

Dear Father, we give you thanks for calling us each by name, keeping us safe and guiding us through the challenges that we face in the busy lives we all lead. Help us to use those experiences positively.

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

Daily readings for the week beginning 8th June

Monday am:	Ps 30	Joshua ch 14	Luke 12: 1-12	pm: Ps 28	Rom. 7: 1-6
Tuesday am:	Ps 36	Joshua 21.43-22.8	Luke 12: 13-21	pm: Ps 33	Rom. 7: 7-end
Wednesday am:	Ps 34	Joshua 22: 9-end	Luke 12: 22-31	pm: Ps 119: 33-56	Rom. 8: 1-11
Thursday am:	Ps 100	Jer. 9: 23-24	Acts 4: 32-end	pm: Ps 147	Acts 9: 26-31
Friday am:	Ps 31	Joshua 24: 1-28	Luke 12: 41-48	pm: Ps 35	Rom. 8: 18-30
Saturday am:	Ps 42	Joshua 24: 29-end	Luke 12: 49-end	pm: Ps 46	Rom. 8: 31-end

Please send any notices or articles for the next news sheet by noon on Thursdays to vicarofgsandss@yahoo.com.

The Benefice of Goring and Streatley with South Stoke

The Vicarage

Manor Road

Goring, Berkshire RG8 9DR

United Kingdom

05/06/2026