Benefice of Goring and Streatley with South Stoke : Sunday 25th October 2026

Sunday 25th October Last after Trinity

Welcome to our newsletter

REMINDER

British Summer Time ends so the CLOCKS GO BACK ON 25th OCTOBER.

Moses had a face-to-face relationship with God; may we choose those things that help us to have the same.

Dear Lord, we pray for a deeper relationship with you, daily enlarge our hearts to be able to know you and your will for us. Let there be nothing standing between you and me. Amen.

The Collect, the prayer for the week
Merciful God,
teach us to be faithful in change and uncertainty,
that trusting in your word
and obeying your will
we may enter the unfailing joy of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Readings for Sunday: Deut. 34: 1-12, Psalm 90: 1–6, 13–17 and Matt. 22: 34-46.

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      Thanksgiving for the Departed service at St Thomas’

Thanksgiving for the Departed service, Sunday 25th October

The Ministry Team invite all who have lost loved ones, whether recently or longer ago, to come together at St Thomas’ this Sunday afternoon at 4.00pm to remember those who have died, to give thanks for and to celebrate their lives.

Following the service, light refreshments will be served in the Canterbury Room, giving an opportunity to talk with others and with members of the Ministry Team, if you wish.
All are most welcome to come and join in this celebration of the lives of departed loved ones and do please invite others you may know to the service.

Digging Deeper
We continue looking at the Book of Acts of the Apostles this Tuesday, 27th October, 10.30am-12 noon in the Canterbury Room. This time we will be looking at the life and fellowship of the early church, and of the restored Peter’s confidence to go out to preach and to heal. All welcome.

South Stoke coffee morning
The monthly coffee morning with cakes will take place in St Andrew’s on Wednesday 28th October from 10:30am.
All welcome!

Come and Sing All Souls Evensong, 1st November at St Thomas'
Next Sunday there will be an All Souls Evensong. Music will include:
Murrill in E - Canticles
Smith – Responses
Harwood - Anthem - “O How Glorious is the Kingdom”
The choir welcomes extra local singers to join them for this service. There will be a rehearsal at 2pm on the afternoon of the service (please arrive at 1:45pm to collect music etc.) and you would be welcome to join the regular choir practice (6:45 - 7:30pm) on the preceding Friday. There is more information on the website here
All are welcome to the service which starts at 4pm, as usual.

Ecumenical Advent Course 2026
The Ecumenical Planning Group looks forward to you joining us on this year’s Advent Study Course. The course comprises 4 sessions, commencing Monday 23rd November, with a plenary session in early January. There is a choice of 5 venues and times, spread over 4 days of each week. Places are restricted to 10 per group, including the host and leader/s.

This year, the course will be based on the book by John Cox entitled “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” which costs £10.00 per copy. Please bring the correct cash for your copy to the first session of your group meeting. Sign-up sheets will be available in church from this Sunday, 25th October. Please sign up with your name and telephone number by Sunday 15th November latest.
Unless you hear to the contrary, you can assume you have the place for which you signed up.

If you have any questions, please contact David B or Alison G via the church office (875651) / officeofgsandss@yahoo.com.
Do join us to prepare for the coming of our Lord Jesus and to share your thoughts and prayers with our friends from across the churches in our neighbourhood.

Review of The Acorda Duo concert at St Mary’s
Gary Jordan (classical guitar) and Seth Williams (piano) gave a virtuoso performance of some very varied and interesting pieces for guitar and piano last Sunday. You can read more about the music played by clicking here.
A very big thank you to everyone who helps run the concerts and provide tea and cakes after the performance. Finally thank you very much to our super audience. Stella

Mid week prayer together. Worship, listen to the Bible and pray for our world and church members in turn.
Morning Prayer: Monday: 8.30am, Goring
Tuesday and Thursday: 8.30am Streatley. Friday: 9am Goring.
Evening Prayer is said on Wednesday afternoons in St Andrew’s at 5pm.

This week we are asked to pray for:

The people of Yemen as violence escalates; especially the young children suffering starvation and malnutrition.
All those without the opportunity to hear the Good News of Jesus.
Those lonely and isolated.
The talks between Russia, Ukraine and the US; to bring an end to war.
The charities that try to prevent suffering of animals.
Half term refreshment for staff and families in schools.

Diary for the week

Tuesday 27th October
10:30am    Digging Deeper in the Canterbury Room

Wednesday 28th October
10:30am    Coffee Morning in St Andrew’s
10:30am    BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
The readings will be Isa. 28: 14–16, Ps. 119: 89-96 and John 15: 17-end.

Saturday 31st October
11:00am    Marriage of Ryan & Sarah at St Mary’s

Sunday 1st November
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      Come and Sing Choral Evensong at St Thomas’

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

Singing in St Thomas’ church opens windows on wonderful words - a thought-provoking quiz of Bible stories or prayers given wings.

Praise:
We praise thee o God
We acknowledge thee to be the Lord
All the earth doth worship thee the Father everlasting

I was glad when they said unto me, we will go into the house of the Lord,
our feet shall stand in thy gates.

We praise you that life in your presence is so marvellous and rewarding.

Penitence:
Dear Lord and Father of mankind forgive our foolish ways
Reclothe us in our rightful mind

We are sorry for the times when we have ungrateful and self-centred and disappointed you.
We pray to leave our old nature of life and be renewed in your image.

Petition:
We pray that you will make us channels of your peace
Where there is hatred let us sow your love
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
Where there’s despair in life let us bring hope

Jesus brought hope to the hopeless and health to the sick

Please guide our thoughts, words and actions Lord

Breathe through the heats of our desire your coolness and your balm
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire
Speak through the earthquake ,wind and fire
Oh still small voice of calm

Lord we ask for patience to wait and listen for you

Thanks:
Daisies are our silver, buttercups our gold, this is all the treasure we can have or hold.

We pray for our world where the environment is eroding we thank you for the wonderful gifts of nature and pray that farmers and the population can grow sufficient food for all.

Guide me
Hold me
Feed me
Lead me all my journey through
I am weak but thou art mighty
Be thou still my strength and shield
Bid my fears subside
Songs of praises I will ever give to thee

We thank you that there are examples in the Bible to encourage us in following you and trusting.

God be in my head and in my understanding ;
God be in my eyes and in my looking ;
God be in my mouth and in my speaking ;
God be in my heart and in my thinking ;
God be at my end and at my departing.

Daily readings for the week beginning 26th October

Monday am:	Ps 1	Exod. 22: 21-27, 23: 1-17	1 Tim. 6: 1-10	pm: Ps 4	John 17: 1-5
Tuesday am:	Ps 5	Exod. 29.38-30.16	1 Tim. 6: 11-end	pm: Ps 9	John 17: 6-19
Wednesday am:	Ps 116	Isa. 45: 18-end	Luke 6: 12-16	pm: Ps 119: 1-16	Jude 1-4, 17-end
Thursday am:	Ps 15	Lev. ch 9	2 Tim. 1.15-2.13	pm: Ps 18	John 18: 1-11
Friday am:	Ps 19	Lev. 16: 2-24	2 Tim. 2: 14-end	pm: Ps 22	John 18: 12-27
Saturday am:	Ps 23	Lev. ch 27	2 Tim. ch 3	pm: Ps 1	Rev. 19: 6-10

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

23/10/2026