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Sunday 1st November                                              All Saints / 4 before Advent
Welcome to our newsletter
All Saints px
Today we are reminded to think in a different dimension and aspect. We are part of a wider body of belonging, together offering worship – worth-ship to God our creator and redeemer. We join the throng and choir of saints who surround us, including those who have gone on before us.
May we, too, be people who “let the light in” to the world God loves so much.
The Collect, the prayer for the week
   Almighty God,
   you have knit together your elect
   in one communion and fellowship
   in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord:
   grant us grace so to follow your blessed saints
   in all virtuous and godly living
   that we may come to those inexpressible joys
   that you have prepared for those who truly love you;
   through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
   who is alive and reigns with you,
   in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
   one God, now and for ever.
Readings for Sunday: Revelation 7: 9-17, Ps. 34: 1-10 and Matt. 5: 1-12.

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        Come and Sing Choral Evensong for All Saints at St Thomas’
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This Sunday,
Parish Breakfast at St Thomas’
Come along for “toast and toppings” 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 Ben for coordinating this.
Come and Sing All Souls Evensong, 1st November at St Thomas'
This 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 Sunday (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 Friday. There is more information on the website here 
All are welcome to the service which starts at 4pm, as usual.
Tuesday Evening Home group
The twice monthly evening home group next meets this Tuesday, 3rd November, from 7:30-9pm for study and fellowship. For further details and venue please contact Margaret.
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.
Advent groups book 26 O Come O
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 are available in church. Please sign up with your name and telephone number by Sunday 15th November. 
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 Alison via the church office (875651).
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.
Advent calendars
We will soon be ordering chocolate Advent calendars from the Meaningful Chocolate company (https://meaningfulchocolate.co.uk/pages/real-advent-calendar). These are no longer sold in supermarkets and supplies are limited. They are available with either milk or dark chocolates and cost £5.50 each. Please put the money with your order through the Vicarage door by November 9th.

Duruflé's Requiem, Reading Bach choir concert
Saturday 7th November at 7:30pm
Reading Bach Choir opens its 60th anniversary season with a beautiful concert for choir, cello and organ. Featuring Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem, the concert also includes works by Becky McGlade, John Tavener, and a UK premiere of Virtues by Nathalie Joachim. Tickets cost £18 in advance, £20 on the door (£5 for under 18s). More information and a link to buy tickets can be found here: https://www.readingbachchoir.org.uk/duruflesrequiem
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: 
  • Our Chancellor and all people as they try to budget and face rising costs.
  • The persecuted church in so many countries.
  • Our preparations for Remembrance Sunday.
  • Preparations for winter for our homes, our roads, our farms and hospitals.
Diary for the week
Tuesday 3rd November
7:30pm        Home Group meets

Wednesday 4th November
10:30am      Little Lights at St Mary’s
10:30am      BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
                      followed by coffee in the Canterbury Room
The readings will be Phil. 2: 12–18, Ps. 27: 1-5 and Luke 14: 25-33.

Friday 6th November
2:00pm        Memorial service for Leslie Prater

Saturday 7th November
7:30pm        Reading Bach Choir concert

Sunday 8th November
8:00am        BCP Holy Communion at St Mary’s
9:30am        Said Morning Prayer at St Thomas’
10:50am      Act of Remembrance at St Thomas’
10:50am      Act of Remembrance at St Mary’s
10:50am      Act of Remembrance at St Andrew’s
5:00pm        Youth Alpha
The monthly calendar for November can be downloaded by clicking here
Prayers for the week from Roots for Churches
Glorious God,
Your love is all around us though we may not see it.
We give thanks for friends, family and neighbours who travel with us on our journey of faith:
for the people who offer us encouragement;
for everyone who helps us to laugh at ourselves, to say sorry and to grow;
and for everyday saints who inspire us to live more fully for you.
We pray that we would be a community full of thankfulness for the signs of your work among us
and, in an increasingly troubled world, that we would hold on to hope together.
Although times seem dark keep our eyes looking forward and our hearts believing that a better way of living in the world is possible.
Be our shepherd and our guide
Lead us to the water of life.

Glorious God,
You lead us all - young and not so young - upwards and onwards.
We pray for leaders who work with children and young people,
that they would build nurturing relationships that support children and young people in the challenges of daily life,
and offer courage to face the challenges of climate change.
We pray especially for all young people not in education, employment or training,
that they would find new purpose and be offered real support from adults as they plan for their futures.
Be our shepherd and our guide
Lead us to the water of life.

Glorious God,
Your kingdom is among us but darkness often surrounds us and life is sometimes tough going.
In a season of discontent, as revolution and protest sweep from Paris to Madrid to Milan,
we pray that our government and the leaders of other nations will pay attention to life’s daily struggles.
In particular we think of the huge pressures of the cost of living, stagnant wages, unachievable housing and failing schools and we ask for real world change and immediate relief that makes a difference.
We pray for countries facing elections and those with new leadership:
For Serbia, Brazil and Israel in the work that begins post election
and for the United States preparing for upcoming mid-term elections.
Be our shepherd and our guide
Lead us to the water of life.

Glorious God,
You are our refuge and our strength.
We pray for peace in our homes and peace in our hearts.
We ask for a just and lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine
and ask that warring factions in Sudan will find a way to end the violence and bloodshed.
We ask for courage for all who are facing illness or any kind of distress or suffering.
In the quiet, we name their need and the needs of all who care for them. (Pause)
Surround them with your love and be their light in dark times.
Be our shepherd and our guide
Lead us to the water of life.

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Daily readings for the week beginning 2nd November
Monday am: Ps 2 Dan. ch 1 Rev. ch 1 pm: Ps 92 Matt. 1: 18-end
Tuesday am: Ps 5 Dan. 2: 1-24 Rev. 2: 1-11 pm: Ps 100 Matt. 2: 1-15
Wednesday am: Ps 9 Dan. 2: 25-end Rev. 2: 12-end pm: Ps 112 Matt. 2: 16-end
Thursday am: Ps 15 Dan. 3: 1-18 Rev. 3: 1-13 pm: Ps 118 Matt. ch 3
Friday am: Ps 16 Dan. 3: 19-end Rev. 3: 14-end pm: Ps 143 Matt. 4: 1-11
Saturday am: Ps 18: 31-end Dan. 4: 1-18 Rev. ch 4 pm: Ps 145 Matt. 4: 12-22
Please send any notices or articles for the next news sheet by noon on Thursdays to vicarofgsandss@yahoo.com.
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The Benefice of Goring and Streatley with South Stoke
The Vicarage
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Goring, Berkshire RG8 9DR
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30/10/2026
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