Last Friday's Passia, The Passion retold through women’s voices, was profoundly moving and inspiring, creating such drama and immediacy to the passion narrative; the 5 women felt so real and agonisingly ‘relateable’, not only in connecting with the agony of the passion story, but also for all broken people.
Easter Funday on Monday was a huge success. We had 27 children and some parents working on activities which delighted in traditions from across the globe that tell the Holy week and Easter Story. Breads and buns were made, eggs decorated and kites prepared. Special thanks to Madeleine and her team of adults and older children who led and held together the younger ones like a gorgeous family at work. Alleluia!
This will be a meal for families and their children where 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.
Piano Recital by Max Mostovetski at St Mary’s On Sunday 19th April at 4pm St Mary’s will be welcoming Max Mostovetski, a German pianist on tour in the UK, for a recital including pieces by J.S. Bach, Scriabin and Mendelssohn.
Some background on Max may be found by clicking here. 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.
Ecumenical Lent group wrap-up meeting with a difference. This year, Tim Livesey, former CEO of Embrace the Middle East, will be sharing experiences about the West Bank. We have used Embrace’s Lent booklets for the last three years. This will be a wonderful opportunity to hear first-hand information from the region. We'll meet in the Canterbury Room on Thursday 23rd April at 10am for coffee with a prompt 10.30am start, to finish at Noon. There will be an opportunity for Q&A. Everyone is welcome, even if you have not attended the Lent course.
Date for your diaries - Visit to St Thomas' by the Immanuel Gospel Choir from Stockholm On Saturday 2nd May, the Immanuel Gospel Choir from Stockholm will be running a workshop from 5pm to 6pm, followed by a concert from 7pm to 8pm at St Thomas'. More details coming soon! On Sunday 3rd May, the choir will be singing at the 9.30am family service and then having lunch with local families before going by train to Reading in the early afternoon. We are looking for volunteers to host one or two choir members for lunch on Sunday 3rd May and/or some volunteer drivers who would be ready to drive choir members to Reading on Sunday afternoon as a back-up plan in case their train is cancelled! If you would like to help by hosting one or two choir members for lunch or providing an offer of a lift to Reading in the early afternoon, please would you contact Elizabeth Parkinson directly or via the benefice office.
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 (but not Monday 6th April) Tuesday and Thursday: 8.30am Streatley, Friday: 9am Goring.
Heavenly Father, we praise you and bless your holy name on this Easter Morning. We thank you for what your son, Jesus, has done for us by sacrificing himself for our sins. We rejoice that he has cleared away the barrier between you and us and opened the gates of glory so that all who believe in him can enter and be with you in heaven after this life. It is in Jesus’ name and for his sake that we bring our petitions to you, trusting in your great mercy and love. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We lift to you our troubled world and ask for your healing. We pray especially for the people of Cuba, who are facing great hardship because essential medicines and food items are being prevented from entering their country. We pray also for Iran and Gaza, for Israel and the people in the West Bank and for all the other countries in the Middle East, as well as Ukraine and Russia, that a way to peace will be found. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father, we ask you to bless the Christian leaders of all denominations across the world. Give them wisdom and courage to boldly proclaim the Christian message of forgiveness and hope. We pray especially for our new Archbishop, Dame Sarah Mullally. In our Benefice, we pray for the Ministry Team and all who are taking part in leading our services. We thank you for them and ask you to guide them as they lead us. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Loving Lord, we thank you for all the people who serve us in our villages: for the ‘posties’, the bin men and women, the shopkeepers, the first responders and doctors, nurses and carers, local councillors and our MPs, and volunteers of all kinds. Please bless and strengthen them. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Compassionate Father, we lift to you all those in our benefice who are in trouble or any kind of need. Help us to recognise that they need help and give us wisdom to know how best to offer it to them. Give strength to those who are feeling weary, encouragement to those who are anxious, and comfort to those who are sad. Fill us with your Holy Spirit, Lord, so that we may grasp every opportunity to demonstrate your great love for all people and to speak of your faithfulness. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, we bring before you all those who are sick and ask you to heal them. We also remember those who have died recently and ask you to comfort their family and friends. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Merciful father, accept these prayers for the sake of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.