This Sunday, 2nd August, 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 Sarah and Paul for providing this.
George’s Baptism Last Sunday, we celebrated a joyful occasion for the Streatley Church family when George was baptised by Rev. Leighton Thomas.
George has had a long lifetime journey in his Faith to the decision that he wished to be baptised, as he explained to the congregation. Afterwards, we celebrated in the Morrell Room with wine, cake and music, which was beautifully presented by Andy and Karen, adding so appropriately to the overall joyful feel of the morning. We welcomed several members of George's family as well as his friends, who were able to be with us. John
Eco Tip for August Looking after wildlife in the heat. Times of drought and dryness can be dangerous for wildlife. Provide water for birds and insects - put a dish of water out to help wildlife stay hydrated. Insects, small mammals, birds, and even badgers, foxes, and deer could benefit. A stone in a plant saucer helps bees to perch and drink without drowning. These small actions make a big difference and are just some of the ways we can live out our calling to care for God’s creation. See our blog on looking after wildlife in the heat for more warm weather eco tips: arocha.org.uk/looking-after-wildlife-in-the-heat/.
The organist and choirs from Streatley and Goring will be there to help raise the roof. What is your favourite hymn/song and why? We would love to hear your requests and reasons. Please feed into Liz Dowding, Jane Collins, Mike Codner, Ben or to the office (875651 or officeofgsandss@yahoo.com) in the next two weeks, please, so we can shape the service. Thank you.
Dear Father, we thank you for all the blessings we have, for our beautiful surroundings, friends and family, pets, and our neighbours, and all the small acts of kindness we encounter every day from strangers. May these encounters point us to your love, and for us to share that same love with others, ungrudgingly and with an open heart and true kindness. We thank you for all the gifts we have received, may we understand how to use them well. Lord in your mercy… Hear our prayer
We pray for the world, for climate change and the devastation that is occurring across the globe with the destruction of habitats and homes. We pray for those risking their lives to help, including fire fighters, pilots and farmers. We pray that politicians and world leaders will be moved to act to safeguard our world, and to have the wisdom and courage to know how to do that. May we also understand the small actions we may take in our own lives to help. Lord in your mercy… Hear our prayer
We pray for parts of the world in conflict including Ukraine and Russia, Gaza and Israel and Iran. We pray for peace with justice. We pray for a change of the warring hearts in our world leaders and ask that they will know you, and seek peace. We pray especially for our new prime minister that his vision will be clear and based upon protecting those without a voice, and those marginalised in our society. Lord in your mercy … Hear our prayer
We pray for the church; we pray for Sarah Mullally and Pope Leo. That their witness to you may influence the world and that people may come to know you through the church’s action’s. May we, with them, demonstrate your love to the world, through gentleness, patience, and forgiveness. Lord in your mercy… Hear our prayer
We bring to you those private concerns that lay on our hearts in a moment of quiet, asking for your healing and transforming love to help those we are worried for, and to bring peace to our own hearts as well, safe in the knowledge that all things are in your faithful hands Lord, and we have no reason to fear. We pray for the sick, for those in hospitals, hospices and care homes, for those awaiting test results and for those with no one to pray for them. May you be with them. Lord in your mercy… Hear our prayer
We entrust our prayers, and those of creation, to your faithful love. Amen.