Benefice of Goring and Streatley with South Stoke : Sunday 2nd July 2023

Sunday 2nd July Trinity 4

Welcome to our weekly newsletter

God has given us himself as the Gate, the way to find his way, his life, even amid the difficulties and challenges of each day.

May we ask to step through it and find him with us.
Do feel you can ask for help if you are unsure.

The Collect, the prayer for the week
O God, the protector of all who trust in you,
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy:
increase and multiply upon us your mercy;
that with you as our ruler and guide
we may so pass through things temporal
that we lose not our hold on things eternal;
grant this, heavenly Father,
for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Readings for this Sunday: Rom. 6: 12-end, Ps. 89: 1-4, 15-18 and Matt. 10: 40-end.

This Sunday:
8:00am      BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
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      Evensong at St Thomas’

Prayer Breakfast, Saturday 1st July
Our next Benefice prayer breakfast will take place in the Canterbury Room at St Thomas’ this Saturday from 8:15am.
Please join us as we pray for the life of our churches.

The Big Sing – Saturday 1st July at St Thomas’
A final reminder that you are invited to The Big Sing this Saturday, 1st July. This is an event celebrating the life of Michael Howell and giving thanks to God for the completion of the organ rebuild project which Michael was so involved with in the years before he died. Music will include some of Michael’s compositions and arrangements; Hymns including Love Divine and The Day Thou Gavest; and Anthems including Sumsion’s They that go down to the sea in ships, Bainton’s And I saw a new Heaven and Parry’s I was glad.
Timetable for Singers:
The timetable for the day is as follows:
Arrive at 1.45pm ready to be seated for 2pm (prompt) practice.
4pm afternoon tea
5pm Big Sing (1 hour approx.)
The Big Sing Performance:
For those preferring to listen, rather than sing, please turn up for the performance at 5pm.
There are more details on our website which you can find here.

Organist and Director of Music at St Thomas’
We thank God for the successful interviews for an organist and Director of Music for St Thomas’.
It was a privilege to meet every candidate during the process, but a delight to be able to appoint… Matthew Foster who, subject to formalities, will begin in September. More details to come. We have lots to look forward to! Alleluia.

Delaware Choral Scholars Concert, Wednesday 5th July, St Mary's church, 7:30pm
These singers will be calling at Streatley as part of their 2023 tour of the UK when they will also be competing in the Llangollen Choir of the World competition. This promises to be a very polished and enjoyable concert and entry is free. The concert programme will include some of the pieces from their varied repertoire. You can find out more about the Delaware Choral Scholars from their website: https://delawarechoralscholars.org/

Steve and Lindsey Poulson’s visit
Steve and Lindsey are now in the UK. We look forward to seeing them on 16th July when they will be joining us at all our services. Afterwards you are invited to lunch in the Canterbury Room

to hear more about their work with street children in Honduras. We will be providing lunch for £10 per head (£5 for children) which includes a glass of wine/soft drinks with any proceeds to Steve and Lindsey’s work. There are sign up sheets in each church or call the office on 875651 to reserve your spot. Please reply by 9th July so the catering team can plan accordingly. After lunch there will be games (in Spanish!) in the Vicarage garden. All welcome!

Booklet on the history of the organ and organists at St Thomas'
Celebrating the recent organ rebuild, local historian, Janet Hurst, has written a booklet about the organ and organists at St Thomas' Church.
A fascinating read, the booklets are now on sale for £5 (cash preferred). They will be on sale at St Thomas' after the morning service or by contacting the benefice office 01491 875651 or officeofgsandss@yahoo.com.
As only a limited number of booklets have been printed, you are advised to get your copy sooner rather than later!

Songs of Praise* service
It is good to sing together. It cheers the soul to be thankful and be united in praise.
What is your favourite hymn /song and why?

We would love to hear your requests and reasons. These can be brought together for our Benefice Songs of Praise on Sunday 30th July at 10.30am in St Andrew’s. The organist and choirs from Streatley and Goring will be there to help raise the roof.
Hymn suggestions to the office (875651 or officeofgsandss@yahoo.com) by Wednesday 12th July. Thank you v much.
*not the BBC version but more locally produced and fully organic.

Daily Prayer will be taking place as usual. Why not join in one day? We listen to the Bible and pray for our world and church.
Monday: 8.30am Goring,
Tuesday and Thursday: 8.30am Streatley.
Friday: 9am Goring.

We are asked to pray

We give thanks for our Little Lights and their helpers.
We pray for our children and families.
For a way to peace and reconciliation in Ukraine and Russia.
For the parish of Woodcote and the Langtree Benefice as Revd David Benskin is installed on Thursday evening.
For a fruitful completion of the appointment of an organist and director of music for St Thomas.

Diary for next week:

Wednesday 5th July
10:30am    BCP Holy Communion at St Thomas’
followed by coffee in the Canterbury Room
The readings will be Gen. 21. 5, 8-20, Ps. 34. 1-12 and Matt. 8. 28-end.
7:30pm      Delaware Choral Scholars concert in St Mary’s

Sunday 9th July
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

The monthly calendar for July can be downloaded by clicking here

Daily readings for the week beginning 3rd July

Monday am:	Ps 92	2 Sam. 15. 17-21	John 11. 1-16	pm: Ps 139	1 Pet. 1. 3-12
Tuesday am:	Ps 89. 1-18	Neh. ch. 5	Rom. 15. 1-13	pm: Ps 89. 19-end	Luke 18. 1-14
Wednesday am:	Ps 119. 105-128	Neh. 6.1-7.4	Rom. 15. 14-21	pm: Ps 91	Luke 18. 15-30
Thursday am:	Ps 92	Neh. 7.73b-8.end	Rom. 15. 22-end	pm: Ps 94	Luke 18. 31-end
Friday am:	Ps 88	Neh. 9. 1-23	Rom. 16. 1-16	pm: Ps 102	Luke 19. 1-10
Saturday am:	Ps 97	Neh. 9. 24-end	Rom. 16. 17-end	pm: Ps 104	Luke 19. 11-27

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