Church Christmas Cards Our village Christmas cards from all the churches with details of the Christmas services have been printed. These need to be delivered to every house in the benefice, please. At 2.30pm today (8th December) in the Canterbury Room we will be folding all the Goring cards and counting them into folders ready for delivery. Anyone who is able to come and help with the task would be most welcome and tea & biscuits will be supplied! Cards will be in folders sorted by streets in St Thomas’ for delivery in Goring from Friday afternoon. Please pick up a folder (or more!) and enjoy a walk around the village delivering these.
Tips for a greener Christmas Click the link for some ideas: https://arocha.org.uk/our-twelve-tips-for-a-greener-christmas/
“Gifts of the Magi”, Goring Chamber Choir Concert On 6th January at 3pm Goring Chamber Choir will be giving a concert on the theme of Epiphany in St Thomas'. When Christmas and New Year festivities are over it is a good time to 'find the star within our hearts', as Bob Chilcott says in his carol 'Epiphany'. Goring Chamber Choir will sing both familiar and some new carols reflecting on the bringing of gifts today. Atmospheric pieces by Canadian Stephanie Martin and Thomas Allain describe modern journeys 'to learn and to believe'. Steve Bowey will perform Gaston Litaize's organ piece 'Epiphanie' on the wonderfully restored organ, and there will be familiar carols for the audience to join in. Tickets are £15 (with free entry for under 18s) obtainable from Inspiration, Goring, or from a choir member, or on the door. Further information including details of the programme are available on the Goring Chamber Choir website. https://www.goringchamberchoir.org.uk/
Jo Allen and Family Farewell As you already know, Jo, our curate, is moving to a new post in the New Year. Her final Sunday with us will be 14th January and we will be holding a bring and share lunch in the Canterbury Room at St Thomas’ at 12:30pm for Jo and her family when we can thank them for all they have contributed in their time in the Benefice and wish them well on their next adventure. We also hope to give Jo a gift to remember us by. Donations can be given to church wardens or made online to the Goring Parochial Church Council account with TSB, sort code 30-13-42, account number 11162560 using the reference “JA Gift” please. (In this case please do not use the Parish Giving route as there is a lag between the donation being made and our receiving it.) There will also be a bowl for donations at services at St Mary’s.
This week we are asked to pray
Prayers for this week Thank you to Brenda this week’s prayers.
In joyful expectation of his coming we pray to Jesus, saying Maranatha. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Come to your Church as Lord and Judge. We pray for our Bishops Steven and Gavin, Ben and all the people in our Ministry team. Give us all wisdom and courage as we seek to follow your Way and spread the Good News. We pray for Steve and Lindsey Poulson in Honduras working among the street children at Proyecto Alas. Help us to live in the light of your coming and give us a longing for your kingdom. Maranatha. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Come to your world as King of the nations. We pray for peace in the Holy Land. We pray for peace in Ukraine. We pray for peace in all the other troubled areas of the world – Yemen, Myanmar, Syria. We pray for King Charles and his ministers. Give them wisdom as to how to seek the common good with justice for all. We pray for those involved in COP28 in Dubai. May they make vital decisions as to how to curb Global warming. Before you, rulers will stand in silence. Maranatha. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Come to your people with a message of victory and peace. We pray for all in our communities especially those who are in any sort of need be it homelessness, lack of food to eat or loneliness. May we be sensitive to their situations. We pray for our three schools who will be hosting Carol services in church in the coming days. We pray for the children, the staff and the parents of each one at this very busy time of year. We pray for those distributing the Christmas cards around the villages. May they do so prayerfully, committing each card into your hands. Give us the victory over death, temptation and evil. Maranatha. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Come to us as Saviour and Comforter. We pray for those who are sick and all those who care for them. We pray for those who grieve. May they be comforted. Break into our lives, where we struggle with sickness and distress, and set us free to serve you forever. Maranatha. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Come to us from heaven, Lord Jesus, with power and great glory. Lift us up to meet you, with all your saints and angels, to live with you for ever. Maranatha. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
(Silence)
Come, Lord Jesus, do not delay; give new courage to your people, who trust in your love. By your coming, raise us to share in the joy of your kingdom on earth as in heaven, where you live and reign with the Father and the Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.