Piano Recital at St Mary’s
There will be a recital entitled “A Song on Love” by concert pianist Ikuko Inoguchi on Sunday February 25th at 4pm in St Mary's followed by tea afterwards.
The programme will feature both Western Classical and Japanese pieces including works by Clara Schumann, Robert Schumann, Debussy and Toru Takemitsu.
Ticket are available on the door for £10 full, £9 concessions (cash only please).

This week we are asked to pray 

• Invitations have gone out, we pray they will be received and welcomed – by Year 6 children at our primary schools, for an after-school club.
• For recruiting suitable Foundation Governors for our schools.
• For honesty about the challenges and fears we have, and bringing them to God who has shown his hope in us.
• For the people and churches of Long and Little Wittenham, Culham, Clifton Hampden and Burcot.
• For peacemakers in Israel and Palestine and its surrounding nations.
• Give thanks for the opportunity of our churches to support couples in marriage.
• For those who feel alone and with little hope. 

Prayers for this week
Thank you to Simon for this week’s prayers.

Father God, help us to still our hearts and centre ourselves on your saving grace.

Thank you for the regular worship and celebration taking place across the benefice this weekend and we give you thanks for the privilege and opportunity we have in this country to meet together and praise your name freely and openly.

O God of all hope and peace, we bring to you the needs of our broken and hurting world. Our hearts are breaking with images of lives lost and torn apart by grief in Israel and Palestine. We pray for an end to violence and warfare so that the challenging work of rebuilding may begin.

We continue to ask for a resolution to the war in Ukraine, asking that you would strengthen and protect those defending the country - and that you would give grace and forbearance to their families and supporters. 

Here at home, we pray for a swift recovery for King Charles from his recent surgery and the continued convalescence of Catherine, Princess of Wales. We pray for the Prime Minister and the Government asking that you bless this country at a time of such uncertainty and economic stagnation.  We ask that you uphold all the many who are deeply affected by the continued pressures on the cost of living.

In the benefice, we pray that you would honour and bless the leaders at our Churches - for Gavin our Bishop, Ben and the ministry team. We remember Jo especially as she starts in her new parish.  We thank you for the planned activities taking place during Lent, asking you would continue to bless the leaders in their preparation.

Finally, we pray for our congregations, remembering especially any who are ill or in distress at this time.

We commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray, to the mercy and protection of God our Lord and Father.

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.