General Chat

Good morning... :-)


So nice to see friends popping in - thank you :-D


We are hoping to have some new carpet laid this week and it means I have had to empty and pack a rather large display cabinet. Not wanting to lug these boxes up the stairs, they are on the dining room table so it's rather like living in a warehouse at the moment........ :-)



A celtic prayer for today...:


The seasons of our lives

Creator God, in the springtime of our lives,
you give us the enthusiasm and daring of youth.
In the summer of our lives,
you encourage us to reach our full potential.
In the autumn of our lives,
you walk beside us as we reflect on years gone by
In the winter of our lives,
you enfold us in your love which will never let us go.
When the seasons of our lives are past,
you clothe us with resurrection bodies
which will live forever.


Love to all Cx :-)

Remembering all in need of comfort and support x

Cynthia, I hope that all goes well for your carpet fitting. It is so lovely to walk on a new carpet in bare feet and the extra work is sure to be worth it when this is fitted and tidy.

Your words today brought me to Ecclesiastes 3 v 1-8. A time and a season for everything in our lives. We all experience the good and not so good seasons I'm sure.

Joining Emma this evening and praying for all in need of comfort and support.

Good morning :-)


I thought that it was, maybe, time to have a smile with a thought this morning.

I have seen this many times before, but it still makes me smile.......and think.



Obituary

Our church was saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our most valued members, Someone Else.

Someone's passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Else has been with us for many years and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than a normal person's share of the work.

Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone's list, "Let Someone Else do it."

Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results; "Someone Else can work with that group."

It was common knowledge that Someone Else was among the most liberal givers in our church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed Someone Else would make up the difference.

Someone Else was a wonderful person; sometimes appearing superhuman. Were the truth known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else.

Now Someone Else is gone! We wonder what we are going to do.

Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it?

Who is going to do the things Someone Else did?

When you are asked to help this year, remember -- we can't depend on Someone Else anymore.



Continuing to uphold friends in prayer Cx :-)

I've not heard that before Cynthia but it is very similar to these words that I am familiar with:-

IT'S NOT MY JOB!

This is a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.
Anybody could have done it but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Anybody wouldn't do it.

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

Hmm, it certainly does make you think doesn't it?

Sharing a gentle hug today with those who need one.x

Good morning... :-)


Thanks kandj, I like that one too :-)


For today:

Lord God, we live in disturbing days:
across the world,
prices rise,
debts increase,
markets are in turmoil,
jobs are taken away,
and fragile security is under threat.
Loving God, meet us in our fear and hear our prayer:
be a tower of strength amidst the shifting sands,
and a light in the darkness;
help us receive your gift of peace,
and fix our hearts where true joys are to be found,
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.



And now I must go and get ready for the carpet fitters.... :-D


Love to all..Cx :-)

It will be worth it Cynthia :-)

Remembering those in need of prayer x

Good morning... :-)


The new carpet looks very nice - now I just have to tidy up and do some furniture removing... :-D



For today:


Each day there are showers of blessings
sent from the father above,
For God is a great, lavish, giver
and there is no end to His love....
And His grace is more than sufficient,
His mercy is boundless and deep,
and His infinite blessings are countless-
and all this we're given to keep,
if we but seek God and find Him
and ask for a bounteous measure
of this wholly immeasurable offering,
from God's inexhaustible treasure,
for no matter how big man's dreams are,
God's blessings are infinitely more,
for always God's giving is greater
than what man is asking for.


- Helen Steiner Rice


Remembering those who are in need of prayer. Cx :-)

Good morning.... :-)


Today we celebrate the conversion of St. Paul on the road to Damascus.


I have been reading that .....

Saint Paul is undoubtedly one of the most important figures in the history of the Western world. Just a quick look at the headlines of his life are enough to understand his impact; his works are some of the earliest Christian documents that we have, 13 of the 27 books of the bible are written by him, and he's the hero of another, Acts of the Apostles.

Famously converted on the road to Damascus, he travelled tens of thousands of miles around the Mediterranean spreading the word of Jesus and it was Paul who came up with the doctrine that would turn Christianity from a small sect of Judaism into a worldwide faith that was open to all.


So we celebrate a great man............


The Collect for today:

Almighty God,
who caused the light of the gospel to shine
throughout the world through the preaching of your servant Saint Paul:
grant that we who celebrate his wonderful conversion
may follow him in bearing witness to your truth;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Yesterday, we as a parish welcomed our new priest-in-charge. Today, the first woman bishop will be consecrated at York Minster. I thought it would be apt to use one of the prayers which we used yesterday and which covers both situations.



********, you have now been properly licensed in this role. In your work, mission and ministry, and in collaboration with your colleagues care alike for young and old, weak and strong, poor and rich; share their joy and their sadness.


You are to enable the people here to use their own gifts in the service of the Gospel, to help them discover the longing of their own spirit.


You are called to ensure that you also grow in grace, learning from the people, making time for study, for quiet reflection and for prayer for you are called to be available, to be humble and to be human.


Together all of you are called to proclaim the glorious freedom of the children of God, to preach the Gospel of peace and hope, to pray earnestly not only for the people in your care but for the whole community. You are to minister God's healing and reconciliation wherever there is pain or conflict whether within or beyond the Church.


May God bless them both as they begin their new ministries.



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)



Yesterday afternoon I popped into school to see the children who are being confirmed on Sunday. They were going through the service so that they would be familiar with it on the day. The service was produced on the screen and, as the teacher scrolled through, the words of a hymn appeared. There was an immediate chorus of "Don't know that one"................

......it was 'Love divine, all loves excelling'.


Love Divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down,
Fix in us thy humble dwelling,
All thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesu, thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart.

Come, almighty to deliver,
Let us all thy grace receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve thee as thy hosts above;
Pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,
Glory in thy perfect love.

Finish then thy new creation:
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in thee;
Changed from glory into glory
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise!


Such wonderful words.


Remembering all who need prayer. Cx :-)

I LOVE IT...... one of my very favourite hymns. I will be singing it all night long now ha ha
Definitely prefer the traditional tune. I wanted this at our wedding but Mum chose Bread of Heaven and Mum in law chose Praise my Soul the King of Heaven.

Sending warm hugs to all who are upset or worried today. xx

Dear All

Hello


I attended a service for Christian Unity last week.

It was after work, for half an hour.

There was seven people there but it was a short, quiet reflective service.

It felt more intimate and moved me greatly.


Take gentle care all
With best wishes
Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Good morning :-)



Thank you for your words Elizabeth and kandj and I am glad that you managed to have that quiet half hour of contemplation Elizabeth. I can remember when the Week of Christian Unity used to be quite an event round here. Not any more sadly, barely a whisper about it, if that. :-(


For today:

The man whispered, "God, speak to me."
And a meadowlark sang.
But the man did not hear.

So the man yelled, "God, speak to me!"
And the thunder rolled across the sky.
But the man did not listen.

The man looked around and said, "God, let me see you."
And a star shone brightly.
But the man did not notice.

And the man shouted, "God, show me a miracle!"
And a life was born.
But the man did not know.

So, the man cried out in despair.
"Touch me God, and let me know that you are here!"
Whereupon God reached down and touched the man.
But the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.


MORAL: Don't miss out on a blessing because it isn't packaged the way you expect.

- unknown





Food for thought indeed. Love to all....Cx :-)

That made me think Cynthia :-)

Remembering all who need comfort.x

Good morning :-)


I know what you mean Emma; sometimes we just miss the obvious because we aren't expecting it. :-)


Yesterday was the feast day of St. Thomas Aquinas.....someone most of us have heard of.


'St. Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor of the Church, patron of all universities and of students. He was born toward the end of the year 1226. He was the son of Landulph, Count of Aquino, who, when St. Thomas was five years old, placed him under the care of the Benedictines of Monte Casino.

His teachers were surprised at the progress he made, for he surpassed all his fellow pupils in learning as well as in the practice of virtue.


When he became of age to choose his state of life, St. Thomas renounced the things of this world and resolved to enter the Order of St. Dominic in spite of the opposition of his family. Their efforts were in vain and St. Thomas persevered in his vocation. As a reward for his fidelity, God conferred upon him the gift of perfect chastity, which has merited for him the title of the "Angelic Doctor".


After making his profession at Naples, he studied at Cologne under the celebrated St. Albert the Great. Here he was nicknamed the "dumb ox" because of his silent ways and huge size, but he was really a brilliant student.


At Paris he was honoured with the friendship of the King, St. Louis, with whom he frequently dined. In 1261, Urban IV called him to Rome where he was appointed to teach, but he positively declined to accept any ecclesiastical dignity. St. Thomas not only wrote (his writings filled twenty hefty tomes characterized by brilliance of thought and lucidity of language), but he preached often and with greatest fruit.


Clement IV offered him the archbishopric of Naples which he also refused. He left the great monument of his learning, the "Summa Theologica", unfinished, for on his way to the second Council of Lyons, ordered there by Gregory X, he fell sick and died at the Cistercian monastery of Fossa Nuova in 1274.

St. Thomas was one of the greatest and most influential theologians of all time. He was canonized in 1323 and declared Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius V. '

A Student's Prayer (by St. Thomas Aquinas)


Come, Holy Spirit, Divine Creator,
true source of light and fountain of wisdom!
Pour forth your brilliance upon my dense intellect,
dissipate the darkness which covers me,
that of sin and of ignorance.

Grant me a penetrating mind to understand,
a retentive memory, method and ease in learning,
the lucidity to comprehend, and abundant grace in expressing myself.
Guide the beginning of my work, direct its progress,
and bring it to successful completion.
This I ask through Jesus Christ,
true God and true man,
living and reigning with You and the Father,
forever and ever.

Amen.


One very brilliant and extraordinary man. Cx :-)

Not heard of St Thomas of Aquinas Cynthia...... very interesting. Thank you.

It has been snowing hard here in Yorkshire for most of today and more snow is forecast overnight and tomorrow.

Thinking and praying for the homeless who will spend tonight out in the freezing cold.

Good morning :-)


Hope you are staying snug and warm in all that snow kandj...... <3



With the snow in mind.......




O God, our heavenly Father, whose glory fills the whole
creation, and whose presence we find wherever we go:
Preserve those who are travelling in these wintry conditions;
surround them with your loving care; protect them from every danger;
and bring them in safety to their journey's end;
through Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen.


Continuing to remember those who have asked for prayer
Cx :-)

No more snow here but it is extremely cold, we are blessed to have a warm home.

Remembering all who are worried and have ill health conditions. Thinking especially of those who are in hospital, praying now that all the doctors and nurses will have the compassion needed to help their patients and support all their families tonight.

Good morning... :-)



We are a snow free zone at the moment and I do hope it stays that way.


Many people live such busy lives .............


No Time

I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do.
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.

So I knelt and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.

All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer.
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear.

No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.

I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God held a book;
It was the book of life.

God looked into his book and said
"Your name I cannot find.
I once was going to write it down . . .
But never found the time"



With love to all. Cx :-)