General Chat

How good that both stairlifts get the approval of the young and the young at heart!!
We are in a bungalow and have no need of a stairlift but we do have neighbours whose quality of life and independence have been greatly improved by them.

Remembering all who are struggling today.... sending gentle hugs their way. xx

Good morning :-)


Stair lifts are, indeed, a blessing........ :-D


For today - a Hebrew prayer from North America

Blessed art Thou
O Lord our God
King of the world
who makes the fruit
of the tree.

Blessed art Thou
O Lord our God
King of the world
whose word makes all
things on earth.


Blessed art Thou
O Lord our God
King of the world
who brings food
out of the earth.

Blessed art Thou
O Lord our God
King of the world
who gives clothes
to cover our bodies.

Blessed art Thou
O Lord our God
King of the world
who makes sweet smelling
wood and plants.

Blessed art Thou
O Lord our God
King of the world
who has kept us alive
until now so we may
find joy in what has
just come to us.

Blessed art Thou
O Lord our God
King of the world
who has created
the wonderful things of
earth and heaven.



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

Dear All

Hello

Hope you are okay and doing well.

One of my favourite poems and the inspiration for music of all kinds:

I AM MUSIC


"I am music


I am music

I am music

I enter the room with percussion

Or a gentle rise

You will feel me beating at skin

Or stirring emotion

I am an ice-blue vein

Ticking in your wrist

I am life

I am music



I remember you

And I lead you to places

You’ve known before

I am music and memory

I was there in the room

When you first made love

I echo your ecstasy

I aid your grief

I will come to your funeral

I am all things to all people

I am music

I am life



I am the loner in the corner

And the dancer in the spotlight

I am laser beam and strobe

Attuned to your mood

I can lift you or sink you

I carry the words

You repeat in my presence

In smoke-wreathed bars

And sun-warmed squares

I will come to your party

And stay the night

I am life

I am music

An ice-blue vein

Ticking in your wrist

I will make you happy

(or sad)

But will comfort you

And make you dance

In my crescendo

I am music

I am music, I am music".

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Take gentle care
With best wishes
Love Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Dear All

Hello

Some words to ponder:


"Let it Be....Kindness Matters.

"The purpose of life is not to pursue happiness,

It is to be useful, to be honourable,

to be compassionate,

to have it make some difference

that you have lived and lived well."


By RALPH WALDO EMERSON

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Take gentle care
With best wishes
Love Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Good morning :-)


Thank you for those lovely words Elizabeth............they will be our thoughts for today.



Keeping our friends in our prayers......Cx :-)

Such lovely words to ponder on Elizabeth. Thank you for sharing them.

Remembering those who feel down hearted or sad for whatever reason today. xx

Good morning :-)


Red roses, chocolates and romantic cards............it must be St. Valentine's Day :-D


But just who was St. Valentine?


There are several stories about this saint but most of them seem to agree that he was a Roman Priest at a time when there was an emperor called Claudius who was persecuting the church and who had an edict that prohibited the marriage of young people.

This was based on the thought that unmarried soldiers fought better than married soldiers because married soldiers might be afraid of what might happen to them or their wives or families if they died.

It was, at the time, a very permissive society but obviously the church thought that marriage was very sacred between one man and one woman for their life and that it was to be encouraged. And so it immediately presented the problem to the Christian church of what to do about this.

The idea of encouraging people to marry within the Christian church was what Valentine was about but, because of the edict, he married them in secret.

Valentine was eventually caught, imprisoned and tortured for performing marriage ceremonies against command of Emperor Claudius the second. There are legends surrounding Valentine's actions while in prison.

There was a man called Asterius who supported the edict and whose daughter was blind. It is understood that Valentine prayed with and healed the young girl with such astonishing effect that Asterius himself became Christian as a result.

In the year 269 AD, Valentine was sentenced to a three part execution of a beating, stoning, and finally decapitation all because of his stand for Christian marriage. The story goes that the last words he wrote were in a note to Asterius' daughter. He inspired today's romantic missives by signing it...........

"from your Valentine."


Lord,
Help us to love unselfishly
and to find great joy in giving.
Enable all true lovers
to bring out the best in each other.

Amen.



Cx <3

Thank you Cynthia, Amen indeed.

Hubby and I exchanged our Valentine cards today but no roses or chocs..... a warm hug though, which is precious and priceless.

Alleluia, God is love;
Let us love one another
As God has loved us.

To crown all things there must be love
to bind all things together and make the whole,
Let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. Colosians 3:14

Warm and loving thoughts to all who are anxious or sad this night.

Dear Cynthia and Kandji

Hello to you ladies,

I am very pleased you liked the two poems.

May the special magic of St Valentines Day be with you and your family.


Take gentle care
Lots of love
Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Good morning :-)


I have to say that the red roses and chocolates were purely symbolic on my part... :-)

Our Valentine's day was made by the fact that my husband managed quite a good walk in the morning......priceless. <3


The Collect for today:

The Collect

Almighty Father,
whose Son was revealed in majesty
before he suffered death upon the cross:
give us grace to perceive his glory,
that we may be strengthened to suffer with him
and be changed into his likeness,
from glory to glory; who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning... :-)


Church can be a funny place at times.....in many ways. For those who don't attend and think that they are places where folk are dreadfully solemn and no laughter is heard, they couldn't be further from the truth.

When our late vicar was around, there was always laughter to be heard and big smiles to be seen. Things have been a bit downhearted since his death but, I feel we are on the 'up' again as I heard the laughter and happy chatter once more yesterday.

My husband made it to church thankfully and, when I sat down after talking to someone, I was startled to see that he had lipstick all over his cheek!!!! Obviously, one of his lady friends had been talking to him..... :-D

For today:


BUTTERFLIES

I think that I shall never spy
A poem quite like a butterfly.

A butterfly whose wings are spread
So prettily above its head;

A butterfly that flies all day,
And lifts its tiny wings to pray;

Whose wings that may in Summer wear
Rainbows of colours in mid-air;

Come Winter's snow, they disappear;
Come Summer's warmth, they reappear.

Poems are made by fools like I,
But only God makes butterflies.


- Virginia Ellis


Love to all. Cx :-)

Thank you Cynthia, had never seen that poem
before. :-)

My thoughts to all in need.x

Good morning :-)


So Lent is almost upon us..... a time of abstinence, of giving things up.


Why do Christians call the day 'Shrove Tuesday'?

The name Shrove comes from the old word "shrive" which means to confess. On Shrove Tuesday, in the Middle Ages, people used to confess their sins so that they were forgiven before the season of Lent began.

What is Shrove Tuesday?

Shrove Tuesday is a day of celebration as well as penitence, because it's the last day before Lent. Throughout the United Kingdom, and in other countries too, people indulge themselves on foods that traditionally aren't allowed during Lent. Pancakes are eaten on this day because they contain fat, butter and eggs which were forbidden during Lent


A prayer for Shrove Tuesday

On this Shrove Tuesday, Lord help us to enjoy and give thanks to you for the bounty you provide for us and remind us to share your gifts with others. And as Lent begins tomorrow, prepare our hearts and minds to reflect upon the temptation of Jesus for 40 days and nights and what that means for us. Amen


Remembering those who have asked for prayer....... Cx :-)

Thanks to Cynthia for the Butterfly poem. I am like Emma and haven't heard this before

Shrove Tuesday today and traditionally a day of feasting before the fasting tomorrow Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent in the Christian calendar.

Tonight I am thinking and praying for all who are hungry and also for the churches who provide foodbanks and pray I that their resources will not run out for the people in need.

For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat. I was thirsty and your gave Me something to drink: I was a stranger, and you invited Me in. Matthew 25 v 35.

Good morning... :-)


I had such a good day yesterday with the grandchildren....they may be young adults, but they can still get excited by the thought of pancakes as they did when they were small! There was so much fun and laughter - I am truly blessed :-D


And so to Ash Wednesday.

Today God our Father brings us to the beginning of Lent. We pray that in this time of salvation he will fill us with the Holy Spirit, purify our hearts, and strengthen us in love. Let us humbly ask him: Lord, give us your Holy Spirit.

May we be filled and satisfied, - by the word which you give us.

Teach us to be loving not only in great and exceptional moments, - but above all in the ordinary events of daily life.

May we abstain from what we do not really need, - and help our brothers and sisters in distress.

May we bear the wounds of your Son in our bodies, - for through his body he gave us life.

Amen.


Cx :-)

It's good to know young and young in heart sharing traditional pancakes Cynthia.

Ash Wednesday today and the first day of Lent, preparing for the 40 days when Jesus was tempted by Satan. Many Christians will have taken part in the traditional Ashing Service today when last years Palm Sunday palm branches are burned and mixed with holy oil. The Priest makes a sign of the cross in ashes on the forehead of the congregation saying the words "Remember that you are dust and to dust you will return" A very important and humbling act for Priest and worshippers who take part.

Sign us with ashes
the sign of your cross
Give us the grace to know
your mercy, Lord.
Renew our spirits
and open our hearts.
Help us to remember
the love you gave us.

Special thoughts and prayers for those in need this night.

Good morning :-)


Thank you for that prayer kandj. I didn't make the service last night despite being full of good intentions :(

The church where we worship does not follow the tradition of using ashes but our previous one did and I was happy to wear the sign of cross with humility but also with pride.


For today:

Lord, Let everything I do this day and in this season of Lent come from you, be inspired by you.

I long to be closer to you. Help me to remember that nothing is important in my life unless it glorifies you in some way.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the day to day of my life and keep saying, “Tomorrow, I will spend more time in prayer,” but now my longing meets your love and I want to do it now. Help me to rely on you for help.

The prayer asks you that I reach perfection. Please, Lord, remind me that “perfection” isn’t the crazy, “successful” way I try to live my life, but a perfection of my most authentic, real self.

My “perfection” might be holding my many flaws in my open hands, asking you to help me accept them.

Heal me, Lord, and help me to find you in the darkness of my life. Let me reach out in this darkness and feel your hand and love there to guide me.

May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.

Amen.



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


As we begin our tentative Lenten steps..............


Each Day Brings a Chance to Do Better

How often we wish for another chance
To make a fresh beginning,
A chance to blot out our mistakes
And change failure into winning—
And it does not take a special time
To make a brand-new start,
It only takes the deep desire
To try with all our heart
To live a little better
And to always be forgiving
And to add a little “sunshine”
To the world in which we’re living—
So never give up in despair
And think that you are through,
For there’s always a tomorrow
And a chance to start anew.

- Helen Steiner Rice.



Remembering friends in prayer. Cx :-)

Good morning... :-)


Continuing our Lenten journey :




The Israelite prophet Micah said:
"What does the Lord require of you? Only to act justly, love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

God of mercy and source of justice,
pour on your people such love and compassion that

we cannot remain silent,
we cannot tolerate injustice and poverty.

As your grace fills our hearts
so may we be stirred into action
to demonstrate your love for all the world
and for all creatures that live and move on this earth.


Cx :-)

Thank you Cynthia and Good Afternoon to one and all.

Lent...... a time of fasting and reflection and a Christian preparation before Easter.

By observing the 40 days of Lent and remembering the testing 40 days Jesus endured in the wilderness, we can become stronger in our faith.

It is usual to give up something for Lent. This may be chocolate, bread, biscuits,
tea/coffee, I have done all that many times over the years. Now I choose to take on a commitment rather than giving something up. Many local churches organize frugal Lent lunches and bible study courses and Lent talks which I have eagerly taken part in, but not this year as my husband's ill health has become my priority.

This year I plan to increase my daily reading of Scripture throughout the 40 day period of Lent. I know this won't be easy as I have very little "me time" right now, but I will do my very best to read and focus on the true meaning of Lent and journey in faith this way for now.

Living Lord, help me to be aware of
the many ways that You reach out
to help me today.
I stand in awe of the power
that You use in so loving a way.
I thank you heavenly Father
and give you the praise and the glory
you so rightly deserve. Amen.