General Chat

I am so pleased that you are getting a wet room. It will be such a help to your husband and is sure to boost his morale. We have a family member with quite advanced MS and he has found his wet room a boon.

My aunt is now comfortable in a nursing home where she is getting more rest than in the noisy hospital. Unfortunately distance and other commitments make it difficult for me to see her but I have sent cards and am about to write her a chatty letter.

I haven't yet heard how the little one is getting on after his major surgery on Tuesday. I think the family have plenty to cope with at the moment so I don't want to harass them with further calls. I think I will just send another email with my good wishes but I am sure your continuing prayers for his recovery would be appreciated.

Thinking of all who are in need of strength and support today x

Such a lot of ill health and daily battles coping with medical problems about now.

A Prayer For Those In Need'

May all of my family and friends who need a miracle be blessed.
May whoever is feeling weak be given strength.
May all of those who carry heavy burdens have their load lightened. Amen.

Always be joyful: Never stop praying: Be thankful in all circumstances.
( 1 Thessalonians 5 v 16).

Remembering all who need a prayer tonight. xx

Good morning :-)


It was a shock to hear of the death of Dizzi from General Chat this morning. She will be sorely missed. :-(



A prayer which is used at many funeral services.............

May he support us all the day long till the shades lengthen and the evening comes and the busy world is hushed and the fever of life is over and our work is done. Then in his mercy may he give us a safe lodging and a holy rest and peace at the last.

John Newman (1801-1890)


Amen.


Continuing to remember our friends in prayer.

Cx :-)

Such sad news today, she will be sorely missed.
My deepest sympathy to her family and friends.
R.I.P Dizzi

To those in need of prayer....

Don't Worry

God is never blind to your tears,
never deaf to your prayers or silent
to your pain.
He sees, He hears and He is never too far.x

I am as shocked as everyone else by the sudden death of dear Dizzi. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and close friends at such a shocking time.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted , and
He saves those whose spirits have been crushed.
Psalm 34 v 18.

Continuing to pray for our friends in need today. xx

Good morning :-)


So many members shocked and saddened by Dizzi's sudden death - it's a tribute to how much people thought of her. <3


Today is Pentecost Sunday..............when we hear the fabulous reading from Acts 2.1-21. I have always loved that reading.

The Collect for today:

The Collect

God, who as at this time taught the hearts of your faithful people
by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit:
grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgement in all things
and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort;
through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour,
who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.



Cx :-)

I am still shocked by the sad news about DIzzi....... may she Rest In Peace, bless her.

Pentecost Sunday today, and very important in the church calendar.. We watched the TV service and neither of us knew a single hymn. Very disappointing indeed.

I well remember years of praise and worship of Holy Spirit at Pentecost services where favourite hymns were always sung during this special morning gathering.

1. Come Down O Love Divine
2. Breath On Me Breath Of God
3. Holy Spirit We Welcome You
4. Spirit Of Our Living God, Fall Afresh On Me.
5. All Creatures Of Our God and King
6. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty the King of Creation, and very many more.

Spirit of life
Fill our emptiness with your fullness

Spirit of power
Stir our hearts afresh

Spirit of love
Touch us, and through us, our neighbours

Spirit of creativity
Enable and empower the gifts You have given

Spirit of eternity
Draw us ever deeper into Your Kingdom.

Praying for those who are struggling with drug addiction and their families tonight xxx

Good morning :-)

We sang two or three of those hymns yesterday kandj, and the churchwarden told me later that some folk had complained! We can't win can we?


A prayer for guidance:

Lord, you promised that when I seek You with all our heart, I will find You.

I seek only after You.

Still my troubled heart.

Calm my wayward mind.


I seek only after You.

I'm never going to be able to figure this out on my own,

And right now I'm leaning heavily on You.

I seek only after You.


I give you all the anxieties and fears I feel inside

I release them all to You


I seek only after You.

I open up my life

So that it becomes like an open book before You

May You write in it Your words of inspiration and direction.


Still my troubled heart.

Calm my wayward mind.

I seek only after You.


I await Your voice.


Remembering those who have asked for prayer Cx :-)

Cynthia... the John Lydgate quote springs to my mind;

"You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time but you can't please all of the people all of the time".

Whit Monday today. Lovely memories of childhood Whit Walks through the village with brass band and church and chapel children in new clothes and great excitement for all. A decorated lorry carrying the May Queen and attendants on it.
Dancing around the Maypole. Twisting in and out making the coloured ribbons form a pretty pattern on the pole. Picnic paper bag handed to every child and we sat on the field happily munching on sandwich,sausage roll,iced bun with a cherry on top!
I'm sure this old tradition is still kept going somewhere, sadly not around here now.

Continuing to pray for those who are struggling with each new day. xx

Good morning all who look in and like me
sometimes add to this thread.

A wise woman once said that every morning when
you wake up say a little prayer.
After all, you never know what your day may hold.x

A wise woman indeed Emma, her words give food for thought.

Today, I have been tidying a cupboard and found a very old poem,that I had used as a bookmark. The words of this poem (written by Robert H Smith) seem poignant for obvious reason, and worthy of sharing with you all.

The clock of life is wound but once
and no man has the power
To tell just when the hands will stop
At late or early hour.

To lose one's wealth is sad indeed
To lose one's health is more,
To lose one's souls is such a loss
That no man can restore.

The present only is our own
So live, love, toil with a will
Place no faith in "Tomorrow"
For the clock may then be still.

Remembering in prayer, those who are grieving tonight. xx

Good morning :-)


I've really enjoyed reading your contributions kandj and Emma........thank you <3


I believe there was a large Whit Walk in Manchester yesterday - but I haven't seen any news coverage of it. I may have missed it of course but, the news does tend to focus on the negative side of life at times, so maybe it wasn't considered newsworthy........?

For today:


After The Winter God Sends The Spring

Springtime is a season of hope and joy and
cheer;
there's beauty all around us to see
and touch and hear.

So no matter how downhearted and discouraged
we may be,
new hope is born when we behold
leaves budding on a tree,
or when we see a timid
flower push through the frozen sod
and open wide in glad surprise
its petalled eyes to God.


For this is just God saying,
" Lift up your eyes to Me,
and the bleakness of your spirit,
like the budding springtime tree,
will lose its wintry darkness,
and your heavy heart will sing.
" For God never sends the winter
without the joy of spring."

- Helen Steiner Rice.


Love to all Cx :-)

One of my favourites from HSR, thank you Cynthia x

I hope today will be an easier day for those that are troubled x

A beautiful God-given day today here, warm, dry and bright sunshine to lift our spirits.

"The trees, the flowers, the plants grow in silence. Silence gives us a new perspective.
Patience, prayer and silence - these are what give strength to the soul"
(Sr Faustina).

Remembering those who are in a dark and lonely place right now. xx

Good morning :-)

One of our churchwardens and myself have recently opened a Facebook page for our church and we are amazed at how popular it has become. Each day, as with here, I post a prayer and then I add an image - sometimes thoughtful, sometimes amusing - but all to do with the faith. Occasionally, I manage to eat my breakfast........... :-D :-D :-D

This is all a far cry from the earliest beginnings of the Church and today we celebrate the Feast Day of St. Augustine of Canterbury - the very first Archbishop of Canterbury. (Not to be confused with St. Augustine of Hippo).


"Details of Augustine's life are scarce. Believed to have been a pupil of Felix, bishop of Messana, he became a monk and later Prior of St Andrew's in Rome. He was sent by Pope Gregory to lead a party of around 30 monks to bring England (such as it was) under the influence of the Roman world.

The journey was halted at one point, the monks losing their nerve and returning to Rome, before successfully landing at Ebbsfleet in 597. Received cautiously by the King of Kent, Ethelbert, Augustine managed to estbalish a community of monks based first at St Martin's church, later transferring to the site of the present Cathedral.

He died on May 26th, now remembered as his feast day, but the year of his death is uncertain, between 604 and 609. He was buried at what is now called St Augustine's Abbey."


A prayer from a Roman Catholic website.....

God, Our Father,
by the preaching of Saint Augustine of Canterbury,
you led the people of England to the Gospel.
May the fruits of his work continue in your Church.
Grant that through his intercession,
the hearts of those who err may return to the unity of your truth
and that we may be of one mind in doing your will. Amen



Remembering all friends who have asked for prayer.......Cx :-)

Good Luck with the face book for your church Cynthia. Certain to be a success!

I find the lives of all the Saints really very interesting. Thank you.

My neighbour passed a church newsletter to me posted from a friend living in Swan Hill, Nyah Wesernt Australia. This church is studying the 10 Commandments.
I found the "Hilly Billy" Ten Commandments funny and hope they make you smile too

1. Ain't but One God

2. Honor yer Ma and Pa.

3. No tellin' tales or gossipin'.

4. Git yer hide to Sunday meetin'.

5. Ain't nothin' come before the Lord.

6. No foolin' with another fellers gal.

7. No killin', 'cept fer critters.

8. Quit yer foul mouthin'.

9. No swipin' yer kin folks stuff.

10 Don't be hankerin' fur it either.

Thinking of all in need of prayerful support tonight. xx

Good morning :-)


Love that version of the Ten Commandments kandj....... :-D


For today:

"Be still and know that I am God”

Lord, may your spirit guide me to seek Your Loving presence more and more. For it is there I find rest and refreshment from this busy world.


Love to all. Cx :-)

Amen to that Cynthia.

Be still and know that I am God....... this is so spiritual I feel. Over the years I have tried to run around like a headless chicken and sort my problems out by myself, but this has never ever worked.

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD

Be still and know that I am God
Be still and know that I am God
Be still and know that I am God.

I am the Lord that healeth thee
I am the Lord that healeth thee]
I am the Lord that healeth thee.

In thee, O Lord, I put my trust
In thee, O Lord. I put my trust
In thee, O Lord, I put my trust.

Psalm 31 v 1 (King James Version).
In thee Lord O Lord, do I put my trust:; never let me be ashamed; deliver me in thy righteousness.

Thinking now of all those who feel worried or alone right now. xx

Good morning :-)

That hymn is so beautiful- both in words and in the music.


Despite all our aches, pains and difficult circumstances, we all have something to be grateful for..........





Thank You Lord!

Even though I clutch my blanket
and growl when the alarm rings,
Thank you, Lord, that I can hear ...
There are many who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes closed
against the morning light
as long as possible,
Thank you, Lord, that I can see ...
Many are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed
and put off rising,
Thank you Lord,
That I have the strength to rise ...
There are many who are bedridden.

Even though the first hour
of my day is hectic,
When socks are lost
and the toast is burned,
Tempers are short
and my children are so loud,
Thank you, Lord, for my family ...
There are many who are lonely.

Thank you Lord, for all the blessings in my life.



Cx :-)

Thank you Kandj and Cynthia for your recent interesting posts. I particularly like today's Thank You.

The older I get the more I am aware of how fortunate I am. My problems are minor compared to many people's but my blessings are many. In particular I have a large and very close, loving extended family. These days we are geographically scattered but still always there for each other in times of need.

So today my thoughts are with all who are in need of strength and support right now but in particular for those who are alone.