General Chat

Friends are the family
we choose for ourselves x

Remembering all my friends who accept me for who I am <3

Hello All

Lovely prayerful words Emma and Cynthia ....... thank you.

I am thinking now of all who will have exam results soon after weeks of studies.

Success is not final,
Failure is not fatal:
It is the courage to continue that counts.
(Winston Churchill)

Remembering the examiners and moderators work at this important time. xx

Good morning :-)


How about something to make folk smile this morning? :-D


The Vicar at Harvest Festival had arranged all the vegetables in front of the Altar. He asked the children if they could name them. The replies were potatoes, cabbage, carrots, broccoli, and swede. So he asked if they could use one word to cover them all. A little boy held his hand up and replied " Gravy". :-D


God Phones Noah to Order a New Ark

Noah: Expecting bad weather? OK, same specs as last time?
God: Nope, this time I want 20 decks.
Noah: 20! That's huge. OK, kitted out for the animals as usual?
God: No, this time it's for fish.
Noah: FISH! OK, you're the boss. I'll get the whole selection,
cod, haddock, skate . .
God: No, just carp.
Noah: Just the one type? Carp?
God: Yep, that's right carp.
Noah: OK, but can I just ask why?

(wait for it)


God: I just fancied a multi-storey carp ark! :-D




With love to all Cx :-)

:-D :-D :-D
Loved the boy's answer of gravy, thanks for the smiles
this morning Cynthia x
Cut down on the coffee ;-) :-)

Hello All

Funny Cynthia! Thank you for making me smile today.

A not so funny event that happened to me last week.

I bought some fresh flowers from the supermarket. It was my treat to myself as I love to have pretty flowers in the home, they make me feel good on not so good days
However, I left the flowers in the car boot and when I retrieved them they were not at their best, so that was a waste of money. I had to laugh though.
Silly me (senior moment)..... I won't be doing that ever again.

It's good to be able to laugh, especially at ourselves imho.

Thinking now of those who have nothing to smile at today. xx

Good morning :-)


So glad you enjoyed the smiles from yesterday..... :-D



In the Church of England lectionary, we are celebrating the lives of William and Catherine Booth of the Salvation Army today.

I know that many folk on here have a soft spot for the ‘Sally Army’ and I was tempted to write a potted history of their lives but, in all honesty, there is so much to their story that it could fill a book – as they say :-D

Suffice it to say that the organisation is still continuing its good works throughout the world and we thank God for them.



“While women weep, as they do now,
I'll fight
While little children go hungry, as they do now,
I'll fight
While men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now,
I'll fight
While there is a drunkard left,
While there is a poor lost girl upon the streets,
While there remains one dark soul without the light of God,
I'll fight - I'll fight to the very end!”

? William Booth


Remembering our friends in prayer. Cx :-)

As you say Cynthia a wonderful organisation who do
good work.

Thoughts for those who serve in this way x

'Extempore' - I came across this word today & didn't know its meaning. The Priest read a piece from the Bible & finally, he offered up an extempore prayer.

‘To speak or write on the spur of the moment; without premeditation or preparation‘. My dictionary comes in handy now & then!

Unknowingly, that expression covers much of my own putrid ill-prepared prayer life.

Hello All

Dermot, I had to check on the definition too...... we learn something new every day.

Sally Army movement do amazing work for Christianity. An example to many.

"While there remains one dark soul, without the light of God, I'll fight,
I'll fight to the very end" William Booth.

"A salvation that does not lead to service is no salvation at all". Catherine Booth.

Good morning :-)


I have to admit that I’ve never been one for extempore prayer – unless the person is particularly gifted in that direction. I have heard too many efforts, albeit in good faith, where the prayers have resembled something from the radio programme ‘Just a minute’, making them rambling and confusing. Our private conversations with God can be as disjointed, repetitious and as hesitant as we like, but I feel that public prayer is something else.


Yesterday was an anxious day for many students as they awaited the results of recent exams. There will be those who are now preparing to take up a place at a new college or university....


O Eternal God,
bless all schools, colleges, and universities,
that they may be lively centres for sound learning,
new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom;
and grant that those who teach
and those who learn may find
you to be the source of all truth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.


Love to all Cx :-)

Oh yes I can remember what a stressful time this was for our children. Now it is lurking ahead for our Grandchildren, but that is in the future when the exam results will change from A* to G marks and become 9 to1 gradings ?? It won't lessen the stress.

Congratulations to students who have achieved good grades and hugs and support for those who are less than happy with their examination results right now. xx

Emma, I have to ask who the pretty young girl is on your Avatar please?

Good morning :-)


I fear exams of any type will always cause stress to the majority of folk. Our grandson did well with his exam results and has been accepted at College. :-)


In a way, the following poem is connected....................

If wishes worked like magic
And plans worked that way, too
And if everything you wished for,
Whether good or bad for you,
Immediately were granted
With no effort on your part,
You’d experience no fulfilment
Of your spirit or your heart,
For things achieved too easily
Lose their charm and meaning, too,
For it is life’s difficulties
And the trial-times we go through
That make us strong in spirit
And endow us with the will
To surmount the insurmountable
And to climb the highest hill.
So wish not for the easy way
To win your heart’s desire,
For the joy’s in overcoming
And withstanding flood and fire,
For to triumph over trouble
And grow stronger with defeat
Is to win the kind of victory
That will make your life complete.

- Helen Steiner Rice



Continuing prayers for those in any sort of need at this time.

Cx :-)

I agree Cynthia, the poem is connected to the
highs and lows of life.

My prayers are for those who have lost their jobs
due to circumstances out with their control.

Hello All
Congratulations to you Grandson Cynthia. He has done very well.

I have been reading inspirational words for today's youngsters, worthy of sharing.

Young people are capable of doing much more today
than ever in the history of mankind.

The struggle you're in today
Is developing the strength you need for tomorrow.

Thinking now of the seven people who died when the Hawker Hunter jet crashed during an air show demonstration today. Condolences to all family and friends. xx

The past is where you learned the lessons
The future is where you apply the lessons.
Don't give up in the middle.

Hello All
Congratulations to you Grandson Cynthia. He has done very well.

I have been reading inspirational words for today's youngsters, worthy of sharing.

Young people are capable of doing much more today
than ever in the history of mankind.

The struggle you're in today
Is developing the strength you need for tomorrow.

The past is where you learned the lessons
The future is where you apply the lessons.
Just don't give up in the middle.

Thinking now of the seven people who died when the Hawker Hunter jet crashed during an air show demonstration today. Condolences to all family and friends. xx

Good morning :-)


Our prayers this morning reach out to all those affected by the dreadful air crash of yesterday. For those who have lost their lives and for their families. For those who are injured and for those who witnessed the horror. For those who helped in the rescue, from the emergency services and from those in the vicinity. Be with them all Lord.

The Collect for today:

Almighty and everlasting God,
you are always more ready to hear than we to pray
and to give more than either we desire or deserve:
pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid
and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask
but through the merits and mediation of 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 :-)

May they all find comfort in their shock and grief this morning and in the weeks ahead.

There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of strength.
Tears speak more than ten thousand words. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, and unspeakable love. (Washington Irving).

There will surely be very many tears shed by family and friends today and in future.

Now in God's hands. Still in their hearts. Condolences to each one today. xx

My prayers and thoughts with family and friends. x

Nothing I can add but Amen to your prayers

Good morning :-)



Sometimes, Monday can be a hard day.
Dreaded on Sunday and fled from on a Friday. Yet why Lord, as Monday could be the beginning of a work adventure, the new challenge of a week filled with potential?
So I pray you would help me to embrace this day.

Let it be a new day and a wonder day.
Help me to see not the clouds but the sunrise, not the rain but the ripples of falling drops.
Show me the joy of the embrace with loved ones, not the tensions and troubles.

Monday need not be the grudge day to be endured but the fun day to be embraced.

This day, help me to turn my eyes towards your Kingdom, of love, hope and new beginnings.

Amen.



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