General Chat

Good morning :-)


I am a big softie when it comes to animals I must admit. We had dogs for many years but, since retirement, we have resisted the urge to have another one. Much as I would love one, it's another responsibility to add to what I already have.....if you get my drift.

Today, we are concentrating on Military Chaplains during the 2 wars.

The Army Chaplains Department had been in existence for some 120 years when the Great War started in the summer of 1914.

Initially comprising only Church of England men, over the years it had evolved to encompass Roman Catholic, Wesleyan, Jewish and other smaller denominations by the beginning of the 20th century.


Figures vary, but it is generally accepted that between 170 and 180 of these men paid the ultimate sacrifice and died or were killed in action serving God and their country whilst in the front line with the troops which is where many preferred to be.

A quote from an unknown padre sums up the attitude of many,
"If the men can't go to church then the church must go to the men."

It must be remembered that in their pockets would only be a Bible, Prayer Book and probably sweets and cigarettes "for the boys." They only had their faith to protect them, not rifle or revolver.

This quote from a soldier of the 1st Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters;
"The padres, what decent fellows they were, as we knelt in the fields or farmyards on a Sunday to listen to them speak. They were good fellows, many of them fell in France while telling Tommy a few lines from the good book. In my experience some of the best were the padres."

God bless them all.


Cx :-)

Hello All

This is all very interesting Cynthia, thank you for sharing.

Army Chaplains have continued to serve wherever British soldiers have been sent.
The conflicts may have changed but the Ministry of care and compassion remains.

A prayer for Clergy in the Forces and in churches everywhere, including retired Clergy too.

Heavenly Father, thank you for all who are called into your Ministry. May you refresh their hearts and minds each day. Strengthen and encourage them all as they work for your good. Support those who work overseas in dark places, guide and protect them always.
Bless all retired Clergy who have given years of dedication and commitment to others. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Good morning :-)


As we approach Remembrance Sunday..................


I do not know your name –
Nor for which battle you died.
I do not know your home,
nor the tears that were cried.
I do not know where you rest
Nor the promise broken.
I do not know your uniform,
and your fears lay unspoken.
But, I know your spirit exists
That your courage is admired,
and your sacrifice is honoured by each soul that's inspired.
And I offer you from my heart,
Thank you, to guardians unknown,
for offering yourselves for all of us,
that we may keep freedom... Our home.

- Sherrie Ball.


Praying in thankfulness Cx :-)

On this Remembrance Sunday.


Lord, giver of life,

may your love break through where this earth has grown dark.
Where justice is destroyed, let righteousness rule.

Let the warmth and light of your love shine on the waste of our wrath and sorrow.

Teach us, through you, to save succeeding generations
from the scourge of war, which over the centuries has brought
untold sorrow to mankind,

and give peace to your Church,
peace among nations,
peace in our homes and peace in our hearts.

Amen.

Cx

Amen to that

"Lest We Forget"

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds encountered,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
We will remember them.

Thinking of all who have been affected by so many wars. xxx

They live on in our prayers, never to be forgotten.

Good morning :-)


Fortunately, the rain stayed off during the Act of Remembrance at church yesterday. A large crowd gathered to remember the fallen at the cenotaph outside church, and then moved into church for a service. It was, literally, standing room only which was very moving in itself.

So, as we remain in the season of remembrance, we move forward to remember those who serve us today….


Heavenly Father,
we commend to your gracious care and keeping
all the men and women in our Armed Forces at home and abroad.
Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace;
strengthen them in their trials and temptations;
and give them courage to face the perils that beset them;
and help them to know that nothing can separate them from your love;
in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.



Remembering the families of those who serve today. Cx :-)

Hello all

Hubby and I watched the service at the Cenotaph and the parade afterwards...... always a very emotional viewing seeing the veterans with medals and so proud.

Today's servicemen are so brave and we pray for safety in their daily work.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
John 15 v 13.

Thinking of servicemen/women who are struggling with physical/mental illness. xxx

Cynthia I would have loved to hav been a forces chaplain but became a minister too late

Good morning :-)


Hello Linda....welcome to our thread. :-)

I'm sure that God had other plans for you as he guided your life.....and that you will be a blessing in your ministry. Please share some thoughts with us..........

Last Tuesday we thought about the nurses who served in the two World Wars.

Nursing in the military these days, is very different to that of 100 years ago obviously, but The Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps is still going strong.

Army nurses and healthcare assistants can find themselves in medical regiments and field hospitals dealing with a myriad of different casualties, many with poly traumas.

Postings vary from Ministry of Defence Hospital Units (MDHU), primary health care, field hospitals, medical regiments, instructor posts (both military and academic courses), recruiting, management and staff (administrative).

Currently Army nurses are based and deployed around the world.

Almighty God,
in you alone we find safety and peace.
We commend to your gracious keeping
all the men and women medics who serve in the Navy, the Army, or the Air Force.

As they face danger and put their lives at risk to help others, we ask you to
Defend them day by day by your heavenly power.

Help them to know that they can never pass beyond the reach of your care or out of the reach of your love.

Keep alive in them and in us, your vision of that peace for which we yearn,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


Love to all Cx :-)

Hello all

Nice to have your input Linda. Everyone is welcome to share thoughts here.

What would we do without the ongoing care and support of nursing staff here.
Yesterday a young male Health Care Assistant called to take hubby blood and we were pleased to have a man for hubby to talk to for a while. He had changed professions from an electrician to become a nurse and was loving every single day.

N-urturing
U-understanding
R-responsible
S-mart
E-xtraordinary!

Thinking of all who have chosen a career in the Medical profession today. xxx

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Hello all

A very poignant poem Cynthia.

Today is Armistice Day. Hubby and I are keeping our eye on the clock and will join with others observing two minutes silence at 11am today to mark the day in 1918 when the WW1 fighting stopped.

The Allies and Germany signed an armistice in a railway carriage in the Forest of Compiegne in France at 5am on 11th November. Six hours later at 11am the conflict ceased and WW1 ended.

One year later King George V announced that a two-minute silence would be observed in 1919 and this act of remembrance continues to be observed every year on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month.

"We will remember them".

We will remember them.

What about PMRAFNS and Queen Alexandra's Naval Nursing Service. Edit. Sorry Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service.

No service hospitals any more but these ladies will be found at the sharp end such as Afghanistan. :-)

Good morning :-)


Yes Pat, all military nurses are included in our thoughts and prayers - they all do an amazing job. :-)

Last Thursday we took a look at the various species of animal involved in the World Wars. To this day, animals are still proving to be invaluable in helping in military affairs.

Dogs and horses are still very much a part of military life but there are some new additions …

Dolphin Spies - who are trained to detect, locate and mark mines and to locate suspicious swimmers or divers.

Bomb Sniffing Bees - Honey bees are natural born sniffers who are being trained to recognise the scent of bomb ingredients. They would be placed in tubes in boxes at places like airport security with a video attached and the authorities would be alerted when the bees waved their proboscises in union.

Leg-cuffing sea lions - The sea lions carry a spring clamp in their mouths that can be attached to a swimmer or diver by simply pressing it against the person’s leg. In fact, the sea lions are so fast that the clamp is on before the swimmer is even aware of it. Once a person is clamped, sailors aboard ships can pull the swimmer out of the water by the rope attached to the clamp.


Amazing indeed..........

Lord God, Who made the earth and every living creature,
help us to treat with compassion
the animals entrusted to our care,
that they may not suffer from our neglect
nor become victims of any cruelty;
and grant that in caring for them
we may find a deeper understanding of Your love
for creation, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Quite right Pat, thanks for the reminder.

An interesting quotation following on from Cynthia's animal posting today.

"We have more to learn from animals, than animal have to learn from us"
(Anthony Douglas Williams).

Good morning :-)

Last Friday, we looked at the role of the Military Chaplains during the wars and read of three brave Chaplains who were awarded the Victoria Cross.

The role of Military Chaplain continues today and describes all professionals specially trained to serve any spiritual need, regardless of religious affiliation.

In addition to offering pastoral care to individuals, and supporting their religious rights and needs, Military Chaplains may also advise the executive on issues of religion, and ethics, morale and morals as affected by religion. They may also liaise with local religious leaders in an effort to understand the role of religion as both a factor in hostility and war and as a force for reconciliation and peace.

Military chaplains normally represent a religion or faith group but work with military personnel of all faiths and none.

In the United Kingdom, the Ministry of Defence employs chaplains, but their authority comes from their sending church.

Lord

We remember those who preach the gospel to our servicemen and women.

Thank you for their ministry.

Thank you for your faithfulness.

Thank you for their sacrifice.

Comfort their families when they are deployed. Guard the marriages of husbands and wives, separated by the call of duty.

Give our chaplains wisdom and courage for the unique challenges they face:

that they may obey Christ even as they must obey their commanding officers,

that they may live for Christ, even as many of their friends and fellow soldiers live for the world,

that they may preach Christ, even as they must work side by side with others preaching a different gospel.

Help our chaplains to keep a close watch on their life and doctrine. May they be faithful and bold in ministering the gospel.

Amen.


Continuing to remember friends in prayer. Cx :-)

Hello all, from a very dark, wet and windy Yorkshire.

Another interesting posting Cynthia, thank you.

This poem seems to fit in for today.

ARMY CHAPLAIN. by James J. Metcalfe

He wears a khaki uniform, the same as all the boys
He eats and sleeps and lives with them, through troubles and through joys.
He shares their trenches and their tents, and everything they do.
Including all the dangers of the battles they go through.
He brings a smile to lonely eyes that gaze across the sea,
By painting pictures of the peace to follow victory.
He heals the wounds of heart and soul, wherever soldiers fight.
He is their guardian angel in the hour of their fright.
He moves among the fallen men, where darkness draws despair
And lights the lamp of faith in God, to guide their lips in prayer.

Thinking of all in need of a hug today. xxx