General Chat

Hello all

There are many charities that are new to me. It's good to know there are good and kind people around who are happy to give their time and energy to help less fortunate.

"Volunteers are not paid - not because they are worthless,
but because they are priceless" (Author unknown).

Good morning :-)

I love that quote kandj.. :-D

Today, we think about the many, many organisations who support those who are homeless and hungry, especially those within our own areas.

Lord Jesus,

We pray for those who help and care for the women and men, boys and girls who are homeless this day.

Those who care for people sleeping rough.

Those who support people who can only find shelter for the night but must wander in the daytime.

Those who counsel families broken because they could not afford to pay the rent.

Those who care for folk who are hungry, afraid and hopeless.

We thank you for their commitment, dedication and tireless zeal and ask your blessing on their endeavours.

We ask this in your name. Amen


Love to all Cx :-)

Hello all

How blessed we are to have a roof over our head and all foods for our needs.

Heavenly Father
Thank you for our warm comfortable homes and the food we eat each day.
We pray for the homeless and hungry and all who work with less fortunate
people going through a difficult time. Protect them from harm, keep them
from despair and give them the peace that they seek. We ask in Jesus' name.
Amen.

Good morning :-)

As we reach the end of our brief look at some of the smaller charities where people give freely of their time, we close with these words.

To be a volunteer, it takes...
Generosity, a willingness to give your time to others
Understanding, because their lives might be very different from your own
Empathy, an ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes and feel what they must feel
Compassion, to truly care about making someone else's life better
Patience, because the process doesn't always go as smoothly as it might
Dedication, to stick with the project and see it through


We thank you Lord for each and every volunteer - wherever they may serve. Amen.



Remembering those who have asked for prayer Cx :-)

Hello all

Thank you Cynthia for this weeks interesting postings.

Several years ago I was a volunteer helper during Summer and half term holidays, entertaining youngsters in the village. It was exhausting but enjoyable too.
We all were busy people but wanted to give our time to helping others back then.

"The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it"
(Mother Teresa).

Thinking of all who work outside on this cold/windy day. xxx

Good morning :-)


Today is Advent Sunday - a very special day in the church's calendar and when the first candle in our Advent wreath will be lit.

I quote : 'The point about Advent is to learn about God so that we recognise Him when He comes.'

The Collect for Advent Sunday.

Almighty God,
give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life,
in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
to judge the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.


Love to all Cx :-)

Hello all

Hard to believe Advent is already here again this year.

Advent is marked the first Sunday in December by the lighting of the first candle on the Advent wreath at the beginning of the morning service. This is a Christian tradition that symbolizes the passage of the four weeks of Advent.There are usually five candles and purple, pink and white coloured candles are used.
During the season of Advent, one candle on the wreath is lit each Sunday morning, until all the candles, including the fifth candle, which is lit on 24 or 25th December.
The Advent season is a time of prayer and preparation for the feast of Christmas

The first candle (purple) The Candle of Hope or Expectation.

Christ our Light,
Shine in our lives with hope and promise.
Give us clear vision that we might focus on this holy season.
May hope and light be in our hearts this first week in Advent.
In Jesus' name, Amen.

Thinking of all who have no hope or light in their lives today. xxx

Good morning :-)


Today is St.Andrew's Day - a very special day for those who have Scottish roots. :-)


Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Greece and Russia and was Christ's first disciple.

In Greek Andrew means 'manly'. St. Andrew's biographical details are simple: he was born between AD 5 and AD 10 in Bethsaida, the principal fishing port of Palestine. His parents were Jona and Joanna; his brother was Simon. Jona, along with his business-partner and friend Zebedee and his sons James and John, was a fisherman.

In Greece, Andrew forced his way through a forest inhabited by wolves, bears and tigers. Finally, in Patras, he was given the choice of being offered as a sacrifice to the gods or being scourged and crucified. By his own request the cross was diagonal. He, like his brother Peter, felt himself unworthy to be crucified on the upright cross of Christ.

Saint Andrew was a 'networker' - a fisherman but also the one who brought the Gentiles (non-Jews) to Jesus and preached about him as far as the Black Sea.


Wishing everyone a happy day Cx :-)

Hello all

Happy Saint Andrew's Day to all on GR with Scottish roots.

The flag of Scotland has a white diagonal cross on a blue background.
The white cross represents the cross of the patron saint of Scotland, St Andrew.
This flag is called the Saltire or the Saint Andrew's Cross.

Now I leaned these words when I was in the Girl Guides over 60 years ago and it is as clear in my mind today as it was all those many years ago back then.

Thinking of all who feel down in the dumps today. xxx

Good morning :-)

I thought that, during Advent, we would look at various readings to help us prepare for Christmas in a thoughtful way.


‘Today is Advent Sunday,’ the preacher said,
‘Let us turn our thoughts to the celebration of Messiah’s birth!’
‘Praise the Lord!’ my spiritual self replied,
While the other self said in pained aside,
‘Today is the beginning of “MADvent” – and I dread to think
Of the chaos of the next few weeks!’

But today I’m here in worship –
At least for this brief hour I can look forward,
Beyond the frills and trimmings so essential to our festivities,
To visualise that chilly yet warm event at Bethlehem.
My mind sees first the plastic figures in a mass-produced crib,
With haloes like dinner-plates behind every head.
How brain-washed have I become in this senseless society?
I KNOW Christmas is more than that!
Lord, make it real for me.

‘Today is Advent Sunday’, the preacher repeated.
‘Will this Christmas be special for you?’
‘Praise the Lord, it will be!’ my heart replied.
My other self has at last joined us to decide
To put Jesus at the top of our daily Advent list
In the excitement of the next few weeks!
- Ruth Russell


Continuing to remember friends in prayer. Cx :-)

Hello all

Thanks Cynthia for that meaningful poem during the first week of Advent.

Today is 1st December and it is World Aids Day. Many choose to wear a red ribbon which is the universal symbol of awareness and support for those living with HIV.

Terrence Higgins Trust which was formed in 1982 is a British charity that campaigns on various issues related to Aids and particularly HIV.

Praying today for all men and women, boys and girls who are living with HIV. xxx

Good morning :-)

During Advent, we not only prepare ourselves to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but we also check in to see if we are doing all the things that will keep us ready to receive Jesus when he comes again.

Talk to your family about how you are doing in attending to your spiritual life as a family.

Recommit yourselves to praying daily, reading Scripture, and staying faithful to God’s commandments.

Pray together that through this Advent season your family will be more prepared to receive Jesus when he comes again.

God of Love,
Your son, Jesus, is your greatest gift to us.
He is a sign of your love.
Help us walk in that love during the weeks of Advent,
As we wait and prepare for his coming.
We pray in the name of Jesus, our Saviour.
Amen.


Cx :-)

Hello all

It is good to be reminded about the Advent weeks leading up to Christmas Day.

Advent is all about finding lightness in our darkest days.

Advent is a good time to clear the clutter from our rooms and make way for the light and brightness of the Christmas tree and decorations we use each year.
Advent is also a good time to clear up the dark negative thoughts that are cluttering up the corners of our hearts and minds. Remember the joy and grace of this Season

"Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the Light"
(Helen Keller).

Good morning :-)


On Sunday in church, we lit the first candle in our Advent Wreath…….

The Advent Wreath is the widely recognized symbol of Advent and is made of a circle of evergreen branches laid flat to symbolize eternal life.

Four candles stand in the circle and each one represents one of the four Sundays of Advent.

In the centre of the circle is a fifth candle (traditionally white), the Christ Candle, which is lit on Christmas Day.

The circle of the wreath reminds Christians of God, His eternity and endless mercy, which has no beginning or end.

The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that Christians have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life.

The four traditional advent themes for the four advent Sundays are:

1. God's people - The Candle of Hope

2. The Old Testament Prophets - the Candle of Peace

3. John the Baptist - the Candle of Love

4. Mary the mother of Jesus - the Candle of Joy

5. The centre candle - the birth of Christ - the Light of the World.

Lord Jesus Christ, light of the world, be with us on our journey through Advent, that we may know you better.
Amen.



We're expecting a visit today from one of my two remaining cousins. He lives down south and so we don't see him very often. He is bringing a box of family photos which his mother - who is now in a nursing home - has had for a long time. I am looking forward to going through them and making copies of any I am interested in. Should keep me quiet for quite a long time :-D


Remembering friends in prayer. Cx :-)

Hello all

Cynthia your cousins visit sounds good and the family photographs a real bonus.

Continuing the Advent theme is this old hymn with meaningful words. I used to sing this one as a child in the village Methodist chapel which was demolished long ago.
There are other verses. This first verse is sung on the first Advent Sunday service.

LIGHT A CANDLE FOR JESUS THE KING

Light a candle for Jesus the King.
Lift up your voices today and joyfully sing,
He'll come in majesty, salvation to bring;
He'll come for everyone, so welcome him
Watch for him,
Wait for him.
Light a candle for Jesus the King,
Joyfully sing.

Thinking of those who are coping with dark days right now. xxx

My thoughts and prayers for those who are
once again putting their lives at risk so that
we can live in peace, also thinking of their families. x

Good morning :-)


Would you believe it? He forgot the photos!!!! He told me he was halfway up the M6 and suddenly realised he had left them behind. Grrrr.... Once I had chewed his ear off, I forgave him.... it's a good job we have a great relationship! :-D


Continuing our journey through Advent ....

God’s people – the Candle of Hope.

All-powerful God,
help us to look forward in hope
to the coming of our Saviour.
May we live as he taught,
ready to welcome him with burning love and faith.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen


My love to all. Cx :-)

I am sure you were pleased to see your cousin, with or without photos, but what a shame he didn't remember them. I was thrilled recently when one of my cousins gave me a copy of a photo she had come across. It was our grandparents with 3 of their children - her father, my mother and their older sister. I had never seen a picture of our grandfather who died before my mother married and the earliest photo I have seen of my mum is one of her aged about 30 so it was great to see what she was like as a child.

As I start another busy day I am thinking of those who are facing today in fear or worry and those who, at this Advent time, can see no light at the end of their particular tunnel.

Hello all

How disappointing not to have the family photographs Cynthia. Next time perhaps?

Echoing Vera's thoughts for all who are struggling today for whatever reason.

It's sometimes hard to find hope in a dark place, as most of us already know.

H.....hold
O.....on
P......pain
E.....ends.

Thinking of all in need of prayerful support today. xxx

Good morning :-)


Love the Hope words kandj. Thank you. :-)

As we come to the end of the first aspect of Advent - hope, it may be an idea to think of how we can bring hope to others.

• Visit a care home and hand out homemade cakes
• Write a letter to a family friend or some troops stationed overseas.
• Buy a small gift for a child in the long-term care wing of the children’s ward, and bring a bouquet of flowers for his/her mother.
• Clean out your toy boxes and donate good quality items to a charity shop
• Raid the pantry for canned goods to donate to a foodbank
• Take some doggie treats to your local shelter.
• Offer your support to a charity serving the homeless

The candle of HOPE

Hope for the hopeless and hope for the lost.
No matter the price, whatever the cost.
Jesus has come and was willing to pay
being born as a babe that first Christmas day.
Hope that's a certainty, hope that is sure.
Though the earth is shaken we are secure.
Trusting in Jesus and safe in His care.
Knowing that He's with us and always there.


Take care in this stormy weather everyone........Cx :-)