General Chat

Some good thoughts there Cynthia. It reminds me of the line "Each smile a hymn, each kindly deed, a prayer" from the hymn "O Brother Man" which we used to sing at school.

The Living Nativity looks an amazing event Gwyn. Thanks for posting the link.

Good morning :-)

Lovely to see you all. Thank you for the link Gwyn - I haven't seen that before <3


Tonight is our annual Carol Service. The church will probably be packed to the rafters with carollers of all ages. The crib will be set up by some of the children as we await the birth of the Saviour. Our new young organist has his own idea of how the service is to open - with one of the very young choristers I believe. Our son is coming over to 'dad sit' so that I can get to the service - really looking forward to it - even though I am not a great lover of carols. Strange person I am :-D



The Collect (special prayer) for today :

God our redeemer,
who prepared the Blessed Virgin Mary
to be the mother of your Son:
grant that, as she looked for his coming as our saviour,
so we may be ready to greet him
when he comes again as our judge;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.


The gospel for today tells of Joseph accepting Jesus as his son.

Hello all

Cynthia how good of your son to spend time with Dad so you can enjoy tonight's
Carol Service..... I LOVE singing carols. We have just watched a recording
of Songs of Praise and almost sang our heads off...... well not literally!!

Spot on indeed Dermot, I agree with you there.

I remember O Brother Man from school Vera....... a long long time ago then.

Gwyn I have heard about the living Nativity. It must be awesome to witness.

Good morning :-)

*waving* to kandj - lovely to see you popping in :-D


I vaguely recalled the words 'O Brother man' but had to look it up. I knew the first verse but the rest was unfamiliar. I guess it must be rather a long while since I sang it. Thank you for that Vera....it was good to be reminded of that hymn.

We had a living nativity last night :-D

During our Carol Service, tiny figures wearing tea towels on their heads, walked solemnly down the aisle of an absolutely packed church.....I do wish we could post pictures on here. Firstly, the Angel Gabriel appeared and stood all by her lonesome self whilst waiting for Mary and Joseph to carry their corresponding figure to the crib. Then the shepherds appeared during the singing of 'While Shepherds watched' and I think they had a donkey with them, but I couldn't be sure :-)

The Wise Men carried their figures too, and soon the whole crib was set up. The children in the congregation all turned round to sing 'Away in a Manger' for us and the school choir sang too.

Chaotic it was to be sure, but worth all the hassle :-D


For today:

Peace on earth will come to stay,
When we live Christmas every day.

- Christmas Quote by Helen Steiner Rice


Cx :-)

Thought this was the best place to post this.

Rabbi Lionel Blue has died. Loved his broadcasts and a very brave man to admit he was gay in the 1970s.

RIP Rabbi Lionel

How sad. I always liked his broadcasts. He seemed to talk a lot of sense in a very humorous way which made you listen.

RIP Rabbi Lionel

Good morning :-)


I hadn't heard about Rabbi Lionel Blue Pat - that is sad news. I see it was said that he was one of the most respected religious leaders in the UK. We think of his family and friends at this sad time.

The news this morning is dominated by the carnage at the Berlin Christmas Market. Another dreadful, dreadful event. We pray for those who have been killed, injured or affected in any way. We also think of their families and those who dealt with the immediate aftermath of this tragedy.

A thought for today....

It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you . . . yes, it is Christmas every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand.
- Mother Teresa of Calcutta


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Some more gifts to consider giving.......

To your enemy . . .forgiveness,
To your opponent . . .tolerance.
To a friend . . . your heart.
To a customer . . . service.
To all men . . .charity.
To every child . . . a good example
To yourself . . .respect


Love to all Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Christmas Day is drawing closer, and there is one person who is going to be really busy ...


The sleigh was all packed, the reindeer were fed,
But Santa still knelt by the side of his bed,
"Dear Father, " he prayed, "Be with me tonight.
There's much work to do and my schedule is tight.
My sack will hold toys to grant all kids' wishes.
The supply will be endless like the loaves and the fishes.
I can do all these things, Lord, only through You.
I just need your blessing, then it's easy to do.
I do this only to honour the birth of the One,
That was sent to redeem us, Your most Holy Son.
So to all of my friends, lest Your glory I rob,
Please, Lord, remind them who gave me this job.

- Unknown

Cx :-)

I am concerned that Cynthia hasn't posted yet this morning as she is usually very early.

I hope all is well with you Cynthia and you are simply busy at the moment. If you do have problems I hope they are swiftly resolved. <3

My Christmas visitors arrive tomorrow and stay till Tuesday. I probably won't be on for a few days so I wish you all a happy and calm Christmas.

Good morning - just! :-)

Thank you for your concern Vera.....I have laptop problems....... :-( The bloomin' thing keeps closing down on me and then I can't get it back on :-( I am wondering if it needs a new battery or something but its really thrown me out because I depend on it so much.

Anyway, it is back up and running for the moment so I must make the most of it.


Let us keep Christmas beautiful
Without a thought of greed,
That it might live forevermore
To fill our every need,
That it shall not be just a day,
But last a lifetime through,
The miracle of Christmastime
That brings God close to you.
- Ann Schultz


I hope to stay online for as long as I am allowed by my laptop :-D

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

I still have laptop probs so am posting when it allows me to :-(


For Christmas Eve....

Father God,
In a small animal shelter, two young newlyweds came to take refuge.

In candlelight, laying upon straw, the promised one stirred within a nervous young mother.

How we wonder that your Son, a piece of you sent from heaven could reside in such humble beginnings.

And yet we engage with this picture, with the expectancy, with the hardship and with the wonder.

This is the eve that held such promise, the eve that would be remembered forever, the eve that changed everything. We remember this moment now and continue to wonder at your amazing plans, at your unfailing love, and at your amazing grace. Amen

Love Cx :-)

Afternoon Cynthia x

I have looked in every day but have not added due
to the dreaded lurgi.

I want to thank you for this wonderful thread which is appreciated
by all.

May I wish you and your husband and family a Merry Christmas and
may 2017 bring you all good health and happiness. <3

Hello all

A lovely posting Cynthia..... than you for this one and every one you have posted.

Hubby has managed to pick up the awful germs going about. I am blaming last weeks hospital outpatient clinic visit.. Our family will be hear soon and sure to make him feel a little better.

Sorry you to have the dreaded lurgy Emma. I hope you feel better for tomorrow.

SENDING HAPPY AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS WISHES TO ALL WHO POST. xx

Hello all

A lovely posting Cynthia..... Thank You for this one and every one you have posted.

Hubby has managed to pick up the awful germs around now. I am blaming last weeks hospital outpatient clinic visit.. Our family will be here soon and sure to make him feel a little better. It's good to all be together at Christmas time.

Sorry you to have the dreaded lurgy Emma. I hope you feel better for tomorrow.

SENDING HAPPY AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS WISHES TO ALL WHO LOOK IN.
XXX

Happy Christmas.

I took the dog out early as dark clouds rolling in looked ominous. It's raining now. Got nearly back home when the dreaded bells started. Only 2 churches ringing so the other must have a service slightly earlier or later.

Saw lots of woman cleaning yesterday. 1 family had mother cleaning the patio, the father cleaning the car and adult son sorting out the back garden. Everything should be ready for today.

I don't think today is as religious out here as Epiphany in a few days time. Some devout people are still fasting. Although it's referred as fasting it's not fasting as such, it's omitting meat, fish and dairy products from your diet. On certain days like today fish is allowed but no meat. The devout do this for 50 days up to Epiphany, the 6th January. This is a holiday and lots of food eaten.

Have a lovely day and a happy and healthy 2017

:-) <3

Good morning and a very happy Christmas to you all and thank you for your interest during the last year. <3

Oh Pat! Whenever you mention the bells, I always want to say "The bells, the bells" - something to do with Quasimodo I think......it makes me smile every time. :-D

Sorry you haven't been well Emma, hope you are feeling much better now. <3

Your poor husband kandj, I do hope that the visit from the family will lift everyone' spirits.

Nowadays, we are unable to make church at Christmas which is sad for us but, last night, our churchwarden video-ed much of the midnight service at church and posted it on our Facebook page, so I am looking forward to watching that later.

For today:

Love came down at Christmas,
love all lovely, Love divine;
love was born at Christmas,
star and angels gave the sign.

2 Worship we the Godhead,
love incarnate, Love divine;
worship we our Jesus:
but wherewith for sacred sign?

3 Love shall be our token,
love be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all men,
love for plea and gift and sign.


My love, thanks and good wishes to you all at this holy season. Cx :-)

Good morning everyone....I hope you have all recovered, or are on the road to recovery from your Christmas festivities. Waking up to the news of the death of another famous person and the dreadful plane crash in Russia will dampen a lot of spirits today. We hold those who mourn in our thoughts and prayers.


This is a day with several names.......Boxing Day - St. Stephen's Day and Wren's Day.

BOXING DAY According to some Boxing Day can be traced back to the Victorian era when churches often displayed a box into which their parishioners put donations.

Also in Britain, on the day after Christmas Day, servants of the wealthy were given time off to visit their families because their services were required for the Christmas Day celebrations of their employers. They were therefore allowed the following day for their own observance of the holiday and each servant would be handed a box to take home, containing gifts, bonuses and sometimes leftover food.

ST. STEPHEN'S DAY - the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Stoned outside Jerusalem, he died praying for his executioners. He was one of the seven deacons who helped the apostles; he was "filled with faith and with the Holy Spirit," and was "full of fortitude."

WREN'S DAY - The celebration of the day seem to have little relation to St. Stephen himself, although there is one tale that recounts the 'chattering' wren betraying St. Stephen to his enemies as he tries to hide from them in a bush.
Thereafter, the wren, much like poor St. Stephen, was to be hunted down and stoned to death! This treatment of the wren, in Ireland, however, was to be an annual event, accompaniment by strolling musicians going door to door in disguise. It is believed to go back hundred and hundreds of years and is still practiced today in parts of Ireland.


Grant, Lord, we pray, that we may imitate what we worship, and so learn to love even our enemies, for we celebrate the heavenly birthday of a man who know how to pray even for his persecutors. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


Cx :-)

I promise this is a true story.

I was at Sunday School aged about 8/9. Each week we sang a hymn together and had the collection then went to our classes for our weekly lesson. Our teacher used to start each week with a few questions on last week's lesson. The previous week we had learnt about St Stephen the first Christian martyr. Teacher asked a girl who didn't usually answer any questions who St Stephen was and her answer was

"St Stephen was the first English tomato".

:-D Happy St Stephen's day

Edit - forgot to say it's St Stephen's (Stephanos here) tomorrow in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Good morning :-)

Hahahahaaaaaaa. Love it Pat. :-D

It reminds me of our churchwarden a couple of weeks ago. We sang a hymn containing the words 'Most highly favoured Lady' and she was telling me how, when she was younger, they used to sing 'Most highly flavoured gravy'. :-D

My laptop is still playing up and I am using my daughter's ipad at the moment. Please don't be alarmed if I suddenly disappear. :-D

For today:

Father God,
As Jesus shared the life of an earthly home, help our churches to be places where people are united in love and obedience, in fun and in fellowship, so that we may show your love to the world. Amen.

Cx :-)