General Chat

Good morning :-)


Oh dear...Charles Miller wasn't a happy bunny was he? I have to admit to times when I could er....um....chastise some clergy for being unprofessional, but have managed to restrain myself thus far. :-D

For today :

Lord, it’s Thursday.

Is there someone I can help?

Is there someone I can phone?

Help me to think of others today.

Is there someone I can write to?

It’s so easy to think of my own needs,

When the needs of other people may be greater than mine.

Lord, you gave yourself in service to others.

Help me to be more like you.

This is my prayer for today.

Amen.


Love to all Cx :-)

Hello all

After reading your post Dermot, I must admit that there have been occasions in church when I have had less than Christian thoughts about the Clergy at some point. I have never actually hit anyone BUT I do admit to having been sorely tempted more than once....... and I wasn't on my own either.

Cynthia, I hope that your hubby is feeling a little better in himself this morning.

We are both feeling very sad this morning after news that a close relative has lost
her fight with cancer. After coping with two family deaths last year, this is not what
we wanted to be told so soon into 2017. RIP Ann...... a lovely lady.

I hadn't realised that being a clergyman was such a dangerous occupation!

Kandj, I am so sorry to hear of the death of your relative. My condolences and thoughts are with you and your family.

Cynthia, I do hope the increased medication will ease your husband's problems.

I am so thankful for our general good health as we get older. OH has a bad back at the moment caused by helping a disabled friend in and out of a car and lifting her up on a chair, but nothing that won't be relieved by some anti inflammatory pills and some rest. We are really very fortunate with our health.

My thoughts today are particularly with those in hospital, especially our neighbour's 14 year old granddaughter who is today undergoing an 8 hour operation to have a rod inserted in her back,

Good morning :-)

Vera, I understand that some clergy take their lives in their hands when they face someone who want a baptism/marriage/funeral and are denied for either a legal or parochial reason...........BIG problem :-D :-D


The medication is going to be in liquid form which is unusual and, apparently, VERY expensive. It has had to be ordered and should be delivered today. It seems that there are a few of his regular meds which can either be dispersed in water or prescribed in liquid form. This will be helpful as there are some minor probs with swallowing so many pills during the day.

I can sympathise with your OH's bad back Vera.........he needs lots of TLC :-D

I do hope that your friend's granddaughter's operation went well bless her.


For today :

Lord, here I am.
It’s another day – Friday.
For some people it’s the end of their working week.
The weekend break is ahead.
Time, maybe, for the family, the garden, sport, odd jobs.
So today Lord, I pray for families,
For parents and children.
I ask your blessing and peace
To be with every family.
Hold them together with a great love for each other.
Amen


Love, Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


For today:

Lord, it’s Saturday,
A traditional day for sport and for shopping.
But some people still have to work.
Help me to think of shop workers,
Help me to think of those who are working in hospitals.
Help me to think of the police.
It’s so easy to think of myself and my own enjoyment
And to take for granted that others are working on my behalf.
May your will be done on earth
As it is in heaven.
May you be glorified today. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


The Collect (special prayer) for today :

O God,
you know us to be set
in the midst of so many and great dangers,
that by reason of the frailty of our nature
we cannot always stand upright:
grant to us such strength and protection
as may support us in all dangers
and carry us through all temptations;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.


The Gospel reading for today tells of the Sermon on the Mount.

Hope all our well.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


A very interesting and thought provoking sermon for us yesterday. The reading was the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes......but the vicar took the word and changed it into the Be-attitudes and worked it all together very well.

Today a rather long poem but worth a read......

A Minister passing through his church
In the middle of the day,
Decided to pause by the altar
To see who come to pray.
Just then the back door opened,
And a man came down the aisle,
The minister frowned as he saw the man
Hadn't shaved in a while.
His shirt was torn and shabby,
And his coat was worn and frayed,
The man knelt down and bowed his head,
Then rose and walked away.
.
In the days that followed at precisely noon,
The preacher saw this chap,
Each time he knelt just for a moment,
A lunch pail in his lap.
Well, the minister's suspicions grew,
With robbery a main fear,
.He decided to stop and ask the man,
'What are you doing here?'
The old man said he was a factory worker
And lunch was half an hour
Lunchtime was his prayer time,
For finding strength and power.
I stay only a moment
Because the factory's far away;
As I kneel here talking to the Lord,
This is kinda what I say:

.'I JUST CAME BY TO TELL YOU, LORD,
HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN,
SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP
AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN.
DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY,
BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
SO, JESUS, THIS IS BEN,
JUST CHECKING IN TODAY.'

The minister feeling foolish,
Told Ben that it was fine.
He told the man that he was welcome
To pray there anytime.
'It's time to go, and thanks,' Ben said
As he hurried to the door.
Then the minister knelt there at the altar,
Which he'd never done before.
His cold heart melted, warmed with love,
As he met with Jesus there.
As the tears flowed down his cheeks,
He repeated old Ben's prayer:
.
'I JUST CAME BY TO TELL YOU, LORD,
HOW HAPPY I'VE BEEN,
SINCE WE FOUND EACH OTHERS FRIENDSHIP
AND YOU TOOK AWAY MY SIN.
I DON'T KNOW MUCH OF HOW TO PRAY,
BUT I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.
SO, JESUS, THIS IS ME,
JUST CHECKING IN TODAY.'
.
Past noon one day, the minister noticed
That old Ben hadn't come.
As more days passed and still no Ben,
He began to worry some.
At the factory, he asked about him,
Learning he was ill.
The hospital staff was worried,
But he'd given them a thrill.
.The week that Ben was with them,
Brought changes in the ward.
His smiles and joy contagious.
Changed people were his reward.
The head nurse couldn't understand
Why Ben could be so glad,
When no flowers, calls or cards came,
Not a visitor he had.
.
The minister stayed by his bed,
He voiced the nurse's concern:
No friends had come to show they cared.
He had nowhere to turn.
Looking surprised, old Ben spoke up
And with a winsome smile;
'The nurse is wrong, she couldn't know,
He's been here all the while.'
Everyday at noon He comes here,
A dear friend of mine, you see,
He sits right down and takes my hand,
Leans over and says to me:
.
'I JUST CAME BY TO TELL YOU, BEN,
HOW HAPPY I HAVE BEEN,
SINCE WE FOUND THIS FRIENDSHIP,
AND I TOOK AWAY YOUR SIN .
I THINK ABOUT YOU ALWAYS
AND I LOVE TO HEAR YOU PRAY,
AND SO BEN, THIS IS JESUS,
JUST CHECKING IN TODAY .'
.

Love to you all Cx :-)

Hello all

Beautiful/meaningful words and food for thought indeed Cynthia. For me, God is near in the early hours as we cope with ongoing disturbed night's sleep. It is good to "talk" and share worries and hand our troubles over this way.
I hope your OH has the liquid medication now and it will help him to improve a little.

Bad back conditions can be so painful and debilitating, we know that from personal experience. so I hope things have calmed down for your OH now Vera.
Thank you for your condolences. It is not what we would wish for the start of 2017.

What a worry for your neighbour and her family. I pray her granddaughter's spinal operation went well and that this young girl will make a good recovery in the future.

Praying that tonight will bring a restful healing sleep for each and every one. xxx

Good morning :-)

Hello kandj, so good to see you <3

The liquid form of medication is certainly easy to take but I am not quite sure of its benefits just yet. Its only been a few days but OH is still having bouts of the 'coughing' problem some nights. I will give it another week and see what happens.

Like kandj, I do hope that Vera's neighbour's granddaughter is making a good recovery after her spinal operation.

For today:

I watch the sun rise in the sky
I ask God the question, WHY?
Why is there hatred in the world?
Why are there starving boys and girls?
Why is there addiction everywhere?
Why are there people not willing to share?
Why is there prejudice and fear?
Why are these people not willing to be near?
I say, God please tell me why.
Then he whispers a simply reply
You must experience bad to know the good
You must do right, as you know you should
You must love me, yourself and everyone
You must spread hope, faith and love ‘til your life is done
You must do unto others as you want them to do to you
You must persevere in all you do
All these things you must embrace
And God assures, everything else will fall into place.



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

A prayer which means a lot to many people.......the full version

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next.

Amen.


Cx :-)

'A Christian monument built of a million bricks, each representing a prayer said to have been answered by Jesus, is being designed as a landmark to rival the Angel of the North.

A million people will be invited to pay £10 towards a brick and tell a story about their experience. It is hoped that the ‘Wall of Answered Prayers’ will be built near a motorway to attract the attention of passing traffic'. (The Times 08.02.17).

Perhaps President Trump may seek a quote for his Mexican project.

Good morning :-)


Haven't heard of that building Dermot, but saw an interesting piece on a church being built of snow somewhere in Russia where the temperatures fall to -30. And we complain if the heating isn't on in our churches :-D

For today:

In the midnight times of my life
when everything seems so wrong
Just help me to remember
that Your name will bring a song.

For when I whisper "Jesus"
My darkness turns to day,
I see You here beside me
I can hear the words You say.

You tell me that You love me
That Your son died to set me free,
That I'd never be alone
Because You are here with me.

Lord, help me to remember
my answer is in Your hands
When all else fails, You'll be here
And Your strength will help me stand.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

*waving to anyone out there* :-D


So many times
I hear people say
"We are so busy,
And have no time to pray."

Yet there we are sitting
In front of the screen,
Texting or playing,
- You know what I mean.

Why is it so hard
To set aside time,
To find solitude
And pray for a sign?

Why do we struggle
With boredom each day?
Yet, not bother taking
Ten minutes to pray?

So many hours
Are wasted each week,
When we could be praying
For the answers we seek.

So let's make a plan
At the start of each day,
To make time for God
And in that time -Pray.



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Through me
let there be kind words, a warm smile, and a caring heart.
Through me
let there be a willingness to listen and a readiness to understand.
Through me
let there be dependability, steadfastness, trust and loyalty.
Through me
let there be compassion, forgiveness, mercy and love.
Through me
let there be every quality I find, O Lord, in Thee.
Amen.


Hoping all are well. Cx :-)

Hello all

What a horrible few days (and nights) we have both had here. This nasty bug
is dragging us both down....... please God,it can only get better.

So many people struggle with sickness. God is ever near to help us all.

A morning prayer for the sick.

My you all be wrapped up in God's love;
Found deep in His everlasting arms.
Carried and kept, safe and cherished.
May the healing power of Christ
Breathe across your being now. Amen.

Oh dear, poor Kandj, you are having a rotten time of it. Surely things must get better for you soon. You are in my thoughts <3. Amen to your prayer for the sick.

Amen too to your prayer today Cynthia - something for us all to aspire to.

Good morning :-)

Poor kandj.......it goes on and on. Sending lots of love and prayers.... <3


The Collect (special prayer) for today :
Almighty God,
who alone can bring order
to the unruly wills and passions of sinful humanity:
give your people grace
so to love what you command
and to desire what you promise,
that, among the many changes of this world,
our hearts may surely there be fixed
where true joys are to be found;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The reading is from Matthew 5 where Jesus states his very forthright views on anger, adultery and divorce.

We have another baptism this morning....a little girl of three and a half. The churchwarden has told me that we are fully booked with baptisms until the end of the year and that people are still enquiring. It looks as though we will have to put an extra service per month on to accommodate them all..................


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


My word it was perishing in church yesterday.......hopefully it is going to be sorted this week. I don't know how the lady in the bare shoulder dress coped :-D It really was one of those mornings. Despite the cold, the organist was poorly, the printer was broken and the vicar had dragged herself from her sick bed to be with us. She sounded like a walrus with croup poor thing. However, we all rallied round and the baptism went off well - the family were very happy with things. :-)


For today.....

This week brings us St. Valentine’s Day……..red roses, chocolates and proposals of marriage…..very much a day based on romantic love.

The word LOVE is everywhere this month, but it is not always used to mean the same thing. We LOVE pizza and we LOVE our children and we LOVE our spouse and we LOVE the new dress our friend is wearing. Love gets used a lot, so we have a responsibility to understand the different forms this takes – from a Christian perspective.

AGAPE (Ag-apay)
There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ~John 15:13
Agape love is not based on any circumstances or feelings. It is unconditional love, acted upon on a regular basis, with no expectation of love in return. Love in action. Agape love is how God loves each and every one of us and it is how He wants us to love one another.

Lord, help us to love each other as you want us to. Amen.


Cx :-)

In case you have missed it, today is St. Valentine’s Day – a day associated with romance and love…..but what sort of love?

Yesterday we looked at the unconditional Agape type of love, today we look at the love which is based on Eros.

In fact, there is no actual reference to Eros in the Bible, but Eros – or erotic love – IS portrayed in the Old Testament as the physical, sensual love between a husband and wife and that sex outside of marriage is forbidden.

As for the saint himself………..

The Legend of Saint Valentine

The story of Saint Valentine
Is a legend, it is true.
But legends are delightful
and very lovely, too.
The legend says Saint Valentine,
imprisoned in a cell,
Was thinking of his little flock
he had always loved so well.
He wanted to assure them
of his friendship and his love,
So he picked a bunch of violets
and sent them by a dove.
And on the violet's velvet leaves
he pierced these lines divine...
They simply said "I LOVE YOU
and I'm your Valentine."
So through the years that followed
from that day unto this,
Folks still send messages of love
and seal them with a kiss.
Because a Saint in prison
Reached outside his bars one day
And picked a bunch of violets
and sent them out to say
That Faith and Love can triumph
no matter where you are,
For Faith and Love are greater
than the strongest prison bar.
author

~ Helen Steiner Rice


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Today we take a look at another form of love….STORGE (Stor-jay)

Storge is family love, the bond among mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, sisters, and brothers.

When we become followers of Jesus Christ, we enter into the family of God. Our lives are bound together by something stronger than physical ties—the bonds of the Spirit. We are related by something more powerful than human blood—the blood of Jesus Christ. God calls his family to love one another with the deep affection of storge love.

As with any family, we may not always agree, but we should work hard to restore a loving and honest harmony amongst the members.



Cx :-)