General Chat

Good morning :-)


Today is a special day in the life of the Christian church – Ascension Day.

This is the day when we remember Jesus’ ascension into heaven.
Because the date of Easter varies from year to year, the celebration of the Ascension moves with it. It always falls on the fortieth day from Easter and, since Easter always falls on a Sunday, Ascension Day always falls on a Thursday; it is frequently called "Holy Thursday."

The Ascension is meaningful to Christians as it signifies the end of his work on Earth and allowed him to prepare a place for followers in heaven.

O Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory,
you ascended through the eternal gates to your Father’s throne
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
Since you reign in heaven,
help us not to be bound to things of this earth,
but lift our hearts where you, our redeemer, have gone before;
you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen.


Cx :-)

Hello all

Amen to your prayer for Holy Thursday Cynthia.

Ascension Day and no church open?....very odd!

A lovely traditional hymn that I'd be singing is.....

All glory, laud and honour
To thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children
May sweet hosannahs ring.
Thou art the King of Israel
Thou David's royal son,
Who in the Lord's name comest
The King and Blessed One.

The company of angels
Are praising thee on high
And mortal men and all things,
Created make reply.
All glory, laud and honour
To thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children,
May sweet hosannas ring.

Happy Ascension Day to all who look in today. x

Good morning :-)


For today. Proverbs and Psalms - joyfulness

Proverbs 17:22 "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Psalm 47:1-3Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.


Lord, we thank you that, even in these days of uncertainty and confusion, there is still so much to be joyful about. Help us to focus our thoughts on the good which is being done by those who are helping others through difficult times. Amen.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Proverbs 10:28 The prospect of the righteous is joy,
but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.

Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the Lord has made
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Stay safe everyone. x

Churches are going to be allowed to open in this province (BC), when they are ready and can comply with spatial distancing, etc etc.

The morning show on CBC radio (our equivalent of BBC, and with no ads) had a panel of 3 religious leaders. a Muslim Imam, head of the Jewish council, and the Anglican Archbishop of the diocese (a woman).

All agreed that they were not ready to open yet. The Jewish leader said they were considering services in the open air first, most have car parks and some green space.

The Imam just said they were working on it.

The Archbishop, Melissa, said they were working on the plans, but no church would be forced to open. They could each take their own time as each congregation decided what safety features were needed for their people.

They all sounded ready, but cautious!


Meanwhile, I'm giving my private thanks because I got an email from my physio's clinic. They're open again :-)

Good morning :-)


There is so much discussion about whether or not to open churches, that everyone is confused. I have read some very unnecessary comments on various social media sites from both clergy and laity alike as they argue their 'case'. All of the churchgoers I know are wanting to get back to their churches but are sensible in their thinking. However, the clergy seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum - there are those who are desperate to resume 'normal service' and those who think it's wonderful to get out of the buildings.

Of course, there are points on both sides. Yes, we believe that God is not confined to a building, but those buildings hold the heartstrings and memories of so many people. Not everyone wishes to worship simply on line. I could go on but will zip it!! :-D :-D

Clearing throat, I carry on :-)

Proverbs and Psalms - Trust In God

Proverbs 16:20 The one who understands a matter finds success, and the one who trusts in the Lord will be happy

Psalm 23 - A psalm of David.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.


Cx :-)

Thank you for your posts once again Cynthia and
all who added their thoughts <3

I truly hope this terrible thing is something that could only possible happen in one country in the world.

A Pentecostal priest opened his church in a small Mississippi town to parishioners for bible study in early April, against all government orders. His rationale was that Christians were immune to the virus and challenged the "unnecessary restrictions" against praying in person. He's been slapped with all kinds of summons and warrants fro breaking the law, in return he has filed a law suit against the city.

Bur the very unfortunate thing is that his church was burnt to the ground 2 nights ago, and graffiti left painted on the steps strongly suggest it was because of the re-opening. It is believed the fire started in the sanctuary

Good morning :-)

Dreadful thing to happen - in all senses Sylvia. :(



The Collect (special prayer) for today :

O God the King of glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
we beseech you, leave us not comfortless,
but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us
and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

The Gospel for today :
John 17:1-11


Cx :-)

Hello all

Sylvia, that's such an horrific thing to happen!

Cynthia, many thanks for your daily postings.

I hope Vera is ok, not heard from her for a little while.

Emma, how is Connie now, I think it is her 1st birthday very soon.

Holy Spirit, we welcome you,
Holy Spirit, we welcome you.

Move amongst us with holy fire
As we lay aside all earthly desire
Hands reach out and hearts aspire,
Holy spirit, holy spirit, holy spirit,
We welcome you.

Have a Happy Sunday and keep safe everyone x

It is kandj, next Saturday. She is very well thank you x

I am fine, thank you Kandj. I have been reading the posts but haven’t felt I had anything of interest to add

Emma, it is lovely to hear that baby Connie is doing so well. She must be a real blessing to her parents and all the family.

Sylvia, that pastor’s belief that Christians are immune to Covid-19 is pretty dreadful but the burning of the Church is appalling. Sadly I don’t think actions like that are confined to one country. I hope your daughtter’s family enjoy their new pet. My daughter had a cat called Gizmo :-)

Thank you as always Cynthia for all your posts.

Sunday evenings I usually watch Songs of Praise on the iPlayer so I wonder which of today’s hymns will be going round my brain for the next 24 hours.

Good morning :-)


Can't believe that baby Connie is almost one year old - wow, time flies. I am sure she will have a lovely day blissfully unaware of all the palaver going on in the world right now. <3

Good to hear from you Vera....those hymns can sure stick in one's brain can't they? :-D


Listening to a sermon from the Bishop of Bangor yesterday, I was struck when he mentioned the name Corrie ten Boom. I would like to share a very brief extract of her story with you and then, during the week to look at some of her excellent and inspiring quotes.


“Corrie ten Boom has long been honoured by evangelical Christians as an exemplar of Christian faith in action. Arrested by the Nazis along with the rest of her family for hiding Jews in their Haarlem home during the Holocaust, she was imprisoned and eventually sent to the Ravensbruck concentration camp along with her beloved sister, Betsie, who perished there just days before Corrie’s own release on December 31, 1944.

Inspired by Betsie’s example of selfless love and forgiveness amid extreme cruelty and persecution, Corrie established a post-war home for other camp survivors trying to recover from the horrors they had escaped. She went on to travel widely as a missionary, preaching God’s forgiveness and the need for reconciliation.”

Worry is like a rocking chair: it keeps you moving but doesn’t get you anywhere.” ~ Corrie Ten Boom


Cx :-)

Good morning all. There are some who think CORVID-19 represents
the pale horse of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. It's killed as many
as the 1918 Spanish flu. Shows how vulnerable we are.

Hello all

Connie is sure to bring lots of happy times for all of your family Emma. A little fighter, bless her.

It's good that you're well. Stay that way Vera.

David, the Covid 19 will pass but we need patience.

Cynthia, I've read quite a few of the Corrie ten Boom books over the years. Such an inspirational writer.

"If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. If you look at God, you'll be at rest." (Corrie ten Boom)

Enjoy the beautiful sunshine and feel blessed today x

Kandj, good morning :-) There is no vaccine for CORVID-19 in sight.
India and Africa have enormous numbers of peoples infected and dying.
Some "experts" say it will fade away then return the stronger. It is certainly
changing the worlds finances and industry as well as killing people.

David ........ nor should we expect any "cure" for covid any time soon.

First it takes months to formulate a vaccine that will work, and then months more to manufacture enough to provide everyone with a shot.

Secondly, there is still no cure for the ordinary influenza, which is why we have to be vaccinated every year with a new version of the vaccine, and hope that it works for the strains of flu going around.

We shall just have to learn ot live with it, without obsessing. Just as we've learnt to live with the flu. But hopefully, we will reach a sage where it can be treated as just a different form of flu.

Did you know more people die every year from flu than have died in most countries from covid??????

That's a fact that was stated several times early on, but most people ignore.


So try to stop worrying, stop googling and posting statements that will make other people worry.


Also remember that more people in certain countries are killed by malaria than have so far been killed by covid.


Read that quote in Cynthia's post.

We went to our coffee shop yesterday afternoon, it's now open for sitting inside drinking as well as take-out. Tables well spaced, 2 people per table. Very well organised.

One of our friends was there, one of those who easily gets riled by things going on around. She came up to me and said "I'm really really angry".

Oh????

Turned out she had seen that the local Catholic church was holding a service in the morning, while "her" church, Anglican, was still closed.

I told her about the Religious panel that had been on the radio on Friday morning, which had not included a representative form the Catholic diocese.

Churches were allowed to be open, meetings no larger than 50, well-spaced, etc.

I've never been in that church, and it is hard to tell from outside, bu by questioning OH and friend, discovered that it is a large church, friend saw only about 50 people there and they could easily be well-spaced inside ......... as long as they did space themselves.

Friend went away a bit happier, knowing that it was legal and "her" church parish council were working on getting a format that would work in the very small Anglican ........ maximum seating is 120. However 30, mainly elderly, used to be a large attendance on most Sunday mornings!

Good morning :-)

I read about the figures only the other day Sylvia. One of my friends is a specialist nurse in pancreatic cancer and is getting het up because Covid has taken over the news so much. Some cancer treatment is being put on hold or cancelled and people aren't coming forward to be tested because of their fear of catching the virus. She made the point that, to date, whilst 360,000 have died globally from Covid there are 11 million who die from sepsis globally each year. Food for thought.

As for the opening of churches.............that's another can of worms!!! :-D :-D



Each day, as well as a quote, a snippet of information about this amazing woman.

Cornelia Arnolda Johanna ten Boom was born on April 15, 1892, in Haarlem, Netherlands, near Amsterdam. Known as "Corrie" all her life, she was the youngest child, with two sisters, Betsie and Nollie, and one brother, Willem. Their father, Casper, was a jeweller and watchmaker. Cornelia was named after her mother.

Quote:

“Don’t bother to give God instructions, just report for duty.”

Cx :-)

Good morning :-D

Continuing the story of Corrie Ten Boom

After the death of her mother and a disappointing romance, Corrie trained to be a watchmaker and in 1922 became the first woman licensed as a watchmaker in Holland. Over the next decade, in addition to working in her father's shop, she established a youth club for teenage girls, which provided religious instruction as well as classes in the performing arts, sewing and handicrafts.

In May 1940, the German Blitzkrieg ran through the Netherlands and the other Low Countries. Within months, the "Nazification" of the Dutch people began and the quiet life of the ten Boom family was changed forever.

During the war, the Beje house became a refuge for Jews, students and intellectuals. The façade of the watch shop made the house an ideal front for these activities. A secret room, no larger than a small wardrobe closet, was built into Corrie's bedroom behind a false wall.

The space could hold up to six people, all of whom had to stand quiet and still. A crude ventilation system was installed to provide air for the occupants. When security sweeps came through the neighbourhood, a buzzer in the house would signal danger, allowing the refugees a little over a minute to seek sanctuary in the hiding place.


Quote

"When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer."
—Corrie ten Boom

Cx :-)