General Chat

Hello all

I'm like Vera and will enjoy reading about the different birds this week. Sadly I only feed a variety of birds at the front and no longer feed the birds in the back garden after a rat decided to visit and eat the food!!!

Keep well and stay safe everyone.

Good afternoon :-)

Sorry I'm late but had a few jobs to contend with this morning. :-D



The Owl

I haven’t seen one of these at my bird table but it’s interesting to know that various species of owls are mentioned in the Old Testament. Apart from being on the list of unclean birds the Israelites were not to eat, they would generally symbolize tormenting loneliness, desolation, mourning, and judgment. They were probably considered unclean because they are predatory creatures who eat flesh with the blood in it.

Sometimes they are thought of as wise and drawings are made of them with glasses. Maybe that is because they have such huge eyes in respect to their head size. They do not move their eyes up and down or side to side as we do, but instead can turn their head 270 degrees. When owls fly, they are swift and silent as they hunt for prey, such as small animals and rodents. Their wings were designed to give them stealth. Their hearing is very sensitive and they can locate prey even if there is very low light. The sound an owl makes is often considered to be “eerie”.

Whilst owls may be linked to such negative things, we thank God for those friends who help to lift and support us when we are feeling lonely, desolate and sad. We think of our church family who have been there for us during these difficult months….. thank you Lord. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-D


The cockerel/rooster

I very much doubt I will ever see one of these at my bird table, but they have an importance in our Christian tradition - the rooster symbolizes a sinner's acceptance of divine pardon through Jesus Christ. Depictions of roosters are found in the Roman catacombs and on the tombs or sarcophagi of Christians in other places as well. Roosters are also seen on many church steeples and are thought to be a reminder of St. Peter and his denial of Christ.

The rooster, as a symbol, becomes a call to repentance. Some see the rooster as a symbol of Christ Himself, the One whose coming brought the true light of the world and the One in whose resurrection we have our hope. It is the rooster who announces the morning, and it is Christ who announced an end to spiritual darkness and despair. In many cultures, the rooster’s habit of crowing at the dawning of each new morning made it a symbol of the Christian’s victory of light over darkness and the triumph of life over death.

A male chicken is considered a cockerel when he is less than one year old from the time he was hatched. After one year, the cockerel becomes a rooster. Cockerels crow at the break of dawn, signalling the start of a new day. Before alarm clocks, this helped farmers get up early to care for the animals and tend to the crops.


Oh God, enlighten my mind with truth
Inflame my heart with love
Inspire my will with courage
Enrich my life with service
Pardon what I have been
Sanctify what I am
Order what I shall be
And thine shall be the glory
And mine the eternal salvation
Through Jesus Christ my lord
Amen


Cx :-)

Hello all

Another interesting weeks postings. Thanks Cynthia

Keep well and stay safe everyone.

Good morning :-)

It's going to be a bright, bright sunshiny day! :-D


The Swallow

I see these birds overhead occasionally – so graceful. Over time, this bird has been a symbol of the Incarnation and of resurrection. Around mid-September, they prepare to migrate to escape the winter. Their six-week journey will take them to the very south of Africa flying quite low and covering 200 miles each day, resting each night in huge flocks at traditional stopover spots. Sadly, many will die of starvation or other predations; but if they survive, then early next year they will make the hazardous return journey to return to the UK to breed.

Like swallows Christians have for centuries undertaken long, hazardous journeys that became known as pilgrimages which often took years to complete. Traditionally, the ultimate pilgrimage was to the Holy Land so that even before the end of the first century AD hundreds of pilgrims were making that perilous journey. Many were robbed by bandits as they went, many died en route. Today Christians still undertake pilgrimages abroad and there are also many shrines in this country.

Each day is part of our pilgrimage through life with its associated difficulties and dangers so that, like the footsore pilgrims and the swallows, we must be prepared to face the challenges that come our way. With God by our side we will, like the swallows and pilgrims, be well prepared for our journey through life to attain our Eternal Home.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Our last look at the bird table........the pigeon

One bird which frequents my bird table daily is the pigeon, well quite a lot of pigeons really! Often thought of as a pesky nuisance its interesting to know that pigeons are mentioned about 12 times in the bible.

We are all familiar with the symbol of the dove as the Holy Spirit, but we forget that pigeons and doves are from the same family. Pigeons were often offered as a sacrifice if people could not afford a dove. It was a pigeon that went with Jesus on His first visit to the temple.

Pigeons are said to be resilient, perceptive, and devoted. They can become attached to people and, if they fly away, they will return home, hence homing pigeons.

The pigeons defence is their unity and speed, and their ability to change direction, as one: fast. Outsiders are probably welcome to try to join, but they have to keep up. They need to share the unity of purpose, not act alone; follow the rules and hold the formation as it swoops and glides across the sky. After half an hour or so the pigeons return to their loft. They know their home and their keeper, where they are fed and cared for. We could learn something from homing pigeons.

St. Francis said, "My brother birds, you should greatly praise your Creator, and love Him always. He gave you feathers to wear, wings to fly, and whatever you need. God made you noble among His creatures and gave you a home in the purity of the air so that though you neither sow nor reap, He nevertheless protects and governs you without your least care."


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Collect (special prayer) for today:

Almighty Lord and everlasting God,
we beseech you to direct, sanctify and govern
both our hearts and bodies
in the ways of your laws
and the works of your commandments;
that through your most mighty protection, both here and ever,
we may be preserved in body and soul;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Today's gospel reading is about Jesus feeding the 5,000.


This morning I am 'zooming' to church :-D

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

A Quietly Celtic week

As the rain hides the stars,
as the autumn mist
hides the hills,
as the clouds veil
the blue of the sky, so
the dark happenings of my lot
hide the shining of thy face from me.
Yet, if I may hold thy hand in the darkness,
it is enough, since I know,
that though I may stumble in my going,
Thou dost not fall.


Cx :-)

Hello all

May the peace of the tallest mountain
and the peace of the smallest stone
Be your peace.
May the stillness of the stars
Watch over you.
May the everlasting music of the waves
Lull you to rest.

An ancient Celtic prayer for peace and sleep.

Happy Monday, and keep well everyone.

Good morning :-)

I hope everyone is well......


A Quietly Celtic week


On the day when
the weight deadens
on your shoulders
and you stumble,
may the clay dance
to balance you.
And when your eyes
freeze behind
the grey window
and the ghost of loss
gets in to you,
may a flock of colours,
indigo, red, green,
and azure blue
come to awaken in you
a meadow of delight.

When the canvas frays
in the currach of thought
and a stain of ocean
blackens beneath you,
may there come across the waters
a path of yellow moonlight
to bring you safely home.


Cx :-)

Hello all

Beautiful uplifting words. Thank you Cynthia.

Keep well and stay safe everybody.

Lovely Celtic words this week. Thank you Cynthia and Kandj for your contributions.

Good morning :-)


As we pray today, we think of the dreadful explosions in Beirut - so many killed, so many injured, so many families devastated. Lord, we pray for those people who are already living in a state of crisis and whose lives have been shattered by this event. We thank you for those who are attempting to rescue and help them and for the medical teams who will be caring for them. Lord, in your mercy........hear our prayer.


Quietly Celtic

Lord,
I wait for the tide to turn
Until the distant becomes close,
Until the far off becomes near,
Until the outside is within,
Until the ebb flows.
Lord,
I wait for the tide to turn
Until weakness is made strong,
Until blindness turns to sight,
Until the fractured is made whole,
Until the ebb flows.
Lord,
I wait until the tide turns,
Until the ordinary becomes strange,
Until the empty is Presence full,
Until the two become one.
Until the ebb flows.


Cx :-)

Remembering all those killed and injured in Beirut yesterday <3

We heard the explosion and had the shock wave go through our house, frightened the dog. We didn't know what it was until the news came out. We ruled out a small earthquake.

Hello all

Watching the news and seeing the devastation and horrendous scenes caused by the explosion in Beirut

Thoughts and prayers now are for all the victims and their families.

Pat, that must have been a frightening experience and so many miles away from Lebanon too.

Good morning :-)

Goodness me Pat, that must have given you such a fright.....glad you are okay though....and the dog too <3


Quietly Celtic

May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
may the clarity of light be yours,
may the fluency of the ocean be yours,
may the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
wind work these words
of love around you,
an invisible cloak
to mind your life.
Grant, O God, thy protection
And in protection, strength
And in strength, understanding
And in understanding, knowledge
And in knowledge, the knowledge of justice
And in the knowledge of justice, the love of it
And in that love, the love of all existences
And in the love of all existences, the love of God
God and all goodness.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

It's very quiet round here these days........ :-)


Quietly Celtic

Circle me, Lord.
Keep protection near
And danger afar.

Circle me, Lord
Keep hope within.
Keep doubt without.

Circle me, Lord.
Keep light near
And darkness afar.

Circle me, Lord.
Keep peace within.
Keep evil out.



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Quietly Celtic

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.


Cx :-)

Thank you for the Celtic postings.

Simple words with powerful meanings.

I agree with you Gwyn. There is something very calming in the Celtic prayers and blessings.

Ongoing thoughts for everyone bereaved, injured and made homeless by the horror in Beirut. OH’s sister-in-law is from Lebanon but her family live outside Beirut so we are very thankful that they have not suffered.