General Chat

Good morning :-)


Today is St. Francis’ Day…….


The Collect (special prayer) for today :
Almighty God,
you have made us for yourself,
and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you:
pour your love into our hearts and draw us to yourself,
and so bring us at last to your heavenly city
where we shall see you face to face;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Harvest Festival in church this morning. Donations are passed later to the local food banks. A very sad reflection of the hard times some families are experiencing right now.

I hope David is getting stronger each day.

Thoughts and prayers for all patients in hospital with the corona virus and for their families too.

Keep well, stay safe everyone.

It isn't Harvest Festival here, but OH has gone to church ..... he has to do the People's Prayers this morning.

There is a congregation in the Baptist church across the street, the first time since late August. OH watched one late arrival trying to park her car on the street by the side of her house ............... he stopped watching after 5 tries to get it parked in a space for at least 5 cars and still no success :-D

There was even more room in the church parking lot, but she wold have had to walk about 50' to the church, instead of just crossing the street! ;-)


I hope David is doing well, but the sad thing is that we will very possibly not hear if otherwise, because I don't think his wife uses the internet. How many people are on here like that, and who just disappear?

Good morning :-)

I certainly understand what you are saying Sylvia - I wonder if anyone on here is in touch with David personally?

Harvest is certainly different to what it once was.....the lovely smell of fresh fruit and veg as you entered church - the not so lovely smell on the Monday when you went to help distribute the goods!! I used to be fascinated by the harvest loaf - shaped to resemble a sheaf of wheat - I don't think we have wheat sheaves anymore do we?


Yesterday was St. Francis' Day - one of the most well known and popular saints - even the Pope chose his name in honour of St. Francis.

Saint Francis’s original name was Francesco di Pietro di Bernardone and he was born in Assisi, Italy. He grew up leading a privileged life as the son of a wealthy cloth merchant. Francis loved school and learned Latin and French. His father wanted him to become a businessman and taught him about the French culture.

In 1202 Francis took part in a war against the nearby town of Perugia. He was taken prisoner and held for almost a year until his father paid the ransom and he was set free.

In 1205 Francis planned to fight in another conflict, but on his way there he had a vision. In the vision he was told to return to Assisi and wait for a call to a new kind of knighthood. He returned to Assisi and spent time alone and prayed.

More tomorrow.


Start by doing what's necessary;
then do what's possible;
suddenly, you are doing the impossible. - St. Francis.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Continuing with St. Francis


Over the next few years, Francis began to see visions from God that changed his life. The first vision was when he was sick with a high fever and at first, he thought that God had called him to fight in the Crusades.

He had a vision of Christ whilst praying in a grotto near Assisi and an experience in Rome where he mingled with the beggars in St. Peter’s Basilica and begged alms. He gave alms to a leper and kissed his hand, something he would never have done in the past.

Finally, when praying in a church, Francis heard God tell him to "repair my church, which is falling in ruins." After hearing this, he returned home and gave all his money to the church. His father was furious with him which resulted in Francis leaving his father's home and taking a vow of poverty.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Continuing with St. Francis....

As Francis lived his life of poverty and preached to people about the life of Jesus Christ, people began to follow him. By 1209, he had around 11 followers. He had one basic rule which was "To follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in his footsteps".

Francis was a devoted follower of the Catholic Church. He and his followers travelled to Rome to get the approval for their religious Order from the Pope. At first the Pope was reluctant. These men were dirty, poor, and smelled dreadful. However, after discussion, eventually he understood their vow of poverty and blessed the Order on April 1209, the official founding of the Franciscan order. The order is also known as the Friars Minor, or Lesser Brothers.


Cx :-)

“A good Catholic meddles in politics, offering the best of himself, so that those who govern can govern,” declared Pope Francis in 2013.

Good morning :-)

Dermot .... :-D


Continuing with St. Francis....


The Franciscan Order grew as men joined and made vows of poverty. In 1212, when a woman named Clare of Assisi wanted to take similar vows, Francis helped her start the Order of the Poor Ladies (Order of Saint Clare).

In 1221, Francis formed another order – the Third Order of Brothers and Sisters of Penance who, without withdrawing from the world or taking religious vows, would carry out the principles of Franciscan life in their daily lives. As numbers grew, the order extended outside of Italy.

Cx :-)

I am enjoying the story of St Francis. Thank you Cynthia.

I hope David is recovering well from his operation.

Wishing you all a peaceful day. Take care and stay safe.

Good morning :-)

Thank you Vera <3 Still no news of David as yet. :-(


Continuing the story of St. Francis...

Francis was known for his love of nature and animals. There are many stories about Saint Francis and his preaching to animals. It is said that one day he was talking to some birds when they began to sing together. Then they flew into the sky and formed the sign of a cross.

It was also said that Francis could tame wild animals. One story tells of a vicious wolf in the town of Gubbio that was killing people and sheep. The people of the town were frightened and didn't know what to do. Francis went to the town to confront the wolf. At first the wolf growled at Francis and prepared to attack him. However, Francis made the sign of the cross and told the wolf not to hurt anyone else. The wolf then became tame and the town was safe.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Concluding the story of St. Francis....


In 1224 it is said that Francis had a vision and received stigmata. Stigmata are bodily marks or scars that match the same ones Jesus Christ suffered during the crucifixion. Francis tried to hide the stigmata for the rest of his life.

Francis became ill and spent the last few years of his life mostly blind. He died in 1226 while singing Psalm 141. He was declared a saint of the Catholic Church only two years after his death.

Saint Francis of Assisi, one of the most beloved saints, is perhaps best known for his appreciation of nature and animals. He should, however, be recognized even more for his love of Jesus in the Eucharist, as that was one of the most important aspects of his spirituality and a major theme of his writings.


Cx :-)

Hello all

Bright and dry but chilly this morning.

Interesting tales of St Francis. Thank you.

Thinking about David and hope he's improving.

Infection rates rising. Keep well and stay safe all.

Good morning :-)


The Collect (special prayer) for today

Almighty and everlasting God,
increase in us your gift of faith
that, forsaking what lies behind
and reaching out to that which is before,
we may run the way of your commandments
and win the crown of everlasting joy;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
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 :


Matthew 22.1–14

Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, “Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.” But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them.
The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, “The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.” Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?” And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’


Cx :-)

Thanksgiving Day tomorrow officially, many people have their dinner today, and church services offer thanksgiving during the services.

A very different time this year ............... we're expected to have small family groups, less than 6 is what is being said. I'm wondering how many people will obey?

There will only be the 2 of us, as has been the case for several years ................ we used to have at least 10 people, sometimes as many as 14 or 15 when we had to turn the living room into the dining room to fit everyone in. :-D

But that was in the days when our daughter was at home, we had several single friends and couples who had no children, plus we scooped up any students or others who had nowhere to go. We did the same at Christmas. It's hard to think that out of the group of 8 friends there are only 3 of us left, and the other one lives on Vancouver Island and is staying safe at home, like all of use.


There seem to be quite a few cars at the church across the street, although the door is closed. It is the Filipeno group again, so I hope they are keeping their distances.

Numbers are rising over here as well.

Stay safe, keep calm, and keep well

Good morning :-)

Happy Thanksgiving Day Sylvia........it certainly IS strange this year - as Christmas will be possibly. We must make the best of it and, maybe, come up with some good ideas to cheer us up! :-D


Something a bit different. Most days we come out with sayings that we have grown up with, but we have no idea where they came from. A friend sent me some the other day and I thought I would share them and add a familiar bible saying as well.

In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts and it is said that in old England , when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them 'Mind your pints and quarts and settle down.' It's where we get the phrase 'mind your P's and Q's'.

And

Sometimes, on escaping danger of some sort, people will say they ‘escaped by the skin of my teeth’. This is taken from the book of Job 19.20 where Job is wailing about his hard life.

Other than being from Uz, the first thing the Bible tells us about Job is that he was righteous and godly, “blameless and upright,” a man who “feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:2). Job was not only righteous, but also wealthy - a man greatly tested by God and even more greatly blessed by God.


We thank God for our many blessings.


Cx :-)

Hello all

Job was really tested and came through in the end.

Thoughts and prayers for David and for wife Ellen.

Pushed myself to do prayer walking today. Bitterly cold/wet, so I was very pleased to get back inside.

Interesting as always Cynthia. Thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving Sylvia. I hope that you can enjoy it despite these strange/challenging times.

Good morning :-)

Those sayings.......

In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase......... 'goodnight, sleep tight.'

And

We’ve all heard of the saying ‘a fly in the ointment’ – meaning a small event that spoils something special. This comes from the Ecclesiastes Chap.. 10 vs. 1 ‘As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honour.’


Ecclesiastes is one of the Wisdom Books of Hebrew Scripture, along with Psalms, Job, Proverbs, and the Song of Songs. The book is concerned with the purpose and value of human life. But God's plan is hidden from man, who seeks happiness without ever finding it here on earth. It is in giving thanks to the Creator that one makes life worthwhile. The Book of Ecclesiastes is a reality check for the modern world!

Lord we give you thanks for all that you have given us.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Those sayings…….
‘Wet your Whistle’ - Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim or handle of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. 'Wet your whistle' is the phrase inspired by this practice.

And

‘How the mighty have fallen’ …. something we have all said when a powerful person falls from grace. It’s taken from 2 Samuel 1:19, “The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!” where David is grieving over the fact that King Saul and his son Jonathan have been killed in battle.

Lord, help us to remember that you are there for us in our grief.
Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)



Those sayings…..

Something you often hear…… 'Daylight Robbery' ….. this first came to prominence in the 1690s, when King William III was in dire need of money. Having exhausted all other options, he and his advisors devised a tax whereby houses with more windows would pay a greater amount of money. Because of this, people would board up their windows to avoid paying the tax.

and

When none of us know what we are doing, it’s a case of ‘The Blind Leading the Blind’, which is taken from Matthew 15:13-14, “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” In this parable, Jesus wants us to examine our lives as Christians – our outward religious acts as compared to what is deep within our hearts.

Lord may both our hearts and our lives always be true to you. Amen.

Cx :-)

Hello all

I'm enjoying reading your posts Cynthia. Thank you.

Dry but a cold wind so no gardening for me today.

I need to post a birthday card so I'll prayer walk around the village streets soon.

I do hope that David and Ellen are managing ok.

Take care and stay safe everyone.