General Chat

All very true words Cynthia but a sudden unexpected death makes us all realize we are not immortal. We who have a faith are blessed to find comfort and strength at times such as these. Take care, sending a warm and gentle hug your way today.

Back again Cynthia as I feel these words are appropriate right now and would like to share them if I may:-

THE CLOCK OF LIFE

The clock of life is wound but once
And no man has the power
To tell just when the hands will stop
At late or early hour.

To lose one's wealth is sad indeed
To lose one's health is more
To lose one's soul is such a loss
That no man can restore.

The Present only is our own
So Live, Love, toil with a will
Place no faith in "Tomorrow"
For the clock may then be still.

Robert H.Smith
1932-1982

Of course you may share them kandj and thank you very much. Very apt words indeed.


Cx :-)

Good morning all poppers-inners :-)


We went to lunch at church yesterday - the lunch team had decided that they should carry on as usual because it is what the vicar would have wanted.

There was sadness and tears but, there was also fun and laughter and I felt that was right - you could never be miserable for long when he was around - and we have so much to be thankful for in learning from him.


Things to Be Thankful For

The good, green earth beneath our feet,
The air we breathe, the food we eat,
Some work to do, a goal to win,
A hidden longing deep within
That spurs us on to bigger things
And helps us meet what each day brings -
All these things and many more
Are things we should be thankful for …
And most of all, our thankful prayers
Should rise to God because He cares.



Hope everyone has a good day Cx :-)

Cynthia, may I share these words which have brought me comfort, strength and reassurance very many times when I have struggled with life's trauma's. I hope they might help you and others who are facing troubled times.

ISAIAH 41 v 13

I, the Lord your God hold your right hand
It is I who say to you...........fear not.
I will help you.

Thinking about you and your sorrow and praying for you today.

'Be of good cheer about death and know this as a truth -
that no evil can happen to a good man, either in life or
after death.'

Socrates

Emma <3

NEW School prayer: (Copied from a recent American E-Mail).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now I sit me down in school

Where praying is against the rule.

For this great nation under God

Finds mention of Him very odd.

If scripture now the class recites,

It violates the Bill of Rights.

And anytime my head I bow

Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,

That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.

The law is specific, the law is precise.

Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall

Might offend someone with no faith at all..

In silence alone we must meditate,

God's name is prohibited by the Province.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,

And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.

They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.

To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,

And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.

It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,

We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,

Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.

But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,

No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,

When chaos reigns the school's a mess.

So, Lord, this silent plea I make:

Should I be shot; My soul please take!

Amen.

So very, very true Dermot......my vicar would have probably put that in the parish magazine. I may put it in myself - when it's decided who is going to be the editor :-(

Good morning my friends. :-)


A prayer for today......


BE GLAD

Be glad that your life has been full and complete,
Be glad that you’ve tasted the bitter and sweet.
Be glad that you’ve walked in sunshine and rain,
Be glad that you’ve felt both pleasure and pain.
Be glad that you’ve had such a full, happy life,
Be glad for your joy as well as your strife.
Be glad that you’ve walked with courage each day,
Be glad you’ve had strength for each step of the way.
Be glad for the comfort that you’ve found in prayer,
Be glad for God’s blessings, His love, and His care.


~ Helen Steiner Rice


Today is going to be difficult..........your prayers would be appreciated. Cx :-)

It all went very well considering the circumstances. Apparently, the Bishop and the Archdeacon had attended the 9 am service - not officiating in any way, simply in the pews with everyone else.

Large congregations, as was to be expected and a very long queue to sign the book of remembrance. There were, of course, some tears but, on the whole, everyone rallied round and are beginning to think of how to keep things going for the future.

It's strange for us as he usually visited us on a Sunday evening...... :-(


Ah well......... Cx :-)

just been reading back - what a shock for you all, how devastating, not only for his family of course, but for the community as a whole <3 <3

Certainly was Ann - that's why I was feeling dismal and trying to cheer myself up by annoying Fans the other day.

I have only just spotted this Cynthia. What a shock for you all I know how loved he was as vicar and friend. Testing times ahead as you find a new vicar and hard times for whoever replaces him as he was so well loved.

Cynthia you have my prayerful support and no doubt many others who pop in and have been helped and encouraged for so long by all your postings.

I do hope that your Area Dean will be on hand to help your church wardens keep the services covered by other local Clergy (often retired), and be near to encourage PCC and congregation at such a difficult time.

Your vicar will indeed be greatly missed not only by members of the congregation but by people like yourself who have lost a special friend so suddenly... a huge shock!

Good morning and thank you my friends..... <3


I know the Diocesan authorities will help to keep things covered for a while, but our churchwardens are both in full employment and both hold very responsible jobs. This is why we folk from the pews, must rally round and support them as much as we possibly can.

Here we are in a new week........so a prayer for today.... :-)


CELTIC MORNING PRAYER: GIVE YOURSELF TO GOD


Our Father,

Lord, come I this day to you!

I am not a great gift to offer you, it is my coming that is my gift.

For who among us holds within themselves any worthy offering to the God who owns the universe?

To come to you while the entire world moves away from you, is our only gift of worth.

And so I come this day: ignore me or use me, save me or spend me.

Use me or set me by, I am yours.

Amen.




Cx :-)

Amen.

Emma :-) <3

Amen to that too.

<3 <3 <3 <3

I have fought the good fight,
I have finished the course,
I have kept the faith.
Say not in grief that I am no more,
but in thankfulness that I once was.


Say not in grief 'he is no more' but in thankfulness that he was.


God gives opportunities for us to love but not forever.
God takes opportunities away after a while.
So don't hesitate or delay or curse the darkness while remaining mired in sadness and hopelessness, because God gives; and God takes away.
Blessed be the name of the LORD.
But why bless the LORD when God takes away?
Because if the opportunities were always there, we would wait until the time was just right and never make the leap, and more of life would slip away.
So God gives and God takes; Blessed be God's name.


Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.



<3

Joy, wonderful words, very profound, thought provoking and beautiful. Thank you.