General Chat

Sounds a wonderful day, kandj. Lovely to see those two ladies back - makes a huge difference. We have 25 members and about a further 70 that we visit occasionally and keep informed. yet we are lucky to see 20 attend in total, and average must be about 16 now.

We had a local preacher this morning, full of humour, no airs and graces, no microphone, no pianist. We sang familiar hymns, read familiar passages, said prayers from the heart and I counted 22 (age range 12 to 96). Preacher is 73 but looks 50 and usually cycles from his chapel about 6 miles and 2 valleys east of Rhondda.

Lovely service about healing the woman who had been steeped up double for many years. Synagogue leader was upset Jesus had healed her on the Jewish sabbath, and Jesus said "she is a daughter of Abraham, bound by Satan for 18 years and she has been released by God from her tyranny this day"

Message was that Jesus can perform miracles any day of the week, and usually through his followers. We all have sufficient power to change peoples' lives. Praise be to God :-D :-D

Opening hymn was

"Jesus calls us! O'er the tumult
Of our life's wild restless sea.
Day by day his clear voice soundeth
Saying: "Christian, follow me""

Written by Mrs Alexander (1818-1895), wife of Primate of All Ireland.

Good morning everyone.


Lovely news indeed kandj, it's always good when wanderers return to the fold and it sounds as though Rev. Jan is doing a grand job.

We had the same readings too........"You are the salt of the earth"...... and "You are the light of the world". One of our newly licensed Lay Readers preached on that theme and used some visual aids to illustrate the points she was making. ARE we as 'salty' as we should be? DO we really show Christ's light in the world?

Following the Communion service were the 6 baptisms.....chaos reigned!! :-) :-)



Our thought for today :


"Gracious God, thank you for the gift of today. Refresh me, invite me, to discover Your presence in each person that I meet and every event encountered.

Teach me when to speak and when to listen when to ponder and when to share. In moments of challenge and decision attune my heart to the whisperings of Your Wisdom.

As I undertake ordinary and unnoticed tasks, gift me with simple joy. When the day goes well, may I rejoice! When it grows difficult surprise me with new possibilities.

When life is overwhelming call me to Sabbath moments to restore Your Peace and Harmony. May my living today reveal your goodness. Amen."

- Pat Bergen, CSJ


Enjoy your day......Cx :-)

Smiles cost nothing........ pass smiles on to all who you see today because they might need one.

Can you imagine? Six baptisms, six children, six sets of godparents all dutifully saying their vows before God, six sets of family supporters. And a lovely congregation to wish all six children well in their lives.

We seldom have a baptism, but have one this Sunday and am looking forward to it immensely. Alfred is his name (what a great name!!) and he must be about 3 months old already and looks like a budding Welsh rugby player (and we could do with him now).

It brings so many children into chapel. And the older people (we have five now over 90 in quite a small congregation) love to see babies and youngsters in chapel. And the noise they make is a wonderful background to worship. Hard to concentrate on The Word, but distractions like children should enhance rather than distract.

So peek a boo to everyone on what appears to be a clear and cold (and hopefully) dry and sunny Tuesday. And lots of smiles kandj, Emma and Cynthia and all our other friends who look in and/or comment :-) :-) :-)

Thames Valley flooding top of news this morning, and we pray for all those families who have had to abandon their homes. And we pray for all the staff of the Environment Agency, who seem to be doing a sterling job despite all the criticism of their Chairman and their policy. No signs yet of floods receding :-( :-(

Good morning on a grey, wet and rather miserable looking scene here in the NW........the flood situation is terrible......and, as John says, there seems to be no let up at the moment.


Something to give you a wry smile :

Since I have grown older,
Things have changed a lot for me;
I have learned to make adjustments,
And do things differently.

For instance, now when I climb stairs,
I hold on to the rails;
I don't indulge in rich desserts,
And I do not drink cocktails.

I don't tote groceries in one bag,
Now, I ask for two;
I don't clean the whole house at one time,
A room or two will do.

It isn't just things physical,
My thinking's changed as well;
I don't read romance novels now,
I think biographies are swell.

I'm more selective with my movies,
My music choice has changed a lot;
Now I pick the slow and dreamy,
And skip what others say is "hot."

But, new thoughts now occur to me,
Perhaps of another nature;
From time to time I think about
My guardian angel's stature.

I thought that guardian angels
Should match one's age in years;
So they could truly understand
One's joys and one's tears.

Now, if that statement's really true,
My angel's hair should be snow white;
Her wings, most likely stiff from age,
So she can't do angel flights.

She probably wears bifocals, too,
She may even use a cane;
I suspect that her arthritis,
May have made her sore and lame.

But I guess she still can care for me,
Since I don't go anywhere;
I can not be too hard on her,
So, no more wear and tear.

For many years she's worked real hard,
Watching me was quite a chore;
And, while now I live so differently,
I just might need her more.

She'll be with me now I'm alone,
She'll soothe my tired brow;
She knows my pains and heartaches,
And how much I need God now.

Her line to God is still in place,
And, though she's slow and fragile;
She still communicates with Him,
There's no need to be so agile.

I think my guardian angel
Has grown old ... along with me;
And when my earthly ties are loosed,
She will help to set me free.

She'll take my hand ... we'll both go Home,
Our trip will be first rate;
Neither one of us will falter,
We'll help each other find the Gate.

~ Virginia Ellis ~


Cx :-)

:-D :-D :-D Mine is called Clarence, lovely old gentleman with a New England accent.

"a clear and cold (and hopefully) dry and sunny Tuesday"

It was still dark when I wrote that this morning. Yet for last 2 hours it has been a glorious dry, clear, sunny day here in South Wales.

"Summer suns are glowing
Over land and sea,
Happy light is flowing
Bountiful and free.
Everything rejoices
In the mellow rays,
All earth's thousand voices
Swell the psalm of praise"
(William Walsham How)

Probably too early in the year for that hymn. And perhaps too early in day for some, as I noticed sun was spreading from the west slowly thought today. But you have some nice weather coming over the hills soon. Wish I could push it east and northwards for you.
:-D :-D

Clarence Odbody! What an angel he was to be sure! ;-)

Cynthia :-D :-D I have been just as naughty as Mr William Bigelow, but reformed now :-D Still sunny outside (winters always bring the nicest days).

Always looking in and enjoying your posts :-) <3

Emma :-)

I read the Virginia Ellis words with a nod of my head and a big smile, thank you.

Nice to have you Emma, hope you are well?

God's free mercy streameth
Over all the world,
And His banner gleameth
Everywhere unfurled.
Broad and deep and glorious
As the heaven above
Shines in might victorious
His eternal love.............. John, the old one's are the best!!

I am filled with horror as I read the MailOnLine about all the flooding in the UK.

OH looks with mouth agape as I show him some of the photos.

He taught down in Devon for some years, and often drove through the area of the Somerset Levels ........

.............. and, of course, his mother was born in Wales, in Aberdovy, where her father was on the North Wales Methodist Circuit. He was also at school in Colwyn Bay. So some of the images from the Welsh coast bring back memories for him.



Sorry for my absence in commenting, when I think appropriate :-)

I've been ill since last Wednesday .................. the 1 day stomach "bug", but it has taken its toll of me.

I have commented elsewhere that I think I am back in the human race ................ but I still find myself getting very tired.

It was my second bout in 2 weeks, as I had a bout when we were over with my daughter.


Ah well ................... I have lost 7 lbs that I needed to lose :-) :-)


Lovely to hear of all those baptisms :-)

Sylvia. So glad you are well again and sylph like. Not the way to lose 7lbs, though :-( :-(

Today we have our midweek prayer meeting. Just a handful. And next door Weight Watchers meet in the hall. They make such a noise, cheering and clapping as members are saved from too much weight and obesity. One day when they have been "saved", perhaps a couple will join us. Something to pray for.

After a lovely winter day with about 6 hours sunshine and crisp mountain air yesterday, there was an inch of snow on road last night. Cleared by this morning - this must have been the mildest winter in our lifetimes.

Floods are getting really bad. OH will remember Towyn near Abergele (now a generation ago) when hundreds of bungalows were submerged. Amazingly, I have heard very little destruction along N Wales coast yet.

But Worcester and all Severn valley under warning today and on Breakfast News this morning it mentioned the floods could be with us until May.

It must be awful for all the families displaced. The stinking floors and furniture, the worry about looting. Fishermen have not been able to earn a living for over a month. Prayer will help them through, that we know.

Good morning everyone......and I hope you are soon feeling much better Sylvia. Those tummy bugs can be so debilitating and a very drastic way to lose weight.


It's heartening to know that folk are still looking in here, whether they comment or not. Hello everyone.........


The floods are unbelievable......we have been warned of high winds today. It is calm so far but we will have to watch and wait.


Our prayer for today :

Jesus, abject and despised, let us not be ashamed to follow you.
Jesus, hated and persecuted, let us not be afraid to walk in your footsteps.
Jesus, blasphemed and condemned, let us be counted your friends.
Jesus, mocked and scourged, let us bear all things patiently.
Jesus, crowned and derided, let us not be overwhelmed by our injuries and grief. Amen.

John Wesley (1703-1791)


Hope everyone keeps safe today. Cx :-)

New every morning is the love
Our wakening and uprising proof,
Through sleep and darkness safely brought
Restored to life and power and thought.

New mercies each returning day
Hover around us while we pray;
New perils past, new sins forgiven
New thoughts of God, new hopes of heaven.

I woke up this morning and had these words in my head and they are still there and so I thought it worth sharing them with you all today. John is sure to know the writer of such a beautiful, meaningful old hymn. I can only remember the first two verses but know there are several others too.

Hello to Sylvia, I hope you will feel better soon.

This is a good thread where everyone can add their thoughts and also think of others who feel ill or are suffering for one reason or another.

We all have the flood victims uppermost in our prayers as we see such chaos and ongoing misery the high river levels are causing for so many. Here in Yorkshire we have no flooded areas close by and so we continue to count our blessings.

"Old friends, old scenes, will lovelier be,
As more of heaven in each we see;
Some softening gleam of love and prayer
Shall dawn on every cross and care."

John Keble (1792-1866), kandj :-) Friend and colleague of John Henry (later Cardinal) Newman, he was a founder of the Oxford Movement and Vicar of Hursley in Hampshire. Keble College is named after him.

Incidentally, if I took religion as my main subject of Mastermind, I would probably get about 3 or 4 points. Far less than some posting on this thread. Less than many on Genes who don't even like organised religion very much. :-( :-( But I am still a work in progress :-) :-)

Good morning my friends and thank you for the lovely old melodies to hum along to. Whilst I like many of the more modern hymns, I think it's a shame if children aren't given the opportunity to learn some 'old faithfuls' whose words have kept many a generation singing. :-)


What a day it was, weatherwise, yesterday....absolutely dreadful. I opened the blinds this morning and see we have lost a couple of roof tiles:-( Mind you, most of my friends would say I am 'a slate loose' anyway... :-)



God Is Never Beyond Our Reach

No one ever sought the Father
And found He was not there,
And no burden is too heavy
To be lightened by a prayer,
No problem is too intricate
And no sorrow that we face
Is too deep and devastating
To be softened by His grace,
No trials and tribulations
Are beyond what we can bear
If we share them with our Father
As we talk to Him in prayer—
And men of every colour,
Every race and every creed
Have but to seek the Father
In their deepest hour of need—
God asks for no credentials,
He accepts us with our flaws,
He is kind and understanding
And He welcomes us because
We are His erring children
And he loves us every one,
And He freely and completely
Forgives all that we have done,
Asking only if we’re ready
To follow where He leads—
Content that in His wisdom
He will answer all our needs.

- Helen Steiner Rice



Keep safe my friends. Cx :-)

Amen to the HSR words Cynthia...... hope your slate is secured again soon!!

We had gale force winds here in Yorkshire last night and I dare hardly open the blinds to see what damage this had caused but we are hugely relieved that no structural damage is evident and apart from a couple of plant pots and the empty green dustbin upturned in the garden..... like the Christmas Carol... this morning the scene here is-

"All is calm, all is bright", so Thank you God.

The newspaper headlines say two more fierce gale force storms are heading our way. Unbelievable scenes on the TV screen, we wonder what is happening and do pray for the folk who are in the areas most badly affected, and the farmers whose fields are like rivers. No end in sight either. What worry for everyone in such chaos

An African prayer,,,,,,,,,,, O Father God
I cannot fight the dark times
by beating it with my hands.
Help me to take the light of Christ
right into the depth of it. Amen.

Good morning everyone and Happy Valentine's Day <3

The words of that African prayer are so apt kandj and I have been moved to see how complete strangers are rallying round to help others in need. Stay safe everyone.

As it is St. Valentine's Day today, I thought I would put aside the roses and chocolates which are associated with this day, and discover the real St. Valentine.

It appears that there may have been more than one, but the chap who seems to have caught the imagination most, is as follows:


In the third century, the Roman Empire was ruled by Emperor Claudius II Gothicus. He was nicknamed Claudius the Cruel because of his harsh leadership and his tendency for getting into wars and abusing his people. In fact, he was getting into so many wars during the third century that he was having a difficult time recruiting enough soldiers.

Claudius believed that recruitment for the army was down because Roman men did not want to leave their loves or families behind, so he cancelled all marriages and engagements in Rome.

Thousands of couples saw their hopes of matrimony dashed by the single act of a tyrant. And no one seemed interested in standing up to the emperor.

But a simple Christian priest named Valentine did come forward and stood up for love. He began to secretly marry soldiers before they went off to war, despite the emperor’s orders. In 269 AD Emperor Claudius found out about the secret ceremonies. He had Valentine thrown into prison and deemed that he would be put to death.

As Valentine was awaiting execution, he fell in love with a blind girl, who happened to be the jailer’s daughter. On the eve of his execution, with no writing instruments available, Valentine is said to have written her a sonnet in ink that he squeezed from violets.

Legend has it that his words made the blind woman see again. It was a brief romance because the next day Valentine was clubbed to death by Roman executioners.

St. Valentine gave his life so that young couples could be bonded together in holy matrimony. They may have killed the man, but not his spirit. Even centuries after his death, the story of Valentine’s self-sacrificing commitment to love was legendary in Rome.

Eventually he was granted Sainthood and the Catholic Church decided to create a feast in his honour. They picked February 14 as the day of celebration because of the ancient belief that birds (particularly lovebirds, but also owls and doves) began to mate on that very day.

It’s surprising to know that Valentine’s Day is really founded on the concept of love in marriage.


- Mark Merrill


With love to you all......Cx <3

Lovely thoughts, Cynthia and kandj. Happy St Valentines Day. I had never heard the story behind why we buy cards and chocolates today. Very moving story. And I had never heard of that Roman Emperor, so more amour is much better than war war.

We have a lady saint in Wales (Santes Dwynwen) from 4th century. Her story is equally sad and she ended up on Llanddwyn Island (near Newborough on Anglesey (not far from where Wills and Kate lived). We celebrate her date on Burns Night (and birthday of my OH ;-)) - 25th January.

Love (charity, agape) suffereth long, and is kind.
Love does not envy.
Love does not vaunt itself, is not puffed up.
Love does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked.
Love thinks no evil. (1 Cor xiii verses 4,5)

Out Father who art in heaven....
Deliver us from evil.