General Chat

Good morning :-)

Yesterday, our Lay Reader talked about quietness and reverence during worship, especially during Holy Communion. To be honest, quietness is something we all need at times, so in your often busy days, do take time out to be quiet, to hear that gentle whisper of God's Spirit, to be both blessed and strengthened.
"He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters..."
(Psalm 23:2 NIV)
________________________________________

In the quiet of a moment,
snatched from the busyness
of this day, I shall be still.
Listening to the sounds
of the world around me.
Listening to the voices
of its people passing by.
Listening to my soul
and the prayers within.
Listening, and knowing
You are listening also,
that unbreakable bond
between Heavenly Father
and me, your earthly child.
In the quiet of a moment,
in the presence of my God,
I shall listen, and be still.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Collect (special prayer for today)
Grant, we beseech you, merciful Lord,
to your faithful people pardon and peace,
that they may be cleansed from all their sins
and serve you with a quiet mind;
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

In today's Gospel reading, we hear that Jesus came to be the servant of all.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

SAINT FRANCIS

Continuously pushing himself in the quest for spiritual perfection, Francis was soon preaching in up to five villages per day, teaching a new kind of emotional and personal Christian religion that everyday people could understand.

His health began to suffer and as Francis approached his death, many predicted that he was a saint in the making. When his health began to decline more rapidly, Francis went home. Knights were sent from Assisi to guard him and to make sure that no one from neighbouring towns would carry him off (the body of a saint was viewed, at the time, as an extremely valuable relic that would bring, among many things, glory to the town where it rested).

Francis of Assisi died on October 3, 1226, at the age of 44, in Assisi, Italy. Today, Francis has a lasting resonance with millions of followers across the globe. He was canonized as a saint just two years after his death, on July 16, 1228, by his former protector, Pope Gregory IX. Today, Saint Francis of Assisi is the patron saint for ecologists — a title honouring his boundless love for animals and nature.

In 2013, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose to honour Saint Francis by taking his name, becoming Pope Francis.

We thank God for the life and example of this amazing young man.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

ST FRANCIS

Francis preached to townspeople—even though as a layperson he was without license to do so—and he soon attracted followers. In 1209 he composed a simple rule - “To follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in his footsteps.” He then led the group of 12 disciples to Rome to seek the approval of Pope Innocent III.
At first Innocent was hesitant, but, following a dream in which he saw Francis holding up the church of San Giovanni in Laterano, he gave oral approbation to the Franciscan rule of life. This event, which according to tradition, occurred on April 16, 1210, marked the official founding of the Franciscan order

Francis considered all nature as the mirror of God and as so many steps to God. He called all creatures his “brothers” and “sisters,” and, in the most endearing stories about him, preached to the birds and persuaded a wolf to stop attacking the people of the town of Gubbio and their livestock if the townspeople agreed to feed the wolf.

Above all, his deep sense of brotherhood under God embraced his fellow men, for “he considered himself no friend of Christ if he did not cherish those for whom Christ died.”

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


ST FRANCIS

Francis renounced worldly goods and family ties to embrace a life of poverty. He repaired the church of San Damiano, refurbished a chapel dedicated to St. Peter the Apostle, and then restored the now-famous little chapel of St. Mary of the Angels on the plain below Assisi.

There, on the feast of St. Matthias, February 24, 1208, he listened at mass to the account of the mission of Christ to the Apostles from the Gospel According to Matthew “And as you go, preach the message, ‘The kingdom is at hand! Take no gold, nor silver, nor money in your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the labourer deserves his food. And whatever town or villa you enter, find out who is worthy in it, and stay with him until you depart.”

According to Thomas of Celano, this was the decisive moment for Francis, who declared, “This is what I wish; this is what I am seeking. This is what I want to do from the bottom of my heart.” He then removed his shoes, discarded his staff, put on a rough tunic, and began to preach repentance.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

ST. FRANCIS

In 1202, he took part in a war between Assisi and Perugia, was held prisoner for almost a year, and on his release fell seriously ill. After his recovery, he dedicated himself to solitude and prayer, seeking God’s will.

Several episodes led to his conversion to the apostolic life, including a vision of Christ, an experience of poverty during a pilgrimage to Rome, and an incident with a leper. He had a fear of lepers

One day, however, he met a man afflicted with leprosy while riding his horse near Assisi. Though the sight of the leper filled him with horror and disgust, Francis got off his horse and kissed the leper. Then the leper put out his hand, hoping to receive something. Out of compassion, Francis gave money to the leper. But when Francis mounted his horse again and looked all around, he could not see the leper anywhere. It dawned on him that it was Jesus whom he had just kissed.

The most significant episode occurred at the ruined chapel of San Damiano outside the gate of Assisi, where Francis heard a command from the crucifix to "Go, Francis, and repair my house." This led him to give away his possessions and embrace a life of poverty and service.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

St. Francis was born in 1182 in the small town of Assisi. His parents were Peter Bernadone, a merchant, and his mother was named Pica.

Francis was originally named John by his mother, but his name was changed to Francis after his father, who had been in France, returned. His father wanted him to learn French to help in the family business. The local kids in Assisi made fun of him for speaking French and nicknamed him "Franciscus," meaning "Frenchman."

He liked to speak French (although he never did so perfectly) and even attempted to sing in the language. His youth was most likely without serious moral lapses, and his exuberant love of life and a general spirit of worldliness made him a recognized leader of the young men of the town.

In Assisi, there are now 2 bronze statues of the parents of St. Francis.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Yesterday, in church, we heard the story of a young boy whom the vicar called Frankie.
Frankie came from a wealthy family but felt God was calling him to give away all the family’s riches and live in poverty. (That’s the nutshell version).

It turns out that this young lad was, in fact, St. Francis who is now famous for his love of animals and many other things. It’s been said that due to the number of animals seeking shelter at my church, we should be renamed St. Francis!!

Francis led an interesting life from an early age. We’ll take it slowly this week. :-D

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Collect (special prayer) for today:

God, the giver of life,
whose Holy Spirit wells up within your Church:
by the Spirit’s gifts equip us to live the gospel of Christ
and make us eager to do your will,
that we may share with the whole creation
the joys of eternal life;
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

Cynthia, very many thanks for "This and that" postings this week.......all very interesting.

A new week is almost with us. I hope everyone is as well as they can be and will have a good week.

"Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities!
Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers, you cannot be successful or happy". (Norman Vincent Peale)

Good morning :-)

Heavenly Father, as I begin this Saturday morning, I seek the renewal of my spirit. Refresh me with Your love and grace. Remove any weariness or burden, and fill me with Your energy and joy.
I place my hope in You, trusting that You will renew my strength and guide me throughout this day. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

This and that.....

At a mental and physical health seminar, 200 individuals participated in an activity with balloons. They labelled their own balloons and put them into another room, but chaos ensued when they tried to find them. The speaker instructed them to pick a random balloon, identify the name, and hand it to the rightful owner, resolving the situation.
The speaker likened the exercise to the pursuit of happiness, emphasizing the importance of helping others and fostering community.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


This and that............



Christ has no hands but our hands
To do his work today;
He has no feet but our feet
To lead men in His way;
He has no tongue but our tongues
To tell men how he died;
He has no help but our help
To bring them to his side.

We are the only Bible
The careless world will read;
We are the sinner’s gospel,
We are the scoffer's creed;
We are the Lord's last message
Given in deed and word-
What if the line is crooked?
What if the type is blurred?

What if our hands are busy
With other work than his?
What if our feet are walking
Where sin's allurement is?
What if our tongues are speaking
Of things his lips would spurn?
How can we hope to help him
Unless from him we learn?
Poet: Annie Johnston Flint


This poem reminds us that we just have to open our eyes to see God around us each and every day.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


We pray for all those whose lives are going to be disrupted by Hurricane Milton today - what a dreadful situation.


Remember that true strength comes from trusting in something greater than yourself in moments of hardship. Hold on to hope, even when the path is difficult, and remain steadfast in patience. When your heart is centred in trust, you will find protection and peace, knowing you are never alone. Let perseverance and faith guide you, and you will always find the strength to move forward. Trust in God always.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

This and that...........

Mirror, mirror on the wall...
It doesn’t matter if you're short or tall...
If your legs are skinny, or your hips are wide..
It only matters who you are inside...
Blue eyes, brown eyes, black or green..
What makes you beautiful can’t be seen..
You may not be a work of art, but
The most beautiful thing about you is……your heart! <3


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)



This and that……….

A prayer for the new week:

Dear God, as we start a new week, give us strength when we feel tired, perseverance when we're discouraged and comfort when we lose hope.
Help us to focus on You and not on any difficulties. We ask for Your blessings upon our families, friends, and loved ones. May Your strength, peace, and love flood our hearts as we go through each day. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Apologies for yesterday - I had visitors!

Finishing off about angels................

Although the Bible undeniably reveals that angels are equipped and called to protect and guard humans, questions are often asked. The answers are in the Bible.

Do humans become angels when they die?
Humans do not become angels after death. Angels are distinct spiritual beings with supernatural abilities, created separately by God before humans.

Do angels wear halos?
Halos are not mentioned in the Bible but have been used in religious artwork since the fourth century to symbolize divine light. Ancient artists borrowed this symbol from pagan religions to distinguish sacred figures in their art.

Can we see angels?
Angels are usually invisible but have appeared in various forms to humans in the bible.

What do angels do?
Angels tirelessly glorify God, provide worship, act as messengers, and serve as warring or ministering angels to help and strengthen God’s children.

Does everyone have a guardian angel?
The only scripture verse indicating the possibility of every human being assigned their own guardian angel is in Matthew ch.18 vs 10. Faith leaders have mixed views on this.

All in all, angels are very interesting!

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Thinking of angels……………………..

In the bible, there are also what are known as ‘Avenging Angels’ – a term still used today.
Avenging angels play a specific role in bringing the judgement and wrath of God to mortals for breaking divine will or being disobedient for too long against the commandments.

There are at least 5 of these fierce warriors:
The angel of Sodom and Gomorrah - in the book of Genesis
The Army Killer - in the 2nd book of Kings
The Angel of Death - in the book of Exodus
Michael the Archangel - known as The Chief Prince.
He is the mightiest of all the angels. It is he who fights Satan, also known as
Lucifer - The Devil the deadliest enemy of all.
Avenging angels are associated with punishing wrongdoers.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Thinking of angels..................

Yesterday, cherubim............., today, Seraphim.

Seraphim are supernatural beings created by God to serve and worship. They guard God's throne in heaven and constantly praise God.

In the Bible, the prophet Isaiah describes a vision he had of seraphim angels in heaven calling out: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory" (Isaiah 6:3). Remember the hymn, Holy, Holy, Holy?

"Seraphim" means "burning ones," as they are lit from within with brilliant light that shows their passionate love for God. According to Isaiah, they have six wings: one pair for flying, another covering the face, and the third covering the feet.

Admittedly, it is not the sort of image one has of angels as art has portrayed them very differently over the centuries.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

A worrying situation indeed Vera and all we can do is pray. <3

Talking of angels……………….

The word ‘angel’ simply means ‘messenger’ and, from the bible, we hear of angels carrying various messages to earth. There are several instances in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament, who can forget about the angels appearing through the Christmas and Easter stories and at the Transfiguration.

One type of angel that is familiar to many is the Cherubim – often portrayed as being as a cute baby angel. This is a far cry from how they are depicted in the bible…….

"Each of the cherubim had four faces: One face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a human being, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle." (Ezekiel 10:14). They are often said to have multiple wings.

Cherubim are described as serving the will of God, performing divine duties in the earthly realm. They are also associated with guarding the presence of God.

Not quite the cute baby angel we have imagined.


Cx :-)