General Chat

Good morning everyone :-D


Halfway through our tour of amazing churches and time for something completely different. There will be a slight drop in temperature……so seat belts fastened and off we go :-D


Borgund stave church – Norway. When the Vikings became Christians, they built Churches like this one, over 1,000 of them.

In 1180 there was great activity in Borgund: they were going have a new church. The trees had been felled and the great logs hauled to the site. The old wooden church had to be replaced because the timbers were rotting, especially the roof-bearing posts where they were set in the ground.

In the new church the timber framework would not be in contact with the damp earth: it would be raised up on stone foundations, a great improvement that would lengthen the life of the building. Skilled and experienced craftsmen arrived and set to work trimming the logs and planks and timbers-perhaps as many as 2,000 pieces in all.

With the help of the local people, the great posts or ‘staves’ – were slotted into the ground frame and hauled upright to form the main structure. The rest was relatively easy and soon the local community was planning the consecration of their fine new church.

The service was conducted by the bishop himself. He first went round the building three times, then knocked thrice on the closed door with his bishop’s crook before he entered and led the parishioners in mass, consecrating the building in the name of Christ, conqueror of all evil and Lord of the Church.

Five crosses were carved in the altar and five more in the walls. They were sprinkled with holy water and consecrated with oil. The nave was full, the men and boys standing to the south of the aisle, the women and girls to the north. The only benches were along the walls and these were reserved for the old and the crippled. The church is dedicated to St. Andrew.

Lord we thank you for the skill of the craftsmen employed in building this church and for those who have worshipped in it for so many hundreds of years. Amen.



You can view this church from the link below.... enjoy!

http://www.stavechurch.com/borgund/


Cx :-)

Hello all

Not a twit Cynthia..... perhaps just a little forgetful. Join the club!

A beautiful colourful church, although the snow is making me feel cold.

Enjoy our sunshine and be grateful for small mercies today and everyday. xxx

Good morning :-)



Most people, when on a tour, like to have a story with a bit of ‘shock/horror’ in it :-D

So put on some woollies because today we are going to Russia in our search for amazing churches.




The Church of Dmitry on Blood, Uglich, Russia.

When Ivan the Terrible died in 1584, he left two children, Fyodor, who was handicapped, and Dimitri. When Boris Godunov became regent to replace Fyodor, who was incapable of performing his duties, Dimitri was exiled to Uglich, and found dead in 1591, with a knife in his throat.

When his mother sent for the regent's agents to be executed - sabotage was suspected - Godunov sent forces to Uglich and Dimitri's supporters were slaughtered or sent to exile in Siberia, while his mother was sent to live at a monastery at Goritsy.

Uglich became a pilgrimage site in the 17th century, and Dimitry was revered as a saint.

Lord, we pray for the people of Russia and for those who worship in this amazing church. Amen.


Cx :-)



Ooops. I forgot to post the link to the pictures........what a twit!

https://structurae.net/structures/church-of-dmitry-tsarevich-on-blood/photos

Hello all

How refreshing to have someone speak honestly about the situation within your
Diocese Cynthia. A real pity that someone didn't have the courage to clap her views.

That link is just awesome and could be the 8th Wonder of the World. Thank you.

Good morning :-)

We had a great Sunday morning service.......our celebrant and preacher was well known to us and she had been a Head Teacher before being ordained. She did not hold back as she spoke about the difference between 'need' and 'greed'.

She did not dwell on the material things of life, but on the situation we have in the deanery through shortage of clergy There were those who felt that they would liked to have stood up and applauded at the end. :-D

For today :

Whilst the holiday season is upon us, I thought it would be interesting to take a tour from our screens this week and travel the world looking at some amazing Christian churches, so fasten your seatbelts and off we go.....................

LAS LAJAS CATHEDRAL – COLUMBIA.

The fascinating thing about this place is that it was built inside the canyon where the Guitara River flows. Las Lajas Cathedral, also known as “Las Lajas Sanctuary”, is at 100 meters high from the bottom of the canyon, being connected with a 50 meters tall bridge to the other side of the ravine.

You might wonder why anyone thought to build a Cathedral in such a dangerous location. Well, history tells us that everything started from a miraculous event that happened in 1754. Then, an Amerindian woman, named Maria Mueces, and her daughter Rosa, which was deaf-mute, were caught in a powerful storm. The story says that while the two women were looking for shelter, they felt like a strong force was guiding them towards a cave, where they were able to see the image of the Virgin Mary on one of the walls. The little girl then shouted to her mother, pointing to the image. It is believed that the apparition of the Virgin Mary cured Rosa.

We thank God for those who had the vision and the skill to create such a work of art and we pray for all who worship there.

You can view this magnificent structure here...

http://unusualplaces.org/las-lajas-sanctuary-an-amazing-sight/


Cx :-)

Hello all

It is strange how the brain works when certain hymns and tunes can put us in
another place or bring others to the forefront of our mind. How strange is that?

Thanks for the reference for the sermon today Cynthia. It is a long time since
I read about the rich greedy man. It is tempting to hang on to our worldly goods,
but Luke 12 v 16-21 is a good reminder why this is not such a good idea at all.

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." (Colossians 3 v 2)

Good morning :-)


For some reason, I tend to think of Princess Diana when that hymn is sung - I think they must have had it at her funeral.


For today :
The Collect (special prayer) for today:

Let your merciful ears, O Lord,
be open to the prayers of your humble servants;
and that they may obtain their petitions
make them to ask such things as shall please you;
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.

The gospel reading is about the rich man who had so much money that he wanted to build bigger barns to hold it all….but God had other ideas for him…….
(Luke 12)


Cx :-)

Hello all

How wonderful it would be to live in peace and harmony with one another. Bliss!!

MAKE ME A CHANNEL OF YOUR PEACE

Make me a channel of your peace
Where there is hatred let me bring your love.
Where there is injury, your pardon Lord
And where there's doubt true faith in you.

Chorus
O Master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul.

Make me a channel of your peace
Where there's despair in life, let me bring hope.
Where there is darkness, only light.
And where there's sadness, ever joy.

Chorus is sung again. This was never one of my favourite hymns as I
always felt Barry the regular Organist used to play this soooo slowly
and drag the hymn out far too long.... well that is only my opinion, but
the words are humbling and thought provoking and fit in here today.

The Peace of the Lord be with you and those you love today. xxx

Good morning :-)


'Make Poverty History' - wouldn't it be wonderful if, one day, that actually happened?
We can but hope........and pray.


At the end of our week of looking at Global issues, we finish with one which is often on most minds……..Peace.

The basic Christian ideal specifies that peace can only come by the Word and love of God, which is shown in the life of Christ:

In an ideal world, Christian world peace means living and active Christian life full of all good works following the Word of God. We are shown examples of this in the Gospel especially in the Sermon on the Mount, where forgiving those who hurt us is encouraged.

Many Christians believe that world peace is expected to become apparent upon the "new earth" that is promised in Christian scripture such as Revelation 21.

We remember the words of that lovely hymn….
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.



Have a peaceful day everyone Cx :-)

Hello all

It is over 10 years now that Nelson Mandela made his famous speech in
Trafalgar Square to over 20.000 people to "Make Poverty History" I can
remember our church members individually sponsored a Christian man
from Uganda to train for the Ministry and we contributed every month
and later we also supported his wife while she trained as a teacher.
He actually came to our village on two occasions and we all felt humbled as he
spoke of the genocide that had taken place in his Country and the poverty
everyone was forced to suffer. It is easy to take things for granted until we
hear and see someone face to face, turning to God and helping his fellow man.

Nelson Mandela's message to all world leaders: (It applies to all individuals too).

"Do not look the other way; Do not hesitate.
Recognize that the world is hungry for action,
and not words. Act with courage."

Good morning :-)


Almost at the end of our week of looking at Global issues, today we look at Global poverty


World poverty is not OK with God, and it shouldn’t be OK with us. 18,000 children die every day of preventable causes, but many of us wonder if we can make a difference in the face of such a grim number.

What causes poverty? Behind the scenes are global decisions, policies, and practices. These are generally influenced or formulated by the rich and powerful - perhaps the leaders of rich countries or maybe multinational corporations, institutions and influential people.

In the face of such influences, the governments of poor nations and their people are often powerless. As a result, in the global context, a few get wealthy whilst the majority struggle.


Christ, who showed great compassion to the poor,

give us compassion toward those in poverty.

Your wish is for all of your children to live with dignity,

with adequate food, shelter, health care and education.

Help us take up your work as a community of faith

and guide us as we seek just solutions to the poverty in our midst.

Amen.


Cx :-)

Hello all

Climate change affects us all Cynthia, so thank you for reminding us today.

Spiritual and religious leaders from around the world share interfaith ongoing prayers
to try and encourage world leaders to work together to protect our planet for the future

Archbishop of Cape Town Desmond Tutu has written a prayer asking all world
leaders to act with compassion and courage on all matters regarding climate change.
We can only say Amen to his wise words and pray those will be acted upon always.

Good morning :-)


We have a set of the three wise monkeys upstairs.....I think they are orang-utans but they carry the same message.

Today’s global topic is something which affects all of us…..climate change.

Climate change is happening and it is happening very quickly and it is expected to hit the poorest people hardest.

The global temperature is rising. This will cause death due to overheating and the spread of deadly diseases.

Hurricanes and droughts are caused by climate change.

Some species of animal are becoming extinct.

If everyone in the world were to enjoy a lifestyle similar to those in the West, more than three Earth’s would be needed.

Lord, we pray for this beautiful world you have given us in all its glory. We ask that governments who are involved in climate summit meetings may be committed to making wise decisions. We pray for ourselves as we reflect on how we might adjust our own choices and lifestyles in response to these issues. Amen.


Cx :-)

Hello all

Nice to have you join us yesterday Vera, what a good idea to toilet twin with
another Country. I have never heard of that before, but I think it's a great idea.

David..... The See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil took me back to my own
childhood days where my parents had an ornament of the 3 Wise Monkeys on
the sideboard and would often show this to make a point with us children.
The world would certainly be a much better place if we all pracised this. Thanks.

Cynthia I think we are all horrified to hear the terrible news of the hostage situation and the killing of the Priest in the church in Rouen .It is just almost unbelievable
that a long serving Roman Catholic Priest should end his life in service this way.
May he Rest In Peace.

Good morning........and another morning of grim news.

However, it is lovely to hear from our friends now and again and goo to know that you are still looking in <3 I like the idea of the twinned toilets very much......


In the wake of the French priest being shockingly murdered yesterday, we look at the global issue of the Persecuted Church.
.
There are those who get self-conscious about their faith…..maybe saying “I’ll be thinking of you” when they mean “I’ll be praying for you”.

Maybe they don’t mention that they have been to church at the weekend. That is just their embarrassment, but imagine how it must be if you knew that mentioning your faith in public could result in imprisonment or even death.

Over 200 million Christians are persecuted in this way around the world.

Persecution comes in all shapes….there are those who have to meet in secret and in North Korea, over 50,000 Christians are held in prison camps and believers are regularly tortured or executed.

Lord, God, we pray that you will strengthen and protect all those who suffer for being followers of Jesus. We pray too for comfort for those who have lost loved ones or are suffering as a result of persecution. Finally, we pray for those who persecute, that their hearts may be turned towards Jesus through the faithful witness of those they persecute. Amen.


Cx :-)

In a world where violence begets violence and people harbour deep grudges
it is wise to remember the three wise monkeys.
SEE NO EVIL, HEAR NO EVIL, SPEAK NO EVIL

I haven't posted recently but I am reading the thread everyday. Some thought provoking posts lately.

Re. Cynthia's post of a couple of days ago, water is the basis of life yet so many millions do not have access to clean water, while we in the affluent parts of the world take it so much for granted. I am guilty of using far more water than I need simply because it is so easily available to me.

As for today's post about children at risk, the numbers of suffering children are mind-boggling. There is no easy answer but education must play a big part. We have to change the mindset that says it is okay to "use" children.

As a little aside that has some relevance to the above, yesterday I had lunch in the cafe connected to Bury St Edmunds cathedral. I was fascinated to learn that they have "twinned" the toilets to some in Pakistan. We all know about town twinning but I've never come across toilet twinning before! There was a box for people to donate when "spending a penny". Half the donations then go to the upkeep of the cathedral loos and the other half go towards building toilet facilities in Pakistan, mostly in schools I think. It seems that even when they are permitted to go to school many young girls drop out when they reach puberty because of the lack of suitable facilities for them. Anything that helps to keep them in education must be a good thing I think.

My thoughts tonight are with all those children who are unhappy and suffering for whatever reason.

Hello all

Amen to your prayer Cynthia.

I had a happy childhood, although material things were rationed, I was brought
up in a Christian home with siblings and a Mum and Dad who loved us and did
their very best to keep up safe and happy. Many children don't have that today.
Too many children in our world are orphaned, abandoned or destitute and scared.

Lord,
Help us to be their ears and listen to the children's cries
Help us to be a voice, speaking only love and kindness,
Help us to be their feet by walking beside those children in need.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.

Good morning :-)

I must admit that yesterday's post made me think about how much water I waste at times...... :-(


For today's global issue we are thinking about children at risk – the numbers are frightening.

As a result of war, famine or disease, there are 108 million orphaned children throughout the world

Many children are taken from their families to be used in active combat. 300,000 children are serving in armies or militia groups worldwide.

Through lack of opportunity or dropping out to support their families. 700 million children of primary age do not attend school.

Children from poor families are often victims of trafficking. This can be for sexual exploitation or to provide cheap labour. 1.2 million children are trafficked each year.


Ever-watching Father:
we pray for the suffering children whom we do not see.
We know that your eyes see their tears,
that your heart knows their sorrow,
that your hands can reach them now.
We remember that Jesus was once a child,
that poverty stole his bread,
that tyrants sought his life,
that his mother tasted tears.
Give us the wisdom to do our part,
share our possessions,
leave our comforts,
lend them our voice,
send them our food,
love them with more than prayers.
We call on you in the name of your child Jesus.
Amen.


Cx :-)

Hello all

You have me thinking about how much I take water for granted. I turn on a tap
and its there. There is no substitute for this precious resource, I should be
giving thanks to our Lord every time I turn on a tap.

"We never know the worth of water until the well runs dry." (Thomas Fuller>)