General Chat

Did a post earlier today and stupidly immediately deleted it. My own fault for not concentrating on what I was doing.

What a shame you couldn't make the church lunch Cynthia. Hopefully you will get there next time. Are they held regularly?

Pat, that was an interesting post about the Orthodox religion and Easter.. Thank you.

We had heavy snow overnight as well (I am in Yorkshire at the moment). I was just getting up at 6.45 this morning when granddaughter came in to say that she had a text from her father saying her school was closed. That was a bit confusing as he is in West Africa :-S He then phoned me to say the automatic system at the school had sent a text to his mobile. So the message came from a mile up the road to us via Africa :-D

Snow soon turned to heavy rain and that has been with us ever since so the roads are now wet and slushy and could be very icy later. I think there is still snow on the moors and higher up.

At the moment I have a few teenagers playing a noisy game in the living room and a big pot of bolognese bubbling on the stove ready to feed them. I had forgotten what it was like to have a house full of teens. But they are such a nice bunch and it is lovely to hear granddaughter laughing so much with friends as she has had a couple of traumatic years. Sadly my son's problems are ongoing.

I am thinking specially today of those with hearing and visual loss and also those whose work means they have to be on the roads whatever the conditions

Good morning :-)



Arrrgghhhh we have that awful white stuff this morning so that's snookered us for going out for our lunch at church...........grrr :-(

Another simple prayer for today..............


Lord God,
I pray for my prayer life to become vibrant
And strong in this season of Lent.
I pray that your voice, even though a whisper,
Would ring loud and true in my life.
I pray for the courage and boldness to follow
Wherever you lead, to love and serve whomever
And however you invite me.



Cx :-)

Hello all

Nice and simple words for Lent Cynthia, just the way I like it (don't always get simple)

Carrying on with the book I have chosen to read throughout the 40 days of Lent.
The Purpose Driven Life written by Rick Warren. This is me doing something extra for Lent, rather than giving something up! Quite difficult finding the time to be honest.

Chapter 23: How We Grow.
We are not meant to remain as children. God wants us to
grow up like Christ, in everything.
(Ephesians 4: 14-15. The Message Bible)

Praying for the Calais crisis and distressed migrants today. xxx

Good morning :-)


Thank you for that insight Pat - it was fascinating. I find the Greek Orthodox church rituals very interesting and usually extremely colourful whenever I see pictures or articles relating to their traditions.

I must admit the thought of eating snails doesn't really appeal and then the thought of A & E bursting at the seams after Easter is over, is unbelievable. Dear oh dear.... :-)



For today, a simple prayer in the form of an acrostic of the word LENT


Learn to lean on God in all things.

Eagerly seek God’s guidance at all times.

Never lose hope – stay strong in the faith.

Trust in God’s will – you will flourish under his care!


Cx :-)

Hello all

Rain, wind, snow and sun..... what a variety, and that is all in one day.
Vera is going to find it very different from sunny Madeira in England.

So sorry Cynthia, your whole family appear to be doing penance right now

An interesting look on how other Countries observe church festivals. Thanks Pat.

Chapter 22: Created to Become Like Christ.
As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and
more like him and reflect his glory even more.
(2 Corinthians 3 :18 New Living Translation.)

Remembering those who are coping with a bereavement today. xxx

Lent and Easter this year are at a different time here to UK. Easter sometimes coincide but Lent is always longer.

Clean/Green Monday or Ash Monday is 14th March. It's a public holiday, the weekend before the houses will be cleaned and a lot of cooking done. The families get together on the Monday and lots of food eaten. Kite flying is also done.

Next day Lent starts and for the religious they have weeks of very restricted eating. No animal products except molluscs. That means lots of people looking for the edible snail in the areas near us. Once caught the snails are fed on parsley for a few days before they are cooked.

We will be able to get meat at a reduced price to get rid of it. It is however noticeable that less Cypriots are keeping to the food rules during Lent.

Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Passover according to the bible. This years Passover is 22nd - 30th April so Easter here is the end of Passover with Easter Sunday being the 1st May.

On Easter Saturday there is a service which ends at midnight and then bonfires are lit and fireworks set off. This is to welcome the Light of the World returning.

Sunday is early service then eat lamb day. We don't go shopping the end of this week as the world and his wife are there with trolleys full of meat. After all the limited food during Lent the over indulgence means A and E are overwhelmed with stomach problems.

Easter out here is always tied to the Jewish Passover so it's late this year and Whit Sunday is 19th June.

Good morning :-)


I hope Vera has arrived home safely and has enjoyed her holiday. Loved the description of the crowded church service :-)

My back has settled a lot but I am still having difficulties with the sciatic nerve at times.
My husband has come out in sympathy with a bad knee and my daughter fainted on Sunday. All in all...................party time!!!! :-S


For today, a short poem by a famous English Poet to help us on our Lenten journey. Christina is also famous for writing the Christmas carol...in the Bleak Midwinter.

Lent, by Christina Rossetti

It is good to be last not first,
Pending the present distress;
It is good to hunger and thirst,
So it be for righteousness.
It is good to spend and be spent,
It is good to watch and to pray:
Life and Death make a goodly Lent
So it leads us to Easter Day.



Love to all Cx :-)

Hello all

Hoping everyone from Wales has had a good day today.
Thank you for the history of St David, Patron Saint of Wales Cynthia.

Continuing on a journey in faith during this Lenten Season.

Chapter 21: Protecting Your Church.
So then, we must always aim at those things that bring us peace
and that help strengthen one another.
(Romans 14:19 Good News Translation)

Remembering all in need of prayerful support tonight.

Good morning :-)


Special greeting to friends in Wales on this St. David's Day.

St David, the patron saint of Wales and also of doves was born to Sant, a prince of Cardigan, and St Non, the daughter of a chieftain in around 500 AD.

He studied under St Paulinus in Cardigan, before he went on pilgrimages, travelling to Wales, Cornwall, Britanny, Ireland and Jerusalem, where he was made an archbishop.

He helped to spread the word of Christianity, and he founded around 12 monastaries in his lifetime. These monastaries were known for their extreme asceticism, where monks abstained from worldly pleasures, living on a diet of bread, vegetables, water and milk.

While little is known about St David's life, he is known for performing miracles. His most famous miracle was when he was preaching to a large crowd at the Synod of Brefi and raised the ground beneath him into a hill so his sermon could be heard by all.

St David is thought to have died on March 1, 589 AD, and his remains were buried in St David's Cathedral in Pembrokeshire, which was a popular place of pilgrimage after he was canonised in 1120 AD.

During his last sermon his words to his followers were: "Be joyful, and keep your faith and your creed. Do the little things that you have seen me do and heard about. I will walk the path that our fathers have trod before us."

"Do the little things" has become a well-known inspirational saying in Wales.




Hope all are well. Cx :-)

Gremlins indeed Vera but here I am back again on day 20.... half way through Lent.
Could be an interesting time ahead in your church Cynthia.
Thank you for the Lenten Journey link. Food for thought methinks.

Chapter 20 Restoring Broken Fellowships.
God has restored our relationship with him
through Christ, and has given us this ministry
of restoring relationships.
(2 Corinthians 5 :18. Gods Word Translation)

Thinking of families who are coping with fall-outs right now. xxx

Good morning :-)

I thought it was strange not to see a post from you kandj and hoped everything was okay. Good to see you again :-D

It was a lovely morning at church and our new Archdeacon seems very nice, but it's really strange hearing an American accent from the pulpit!! :-D


So we continue our Lenten journey - remembering that we are still in the desert with Jesus....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApVRGHoeH9w



Love to all. Cx :-)

I think the gremlins have got in the works again Kandj. My last post on the garden thread has also disappeared though it was definitely there late last night.

I hope you managed to get to church today Cynthia. We have been on a coach tour round a part of Madeira we haven't visited before. The coach stopped in a village near the church. A service was taking place and the church was so full that the service was being relayed by television to a small crowd outside who couldn't get in. It was amazing to see nearly all the village there.

Tomorrow we are going home and I am thinking how fortunate I am to have a good home, so tonight my thoughts are with those who are homeless.

Hello all

My posting from yesterday has disappeared........... very strange???

Two chapters from The Purpose Driven Life book by Rick Warren for today then.

Chapter 18. Experiencing Life Together.
Share each others troubles and problems, and in
this way obey the law of Christ.
(Galatians 6 : 2 New Living Translation.)

And today's reading from the book on day 19 of Lent.

Chapter 19. Cultivating Community
You can develop a healthy, robust community
that lives right with God, and enjoy its results
only if you do the hard work of getting along with
each other, treating each other with dignity and honour.
(James 3 v 18 The Message Bible.)

Lovely to have you popping in Emma.

Hope you manage church this morning Cynthia to welcome everyone new.

Remembering those people who will be on their own today. xxx

Good morning :-)

Hoping to make it to church today as we are welcoming our new Lay Reader and our new Archdeacon who hails from Virginia!! Could be interesting!

The Collect (special prayer for today)

Almighty God,
whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain,
and entered not into glory before he was crucified:
mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross,
may find it none other than the way of life and peace;
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.


Praying all are well. Cx :-)

Cynthia pleased to read that you are improving
and hope it's not too long before you are back
to full health. x

Good morning :-)

My back pain has definitely eased although my leg is still not quite right, but we press onwards and upwards.


A thoughtful morning during our Lenten journey.....


Forgive those things we have done
which have caused you sadness,
and those things we should have done
that would have brought you joy.
In both we have failed
ourselves,
and you.
Bring us back to that place
where our journey began,
when we said that we would follow
the way that you first trod.
Lead us to the Cross
and meet
us there.



Love to all Cx :-)

Hello all

Cynthia I hope your back is still more comfortable for you now.

Vera, the lady on the bus must have felt the need to share her worries with you.
Madeira is a lovely place for her to have the rest and relaxation that she now needs.
Lovely to have you pop in Vera, enjoy your sunny holiday. It's cold back here!

Day 17 of Lent and I am happy to share a part of my book, The Purpose Driven Life written by Rick Warren a founding Pastor of Saddleback Church in California.

Chapter 17. A Place To Belong.
Now therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellow citizens with the Saints, and of the household of God.
(Ephesians 2 : 19. King James Version.)

Thinking now of all who anxiously await medical test results. xxx

Good morning :-)


Oooooh....Madeira.....how lovely for you Vera. Have a great time...... <3


A thoughtful day today...


A Litany for Lent

God, all-loving and all-caring,
We come before you with hesitant steps and uncertain motives
Our hearts are parched from wandering in a desert of sin.

We want to sweep out the corners where sin has accumulated
And uncover the places where we have strayed from your truth
Our hearts are parched from wandering in a desert of sin.

We ask for courage to open our eyes and unstop our ears
That we may be aware of all that distracts us from a whole-hearted commitment to Christ
Our hearts are parched from wandering in a desert of sin.

We want to see ourselves as you do and live our lives as you intended
Expose in us the empty and barren places where we have not allowed you to enter
Our hearts are parched from wandering in a desert of sin.

Reveal to us our half-hearted struggles,
Where we have been indifferent to the pain and suffering of others
Our hearts are parched from wandering in a desert of sin.

Create in us a clean heart, O God, and put a right Spirit within us
Nurture the faint stirrings of new life where your spirit has taken root and begun to grow
Our hearts are parched from wandering in a desert of sin.

We long for your healing light to transform us into the image of your Son,
For you alone can bring new life and make us whole
In your mercy, shine upon us, O God, and make our path clear before us.


Love to all Cx :-)

I am just catching up with posts. Haven't been on for a few days as I am lucky enough to be in Madeira at the moment.

I am so glad that your back is now improving Cynthia. Nothing worse than back pain.

Kandj, 1 Corinthians 13 was always read in assembly at school on the first and last day of every term so it always seems very personal to me.

On the bus in Madeira today I met an English lady who was there to recuperate from a major operation for cancer and all the attendant chemotherapy and other treatment. This was the second time she had been through it in five years and she wasn't very optimistic about her future. Therefore tonight I am thinking specially of those undergoing treatment for serious illnesses. May they have the strength to face whatever their future holds.

Hello all

Loving your walk around the garden today Cynthia, much more relaxing that in reality.

A beautiful bright dry sunny morning here in Yorkshire. Yesterday we had snow??!!!

Chapter 16. What Matters Most.
Even if I give away everything that I have and sacrifice myself, but
have no love, I gain nothing.
(1 Corinthians 13:3. International Standard Version.)

Thinking of those who feel unloved and unworthy, may they find comfort today. xxx