General Chat

Morning Cynthia and kandj, popping in like I do
everyday to read your posts.

I would like to thank you and tell you how much I appreciate
the time you give to this thread. xx

Good morning :-)

What awful pictures from Cumbria and all those affected by the floods.....so sad to watch.

A prayer to help us through Advent..


You challenge us this Advent time
This season of preparation
To put aside our pride
And understand our need
For repentance
Forgiveness
And mercy
Less of self
More of you
Preparation for our journey
To the stable and beyond
Purify our hearts
Sanctify our lives
That we might serve you
Faithfully this day and all days. Amen


Hope all our readers are well........ Cx :-)

Hello all

I hope that your husband is having a better day today Cynthia.

We could all do with more peace in our lives and in the world at this moment in time.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14 v 27 NIV).

Good morning :-)

My OH almost made it to church yesterday but, at the last minute, just as I was about to open the front door, he went into 'frozen' mode. Off came his coat and back to the chair he went. I knew he would sleep for a while and would be okay once he 'came round', so I went to pick my daughter up. He was fine when we came home.........but this is why we can never plan anything.

As kandj says, the 2nd Advent candle was lit yesterday.........Peace.



“I Have Come to Bring You Peace”


I have come to bring you peace.

Not the peace of the season, for it is too fleeting,

Not the peace of the carol, for it is too nostalgic,

Not the peace of the greeting card, for it is too slick,

Not the peace of the crib, for it is too wistful.

Rather, I have come to bring you peace,

Peace of the ordinary, the daily, the homely,

Peace for the worker, the driver, the student,

Peace in the office, the kitchen, the farm.



We pray for all those who would like peace in their hearts today. Cx :-)

Hello all. Wishing a happy 2nd week of Advent to everyone.

Two candles now alight with HOPE and PEACE

Heavenly Father
We pray for PEACE in our community today,
We pray for an end to fear and and suffering.
Bring a calmness in our streets and cities
So we all may go about our lives in safety and PEACE.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.

Continuing to uphold others in prayerful support. xxx

Good morning :-)

What dreadful weather some people are experiencing.....prayers needed indeed.

Today in church, we will be lighting the Second Advent Candle – the Candle of Peace. We remember the prophets who foretold the birth of Jesus.

The Collect for today:

O Lord,
raise up, we pray, your power and come among us,
and with great might succour us; that whereas,
through our sins and wickedness we are grievously hindered
in running the race that is set before us,
your bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us;
Amen.


Cx :-)

Hello all

Real food for thought with your list Cynthia. I already can tick 4 so still room
for improvement (as always).

The first Advent candle symbolizes HOPE and anticipation for Christ's birth.

"We obtain from God as much as we HOPE for"
(St Theresa of Lisieux)

Remembering the people in Cumbria who have been evacuated from their homes because of flooding and storm damage. xxx

Good morning :-)


Love the Hope words kandj. Thank you. :-)

As we come to the end of the first aspect of Advent - hope, it may be an idea to think of how we can bring hope to others.

• Visit a care home and hand out homemade cakes
• Write a letter to a family friend or some troops stationed overseas.
• Buy a small gift for a child in the long-term care wing of the children’s ward, and bring a bouquet of flowers for his/her mother.
• Clean out your toy boxes and donate good quality items to a charity shop
• Raid the pantry for canned goods to donate to a foodbank
• Take some doggie treats to your local shelter.
• Offer your support to a charity serving the homeless

The candle of HOPE

Hope for the hopeless and hope for the lost.
No matter the price, whatever the cost.
Jesus has come and was willing to pay
being born as a babe that first Christmas day.
Hope that's a certainty, hope that is sure.
Though the earth is shaken we are secure.
Trusting in Jesus and safe in His care.
Knowing that He's with us and always there.


Take care in this stormy weather everyone........Cx :-)

Hello all

How disappointing not to have the family photographs Cynthia. Next time perhaps?

Echoing Vera's thoughts for all who are struggling today for whatever reason.

It's sometimes hard to find hope in a dark place, as most of us already know.

H.....hold
O.....on
P......pain
E.....ends.

Thinking of all in need of prayerful support today. xxx

I am sure you were pleased to see your cousin, with or without photos, but what a shame he didn't remember them. I was thrilled recently when one of my cousins gave me a copy of a photo she had come across. It was our grandparents with 3 of their children - her father, my mother and their older sister. I had never seen a picture of our grandfather who died before my mother married and the earliest photo I have seen of my mum is one of her aged about 30 so it was great to see what she was like as a child.

As I start another busy day I am thinking of those who are facing today in fear or worry and those who, at this Advent time, can see no light at the end of their particular tunnel.

Good morning :-)


Would you believe it? He forgot the photos!!!! He told me he was halfway up the M6 and suddenly realised he had left them behind. Grrrr.... Once I had chewed his ear off, I forgave him.... it's a good job we have a great relationship! :-D


Continuing our journey through Advent ....

God’s people – the Candle of Hope.

All-powerful God,
help us to look forward in hope
to the coming of our Saviour.
May we live as he taught,
ready to welcome him with burning love and faith.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen


My love to all. Cx :-)

My thoughts and prayers for those who are
once again putting their lives at risk so that
we can live in peace, also thinking of their families. x

Hello all

Cynthia your cousins visit sounds good and the family photographs a real bonus.

Continuing the Advent theme is this old hymn with meaningful words. I used to sing this one as a child in the village Methodist chapel which was demolished long ago.
There are other verses. This first verse is sung on the first Advent Sunday service.

LIGHT A CANDLE FOR JESUS THE KING

Light a candle for Jesus the King.
Lift up your voices today and joyfully sing,
He'll come in majesty, salvation to bring;
He'll come for everyone, so welcome him
Watch for him,
Wait for him.
Light a candle for Jesus the King,
Joyfully sing.

Thinking of those who are coping with dark days right now. xxx

Good morning :-)


On Sunday in church, we lit the first candle in our Advent Wreath…….

The Advent Wreath is the widely recognized symbol of Advent and is made of a circle of evergreen branches laid flat to symbolize eternal life.

Four candles stand in the circle and each one represents one of the four Sundays of Advent.

In the centre of the circle is a fifth candle (traditionally white), the Christ Candle, which is lit on Christmas Day.

The circle of the wreath reminds Christians of God, His eternity and endless mercy, which has no beginning or end.

The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that Christians have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life.

The four traditional advent themes for the four advent Sundays are:

1. God's people - The Candle of Hope

2. The Old Testament Prophets - the Candle of Peace

3. John the Baptist - the Candle of Love

4. Mary the mother of Jesus - the Candle of Joy

5. The centre candle - the birth of Christ - the Light of the World.

Lord Jesus Christ, light of the world, be with us on our journey through Advent, that we may know you better.
Amen.



We're expecting a visit today from one of my two remaining cousins. He lives down south and so we don't see him very often. He is bringing a box of family photos which his mother - who is now in a nursing home - has had for a long time. I am looking forward to going through them and making copies of any I am interested in. Should keep me quiet for quite a long time :-D


Remembering friends in prayer. Cx :-)

Hello all

It is good to be reminded about the Advent weeks leading up to Christmas Day.

Advent is all about finding lightness in our darkest days.

Advent is a good time to clear the clutter from our rooms and make way for the light and brightness of the Christmas tree and decorations we use each year.
Advent is also a good time to clear up the dark negative thoughts that are cluttering up the corners of our hearts and minds. Remember the joy and grace of this Season

"Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the Light"
(Helen Keller).

Good morning :-)

During Advent, we not only prepare ourselves to celebrate the birth of Jesus, but we also check in to see if we are doing all the things that will keep us ready to receive Jesus when he comes again.

Talk to your family about how you are doing in attending to your spiritual life as a family.

Recommit yourselves to praying daily, reading Scripture, and staying faithful to God’s commandments.

Pray together that through this Advent season your family will be more prepared to receive Jesus when he comes again.

God of Love,
Your son, Jesus, is your greatest gift to us.
He is a sign of your love.
Help us walk in that love during the weeks of Advent,
As we wait and prepare for his coming.
We pray in the name of Jesus, our Saviour.
Amen.


Cx :-)

Hello all

Thanks Cynthia for that meaningful poem during the first week of Advent.

Today is 1st December and it is World Aids Day. Many choose to wear a red ribbon which is the universal symbol of awareness and support for those living with HIV.

Terrence Higgins Trust which was formed in 1982 is a British charity that campaigns on various issues related to Aids and particularly HIV.

Praying today for all men and women, boys and girls who are living with HIV. xxx

Good morning :-)

I thought that, during Advent, we would look at various readings to help us prepare for Christmas in a thoughtful way.


‘Today is Advent Sunday,’ the preacher said,
‘Let us turn our thoughts to the celebration of Messiah’s birth!’
‘Praise the Lord!’ my spiritual self replied,
While the other self said in pained aside,
‘Today is the beginning of “MADvent” – and I dread to think
Of the chaos of the next few weeks!’

But today I’m here in worship –
At least for this brief hour I can look forward,
Beyond the frills and trimmings so essential to our festivities,
To visualise that chilly yet warm event at Bethlehem.
My mind sees first the plastic figures in a mass-produced crib,
With haloes like dinner-plates behind every head.
How brain-washed have I become in this senseless society?
I KNOW Christmas is more than that!
Lord, make it real for me.

‘Today is Advent Sunday’, the preacher repeated.
‘Will this Christmas be special for you?’
‘Praise the Lord, it will be!’ my heart replied.
My other self has at last joined us to decide
To put Jesus at the top of our daily Advent list
In the excitement of the next few weeks!
- Ruth Russell


Continuing to remember friends in prayer. Cx :-)

Hello all

Happy Saint Andrew's Day to all on GR with Scottish roots.

The flag of Scotland has a white diagonal cross on a blue background.
The white cross represents the cross of the patron saint of Scotland, St Andrew.
This flag is called the Saltire or the Saint Andrew's Cross.

Now I leaned these words when I was in the Girl Guides over 60 years ago and it is as clear in my mind today as it was all those many years ago back then.

Thinking of all who feel down in the dumps today. xxx

Good morning :-)


Today is St.Andrew's Day - a very special day for those who have Scottish roots. :-)


Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, Greece and Russia and was Christ's first disciple.

In Greek Andrew means 'manly'. St. Andrew's biographical details are simple: he was born between AD 5 and AD 10 in Bethsaida, the principal fishing port of Palestine. His parents were Jona and Joanna; his brother was Simon. Jona, along with his business-partner and friend Zebedee and his sons James and John, was a fisherman.

In Greece, Andrew forced his way through a forest inhabited by wolves, bears and tigers. Finally, in Patras, he was given the choice of being offered as a sacrifice to the gods or being scourged and crucified. By his own request the cross was diagonal. He, like his brother Peter, felt himself unworthy to be crucified on the upright cross of Christ.

Saint Andrew was a 'networker' - a fisherman but also the one who brought the Gentiles (non-Jews) to Jesus and preached about him as far as the Black Sea.


Wishing everyone a happy day Cx :-)