General Chat

After rain there is a rainbow
After a storm there is calm
After night, there is a morning, and
After an ending there is a new beginning.

Thinking now of all new university students beginning Freshers Week, a new beginning!

As we are in for some heavy showers over the next few days
we should remember that

Rain makes everything beautiful.

Remembering those who are in need of comfort x

Good morning :-)


Dermot, I do rather like that quote...in fact, I think I may use it quite soon..... thank you. :-D

I had a lovely 5 minutes yesterday, holding a tiny baby.....he is 15 weeks old now but is still so small. He was looking around and taking notice and fascinated by the choir members who gathered around to 'coo' over him. Awwwwwwwwww :-D


I wondered about taking a simple walk through the 10 Commandments this week. So often you hear people being very negative about these guidelines - that they are full of 'don'ts' and 'though shalt nots'........well yes, they are. If these folk just stopped and thought, surely they would realise that 'you don't steal/murder/commit adultery/ etc......are positive points... ??

There will be a response, a concluding thought and a prayer added on.

Here we go - 2 per day - think of it as 'buy one get one free' :-D

1) I am the Lord your God: you shall have no other gods but me.

Response: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.


2) You shall not make for yourself any idol.

Response: God is spirit and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.

Thought: We are warned not make idols or images in the form of God. An idol can be anything (or anyone) we worship by giving it more importance than God. If something (or someone) has our time, attention and affections, it has our worship.

Lord, help us to put you at the centre of our lives.



Prayerful support to those who are struggling at the moment. Cx :-)

Heavenly Father thank you for walking with me all day, from morning till night.
Stay with me and those I hold dear, all through this night and protect us. Forgive the things I did wrong today and remind me that you will walk again with me in the morning.
Amen.

Remembering all those who are going through bad times right now. xxx

'Catholic schools understand that religious education is not just a subject; it is a way of being'. (Excerpt from this week's 'The Tablet' - International Catholic Weekly.)

Cynthia - it's never advisable to smile at a Crocodile!

Good morning :-)


Quite often, whilst walking through town, I will smile at a stranger - they probably think I am mad........no comment. :-D

The Collect for today:

Almighty and everlasting God,
increase in us your gift of faith that,
forsaking what lies behind and reaching out to that which is before,
we may run the way of your commandments
and win the crown of everlasting joy;
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.



Sharing a smile with you all....... Cx :-)

Hello All

It is indeed good to laugh. A much better tonic that anything a doctor can prescribe.

Smiles are best given away. Walk around today and smile at someone as it just might make their day today.

A smile is happiness you will find right under your nose. (Tom Wilson)

Remembering people who can find nothing to smile about today. xxx

Good morning... :-)

A couple of smiles for a gloomy morning.....

Everybody knew the roof was leaking, but the church kept putting off replacement. Finally some areas of the ceiling in the sanctuary began to sag. They called a congregational meeting. A very wealthy member rose and pledged £3000 toward fixing the roof. Just then a small piece of the ceiling fell and hit him on the head. Somebody in the back of the church said, "Hit him again, Lord!"


The strongman at a circus squeezed the juice from a lemon between his hands. He then said to the audience, "I will offer £200 to anyone in the audience who can squeeze another drop from this lemon. A thin scholarly looking woman came forward, picked up the lemon, strained hard and managed to get a drop. The strongman was amazed. He paid the woman and asked, "What is the secret of your strength?" "Practice," the woman answered. "I was the treasurer of a parish church for thirty-two years!


Loving God
We thank you for the things in life that make us laugh,
The things that bring a smile to our faces
We thank you for a sense of humour
Helping us to see the funny side of life
Even when it is on ourselves.
We thank you for those with the special gift
Of bringing laugher to others
And bringing a little light relief
Into the seriousness of our world.
Amen.


Love to all Cx :-)

Good Morning All

Today 2nd October is the feast day of the Guardian Angels. A comforting thought accepting Guardian Angels around to protect and support us in times of distress.

This feast day began as far back as 1500 by Franciscan Order. Many Catholic churches set up altars in honour of Guardian Angels as early as the 4th Century
This feast day is also recognized and celebrated by some Anglo-Catholic churches

Several years ago I used to regularly attend monthly Christian ladies meetings for Praise and Worship. One of the Leaders told us she often saw Angels.... hmm??
More than once during our meetings Shirley would describe the Angels she could see in the room....... more than once pure white fluffy feathers were found on the floor... I now believe in Angels. Shirley convinced quite a lot of ladies they were real.

Angel of God, my Guardian dear
To whom His love, commits me here
Ever this day, be at my side
To light and guard, to rule and guide.
Amen.

Remembering all people who feel alone and anxious today. xxx

Good morning :-)


Ollie is simply gorgeous Emma......love the look on his face :-D


For today:

A Sunday school teacher asked her class, "What was Jesus' mother's name?"
They all knew. "Mary," they answered in unison.
The teacher then asked, "Does anyone know what Jesus' father's name was?"
A little kid shot up his hand and said, "Verge."
The teacher asked, "Where did you get that?"
The little kid said, "You know, Verge n' Mary.

--------------------------

Lord, we thank you for our family
For the talents and good things that you have given each of us
Please guide us, protect us and equip us
This day and every day
As we grow together in Your love.
Amen.


Praying for families who lives are in turmoil........Cx :-)

Yes kandj that is him, four weeks old
and putting on weight every week.
We are truly blessed x

Hello All

Cynthia I agree it's good to spend time with special friends who you can relax and pick up chatter even if you haven't seen one another for a long time.

Emma, is that gt grandson baby Ollie?....... he is a little cutie and you are blessed.

The 90 Stress-Free Days book is in the car ready to take to the charity shop. I just hope that someone will enjoy reading daily suggestions more than I have.

Remembering those who will have no one to speak to today. xxx

Love those little snippets you come up with Cynthia :-)

Well it's goodbye to September,
hello October.
Lovely to see the colours changing all around us. x

Good morning :-)


We had a lovely visit from old friends yesterday and it's good when you can just pick up where you left off. We haven't seen them for ages but it was as though it had been just a few days ago. :-D


How about some relaxation with a smile? :-D


Top Ten hymns for the older generation……


Just a (slower) Walk with Thee

Go Tell It on the Mountain, (but speak up)

Here I am Lord (but not sure where)

Nobody Knows the Trouble I Have (seeing)

Guide Me O Thou great Redeemer (I've forgotten where I've parked the car)

It Is Well With My Soul (but my knees hurt)

Be Thou My Vision (I need to go to Specsavers)

O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing (my teeth are soaking in a glass)

Peace perfect peace (I’ve taken my hearing aid out)

I Cannot Tell (where I am supposed to be)

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Lord Jesus,
As the new day dawns, we arise with your spirit amongst us.
We remember your resurrection morning and give you praise,
for you are our Lord.
We long to be with you this day and thank you with our voices,
our hearts, and our lives.
Amen.





Thanking God for the generations of folk who have kept the faith alive. Cx :-)

Hello All

Yes, I can see the connection Cynthia...... but a different kind of PULSES ha ha

FEEL GOOD TO YOURSELF........... CALM AND SERENE (Day 6)

The reading for today suggests;

Remaining calm and poised is one key factor to feeling good.
A way of remaining CALM AND SERENE is to practise consistently,
day after day and hour after hour. Take yourself to a quiet place and practise one hour x twice a day as well as consistently throughout the day......??? In my dreams!!

I have decided that this book is definitely not for me. At this present moment in time the suggestions are just not doable..... except maybe in my dreams ha ha.

Remembering all in need of prayerful support today. xxx

Good morning :-)


I think I mis-read your post at first kandj......my mind immediately sprang to lentils! :-D


Another smile for today:


A child’s explanation.
'Every day in the desert, God fed the Israel lights some manicotti. He gave them His "Top Ten" commandments. They were things like: don't lie, don't cheat, don't dance, don't smoke, don't covet your neighbour's stuff (whatever that means). He also told them to humour their fathers and mothers.'

----------------------------------------------
Gracious God, thank you for the privilege and pleasure of children.
Thank you for what they represent both for the present and the future and what they give us as they explore life and make their discoveries.
Help us to slow down, to pause and make a moment.
Help us to share their world and enjoy their wonder.
Help us to walk at their speed and find it's your speed, and so lead us together into life and joy in the company of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen.



Thinking of those who are caring for children today.....Cx :-)

Hello All

Cynthia that must have been good to sit and relax with friends before going into school and the sunshine would have been a bonus for you all.

Day 5 of the Stress-Free suggestions in the book are

FEEL GOOD TO YOURSELF...... FEEL PULSES. A bit strange I think but it suggests we should feel the pulses in various parts of our body and notice the warmth and pleasant feeling of life flowing around our bodies.

Can't say that I am very comfortable with this book. Not surprising that I have never read beyond Chapter 3 in all the years that it has sat in the bookcase. I have decided to stick to 7 days and then pass the book over to the village charity shop.
Hopefully someone else may well benefit from this much more than I am.

Thinking now of all who await body scan appointments at this time. xxx

Good morning :-)

It's very hard to relax at times because it seems as though there is always something which needs doing.

Yesterday, I went to our school because the bishop was presenting the Church School award and I have been helping. When I got there, 3 of my friends from church were talking outside and, because we were early, we sat in the sunshine for a while just idly chatting. I found that to be a pleasant relaxing 10 minutes.... :-)

Talking of children........

'Moses was the next important man. His real name was Charlton Heston. Moses led the Israel lights out of Egypt because of the bad Pharaoh. God sent ten plagues on the Egyptians. Some of the plagues were mice, frogs, bugs, lice and no cable.'


------------------------------------


A prayer of Moses the man of God.
Lord, you have been our dwelling place
throughout all generations.
Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.


With love, Cx :-)

Cynthia, many must have looked in awe at the Blood Moon in the early hours of this morning. It was far too late for us to think about watching this marvelous event, but we were both amazed at the splendor of a huge bright moon before we went to bed.

Day 4 of the Stress-Free Living book suggests RELAXATION as a way of coping with stressful situations. It is recommended that spending an hour in daily relaxation is good for the body, mind and soul......... well I can't argue with that, but some of us don't have an hour to call our own each day...... perhaps 10-15 mins would do???

Remembering in prayer all who are in hospital wards facing an operation. xxx

Good morning :-)

I agree kandj,, I have never found Back to Church Sunday particularly effective either. The trouble is, I think, that the church tends to bend over backwards in order to appear 'trendy' and, in doing so, they bend into a complete circle and end up back where they started. I'm not sure that church 'trendiness' actually appeals to the non church goer to be honest. Hey ho. :-D


For today:

An atheist scientist came to God and said, "We've figured out how to make a man without you."
God said, "OK, let me see you do it."
So the atheist bent down to the ground and scooped up a handful. But God stopped him and said, "Oh, no you don't. Get your own dirt!"

------------------

In your time, Creator God
this world was put in place
and in your time
became beautiful
through the craftsmanship of your love.
Remind us always
as we look at sunrise
landscape or tiny child
to look beyond the artist brush
or created thing
to the artist and creator.
Amen.


Continuing to hold friends in prayer Cx :-)