General Chat

We will remember them.

On this special anniversary day :



THE FALLEN

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall not grow old, as we who are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We shall remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night.

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

Laurence Binyon

Good morning :-)

Goodness me, what a busy thread this has been. It was so lovely to open it this morning and see the wonderful and inspiring words and thoughts posted here. Thank you so much.

Exams and school leavers have been very much in my mind lately because our granddaughter left high school this week. It seems no time at all since we were so overawed by this beautiful baby who had come into the world, and now, she stands on the threshold of adult hood bless her. John, beware. They grow up so very quickly..... :-)


Our church continues to be a popular venue for baptisms, and we are now booking into November. I led the baptism preparation class again last night, and did my best to give these young parents a grasp of the serious nature of the promises they are about to make. Some of them look so young and vulnerable - not much older than our granddaughter in fact. Bringing the excitement of the faith to these youngsters is not easy in an hour..... :-)

Following on the theme of our school children, and thinking of those who are soon to leave school, the following prayer is an adapted version of the prayer by St. Francis de Sales.....


Father
Help us to not look forward in fear
to the changes in life;
Rather, may we look to the future with full hope,
because as changes arise,
you will lead us safely through all things,
because we are your very own,
and when we cannot stand it,
You will carry us in Your arms.

With you,
we shall not fear what may happen tomorrow;
because you are the understanding Father
who cares for us today,
and who will care for us tomorrow and every day.

We have faith, O Lord,
That you will either shield us from suffering,
or give us unfailing strength to bear it.
Put us at peace,
and give us the grace
to put aside all anxious thoughts and images.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ,
Your Son, and Our Lord. Amen

- Adapted by David Bennett


Remembering kandj and all who need our prayers.

Cx :-)

Pentecost and Shavuot are lovely words, Elizabeth. Thankyou very much for that.

Pentecost is Ancient Greek for "the fiftieth (day)"). It is also the Greek name for the Feast of Weeks, a prominent feast in the calendar of ancient Israel celebrating the giving of the Law on Sinai. This feast is still celebrated in Judaism as Shavuot, as you have clarified.

In England in Christianity, Pentecost was usually called White Sunday (or Whit Sunday) and followed with a Bank Holiday on Monday. In these more inclusive religious times, we share Pentecost with our Jewish friends who celebrate Shavuot.

White Sunday/Savuot/Pentecost marks the day when 3000 Jews were added to the small number of Christian Jews (perhaps a couple of hundred only) who had met in Jerusalem to celebrate the life, the death and the resurrection from death (7 weeks before - approximately 50 days) of Rabbi Jesus of Nasareth, who had been executed by the Roman punishment of crucifixion at the behest of the Jewish rulers of that day.

Churches and synagogues tend to be well attended during this momentous weekend.

Christians believe the Church of Jesus Christ was born at Pentecost on day following the Jewish Sabboth. That is why we have met since every Sunday for 2,000 years all over the world.

In Wales it is Sul Gwyn (Sul = Sunday, gwyn = white).

Dear All

Hello

A small prayer for our children:

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

CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE:


"If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.


If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.


If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.


If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty.


If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.


If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence.


If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.


If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.


If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.


If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.


If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
he learns to find love in the world".

Amen.

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

This prayer is lovingly dedicated to children everywhere in the world.


Take gentle care all
Best wishes
Elizabeth,
xx

Dear All

Hello


A couple of prayers for our young people as they take exams:

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AGAINST STRESS

"In this exam time, dear Lord,

Keep me focused, but also relaxed,

Do not let me become stressed.

Please protect my sleep, and give me rest,

send me safely into each exam with the right energy".

Amen

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


ON AN EXAM DAY

"Thank you that, whatever the outcome today,

I know you have a plan for my life,

Please take my achievements and failures

And weave them into something amazing for you.

I hope for success today, but much more than that,

My desire is to become the person you want me to be".

Amen.

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

Take gentle care all
With very best wishes
Elizabeth,
xx

Thanks, John.

Light is so much more wonderful when you meditate about the source. Wonderful post, Sue.

I went to a Mother Julian of Norwich Quiet Day recently and we watched a video that really impressed me. Apparently, every time we breathe in and out we say God's name. I do now believe that we say God's name in every breath we take. Looking for a link to video, but unsuccessful (and about 17 minutes). Below is an explanation of YHWH by Simon Gray, who I think is an American singer.

"I heard a teaching not long ago about the moment when Moses had the nerve to ask God what his name is. God was gracious enough to answer, and the name he gave is recorded in the original Hebrew as YHWH.

Over time we’ve arbitrarily added an “a” and an “e” in there to get YaHWeH, presumably because we have a preference for vowels. But scholars have noted that the letters YHWH represent breathing sounds, aspirated consonants that in the Hebrew alphabet would be transliterated like this:

Yod, rhymes with “rode”, which we transliterate “Y”
He, rhymes with “say”, which we transliterate “H”
Vav, like “lava”, which we transliterate “V” or “W”
He rhymes with “say”, which we transliterate “H”

A wonderful question rises to excite the imagination: what if the name of God is the sound of breathing?"

I had a glimpse of light today, as I walked home in bright sunshine.

The gable end of a metal outbuilding caught the sunlight and it
reminded me how wonderful light and reflections are.

Light was one of the first things to be made, according to the Creation Story.

The end of the outbuilding had appeared briefly as a triangle of dazzling white light:
three sides like a three-in-one God.

The more reflective surfaces that there are around, the more light we see,
the more beautiful everything is.

Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.
Psalm 119 v105 (NIV)

Good morning :-)


I have a busy day ahead of me, so a quick visit.


When we are going through dark times
give us, O God, glimpses of light.
May we never lose our hope and trust in you.
Help us to remember that, however hard the path, however dark the tunnel,
at the end of it is the light of your love beckoning us on. Amen.

- Anne Brown


Remembering kandj and all who need our prayers.

Enjoy your day....Cx :-)

Thank you Cynthia, beautiful words <3

Good morning :-)


Like many of you, I am so very grateful for the friendships I have formed over the years, so I thought I would share this with you this morning :



A Golden Chain

Friendship is a Golden Chain,
The links are friends so dear,
And like a rare and precious jewel
It's treasured more each year...

It's clasped together firmly
With a love that's deep and true,
And it's rich with happy memories
and fond recollections, too...

Time can't destroy its beauty
For, as long as memory lives,
Years can't erase the pleasure
That the joy of friendship gives...

For friendship is a priceless gift
That can't be bought or sold,
But to have an understanding friend
Is worth far more than gold...

And the Golden Chain of Friendship
Is a strong and blessed tie
Binding kindred hearts together
As the years go passing by.


- Helen Steiner Rice.



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


I remember that hymn too John.......such stirring words. Thank you.


We had an interesting moment in the service yesterday morning. Our preacher was someone who is well known and loved by the people of our church. She was giving out the notices before the service began and finished by reminding us that next Sunday is Walking Day.

Walking Days are a tradition in this area but are sadly dying out somewhat. They are a 'walk of witness' where church members, Sunday Schools, Church groups, uniformed organisations etc. talk part in a march around the parish. The idea is to bear witness to the Christian faith and the procession is headed by someone carrying a cross and there are usually lots of banners.

Anyway..........our preacher went on to urge us to turn up to bear witness to the faith because we are Christians and this is still a Christian country. Someone said "here here" and the congregation broke into spontaneous applause. It was a good feeling....... :-)

Our prayer for today:


God in Christ in the Spirit, may we your
people bear witness to Your Love for all.
May those we encounter in our daily lives know that
we are Christians by our lived witness of Your Love
for us, in us, and through us.

We are a diverse people but we have need of each other
and we have need of You.
Help us to live into the gift of Your Oneness -
Your Family - Your Church - Your Love...
for ultimately we all live in You.
Amen.


- National Council of Churches.


Remembering kandj, Emma's granddaughter's friend and all who need our prayers.

Cx :-D

Thinking of kandj and my family and myself are keeping
our young friend in our prayers.

Emma x

http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/t/g/itgarden.htm

This is a hymn I am more familiar with:

"I serve a risen Savior
He’s in the world today.
I know that He is living,
Whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy;
I hear His voice of cheer;
And just the time I need Him
He’s always near.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart."

Good morning :-)


Oh John! You are so deluded at times. Clouds? Disappearing acts? I suppose that NEXT, you are going to say that Jesus sets fire to his disciples heads and assures them that he will be coming back!!! Where DO you get your ideas from? You're obviously watching too many sci-fi flilms ;-) :-D


In answer to your question.....yes, I believe that Christ died for me. It brought to mind that very old hymn, to which I only know the chorus......."He walks with me and He talks with me and He tells me I am His own....."


The Collect for today :

O God the King of glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
we beseech you, leave us not comfortless,
but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us
and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever.
Amen.



Kandj sends her love to all her friends on here and we continue to hold her in our prayers.

Cx :-)

Jesus lived. Well, yes, I sort of know that. Plenty of records in Bible, Torah, Q'ran, Jewish history and elsewhere that he caused at least a ripple in the oceans of this world.

Jesus died. Well, we all do actually. If you live, you die. Fact.

Jesus died for you. No he didn't. He died because his body was stretched across a block of wood till the breath left his body. No dignity at all, only 33.

Jesus rose from death. What???!!!! You are being silly now.

Jesus appeared all over the place after his death and resurrection. Hmmm. Is that what you really think? Any doctors available? Nurse!!!!

And then he rose from the earth and went up into the sky behind a cloud. What are you on? Are those M & M's you are eating really just peanuts?

Many of us will fly in a big metal lump in next few weeks and have total faith in it. And when we land at our holiday destination we will skype and text our friends and switch on hotel TV and watch Corrie via space satellite.

All of that is fact. We believe in all of it.

Yet this central tenet of the Bible is so seldom believed.

First Acts Verse 9:

"And when Jesus had spoken these things, whilst they looked on, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."

Just the last of many miracles recorded and witnessed in the last few weeks of the short 33 year life of a man who was at the centre of the most important period in the whole of the history of our world.

Do you believe yet that he came to earth to do all these things for you personally?

Good morning :-)


Thank you for sharing that with us Vera and what a lovely experience for you on a grey day.

I had a look to see what I could find about this tradition and it's most interesting.

Every year on Ascension Day, the Choir ascends the 163ft Chapel Tower and sings the Ascension Day Carol.

This custom dates from 1902 and was begun by the then Director of Music, Cyril Rootham, following a conversation with Sir Joseph Larmor. Sir Joseph was insistent that a choir singing from the tower would not be heard from the ground. Rootham was keen to prove him wrong and saw Ascension Day as the perfect time to do it.

Without telling anyone in College, the Choir ascended the tower and as the clock finished striking noon, they started to sing an Ascension Day Carol. To Rootham's delight, he saw Sir Joseph open his window in the court below to see where the music was coming from. The event proved popular and since then it has been repeated every year.

The College have a fine musical tradition - dating back to the 1600's.


Church choirs are an important part of worship and most of them, including the choir at my church, start with a prayer similar to this, before they take part in a service :


Bless, O Lord, we thy servants who minister in thy temple;
grant that what we sing with our lips
we may believe in our hearts.
And that what we believe in our hearts,
we may show forth in our lives.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


Thinking of kandj and all friends in need of any sort.


Cx :-)

Lovely posts the last couple of days. Thank you everyone.

I was in Cambridge for the day yesterday with a group from our local Study Centre and at noon we went along to St John's College where, on Ascension Day, the chapel choir sing from the top of the chapel tower. They sang an Ascension Day Carol, an anthem and a hymn, interspersed with the Chaplain singing the Collect for the Fifth Sunday after Easter and the Collect for Ascension Day. As this was solo it was difficult to hear from below but we had been given a leaflet with the words so could follow it. It was quite moving and uplifting, particularly when some of the "audience" in the court below joined in with the final hymn.

And the icing on the cake was that, on a grey day, the sun suddenly shone through at noon and stayed bright for the 15 minutes or so that we were there, before disappearing again for the rest of the day.

Good morning :-)


What beautiful words to be greeted with this morning. It was, indeed, Ascension Day yesterday Elizabeth and thank you for the prayers.

Sue, I haven't heard that hymn in ages.....but remember it well as it brought back many memories. I will probably be humming it all day now.......thank you, it was a lovely thought.

John, you are obviously going to be a doting grandad and have lots of lovely cuddles with little Amelie. Grandchildren are a wonderful blessing, and I have a fridge magnet which reads "If I had known grandchildren were so much fun, I would have had them first!" :-D


As we start a brand new day :

May I arise this morning
feeling your warmth
embracing me,
conscious of your love
forgiving me,
knowing your peace
within me,
feeling your Spirit
strengthen me,
hearing your whisper
encouraging me.

In all I do
and in all I say
may my life
this day
and all days
reflect
the beauty of my Lord.

Amen.


Enjoy your day......Cx :-)