General Chat

Amen to those special prayerful words Cynthia. They are so uplifting on a very cold and wet Yorkshire day. Thank you.

Good morning my friends - I hope you are all well...... :-)



A prayer from the Methodist church today.....


Come Holy Spirit, fill our thoughts that we may see all things through your eyes; awaken our souls that we may love all things with your tenderness; and melt our hearts that we may feel all things with your compassion; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Johann Freylinghausen (1670-1739)




With my love, Cx :-)

Sylvia, what a wonderful event and all arranged by your sister in law. I feel that she would have been very near to all her family and friends at such a joyous gathering.

I hope that your daughter makes a good recovery and is able to improve relationships with her husband. You have had much to think about lately and hope you can relax.

Helen Steiner Rice is a marvel with words! Thank you.

Good morning all. :-)

I echo the thoughts of both John and Elizabeth in wishing your daughter a speedy recovery Sylvia. I do hope that the future is brighter for the whole family - you have all had quite a traumatic time over the last few weeks and our thoughts and prayers will remain with you.

I thought these words may be helpful to those who may be going through similar hardships...:


Burdens Are Things God Turns Into Wings

“Oh, for the wings of a bird,” we cry,
To carry us off to an untroubled sky,
Where we can dwell untouched by care
And always be free as a bird in the air.

But there is a legend that’s very old,
Not often heard and seldom told,
That once all birds were wingless, too,
Unable to soar through the skies of blue.

For while their plumage was beautifully bright
And their chirping songs were liltingly light,
They, too, were powerless to fly
Until one day when the Lord came by
And laid at the feet of the singing birds
Gossamer wings as He spoke these words:

“Come take these burdens, so heavy now,
But if you bear them you’ll learn somehow
That as you wear them they’ll grow light
And soon you can lift yourself into flight.”

So folding the wings beneath their hearts,
And after endless failures and starts,
They lifted themselves and found with delight
The wings that were heavy had grown so light.

So let us, too, listen to God’s wise words,
For we are much like the “wingless birds,”
And if we would shoulder our daily trials,
And learn to wear them with sunny smiles,
We’d find they were wings that God had sent
To lift us above our heart’s discontent.

For the wings that lift us out of despair
Are made by God from the weight of care;
So whenever you cry for “the wings of a bird,”
Remember this little legend you’ve heard
And let God give you a heart that sings
As He turns your burdens into
"GOLDEN WINGS."

~ Helen Steiner Rice


Cx :-)

Thank you, Elizabeth and John.

it was a happy occasion ......... very strange to say!


followed by a good feast in the church hall!

What a wonderful send-off. A real priviedge for you to be there, Sylvia. Happy for the departed, but all missing her badly I feel sure. Granddaughters dancing in the aisle and clapping and happy memories sounds like my sort of funeral.

Your daughter sounds a very strong person, and I hope she continues to recover well and finds the best road forward in her life.

God bless :-) :-)

Dear Sylvia

Hello


I am so pleased that the memorial service went off so well.

Hope your daughter takes things easy and
at her pace for the next few weeks.

I am also pleased you have now returned home and can rest.


Take very gentle care of yourself and your husband.
Love from
Elizabeth,
xx

Good morning / afternoon everyone



Thank you for all your good wishes.


The Memorial for my sis-i-l was amazing!

She had organised it all, with the emphasis being on the family .............. from the Bishop being restricted to doing the Opening and Closing prayers, to readings by 4 people (OH and 3 vicars from elsewhere in the Diocese), to happy hymns and clapping songs, to requesting that her grandchildren dance in the aisle to the music!

It was a happy occasion, with a few tears shed here and there.

We thought there might have been as many as 300 people there ............ they were standing 2 and 3 deep along the side aisles, extra chairs placed along side each row down the main aisle, and an overflow in the Hall. Over 200 had signed the guest book that had been set out, and we know that many people had attended but not signed (including the family :-) )

Sitting on one of the extra chairs across the aisle from me was the Roman Catholic minister, and the United Church minister was somewhere else in the congregation. We think the Lutheran minister was also there!

Mind you ................. sis-i-l was well known in the little town of about 5000 people, and had touched many people.

She first went to live there in 1970, taught in the Middle School and then in the High School, she and her husband were heavily involved in the ski hill organisation and in search and rescue, then was minister of the only Anglican Church since 2005.

The Bishop returned to the Parish this past Sunday for a special Eucharist Service with Communion.

I do not know what is happening re a new vicar .................. here there is usually a 6 month interregnum as the parish decides on its "charter", and then interviews. Lay readers and the wardens, along with visiting priests, carry the work load.



We got back very late on Monday from our daughter's


Daughter had had abdominal surgery, but was released from the hospital the day after we arrived, about 6 days after the surgery, still with staples in, under orders not to lift ANYTHING for 2 weeks, then nothing over 5 lbs for another 4 weeks.

It was amazing to see how well she was walking though!


There are also some marital problems that we didn't know about .......... but they are working on those, and we are hoping all will work out for them.



Thank you for all your prayers and good wishes.




s
xx

I think a 98 year old man was baptised in one church very recently, kandj. Doesn't matter, does it? Age, sex, class, colour. However different the outside of the "sepulchre" is, all the Lord sees is our inside. Our heart. And he can circumcise the flesh of our heart at 98 exactly the same as at 18, or 8 or 8 weeks :-D :-D

With no pain. Only the most life-changing and wonderful pleasure. :-D

Peek a boo to you all this morning. Made me smile Cynthia, thankyou.

John, I think this house was used at one time by the NUM.... could be wrong but it seems to ring a bell. I am still no wiser as to who the baby is that will be baptized during our next Sunday morning service. Quite a rare occasion these days. It might not be a baby......(??), could even be an adult before confirmation later this year.
Watch this space!

Peek a boo, everybody :-D :-D

Intrigued by this baptism, kandj - sounds as if might be a bit special.

Had to search for Scargill House as I thought it must have something to do with Arthur Scargill. Wonder if he got his surname from such an idyllic place. 47 years sounds a very long association with Scargill, Cynthia. But 1966/67 - World Cup year, Beach Boys - sounds no time ago :-)

Life races on relentlessly, doesn't it? Last night, somebody from USA asked me about some recent research I had done about a family who used to live at the Commandery in Worcester. Thought reserach was done a couple of years ago at most. It was 2005 :-0 :-0

Good morning everyone. :-)


kandj, the first time I went to Scargill House was almost 47 years ago. We were engaged to be married and were attending a friend's wedding there. Little did I realise that the place was to become so important to me. It has had up and downs over the years but now seems to be in a more settled place.

We spent part of several summer holidays there because they put on special programmes for the children and kept them entertained. Bliss...... :-)


And so to today......


"Peek A Boo"

"Peek A Boo ... I see you!"
I overheard my neighbor's child;
"Peek A Boo ... I love you!"
I watched and listened for awhile.

The little girl skipped down the walk,
Humming as she moved.
From time to time, I'd see her stop,
And sing her childish tune.

"Peek A Boo ... I see you!"
Her sweet face looked so intent;
"Peek A Boo ... I love you!"
Then down the path she went.

I saw her do this several times,
Poor, lonesome child, I thought;
She only has a nursery rhyme,
To go with her on her walk.

"Peek A Boo ... I see you!"
She did it then once more;
"Peek A Boo ... I love you!"
Then I scurried out my door.

I could not stand it any longer,
What did this child see?
I hurried up and caught her,
Hoping she'd explain to me.

"Peek A Boo ... I see you!"
Her face buried in some Daisies;
"Peek A Boo ... I love you!"
Was this child crazy?

"Honey," I called out to her,
"What are you looking at?"
(I may have to tell her mother,
And I needed all the facts).

She gave me then a vacant stare,
And said, "There's nothing's wrong;
I see Lord Jesus everywhere,
That's why I sing my song."

"Mama says He's in the flowers,
And He's in the bushes and the trees,
And He's in rainbows and in showers,
And He's even in the breeze."

"I see Him everywhere I look,
And I like to tell Him so;
You see, He's not just in The Book,
He's everywhere I go."

"Peek A Boo ... I see you!"
I peeked into her precious face;
"Peek A Boo ... I love you!"
Then I thanked God for such grace.

~ Virginia Ellis


Lovely words........I hope they make folk smile today.....Cx :-)

No Cynthia I have never managed to go to Scargill House retreat in North Yorkshire. Firstly my children were too small and again serious illness prevented me from joining my church family for a parish week away. I heard many tales and have passed this place many times though.

I went to the churchyard today and was caught in a hailstone storm...... not good, but the snowdrops are out although not open (yet). A beautiful reminder that Spring in near.

Next Sunday is an All Age Worship/Baptism service. Now I am wondering who the family are who have requested their baby be baptized during the morning service as there is a Baptism service taking place after this. Keeping our new Rector busy

We have been blessed indeed kandj and also had a lot of fun too. My very favourite retreat house/conference centre/holiday venue is in Yorkshire and you probably know of it :

www.scargillmovement.org/?


A prayer from the Methodist church today:


Dear God,
we seek to reach out in mission,
to make a difference in your world today.
Sometimes what we can do for you seems insignificant.
Help us to recognise that
every time we help a person to feel wanted
we share your love;
every time we speak of our faith
we share a little of you;
and every time we work together to meet needs
we serve you.
Bless the work we do in mission. Amen.



Have a lovely day.......Cx :-)

I also have been on many Christian retreats over the years but no longer possible now. Always was an amazing, uplifting experience to learn and share fellowship with other like minded people. Never mind Cynthia, you and I have been blessed previously and now others can experience the same wonderful feeling.

I wasn't able to go to church yesterday and now won't know what day of the week it is until next Sunday (??!!). I think that our elderly congregation is getting used to the new Rectors services now and I'm sure that any changes Rev'd Jan has in mind to make will happen gradually which is very wise.

Cynthia :-D :-D I was watching the Welsh league football match from Carmarthen (v Aberystwyth) on Saturday afternoon. One of the commentators (ex-goalkeeper Dai Davies) was holding an umberella and it was nearly whipped out of his hands and kept blowing inside out. And the game had to be stopped for 15 minutes mid-game because the ball was blowing all over the place.

I can imagine the Lake District weekend will be wonderful for all concerned, and am sure you will miss the companionship and the beautiful scenery. I went to my first study weekend ever in November in Wye Valley and it was most uplifting - a wonderful leader who was a Canon of Chester Cathedral (Dr Trevor Dennis).

Think weather will be very cold this weekend - but if it is sunny, then it will be quite stunning and I am sure they will see some beautiful rainbows up there. :-D :-D. Am sure you will enjoy hearing their stories almost as much as if you were there.

Good morning all. :-)


It was an atrocious morning yesterday, and I wondered how many folk would brave the weather to attend church. Not as many as usual, but it was still a fair turnout, which was encouraging.

There is to be a parish weekend away next week as around 45 of our congregation travel to the Lake District to a Christian Conference centre for a time of prayer and relaxation together.

It had been arranged before our beloved vicar so sadly died and his presence will be badly missed. I am unable to attend because of OH's Parkinson's being so unpredictable but we have been on other such events in the past and been greatly blessed.

Meanwhile, back home as it were, the rest of us will be 'manning the fort'..
:-)


A thought for today - based on the wet weather so many have been enduring recently :



God's Rainbow

The falling rain dissolves into mist
And the thunder begins to die;
As the sporadic lightning fades,
An arch of colors pours from the sky.

Rainbows appear after mighty storms
When things look their worst;
Just when the skies are darkest gray,
Out of heaven does the rainbow burst.


God first sent the rainbow to Noah
As a sign that His word is true;
The rainbow's eternal message
Still speaks to me and you.


The rainbow is a sign of God's promise
That He will guide us through any storm;
That He will ease all our troubles
No matter what their form.


When you feel battered by life's storms
And you are filled with doubt and dismay,
Just remember God's rainbow is coming
For it's a blessing ... you only have to pray.

~ Author Unknown


Hope everyone is well. Cx :-)

Amen Cynthia.

Thanks for your words John, lots of worthy causes and many people in need of prayer.

Good morning everyone. It seems that it is also Leprosy Sunday today John - apparently our Lay Reader emeritus is preaching on it. So many causes to pray for.


The Collect for today :

Almighty God, whose Son revealed in signs and miracles the wonder of your saving presence: renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by your mighty power; 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.


Hoping everyone is well. Cx :-)

I note that tomorrow is "Homelessness Sunday" in churches. And Monday is Holocaust Memorial Day.

And Chinese New Year starts on 31 Jan for 3 days. There are over 500 Chinese students in Trefforest alone, and probably many more on the other sites.

So our prayers for all of those who have no permanent home. And those remembering dear lives destroyed in the holocaust.

And out thoughts are with all these lovely Chinese students in the UK, many with Christian beliefs. How they enjoy their festivities, and my son was friends in his first year with a few Chinese and he had the most wonderful time celebrating with them in Pontypridd and Cardiff.