General Chat

Oooops, silly me. I forgot the important bible text for today, (blame "me age") lol

Day 20 of my Advent calendar:

The star which they had seen in the East went before them. Matthew 2:9.

Cynthia, as always you post such special words for us all...... very many thanks.

BananaNaNa, loving your links and not sick of them at all, thank you for every one.

I agree with John that its good to see the videos and share joy at this time of year.

I hope Emma's shingles are less painful today and she will soon be more comfortable.

Good morning everyone.....don't worry BananaNana, it's good to have a variety of posts on this thread. Too many people think that faith issues are boring and old hat and that not many people go to church anyway ....... fortunately, we know that isn't the case :-)

Sending love and very best wishes to Emma, in the hope that she soon feels much better bless her. <3

An Advent thought:

The Whisper of Christmas . . . .

"There is no evidence of any kind regarding the date of Jesus’ birth. His nativity began to be celebrated on Dec. 25 in Rome during the early part of the fourth century (AD 336) as a Christian counterpart to the pagan festival, popular among the worshipers of Mithras, called Sol Invictis, the Unconquerable Sun.

At the very moment when the days are the shortest and darkness seems to have conquered light, the sun passes its nadir. Days grow longer, and although the cold will only increase for quite a long time, the ultimate conquest of winter is sure.

This astronomical process is a parable of the career of the Incarnate One.

At the moment when history is blackest, and in the least expected and obvious place, the Son of God is born…"

- Joe E. Pennel


Cx. :-)

A real interesting group I like .... check out their other videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzvN1n4qomo&list=FLjSBvB--PxRtX_Vk0FFJV-w&index=252

And if you like steel drums gets interesting around 3:20

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TUM7qkQLTk&list=FLjSBvB--PxRtX_Vk0FFJV-w&index=265

I hope you don't get sick of my postings ........ they may continue until Christmas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eg_fgzvG5Io

BananaNaNa...... yes, tissues at the ready again and thanks for the links.

Cynthia, thankfully no damage to church roof (pheww) , a local man is now looking at putting the tree back up there more securely and so our beautiful church lights will shine brightly in the village for another year. Many thanks for your words today.

John, I also spotted that Emma is unwell with shingles and hope and pray that she will feel more comfortable before too long.

Day 19 of my Advent calendar;

King Herod sent them to Bethlehem. Matthew 2: 8.

It is lovely to hear these videos and read these lovely words at this time of year. Over a year now since this thread had been going and, after a rocky start, I hope it has given love and mutual support.

I seldom read many of the other threads now, but did note this morning that Emma is not well at the moment. So:

"Dear Father in heaven. You know the needs of Emma better than any of us. Tend to our friend Emma and give her relief from her painful ailment, we beseech you. We hold hands in a virtual sense on this thread and pray for her speedy recovery. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen"

Good morning everyone. :-)

Kandj, I do hope that there hasn't been any damage to the church roof or, indeed, to any part of the church. Repair jobs on churches can reach astronomical figures these days and can severely disrupt the worship plan. Apart from that, clergy have enough to do without all the money raising which needs to be done when this sort of thing happens. Hopefully, someone may come up with a plan where the tree can be firmly fixed and still spill it's cheer into the village.


A gentle prayer for today:

I said a Christmas Prayer for you
Because the season's near.
I didn't ask for riches
But for gifts so much more dear.

I asked for joyful gatherings
With your family all round,
And for carols to inspire you
With their old familiar sound.

I asked for quiet moments
In your heart on Christmas morn,
For a special time to celebrate
The Savior who was born.

I asked for friends to send their best
That you might know they care;
I asked for peace and love and hope,
And I know God heard my prayer.

~ Author Unknown ~




This morning I am going to the funeral of an elderly man who was a Lay Reader within the church for many years. We thank God for the people who are willing to commit themselves for training and service in this voluntary capacity. For the time and effort the put into their work and for the support they offer to both the clergy and to the people.


Cx

I may have posted this before but I can put on me earphones close my eyes and just lie back and enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLLMzr3PFgk

More tears for kandij

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhcZ6b2FSsk

BananaNana, just watched both links and in tears....both are so amazing. Thank you.

Thank you all for interesting postings this morning. The HSR words are special.

We had our usual Christmas tree donated by the village Parish Council and put high on the church roof like many years before but sadly this has blown down this year and I'm not sure yet what damage has been done to the tree/the lights or indeed the church roof??!! There is talk of fixing a bracket to secure the Christmas tree but this will need a faculty so perhaps the tree will be put inside church this year decisions. decisions. It's a bit sad really because our old stone church in on the main street of the village and the lit up Christmas tree beamed its brightness over the village street, like sharing the joy of Christ's birth to everyone around.

Day 18 of my Advent calendar

We have seen his star in the East. Matthew 2:2

"And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter". (John Chapter 10 verse 22). Proof that Jesus was in the Temple and celebrating Hanukah (the Feast of Dedication, the Festival of Lights). Celebrated on 25th day of Kislev, which this year was 27 Nov and in 2014 will be 16 Dec. It lasts for 8 days, so in 2014 will end on Christmas Eve.

It was to do with the Maccabeen revolt of about 150BC, when the Temple in Jerusalem was taken over and was used for worshipping the numerous Greek gods. The Jews took back the Temple but only had enough oil for one day. Miraculously, the oil kept a light in the Temple for 8 more days.

Jesus united Jew and Gentile. And at this time of the year Jesus and ourselves can celebrate this Jewish festival of Hanukah, just as Jesus did in John 10:22. We can put out a Hanukah menorah with one top light and 8 others along the base and say "Happy Hanukah and Happy Christmas. Shalom and Amen" :-)

Many thanks BananaNaNa and Cynthia. "I am but a total of the many folks I've met" is a lovely thought - and so very true.

Good morning and thank you BananaNana for those links. I have seen one of them before but think it is absolutely lovely and well worth watching again. The looks on some of the faces are simply priceless :-)

There was something similar on Songs of Praise this last Sunday when the programme came from Wigan.


...and for today.......my Christmas card to you all.............


A Christmas Poem

I have a list of folks I know, all written in a book
And every year when Christmas comes, I go and take a look,
And that is when I realize that these names are a part
Not of the book they are written in, but really f my heart.

For each name stands for someone who has crossed my path sometime,
And in the meeting they've become the rhythm in each rhyme
And while it sounds fantastic for me to make this claim,
I really feel that I'm composed of each remembered name.

And while you may not be aware of any special link
Just meeting you has changed my life a lot more than you think
For once I've met somebody, the years cannot erase
The memory of a pleasant word or of a friendly face.

So never think my Christmas cards are just a mere routine
Of names upon a Christmas list, forgotten in between,
For when I send a Christmas card that is addressed to you,
It is because you're on the list that I'm indebted to.

For I am but a total of the many folks I've met,
And you happen to be one of those I prefer not to forget
And whether I have known you for many years or few,
In some ways you have a part in shaping things I do.

And every year when Christmas comes, I realize anew,
The best gifts life can offer is meeting folks like you.
And may the spirit of Christmas that forever endures
Leave its richest blessings in the hearts of you and yours.

- Helen Steiner Rice.


Cx <3

Another one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp_RHnQ-jgU

Check out O Holy Night starts at about 3:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vnt7euRF5Pg

It is good for us all to Dia agus Muire leat now and again - even including Molly and me from the not so Muire wing of the Christian church :-D

That verse this morning, kandj, is one of the most chilling, isn't it. Ever since my weekend retreat in Forest of Dean I have been thinking of what Herod told his soldiers to do and what effect that must have had on them.

Why did Jesus escape the massacre? I just wonder if our family history might give us a clue. If that census was just carried out in Bethlehem for families descended from King David, it may have been to get a record of all young male babies from that tribe. And Jesus may not have been recorded because he was born hours after the census was taken.

I feel sure Herod would have spent a lot of resource making sure every child and their families was properly recorded and checked. He would have double-checked that all relevant babies who could have been the Messiah had been recorded on that census, tracked down and slaughtered. He must have thought his genocide plan had been successful.

Joseph, Mary and Jesus were refugees, escaping over borders into strange lands. Could this ever happen today in that area? I must ask one of the 15 million displaced people in Syria what they think this Christmas:-( Our thoughts and love must be with them.

It's good to share faith. I think we can learn and benefit from one another. I have two special friends. Molly is Methodist and Barbara of Catholic faith and we have had very many good old-fashioned "chin-wags" over the years and have never fallen out over our differing religious opinions and beliefs.

Day 17 of my Advent calendar (and it's good for me to share this with you all).

Where is he who has been born King of the Jews. Matthew 2:2.

Dia agus Muire leat to Dermot and everyone on this new day. :-)


We had a visit from our close friend who is a Roman Catholic priest. He often pops in to see how we are doing and we enjoy friendly discussions on what is happening within our churches. There is a good mixture of serious thoughts, banter and much laughter. We may be of different faiths but we are united in Christ.

The theme for the week of Christian Unity in 2013 was taken from the book of Micah 6:6-8

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?


Says a lot doesn't it? Cx

: :-)

Thank you Cynthia for HSR words, they compared
to others seems to work for me.
Thanks to others who have added your views and
postings.

Emma :-)