General Chat

Hello all

Belated Happy Birthday wishes Vera and thank you for your kind words. Very much appreciated.

I joined the live-stream funeral service earlier today. Not ideal at all but it's necessary now given the Covid lock down restrictions we're all forced into.

Sending virtual gentle hugs to all in need today.

Good morning :-)

A very happy belated birthday Vera and how lovely to be surrounded by so much love. <3

I'm pretty good at remembering anniversary dates but I don't think about them too often if that makes sense. I remember those whom I loved but who have died most days, in one way or another. There are lots of things which trigger happy memories for me.

For today :


A hymn which we would be singing in church - if we were allowed to these days!!


1 Forty days and forty nights
You were fasting in the wild;
Forty days and forty nights
Tempted, and yet undefiled.

2 Shall not we Your sorrow share
And from worldly joys abstain,
Fasting with unceasing prayer,
Strong with You to suffer pain?

3 Then, if Satan on us press,
Flesh or spirit to assail,
Victor in the wilderness,
Grant we may not faint nor fail!

4 So shall we have peace divine;
Holier gladness ours shall be.
'Round us, too, shall angels shine,
Such as served You faithfully.

5 Keep, O keep us, Saviour dear,
Ever constant by Your side,
That with You we may appear
At the eternal Eastertide.


Cx :-)

Vera ................... Happy Birthday, late in the day I know xxxx

I am so glad that you had many cards, presents. etc.


I find March a strange month for me It used to be a month of birthdays ........... my dad, mum's brother, sister-in-law, daughter all had birthdays between the 24th and 30th.

Then daughter's birthday became bitter-sweet for me when a cousin sent a photograph of Mum and Dad's grave in 1992. It reminded me that Mum had died on the 24th March 1961 ............

I realised at that moment that I forget the date that my close relations died, always remember the year and the month. but obviously my way of coping right from my grandmother dying in 1954 is .......... forget the date.

But now I'm reminded every year that Mum died on 24 March 1961 and daughter was born 24th March 1974.

Grandson was born on March 9 2010 ....... so a happy date.

Many a wise word there Cynthia.

I hope the funeral of your family member goes as well as possible in these difficult times kandj. I will be thinking of you tomorrow as you watch online.

This time of year I often feel quite down. The anniversary of my mum’s death was yesterday, the anniversary of my dad’s death is on Saturday, a favourite aunt died in February and this year, of course, we have had my brother’s funeral. However this year I have had a real boost. Today is my birthday and I have had so many cards, presents, flowers and phone calls that I have felt really blessed and a bit overwhelmed. Aren’t people kind?

i am so thankful for my family and friends and my thoughts tonight are with anyone who is feeling lonely and in need of love and support.

Good morning :-)




This prayer was found written on the wall of Mother Teresa’s home for children in Calcutta. It is appropriate for Lent.

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Don't blame me if you get toothache kandj :-D :-D


Sylvia, some priests these days are very unlike what we have been used to and its very unsettling at times. We have one who didn't want one of our self-supporting (unpaid) priests, to wear a clerical collar if she went to church when it was open for private prayer. 'It may encourage mingling'. I nearly blew a gasket when I heard that!!! During the pandemic, there have been times when I have been ashamed of the church - and that's saying something. :-(

We press on knowing God is greater......


Father,
You have taught us to overcome our sins
by prayer, fasting, and works of mercy.
When we are discouraged by our weakness,
give us confidence in Your love.
We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son,
Who lives and reigns with Your and the Holy Spirit
One God, for ever and ever. Amen


Cx :-)

Hello all

I'll buy M&M after reading yesterdays post. I've learned somethings new, so Thanks You to Cynthia.

Sylvia, well done to your OH, it's really difficult and strange times for us all right now during lock down.

Vera, I hope that you and your family are coming to terms with the loss of your brother.

Tabitha, sending positive vibes your way today.

I have a live-video link for when another family member has their funeral service on Thursday.

Sending gentle hugs for all who need them today.

Cynthia .............

he said it went "OK"

5 of them, well distance, just standing there. No music.

He did say that he had managed to talk himself out of doing prayers in the future ....... I sort of gathered that the new priest wasn't too happy with his more wide-ranging (ie world wide) references.

Not sure why!!

He didn't seem too upset though.

Good morning :-)

Most of you will know of these sweets - M and M's - which are each imprinted with the letter M


These candies tell a story
the best you’ll ever hear.
about Jesus dying on the cross
so we could be brought near.

So hold them and turn them
And very soon you’ll see…
the “M” become a “W”an
“E” and then a “3”.

The “E” it stands for Easter
And God’s eternal plan.
It reminds us of the holy cross –
how God rescued sinful man,

When it’s a “3” it reminds us
Of those three days in the grave,
For by His death we remember
That His children He did save.

The “M” reminds us of Miracles
And how Jesus died in our place.
And that miracle of resurrection
so we can see Him face to face.

The “W” reminds us of worship,
that He is worthy of worship and praise
and He calls us to be His witnesses
From now till the end of our days.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Hope all goes well for your OH and his reading today Sylvia. I am tired of services online now and want to get back to being part of the church community. As are many others!


Today is the First Sunday in Lent

The Collect (special prayer) for today…..

Almighty God,
whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness,
and was tempted as we are, yet without sin:
give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit;
and, as you know our weakness,
so may we know your power to save;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen


Cx :-)

Tabitha ........ a difficult time for you, but I am sure that things will work out, and that things will be even better very soon. xxxx


Churches are still closed here in BC, apart from the 3 evangelical ones which are disobeying all rules and health regulations.

However, OH has to go to church tomorrow morning ................... the service is being done on video at his church this week as the stand-in for all the churches in the diocese. He's doing the Reading ................. still no singing thought, and I'm not sure about music.


Keep warm, stay safe, take care.

Hello all

A new Christina Rossitti poem for me. Thank you.

Tabitha, a very worrying situation for you right now,
I was always taught that as one door closes, then another door opens. My thoughts and prayers are with you as you work your way through challenging times ahead.

Stay warm and keep safe everyone.

Good morning :-)



Lent, by Christina Rossetti

It is good to be last not first,
Pending the present distress;
It is good to hunger and thirst,
So it be for righteousness.
It is good to spend and be spent,
It is good to watch and to pray:
Life and Death make a goodly Lent
So it leads us to Easter Day.



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


An acrostic for LENT


L.amb of God… You died for me

E.ternal One Your love I see

N.ow and forever… with You I’ll be

T.hou are my life…. You set me free




Cx :-)

Thank you both for your very kind and wise words - The sun has just started shining today after a very grey start.

I am sure there is a silver lining cloud just behind the mist on one of those paths ahead of me - it may even have a glorious rainbow with it. I know i am not walking the path alone.

Keep smiling and keep well - i love reading this thread and try and pop in when i can.

Keep safe and well.

Good morning :-)

Thank you for your lovely words Vera - I appreciate them. <3

Dermot, re the ashes. I've seen quite a bit about people lamenting the lack of 'ashing' this year. I read where sprinkling on the head was deemed appropriate for those churches which are still open but that sounds a bit messy. I then read that the C. of E. (who else, sigh) have put a filter on their Instagram site where you can view yourself with an ash cross on your forehead. Not sure how that works.

I follow a high Anglican church on Twitter which is down in Middlesex. The priest is an absolute joy and he posted pictures of the palm crosses people had brought in and he was burning them ready for last night. I don't know how he used them but his church has remained open throughout lockdown, offering all that is to be expected from all churches.

Poor Tabitha, not a happy time for you at all. I know one cleric who says that when one is between a rock and a hard place, God is still there. Hope things work out for the best. <3

And now for today! :-D :-D


A prayer for Lenten Grace,

Loving God during the sacred season of Lent, bring me closer to you. Prepare a place in my home and heart for silence and solitude, so that I may re-discover the grace of a prayer full life. Help me to fast from those things that threaten the well being of body and soul and remind me of the grace of simplicity. Enlarge my heart so that I give to those in need and, in so doing, rediscover the grace of gratitude and generosity. May this season be a grace filled time to rekindle my love for and faith in you. Amen

Cx :-)

You never have any need to apologise for “non-attendance” Cynthia. Without you the thread would have fizzled out long since.

Tabitha, I can spare you all the thoughts you need. You are in a horrid situation but you will find a way through. I am sure you have a silver lining, it’s just hidden behind the clouds at the moment. As Maya Angelou says “Every storm runs out of rain”

It is a shame about Ash Wednesday services Dermot. Did you read in the papers about the priest who was questioned by the police as they were suspicious of the bag of ash in his car? They didn’t seem to quite understand about Ash Wednesday.

Take care all and stay safe.

No ashes for Ash Wednesday.

Very sad. :-(

Take care Cynthia - Hope all is well - have been thinking of you all.

We had our first Jab on Friday - now waiting for the next date to arrive.

Also after being told last year our jobs were safe - they pounced on us the last week of January and told us we have x number of weeks consultation and then a max of 12 weeks to look for internal work - or take redundancy.

After 26 years there i am now looking at my CV & job applications and how to pass an interview. If they had waited 3 years i could have easily taken redundancy - but i still have a mortgage to pay, and outside jobs are there - but not many - not many internal jobs either really. I know i need to take a large pay cut - but as long as the house is safe - we can wrap up in a spare quilt or 2.

Oh well Que Sera Sera things happen

I believe we all have paths to follow and at the moment my path has got to a rocky crossroad with a few very misty paths. Hopefully one will have some sunshine and a Rainbow for me in the very near future.

I am staying optimistic and lifting up a few extra thoughts and prayers. If any of you have a thought to spare - I would be very appreciative.

Take care all and keepsafe.

Good morning :-)

Apologies for my non-arrival yesterday - I got carried away with lots of things going on.

I love pancakes and, if you had any, I hope you enjoyed yours......just sugar and lemon for me please! :-D


So, today is Ash Wednesday.


This Ash Wednesday, we remember that the purpose of Lent is to be a season of fasting, self-denial, Christian growth, penitence, conversion, and simplicity. It can be viewed as a spiritual spring cleaning: a time for taking spiritual inventory and then cleaning out those things which hinder our personal relationships with Jesus Christ and our service to him.


Lent is a time to take time to let the power
of our faith story take hold of us,
a time to let the events get up
and walk around in us,
a time to intensify our living unto Christ,
a time to hover over the thoughts of our hearts,
a time to place our feet in the streets of
Jerusalem or to walk along the sea and
listen to his Word,
a time to touch his robe
and feel the healing surge through us,
a time to ponder and a time to wonder….

Lent is a time to allow
a fresh new taste of God!
Perhaps we’re afraid to have time to think,
for thoughts come unbidden.
Perhaps we’re afraid to face our future
knowing our past.
Give us courage, O God,
to hear your Word
and to read our living into it.
Give us the trust to know we’re forgiven
and give us the faith
to take up our lives and walk.
-Ann Weems