General Chat

Good morning all..... :-)

Some gentle thoughts.....


Prayers are the stairs
we must climb every day,
If we would reach God
there is no other way,
For we learn to know God
when we meet Him in prayer
And ask him to lighten
our burden of care.


So start in the morning
and, though the way’s steep,
Climb ever upward
‘til your eyes close in sleep—
For prayers are the stairs
that lead to the Lord,
And to meet Him in prayer
is the climber’s reward.

- Helen Steiner Rice


Hope everyone has a good day...... :-)

Sylvia. Sorry. I did understand exactly what you wrote about different churches in same building. Grass cutting sounds quite a job. :-)

Cynthia. Lovely thoughts to start the day. :-)

On a more serious note, it would not surprise me if this is the last time I contribute to this thread. Loads of reports against me this weekend - one for saying that I genuinely liked another poster!!!! I have really enjoyed all posts on this thread and hope I have made one or two reasonably interesting contributions myself.

My initial reason for coming onto chat was that I was upset with the new format 11 months ago and wanted to see if I was alone in my criticism. I then remained (perhaps a bad decision) because I felt I was friendly, could be informative (I felt I had something to contribute) and funny. I think my sense of humour (which comes across fine in my daily life) has not come across well on this media. :-(

Hope everyone has a lovely and prayerful day :-) :-)

Thank you Cynthia.

My little contribution of a traditional Gaelic Blessing for all.

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
The rain fall soft upon your fields
and until we meet again.
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Have a lovely day all.

Emma :-)

Sylvia, that's certainly putting that building to good use - even though some may get over zealous with grass maintenance :-D

We have churches where the buildings are used jointly - usually by Anglican/Methodist groups. They use their own forms of worship but in the building.

I have friends who became attached to a church which meets in a cinema. It is one of those large cinema complexes which has about 12 different theatres within it , and it seems that they must rent one each week. Very informal but they love it. :-)


Emma - some of the Gaelic blessings have such wonderful words which I have often used. Thank you.


John, I don't know what to say except that I realise that you have got yourself into a pickle on more than one occasion on the boards. I think that sometimes we have to remember that our everyday humour and manner can be mis-transcribed when put into the written word.


On to a prayer for today.......it's the prayer of St. Patrick. I know the most famous verse of it, but hadn't realised that there was more to it. Very encouraging words they are too.......


The Prayer of St. Patrick

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendour of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.


I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
Afar and near -
Alone or in a multitude.


Christ shield me today
Against wounding
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.


I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of creation.

- Amen.


Cx :-)

Well, I amazed that I am still able to post this morning. What you have said Cynthia is spot on. Also, throw in a bit of difficulty with some of these words today that have taken on a new meaning obviously in today's world. My language, especially my gayest (sic) language, is firmly rooted in 18th century, thou knowest.

I think quite a few of us went through a bit of a thoughtful time yesterday and I hope we have all emerged (not as friends) but able to understand our differences better.

Not Syria. No real shells or bullets whistling. Genes Team may also be at work in arbitrating between North and South Korea :-) ;-)

Praise ye the Lord. For it is good to sing praises unto our God. For it is pleasant, and praise is comely.

The Lord doth build up Jerusalem. He gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

(Psalm 147) :-)

An overcast morning here, but still plenty to be grateful for......


Prayer of Thanks

For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
Father in heaven,
We thank thee.


- Ralph Waldo Emerson.


Cx :-)

A touch of humour to lighten a rather grey morning.... :-)



Morning Prayer

Dear Lord,

So far I've done all right.
I haven't gossiped,
haven't lost my temper,
haven't been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or overindulgent.
I'm really glad about that.


But in a few minutes, God,
I'm going to get out of bed.
And from then on,
I'm going to need a lot more help.


- Anon.



Good morning everyone :-) :-) :-)

So true, Cynthia? We awake happy we are still here, full of good intentions. Then we stub our toe as we put our foot on the bedroom floor, have cramp in our legs, cat lying on the covers panics and scratches us. And we then have to kneel or stand and already ask for forgiveness. And start again with the clean slate we had 2 minutes previously.

Then we scold ourselves pouring our tea. Postman knocks door loudly, starting dog barking and cats panicking. Put dog away, answer door, postman gone, note to travel 6 miles to depot to pick up parcel. Back on our knees. And so it goes on.

How did Jesus manage to avoid sin? How did he manage to always think, speak and do things without bad thoughts or deeds or speech? 33 years he managed that - created in our flesh yet without any sin. And I can never seem to manage 5 minutes :-( :-( :-(

Cynthia. :-D

Be Thou a bright flame before me,
Be Thou a guiding star above me,
Be Thou a kindly shepherd behind me,
Today,tonight and Forever.

( St Columba )

:-D @ Emma. Lovely thoughts.

Thank you Emma...... :-)

If I have wounded any soul today,
If I have caused one foot to go astray,
If I have walked in my own wilful way,
Dear Lord, forgive!

If I have uttered idle words or vain,
If I have turned aside from want or pain,
Lest I myself shall suffer through the strain,
Dear Lord, forgive!

If I have been perverse or hard, or cold,
If I have longed for shelter in Thy fold,
When Thou hast given me some fort to hold,
Dear Lord, forgive!

Forgive the sins I have confessed to Thee;
Forgive the secret sins I do not see;
O guide me, love me and my keeper be,
Dear Lord, Amen.

http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/e/v/evprayer.htm

Amen to that, Joy. How very challenging :-)

"Forgive me my debts, as I forgive those who trespass against me." :-) I have always thought that the hardest and most challenging preaching was from Jesus.

"False prophets". Those who profess to be religious, but they show no fruit of that religion in themselves and cannot influence others to gaze on the wondrous Cross to see their own wretchedness in the face of perfection.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
(ex- Slave Ship Captain, Rev John Newton of Olney, Bucks)

Thank you Joy........... :-)


This is one of my favourite morning prayers.......short but sweet.


The windowsill of heaven

Every morning lean your arms awhile
upon the windowsill of heaven
and gaze upon the Lord.
Then with the vision in your heart,
turn strong to meet your day.

- Thomas Blake


Cx :-)

Most Rev Justin Welby and Pope Francis were both appointed in March.

Yesterday they met for first time. In Vatican, and Archbishop of Canterbury was accompanied by Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nicholas.

Visit is said to have been short and informal :-)

I knew they were due to meet John, but didn't know when. I do hope that they are able to work together in faith.


As their meeting was short and informal, so is this morning's prayer. Sometimes, less is better than more.......



Short Celtic Prayer

Spare Us the Fall
May the roof above
never fall in,
May we below
never fall out.


Cx :-)

Never seen that one before Cynthia :-)

It was a new one to me too Emma...... :-)



Today is a very special day for fathers.......


The Church of England has published a new prayer for children to pray in church, or on their own, on Fathers' Day

Loving God,

We thank you for the gift of good dads,

and everything that they do for us.

Help them to have

patience when we're difficult,

wisdom when we can't see the way,

strength when we need comforting,

and love at all times,

so that, through them,

we get a little glimpse of how you feel about us,

our heavenly Father

Amen.


A second prayer has been published for everyone to use


Heavenly Father,

you entrusted your Son Jesus,

the child of Mary,

to the care of Joseph, an earthly father.

Bless all fathers

as they care for their families.

Give them strength and wisdom,

tenderness and patience;

support them in the work they have to do,

protecting those who look to them,

as we look to you for love and salvation,

through Jesus Christ our rock and defender.

Amen.



Cx :-)

Cynthia. My congregation won't be getting anything about Fathers day today (see my grumpy comments on Fathers Day thread). But I think I might try and slip in your Celtic prayer from yesterday somewhere - I just love the simplicity and commonsense of that.

A very good Christian friend is currently following a course about Celtic worship and I am keeping an eye on it. It is something I would very much like to study myself in near future. So lovely and so inclusive. And so very simple. :-D :-D