General Chat

Good morning :-)


When we think about creation, there is a hymn which most people learned when they were children. You can now hum this all day! ??

All things bright and beautiful,
all creatures great and small,
all things wise and wonderful,
the Lord God made them all.

1 Each little flow'r that opens,
each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors,
He made their tiny wings. [Refrain]

2 The purple-headed mountain,
the river running by,
the sunset and the morning
that brightens up the sky. [Refrain]

3 The cold wind in the winter,
the pleasant summer sun,
the ripe fruits in the garden:
He made them every one. [Refrain]

4 He gave us eyes to see them,
and lips that we might tell
how great is God Almighty,
who has made all things well. [Refrain]


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

As the oceans rise

O Lord, we pray for courage
as the oceans rise
and people suffer.
Let us care for one another,
and protect our precious home.
O Lord, we pray for strength
as the glaciers thaw
and our Earth is in pain.
Give us the spirit to do more.
We must all act together,
and protect our fragile home.
O Lord, we pray for hope
as the temperatures soar.
To the tears of your Creation
we will not close our eyes.
We will all work together
to preserve our common home.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord,
Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Caring for creation.

A Rocha UK’s Eco Church programme equips churches in England and Wales to care for creation.

Eco Church is a learning community of churches of all shapes and sizes open to all denominations. It provides a framework to support each church and its leadership to take practical action on caring for God’s earth through the Eco Church survey. The survey covers five key areas of church life:
• Worship and teaching
• Buildings and energy
• Land and nature
• Community and global engagement
• Lifestyle

It’s going to be an interesting journey for many churches.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Creator God,
You show us what love is
through the beauty of the earth
and the gift of your Son.
For the love of…
animal and plant
mountain and forest
sea and city
woman and man
friend and family
those who live far from us
and those yet to be born.
Move us to live more simply,
to protect the earth
and to speak up for those in need.
Amen.

https://youtu.be/MA-c3HxXFJk


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Harvest in 2025 is very much linked to what is now called The Season of Creation. This is an ecumenical season dedicated to prayer for the protection of creation and the promotion of sustainable lifestyles. It runs from September 1st to October 4th, which is the festival of St. Francis – rather fitting!

How it all began...........

Called to your table
You said: “Let there be”,
And so there was.
Creation awakened.
Reaching towards you,
life sang your praises.
Each seed, each atom
replied to your calling;
each plant, each creature
- knowing, unasking.
You said: “Let them live”,
and so we did.
Creation: abundant,
reaping the harvest,
called to your table.
Each man, each woman
joined in the feasting,
each son, each daughter
- praising, rejoicing.
You said: “Let them share”,
and how we fail.
Creation: unbalanced.
wasting, destroying,
we take from others.
Keeping, withholding,
we fail to notice
each man, each woman
- hungering, weeping.
We say: “Let us learn”,
and so we must.
Creation: restored.
Giving and taking:
to each life sufficient.
Each to another,
filled with your bounty
each prayer, each answer
- Building, remaking.


Cx :-)

Good morming :-)

Yesterday, we held our Harvest Festival in church.

Nostalgia time. Older people especially, have fond memories of Harvest Festivals at church. As someone described on the page yesterday, “I can remember Harvest Festival when I was a child in Ince. We used to take fruit and veg to school and it was displayed in Ince Parish Church. A local Baker used to bake a loaf in the shape of a sheaf of wheat to add to the display and I can remember carrying a real sheaf of wheat into church. It was the only time of year we saw a pumpkin, unlike now, and we used to sing "We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land". Happy days! X” Many people can happily relate to this.
Who remembers the smell of the fruit and vegetables when you opened the church door? The children clutching boxes of food tightly to their chests? If it were a service of Holy Communion, grapes and a loaf of bread were often offered at the altar, along with the bread and wine. Definitely nostalgia time!

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Today is St. Matthew's Day - Matthew the tax collector.

O Almighty God, who by thy blessed Son didst call Matthew from the receipt of custom to be an Apostle and Evangelist: Grant us grace to forsake all covetous desires and inordinate love of riches, and to follow the same thy Son Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

If only GR would allow us to post pictures here, it might liven up the site!

On Sunday (Holy Cross Day), we sang that age-old hymn The Old Rugged Cross, but who wrote it?

George Bennard, born in 1873 in Youngstown, Ohio, faced hardship early on when he lost his father and had to work in the coal mines to support his family. Despite the difficulties, he held onto hope and eventually found a job with the Salvation Army and became a Christian.

As a minister, Bennard began writing hymns but struggled with one in particular. After months of searching for the right lyrics, he only had the line "I will cherish the old rugged cross." While travelling to preach in Michigan, his renewed appreciation for the cross inspired him, and he eventually completed the hymn "The Old Rugged Cross."

Bennard's perseverance in both life and song highlights the importance of not giving up, as his struggles led to the creation of a beloved classic.



1 On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.

2 O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary. [Refrain]

3 In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me. [Refrain]

4 To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I'll share. [Refrain]

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Fashion accessories!

The Botony Cross is a type of cross in heraldry and art where each arm ends in a trefoil, a bud-like shape with three rounded lobes or "buttons". It is sometimes called a cross trefly due to this trefoil design, which can symbolise the Holy Trinity.

This is a heraldic cross made by joining four Latin crosses at the centre. Each cross emanating from the centre represents one of the four evangelists – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. By combining the four crosses, there’s also a fifth cross at the centre.

The origins of the cross crosslet are unknown, but the oldest known use can be traced back to 1404 in Poland.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Fashion accessories!

The Celtic cross features a cross within a circle, with the bottom arm extending below the circle. It’s commonly found in graveyards and public monuments and is seen as an emblem of Irish, Welsh and Scottish heritages.

The exact origins of the Celtic cross are unknown, but evidence suggests that it was in use before Christianity came to the region and has pagan associations.

It may have simply been adapted by missionaries to aid in their evangelising efforts. The Celtic Cross symbolises a blend of Christian faith and Celtic heritage, representing spirituality, eternity, and personal beliefs.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Fashion accessories!

The Jerusalem Cross, also known as the five-fold cross, is a significant symbol in Christian history and is a reminder of the five wounds suffered by Christ during his crucifixion. The large, central cross represents the wound from the Roman soldier’s spear, while the four smaller crosses represent the wounds on Jesus’ hands and feet.

The cross was adopted by the Crusaders and the Kingdom of Jerusalem after the capture of Jerusalem in 1099. It symbolises the spread of the gospel to the four corners of the earth.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Fashion accessories!

Chi Rho (pronounced as in ‘Cairo’)

This interesting cross has a long history. Chi Rho combines two Greek letters into a symbol to make it look like the letter X. This is placed over the bottom of the letter P, which forms the symbol ?. The translation of the word into English means "Christ."

It is known as the Christogram and is an important part of Christianity and its history and dates back to the time of Constantine. He saw it as a symbol of protection and safety. In the same way, Christians still use this symbol today, and it connects back to Jesus.


The Chi Rho symbol offers us endless opportunities to share the gospel and keep our focus on Jesus throughout our day. While it can be challenging to remember Christ during tough times, this symbol serves as a reminder to stay centred on Him and share His message with the world.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Fashion accessories!

Most jewellers have a wonderful choice of necklaces and bracelets featuring a cross. Some are small, some large, often quite ‘blingy’. They can be expensive, whilst others are relatively cheap.

Many people, Christians or not, like to wear a cross of some sort. Some prefer to wear a plain cross, and those who wear a crucifix with a figure of Jesus on it. Or, as was once heard…..”The one with the little man on it” !! Many have a cross tattooed on their body somewhere or other.

The cross wasn’t always a symbol of hope and salvation, or a fashion accessory!

In the time of Jesus, crucifixion on a cross was a brutal and humiliating form of execution used by the Romans. It was a punishment reserved for criminals and those seen as threats to the empire.

The fact that Jesus died on a cross changed everything. Instead of being a symbol of death, the cross became a powerful sign of God’s love and redemption.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Today is Holy Cross Sunday.
Collect (special prayer) for today:
Almighty God,
who in the passion of your blessed Son
made an instrument of painful death
to be for us the means of life and peace:
grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ
that we may gladly suffer for his sake;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Today, the Gospel reminds us that God gave His only Son to save us.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Am I a Christian?
Becoming a Christian is based solely on faith and not determined by a checklist of rules or good works that earn approval.

True Christianity is a way of life. It is not just a mood or an emotion; it reflects how we live once we dedicate our lives to Christ. A true Christian seeks God's way of life, His thoughts, and, most importantly, His will for them. This is someone willing to go the extra mile by putting God first and trusting in Him.

Christians prioritise their calling above everything and everyone else, fully understanding in their hearts that this calling will always lead to great things.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Some people believe that being a Christian entails adhering to a comprehensive set of regulations and rules. That’s not the case. Christianity is completely misunderstood when people do not understand that it is based on our relationship with Jesus. This relationship is in friendship with Christ. The friendship we have in Christ is overwhelming. Jesus laid down His life for us as a friend. Our new relationship with Jesus means friendship with Him. The best friend in the world.

What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Here is a question which is often asked. Do we have to go to church to be a Christian? Do we have to go to church to be saved? Do we have to go to church to get to heaven?

The question itself appears simple enough, and a straight answer of either “Yes!” or “No!” is expected. There is no rule in the Bible which states “Thou MUST attend church”. There really isn’t, and we often hear people say that ‘‘you can worship God anywhere", but do we actually do that?

Jesus was regularly at the Temple, and an authentic community of faith is beneficial to our spiritual lives. Going to church may not always be easy, but it is where we learn and grow as Christians and, hopefully, it’s a place of support and encouragement. As football fans enjoy being together rather than being alone, so a Christian needs to be with other Christians.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Oh heavens, did I forget to pop in yesterday? Apologies. <3

Do we say we are a Christian?

It’s often said that because someone is good, kind, and would do anything for anyone, they are a Christian. Nice thought, but not necessarily true.
To be a Christian, we need to look to Jesus, to follow Jesus, to have Jesus as our friend. Then it makes sense.

What happened?

The world had drifted away from God, and the people were alienating themselves from Him. He wanted to bring the world back to how He meant it to be, and so He sent Jesus to restore the relationship.

Jesus did this by dying on a cross, where he paid the massive debt owed for all the ways God had been offended by people’s attitudes and actions. These offences were so serious that they shut out any contact with God, not only during this life, but forever.

That may have been then, but it is exactly the same today. Jesus died for US, and it is only by believing in His death and resurrection that we can be forgiven and accepted by God.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

There’s an old saying….”If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” From the Gospel yesterday ….. what it means to be a Christian and the cost of discipleship.

Being a Christian isn’t just about being nice, kind and helpful; many people of other faiths and those of no faith at all can be lovely, kind and helpful.

If we say we are a Christian, then what comes first and foremost is that we need to be obedient to Jesus.


We are to put Jesus and our love for God above everything else in our lives. Yes, everything.
All our decisions.
All our relationships.
Jesus is our No. 1 priority and comes before whatever it is that we want to do. It's all part of the cost of discipleship.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


The Collect (special prayer for today)
Almighty and everlasting God,
you are always more ready to hear than we to pray
and to give more than either we desire or deserve:
pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid
and giving us those good things
which we are not worthy to ask
but through the merits and mediation
of 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


Today we hear about being a disciple of Jesus.

Cx :-)