General Chat

Very fitting indeed and thank you 'Jack'

My gratitude to those who gave their lives
so that I could have a free and happy life.

Thank you.

Good morning :-)



The weather was fine but cold. The crowd was large but respectful. The band played and the people sang heartily. Such was the scene at our cenotaph yesterday morning. After the brief service was over, the crowd dispersed - many to continue on to the local church services which followed. Very respectful. Very moving.


This morning I had a message from an old friend of ours......Jack Bunion ;-)

Part of the message included these words which I think are fitting for today:


Just after the start of WW1, when the first troops in France (the British Expeditionary Force) had been decimated, Laurence Binyon sat sadly on the cliffs in North Cornwall and wrote about his friends who had perished:

"They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond the nation's foam"




It would be good to have 'Jack' back with us...... :-)


With love to all Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


I do hope the weather stays fine for the many services which will be taking place at Cenotaphs all around the world.

My church has the local Cenotaph in it's garden and is a focal point for the whole community. Roads are close, bands play, organisations march and join together for an Act of Remembrance led by the clergy. The crowds seem to get larger each year and The Silence is observed in just that...................silence. Very moving.

The organisations then move on to church for a service where everyone is welcome.

The collect for today:

The Collect

Almighty Father,
whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of all:
govern the hearts and minds of those in authority,
and bring the families of the nations, divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin,
to be subject to his just and gentle rule;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever. Amen.


With love to all. Cx :-)

We Will Remember Them.

This weekend, we will all witness a mass display of emotion. A human reaction worth nurturing.

Very moving prayer from a young soldier

Good morning :-)


As we enter this special weekend which is dedicated to those who suffered and died during warfare, I am going to use the following prayer, one which I have found very moving.


Found on the body of a young soldier killed in WW1

Look, God, I have never spoken to you before,
But now I want to say: "How do you do?"
You see God, they told me you didn’t exist,
And, like a fool, I believed all this.

Last night from a shell hole I saw your sky,
I figured right then they had told me a lie,
Had I taken the time to see things you made,
I’d have known they weren’t calling a spade a spade.

I wonder, God, if you’d shake my hand,
Somehow I feel that you’d understand,
Funny I had to come to this hellish place,
Before I had time to see your face.

Well, I guess there isn’t much more to say,
But I am sure, God, I met you today,
I guess the "zero-hour " will soon be here,
But I'm not afraid since I know you're here.

The signal! Well, God, I have to go,
I like you lots, this I want you to know,
Look now, this will be a horrible fight,
Who knows, I may come to your house tonight.

Though I wasn’t friendly to you before,
I wonder, God, if you’d wait at your door?
Look, I’m crying! Me. Shedding tears!
I wish I had known you these many years.

Well! I have to go now God. Goodbye,
Since I met you, I’m not afraid to die.




Cx <3

Thank you Cynthia

Amen.

Good morning :-)

Most of us know folk who are either in hospital or in care of some sort.......we think of them today....


Lord God, whose Son, Jesus Christ,

understood people's fear and pain

before they spoke of them,

we pray for those in hospital;

surround the frightened with your tenderness;

give strength to those in pain;

hold the weak in your arms of love,

and give hope and patience

to those who are recovering;

we ask this through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.


With love to you all.....Cx :-)

Cynthia thank you <3

Good morning :-)


I hope everyone is keeping well and happy. Kandj and her husband, Vera's widowed neighbour and Emma's young friend are still remembered in prayer - as are several others. I hope things are settling down for them all.


Ideals Are Like Stars

In this world of casual carelessness

it’s discouraging to try

To keep our morals and standards

and our ideals high…

We are ridiculed and laughed at

by the smart sophisticate

Who proclaims in brittle banter

that such things are

out of date…


But no life is worth the living

unless it’s built on truth,

And we lay our life’s foundation

in the golden years of youth…

So allow no one to stop you

or hinder you from laying

A firm and strong foundation

made of faith and love

and praying…


And remember that ideals

are like stars up in the sky,

You can never really reach them,

hanging in the heavens high…

But like the mighty mariner

who sailed the storm-tossed sea,

And used the stars to chart

his course

with skill and certainty,

You too can chart your course in life

With high ideals and love,

For high ideals are like the stars

that light the sky above…


You cannot ever

reach them,

but lift your heart up high

and your life will be as shining

as the stars up in the sky.



- Helen Steiner Rice



With love, Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

We seem to live in a world full of stresses and strains. People are striving to meet targets at work and juggle families and finances, so a short prayer for those in that situation...:

Lord,

When I feel stressed, help me to lift my eyes heavenwards and breathe in your peace.

When I feel tried, help me to allow you to be strength to me.

When I feel irritable, help me to draw near to you and fill up my heart with love.

When I feel inadequate, help me to live in your grace and rest in the knowledge that you are with me.

When I fell down, help me to hear your voice bringing new inspiration and insight into my life.

Amen.


Thinking of kandj and her husband, Vera and Emma's friends and any known to us who would appreciate prayer.

Cx :-)

Good way to start the day Cynthia :-D

Thank you for sharing x

Good morning :-)


A touch of humour for today. I am currently the person who is typing up the parish magazine - these are the sort of errors I dread making.... :-D




Seen on a Church noticeboard: "Come early and get a back seat".

In the Church Notices: "At the last Church Council meeting, it was decided that from this week on the freewill offering will be compulsory"

The parish magazine: "We are pleased to note that there has been a change of mind by the Housing Department regarding the name for the new housing complex for the elderly. "St Peter's Close" did seem somewhat inappropriate".

Women's Luncheon: Each member bring a sandwich. Polly Phillips will give the medication.

Congratulations to Tim and Ronda on the birth of their daughter October 12 thru 17.

If you choose to heave during the Postlude, please do so quietly.

Sign-up sheet for anyone wishing to be water-baptised on the table in the foyer.

Newsletters are not being sent to absentees because of their weight.

The District Superintendent will be meeting with the church boared.

As soon as the weather clears up, the men will have a goof outing. .

Thank you, dead friends.

Diana and Don request your presents at their wedding.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget all His benefits

Head Deacon and Dead Deaconess

We pray that our people will jumble themselves.



Hope these made folk smile today Cx :-)

A good start Cynthia for your husband, such a shame
he was unable to stay for Holy Communion.


Remembering all our friends and family in need of prayer. x

Good morning :-)


Thank you for those words Susan - I will leave them as the thought for today :-)




I managed to get my husband to church yesterday but, unfortunately, we had to come home part way through the service so he didn't manage to receive his Holy Communion :-( We will try again another week though.


Many churches held a Memorial Service yesterday afternoon/evening, especially remembering those who have died during the last year. We had a large number in the congregation who joined in the hymns and prayers and then listened attentively as their loved one's name was read out.


Remembering those who have asked for prayer Cx :-)

hello to all

I was just surfing and came across this.......


Start Over

by Dr. Woodrow Kroll

When you've trusted Jesus and walked his way
When you've felt his hand lead you day by day
But your steps now take you another way,
START OVER

When you've made your plans and they've gone awry
When you've tried your best and there's no more try
When you've failed yourself and you don't know why,
START OVER

When you've told your friends what you plan to do
When you've trusted them and they didn't come through
And now you're all alone and it's up to you,
START OVER

When you've failed your kids and they're grown and gone
When you've done your best but it's turned out wrong
And now your grandchildren have come along,
START OVER

When you've prayed to God so you'll know his will
When you've prayed and prayed and you don't know still
When you want to stop cause you've had your fill,
START OVER

When you think you're finished and want to quit
When you've bottomed out in life's deepest pit
When you've tried and tried to get out of it,
START OVER

When the year has been long and successes few
When December comes and you're feeling blue
God gives a January just for you,
START OVER

Starting over means "Victories Won"
Starting over means "A Race Well Run"
Starting over means "The Lords' Will Done"
Don't just sit there.......
START OVER

Good morning :-)



We seem to have come round to November very quickly this year........my word!


The Collect for today :

The Collect

Almighty and eternal God,
you have kindled the flame of love in the hearts of the saints:
grant to us the same faith and power of love,
that, as we rejoice in their triumphs,
we may be sustained by their example and fellowship;
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.


Love to all Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

I agree about assessments Emma, I just wish they had told me first so that I didn't get my hopes up so soon. :-)


Today is All Saints Day, also known as All Hallows Day - it is a day for Christians to remember and celebrate those who lived before us and contributed to the life of the church and society.


Some words from the hymn which most churches will probably sing tomorrow:

For all the saints, who from their labours rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!


Remembering those who have asked for prayer. Cx :-)