General Chat

Good morning .... :-)


When the morning is good, and before I have my breakfast, I wander out to the wooden bench at the back of the house. There, I can close my eyes and take in the warmth of the morning sun, the whisper of the grass in the field and listen to the early morning birdsong. It's a perfect spot to have a quiet time with God before my day begins :-)


Creator God
who breathed this world into being,
who is discernible within
the harmony of nature,
the perfection of a butterfly's wing,
the grandeur of a mountain range,
the soaring eagle and humming bird,
thank you for this world
which you have created.
Thank you for summer sun,
which reminds us
that your creative breath
is still alive and active.
Thank you for the warmth of your love,
sustaining this world,
your garden

Amen.



Enjoy your day......Cx :-)

Good morning...... :-)


Another Sunday is upon us......how the weeks fly!


The Collect for Today:



Almighty and everlasting God,
by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified:
hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people,
that in their vocation and ministry they may serve you
in holiness and truth to the glory of your name;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Continuing in prayer for kandj and her husband, Emma's friend and family and for Vera's recently widowed friend.

Cx :-)

Uplifting words Cynthia, thank you.

Emma x

Good morning ... :-)


Looking at the weather forecast, storms seem to be dominating the news. Personally, I love watching a storm - from inside of course. :-)

It set me thinking of the other kind of storms......the storms which can affect our lives : bereavement - illness - despair of any kind - and how much we can rely on God to help us through. I think the following words sum things up rather well.....


Storms Bring Out The Eagles

When the “storms of life” gather darkly ahead,
I think of these wonderful words I once read
And I say to myself as “threatening clouds” hover
Don’t “fold up your wings” and “run for cover”
But like the eagle “spread wide your wings”
and “soar far above” the trouble life brings,
For the eagle knows that the higher he flies
The more tranquil and brighter become the skies…
And there is nothing in life God ever asks us to bear
That we can’t soar above “On The Wings Of A Prayer,”
And in looking back over the “storm you passed through”
You’ll find you gained strength and new courage, too,
For in facing “life’s storms” with an eagles wings
You can fly far above earth’s small, petty things.

- Helen Steiner Rice


Thinking of all our friends who are going through 'storms' at the moment.

Cx :-)

Vera I'm so sorry to hear this sad news and
my thoughts and prayers go out to his wife
that she may find comfort and strength to
see her through this time.

Also to kandj and her OH and to our friend.

Emma x

Good morning :-)


I'm so very sorry to hear about your friend's death Vera and yes, of course, we will keep his wife in our thoughts and prayers.


Today is a sad day for so many families and friends of those who lost their lives in this latest plane disaster so, thinking of all who mourn, I thought I would post the following words which have been used to comfort people for generations......



The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.


- Psalm 23


Cx

Dear Vera

Hello

I am very sorry to hear this.

My deepest sympathy to your friend.

Your friend is not alone. She has you. <3


Take very gentle care
Sincere wishes
Love Elizabeth,
xx

You have been kind enough to remember my neighbour in your prayers. Sadly he died this morning. Could I ask you now to keep his wife in your thoughts.

She has no family so is alone, apart from support from a few friends and neighbours. I have spoken to her tonight and she is very calm but she is going to need a lot of strength in the days ahead.

Thank you.

I am of course still thinking of Kandj and her OH, Emma's young friend and her family, and others in need

Good morning.... :-)


According to the weather forecast, it's going to be the hottest day so far in some parts of the country. Summer has well and truly arrived!



Summer Prayer


Creator of all, thank You for summer!
Thank You for the warmth of the sun and the increased daylight.
Thank You for the beauty I see all around me
and for the opportunity to be outside and enjoy Your creation.

Thank You for the increased time I have to be with my friends and family,
and for the more casual pace of the summer season.

Draw me closer to You this summer.
each me how I can pray no matter where I am or what I am doing.
Warm my soul with the awareness of Your presence,
and light my path with Your Word and Counsel.

As I enjoy Your creation, create in me a pure heart
and a hunger and a thirst for You.


Enjoy your day and take care in the heat..... Cx :-)

Amen to that Cynthia. The older I get, the more aware I am of how much I am blessed.

Good morning :-)


For today, something each one of us can do......



Count Your Blessings


Count your blessings instead of your crosses;

Count your gains instead of your losses.

Count your joys instead of your woes;

Count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your smiles instead of your tears;

Count your courage instead of your fears.

Count your full years instead of your lean;

Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count your health instead of your wealth;

Love your neighbour as much as yourself.

- Author unknown



Remembering kandj and her OH, Emma's young friend and family and Vera's friend.

Cx :-)

thanks, C xxxx

Good morning.. :-)



Oh dear Sylvia, you ARE in a state........and I'm sure many of us can sympathise with you. :-)


I found this prayer for patience:


Lord, may I be slow to anger and filled with love

I know I'm going to need Your help here

Because if I try to go solo on this I'll fail for sure



Please fill my heart with patience

May I be ready to forgive - myself and others

Not just this once

But as many times as it takes

Thank you that you are forever giving

When it comes to forgiveness



Please fill my heart with understanding

May I always seek to contemplate

What somebody may be suffering

Before I jump to any conclusions

Because I know that you never cease

To pardon me



Lord, may I be slow to anger and filled with love

Because you are my hero

And I'm following You




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

I need to pray for patience :-)


I've been helping someone on another site.

He has ancestors with a surname that is common in the area

he is convinced that the parents were married some time between 1816 and 1836

He has no proof that the parents ever married ........................... and the "wife" married someone else in 1836, who was willing to take on the 7 kids that she'd had.


He is now convinced that "spinster" is a term for a childless woman


and "dressmaker" is an alternate name for a spinster

He has just deleted the second thread in 2 days ................... and is starting another one



The reason he wants to find the marriage???



so he can add them to the roll in Utah, and enter them into heaven






please ............. patience, patience, patience!



I think I might just give this hobby of helping others :-)

Good morning :-)


I can't remember visiting Bath Abbey Vera, but I love your description. Thank you.

Our cathedral has set times for prayers I think and everyone is welcome to pause for a short while and have a time of quietness. There are usually retired clergy on hand if anyone wants to talk about a worry or concern.



A Summer Prayer

Long warm days...
The pace of life slows...
A time for picnics and rest in the shade...
Lord, help me to rest awhile
in the cooling shade of your presence.
Slow down my restless heart and fill me
with gentle compassion for all your people.
Amen.

- Author unknown

Cx :-)

Thank you Cynthia and Emma for your kind thoughts for my neighbour.

We have been away for a couple of days and today we went to Bath where we visited Bath Abbey. What a beautiful church! Even though it was full of tourists I found it very peaceful and full of light. While we were there one of the priests announced that now and then they ask their visitors to join them in a short prayer. A few people left a bit quickly but most stayed. The priest said a short prayer, we all said the Lord's Prayer and then sat in silence for a moment. It took about 5 minutes and I thought what a good idea it was.

Remembering all our friends in need

I am also keeping kandj, her husband, Vera's friend and
our young friend in my thoughts and prayers.

Emma x

Good morning.... :-)



Rather overcast here today but, hopefully, it will brighten up later. A busy morning at church - the Area Dean is with us for two services and four baptisms - should be fun!


The Collect

O God, the protector of all who trust in you,
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy:
increase and multiply upon us your mercy;
that with you as our ruler and guide
we may so pass through things temporal
that we lose not our hold on things eternal;
grant this, heavenly Father,
for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.


Remembering kandj and her husband. Emma's young friend and family and Vera's friend in our prayers.

Cx :-)

Thank you Cynthia for the interesting marriage statistics and the words from HSR.

Thinking of Kandj, Emma's young friend, my neighbour who is very seriously ill and others in need of comfort and support at this time

Cynthia..... :-) <3