General Chat

Good morning :-)

Getting our facts right!

FACT: The Bible never names any of the Magi who came to see Jesus. However, later Christian tradition assigns names to them. While it is interesting to look at the given names, it is important to understand that these were not their names.

• Caspar (Gaspar) - It is said he had brown hair and a brown beard. He wore a green cloak with a gold crown with green jewels on it. It is said he was the King of Sheba and brought Frankincense to Jesus.

• Melchoir - Tradition says he has long white hair and a beard and wears a gold cloak. He is believed to be the King of Arabia and gave Gold to Jesus.

• Balthazar - Tradition says he was the King of Egypt and was black-skinned with a black beard. He gave Jesus Myrrh.

As was said yesterday, the Bible never says that these men were kings, and it certainly does not suggest they came from different countries. These traditions, which have grown over the years, have added a certain amount of artistic license to this interesting story.

Cx :-)

Good afternoon :-)

Apologies for yesterday, which was Epiphany.

Sometimes, we have to move away from all the ‘cutesy’ images and ideas surrounding our Nativity scenes and look at the real facts.


FACT. We assume that there were three Wise Men because there were three gifts, but the Bible never says there were three. It is quite possible that there were more than three that arrived. They also would have had an entourage and would not have travelled alone. Those that came with them are not mentioned in the Bible.


FACT: Unlike the images we see, the Wise Men were not there the night Jesus was born. They began their quest to find him after he was born. Jesus would have been two-three years old at the time of their arrival.


FACT: The Bible never calls them kings, but rather wise men or the Magi. It is possible that they were royalty, and at the least, they were wealthy men who were well-educated in the stars.
The famous Christmas Carol is still fun to sing, but realise they were not Kings, and they were not from the Orient.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Thank you, kandj and SuffolkVera. You're very welcome. :-D

I guess most of us on here are fans of Long Lost Family? It’s a popular TV show with touching adoption stories.

In our sermon yesterday, we were reminded that we are adopted by God, who wants to share His gifts with us.

“Adoption” goes beyond just legal papers; it’s about becoming family and community. It reflects God’s love and encourages us to share that love with others around us.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Cynthia, I would like to thank you the same as Vera has for all the daily posting that you do for us all.

Vera, I hope you and your OH are both well.

The Gate of the Year by Minnie Louise Haskins.

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
"Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown."
And he replied:
"Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way."
So I went forth, and finding the hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And he led me towards the hills and the breaking of the day in the lone East.

Wishing everyone a Happy and a Healthy 2026.

Thank you for continuing to post Cynthia. Your posts are always interesting and I often learn something new. I particularly liked your explanation of the meanings in the song A Partridge in a Pear Tree.

I am just about to read my favourite poem The Journey of the Magi by T S Eliot. I know I've mentioned it before as I always turn to it at this time of year and I always seem to see something new in it even though I know it well.

Good morning :-)


The Collect (special prayer) for today:

O God,
who by the leading of a star
manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth:
mercifully grant that we,
who know you now by faith,
may at last behold your glory face to face;
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.

In today's Gospel we hear the story of the Wise Men.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Starting the new year on January 1 comes from a calendar linked to Roman paganism, but the idea of fresh starts and changing bad habits is very much in line with Christian values.

Many Christians use this time to renew their commitments to prayer, reading the Bible, hospitality, and service. Resolutions should be clear enough to follow but also humble, recognising our need for the Holy Spirit. Instead of just asking, "What do I want to achieve this year?", Christians might think, "Who is God calling me to be this year?"


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The tradition of starting the calendar on January 1 is Roman. The Romans fixed the start of the year with a month dedicated to Janus, who was a god with two faces. One looked backwards, and one looked forwards.

The month dedicated to Janus gave us the name of the first month as January. Romans would make vows of good conduct and offer sacrifices, a kind of moral and spiritual “fresh start” at the threshold of a new year. The Romans called the first day of each month the Calends or Kalends, which is the origin of our word calendar.

Cx :-)

Good morning and a very happy New Year to everyone. <3

A New Year in His Hands

The clock strikes twelve, the old year fades,
Through joy and tears, through light and shades.
Yet here I stand, my heart made new,
For God has carried me safely through.
The road ahead I cannot see,
But I know the One who walks with me.
His mercy fresh with every dawn,
His steadfast love will lead me on.
So I will step with faith, not fear,
For Christ is Lord of every year.
And in His grace, my soul will rest,
For in His will, my life is blessed.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Many carols have been sung over Christmas – some traditional and some rather more modern. One Christmas carol which isn’t often sung at services but is still well known is The Twelve Days of Christmas.
Most of us can sing it all the way through, but maybe we haven’t realised the religious significance behind the words.

1 Partridge in a Pear Tree = Jesus Christ, Son of God
2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch”, which gives the history of man’s fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

In 2025, we have, sadly, heard several items on the news announcing various types of tragedy involving children.

Imagine the headlines from 2,000+ years ago.

“AS HE HAS NOT BEEN TOLD WHERE THE INFANT JESUS IS LIVING, KING HEROD ORDERS THE MASSACRE OF ALL MALE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 2 YEARS!”

Joseph, Jesus, and Mary escaped and fled to Egypt as refugees. Today, refugees are still fleeing from dangerous situations from all around the world.

In all of this, we are reminded of suffering, but we have the ultimate victory of God’s plans over human evil, encouraging believers to cherish life and find hope in Christ.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Collect (special prayer) for today:

Almighty God,
who wonderfully created us in your own image
and yet more wonderfully restored us
through your Son Jesus Christ:
grant that, as he came to share in our humanity,
so we may share the life of his divinity;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.


Today's Gospel tells us how Joseph took Jesus and Mary to Egypt to escape 'the slaughter of the innocents' by King Herod.

Cx :-)

Happy Boxing Day wishes x

Good morning :-)

Hopefully, everyone had at least a reasonable Christmas Day! Today is a day to recover, especially for those who went to the trouble of cooking for and entertaining family and friends over the festive period. And now, we have.............

Boxing Day, celebrated on December 26th, is a cherished tradition in Britain and Commonwealth countries. While today it’s often linked to shopping sprees and sporting events, its true origins are quite heartwarming!

Back in medieval times, the Church encouraged generosity during the Christmas season. Parishioners would deposit coins into special "alms boxes" near church altars, which were opened by clergy on December 26th to share the collected donations with those in need. This tradition highlighted the importance of kindness and giving during the holidays.

Interestingly, December 26th also marks the Feast of Saint Stephen, the first martyr in Christian history. His story of sacrifice and mercy inspired people to follow his example and lend a helping hand to others.

Over the years, the combination of celebrating kindness and the opening of those donation boxes led to December 26th being recognised as a day for giving back. As for the name "Boxing Day," it likely comes from these very boxes! The term first appeared in print in 1833, making this special day a lovely reminder of generosity in our communities.

Cx :-)

A very happy Christmas to you all

Good morning :-)

A very Happy and Blessed Christmas to you all. <3


"May the miracle of Christmas bring you hope, the spirit of Christmas bring you love, and the joy of Christmas give you peace. Merry Christmas in Christ!"



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


I have a list of folks I know, all written in a book,
and every year when Christmas comes, I go and take a look,
and that is when I realize that these names are a part
not of the book they are written in, but really of my heart.
For each name stands for someone who has crossed my path sometime,
and in the meeting they’ve become the rhythm in each rhyme.
And while it sounds fantastic for me to make this claim,
I really feel that I am composed of each remembered name.
And while you may not be aware of any special link,
just meeting you has changed my life a lot more than you think.
For once I’ve met somebody, the years cannot erase
the memory of a pleasant word or of a friendly face.
So never think my Christmas cards are just a mere routine
of names upon a Christmas list, forgotten in between,
for when I send a Christmas card that is addressed to you,
it is because you are on the list that I am indebted to.
For I am but a total of the many folks I met,
and you happen to be one of those I prefer not to forget;
and whether I have known you for many years or few,
in some way you have a part in shaping things I do.
And every year when Christmas comes, I realize anew,
the best gifts life can offer is meeting folks like you.
and may the spirit of Christmas that forever endures
leave its richest blessings in the hearts of you and yours.

by Helen Steiner Rice

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Lovely carol service last night - angels with wonky halos, shepherds who had lost their sheep and wise men tripping over spare curtains. All good fun and worthwhile!!

Christmas represents the nativity and inspires many nativity plays that include angels, wise men, and an innkeeper. While kids often want to play Joseph or Mary, no one wants to be the donkey. Yet, the donkey carried Jesus, making his role special.

The donkey shows us the value of being content and humble, doing important work without seeking praise. This Christmas, let’s learn from the donkey and appreciate those who quietly support a bigger purpose. Here’s to the unsung heroes in the story! Let's be donkeys this Christmas.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent. In churches around the world, a reading from the Gospel of Saint Matthew will be heard during the service. In this reading, we hear how an angel of the Lord appears to Saint Joseph. The angel tells Joseph not to be afraid, the baby that Mary will have is God’s son.

The Gospel then includes the words of the prophet Isaiah, whom we have heard from each week in our Advent Sunday readings. Isaiah’s words remind the people that God will send his Messiah to live among them.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Once upon a time, there was a poor widow who lived with her two children. They didn’t have much, but they had each other. One summer, one of the children noticed that a pine cone had fallen through their window and taken root in the earthen floor of the family’s hut. They were excited about the thought that, come Christmas, they would have their very own tree, so they did nothing to remove it and instead let it flourish under their care.

Over the months, the tree grew and grew until it was as fine a tree as any in their village. However, when Christmas came around, the family couldn’t afford to decorate it. They went to bed on Christmas Eve feeling slightly downcast at the thought that their splendid tree was without ornament.

That night, some spiders crept in from the cold and hid in the branches of the tree. They danced through the firs, leaving their silvery cobwebs trailing all over its branches, until they’d woven a tapestry of cobwebs that crossed and criss-crossed all around the family’s beloved tree. When the family got up in the morning, they saw that their tree had been transformed by the spiders’ labour. The early morning light had cast the cobwebs in silver and gold colours, making the tree glitter and gleam.

The family were overjoyed and filled with gratitude, and celebrated a happy Christmas together.

Cx :-)