General Chat

Good morning :-)


Today we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King

The Collect (special prayer for today)

Eternal Father,
whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven
that he might rule over all things as Lord and King:
keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit
and in the bond of peace,
and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

PEACE

Heavenly Father, you are the God of peace which surpasses understanding. When my mind is full of the cares of the world, please calm my anxiety and soothe my fears. Give me your peace in my heart, my mind and my soul.

May I approach every part of the life with the assurance that comes from your peace. I have nothing to fear when you are with me. If you are for me, who can be against me? Remind my mind of your presence and your power. Cause your precious face to shine upon me. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

PEACE

Today we pray for peace in our schools

Loving Father, Thank you for all who are part of our schools. Please grant them your encouragement, wisdom and peace.

Strengthen teachers with heavy workloads. May they be firm, yet patient, expecting excellence but forgiving mistakes. May they support their students, playing to strengths, helping with struggles and motivating them to do their best.

Comfort and restore those living under shadows of unhappiness, abuse, pain or fear. May many find faith discovering their identity in You and knowing Your amazing grace in their lives.

Please pour out Your blessings upon our whole school community.
In Jesus name.
Amen

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

PEACE

PEACE

Today we pray for families where there are problems.

Lord Jesus, we ask that you will be with those families who are unhappy. Grant them Your peace and harmony, an end to conflict and division. Give them compassion to better understand each other, wisdom and love to help each other, and trust and patience to live peacefully together. Amen.


Cx :-)

I have nothing to add to the thread except my thanks to Cynthia for the prayers and the theme of Peace this week. It never hurts to be reminded to try to keep our own little corner full of peace.

Good morning :-)

PEACE

Today we pray for peace in our homes.

Loving Lord, thank You for my home. I pray that it may be a place of peace and rest, a place of laughter, a place of rejoicing.

Abide in each room I pray, and may the sunshine of Your warming love enter into the hearts of all that come through the door. May this always be a place that is open and welcoming to others.

Heavenly Father, You are the God of peace and love, and I that Your perfect peace would fill this home now, and in the days to come. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

PEACE


Today we pray for peace in our community and neighbourhood

We pray for the communities in which we live: for our neighbours, that we may be friends and be at peace with one another. For local businesses and for those who are struggling to work from home, that they may find peace in doing their best. For our local councillors and committees that they may always work for peace within our community.

Lord Jesus Christ, you taught us to love our neighbour as ourselves, and to care for those in need as if we were caring for you. Give us strength for our work and service, hope in our trouble and wisdom in our decision-making. And give us that peace which passes all understanding. For your name’s sake. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


After such a special time of remembrance, we pray for peace, in all its forms…..today we pray for the peace of the world.

"Make your ways known upon earth, Lord God,
Your saving power among all peoples.
Renew your Church in holiness and help us to serve you with joy.
Guide the leaders of all nations, that justice may prevail throughout the world.
Let not the needy be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor be taken away.
Make us instruments of your peace and let your glory be over all the earth.
Amen."
— Church of England

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Collect (special prayer) for today.

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.

Cx :-)

My thanks as always for the postings Cynthia.
Particularly poignant for this week.

I'm not well enough to attend the annual Service of Remembrance and laying of poppy wreaths tomorrow but instead I'll be glued to the tv screen tonight for the RBL Festival of Remembrance from the Royal Albert Hall and then the Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph in London in the morning...with tissues nearby for both programmes.

Saturday hugs for all in need today.

Good morning :-)

Standing serenely amid the bustling traffic on Whitehall in Westminster, London, the Cenotaph – or ‘empty tomb’ in Greek – has served as a symbol of remembrance, commemorating those who served or lost their lives in times of conflict, for a century.

The Cenotaph’s simple and sombre design was the creation of Edwin Lutyens, who was commissioned by Prime Minister Lloyd George to design a temporary memorial for the Peace Day parade on 19 July 1919 after he had been inspired by a visit to France. There, he had seen a raised platform in the middle of a major street as a focus for grief. Lutyens decided that his design needed to be taller.

Hastily constructed out of wood and plaster painted to look like masonry, the resulting monument struck a powerful chord with those who had lost loved ones in the First World War but had no grave to mourn their loss.

Over a million people visited the Cenotaph in the weeks following Peace Day and left flowers and wreaths at its base. It was so popular that it was fairly swiftly decided to recreate it as a permanent structure. Lutyens took the opportunity to refine and perfect his design, choosing to construct it out of Portland stone.

Unlike other war memorials, the Cenotaph was created as a memorial to those who died during the Great War and was remarkable for its absence of any emblems or symbols representing triumph or heroism. Instead, there are just carved wreaths and ribbons, with three flags along each flank, and three words: ‘the glorious dead’. It is also purposefully devoid of any religious symbolism, allowing people to project their own meaning onto the empty tomb, regardless of their faith.

Over one hundred years since its unveiling by King George V at 11am on 11 November 1920, The Cenotaph remains the focal point of national remembrance – it’s role as relevant as ever. We all need something to remind us of the sacrifice and terrible loss of those wars and something that stands as a universal symbol for all – and that is still the Cenotaph.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Good morning everyone......??


The story of animals both on active service and on the home front during the Second World War is a deeply moving one. They had no choice, but demonstrated loyalty, determination and bravery time and again, be they dogs, horses or pigeons. The contribution of these and other animals during the war were pivotal to the success of many military operations.

The reliance soldiers placed upon their animal comrades could literally mean the difference between life and death.

One animal that may not spring immediately to mind…….the Elephant

Elephants were widely used in Africa and India for transport and heavy lifting during the war. One group of elephants stands out, those of Mr Gyles Mackrell of Shillong, Assam who had his own elephant transport business before the outbreak of war.

When Mackrell heard that a group of refugees, Sepoys and British soldiers were having difficulty crossing the Chaukan Pass he set out to help with his elephants, in foul weather over a route considered impassable. He eventually reached the starving and exhausted group and his team of elephants carried them all back to safety, saving over 100 lives.

We give thanks for these brave animals.

Cx :-)

For the Fallen
BY LAURENCE BINYON


With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

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 England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.


Cx <3

This week's stories do bring a tear to the eye. I thought I had come across most of the poetry from WW1 but today's poem had passed me by. I think it must have been a great comfort to that airman's mother.

The most terrible thing of all is that, over 100 years later, people are still dying in battle. We seem to have learnt nothing from the past.

Thinking of all those who put their lives on the line, whatever country or culture they come from.

EDIT: Oops, silly me. The poem is of course from WW2

Good morning :-)



Last Landing

Oft this earth I leave behind and soar God's heavens
till sun and stars I find
and fence the towering clouds
with others of my kind.
Fear not if I should lose my
way, nor keep sad hearts
for my returning day.
Tis that I flew the heavens
too high and reached
God's guiding hand and
heard him answer to my cry.
Your journey's done - NOW LAND

This poem was written by Sq Bomber Aimer Burford Sleep before he left with his squadron on a mission. He wrote and left this poem for his mother if he should not return.
He did not return. He died on August 30th 1944


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


There are so many tales of heartbreak and tragedy which emerge from warfare. One that was fairly local to us was the story of what happened up in Wigan in WWI

The Reverend Charles James became Vicar of Haigh in 1886 where he served for forty years until 1918. During this time, he and his wife Emily had 6 children, 2 girls and 4 boys.

The Edwardian era saw each of the sons leaving home to start careers, until August 1914 when they were quick to respond to their country's call to arms. The family was to be devastated by the conflict as each of the boys was killed within fourteen months.

George James lost his life while serving at Gallipoli in June 1915, while his brother Francis died of wounds in the same campaign that September. Charles also died in France just 10 days later. The James's family tragedy was complete the following year when the only remaining son, Henry, was declared missing in action in September 1916. He was confirmed dead in June 1917, and his grave located that December.

It is said, that on the day that he heard that his last remaining son had died, Revd. Charles James, went out to visit a parishioner, a widow, who had lost her only son.

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.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)




We are building up towards Remembrance Day,, that very special day when we remember and honour all who suffered and died in warfare and the horrors of war.

Wearing a poppy or not is a personal choice, but there is an interesting history behind these little red flowers.

During WW1, much of the fighting took place in Western Europe. Previously beautiful landscapes turned to mud; bleak and barren scenes where little or nothing could grow. However, there was a notable and striking exception to the bleakness - the bright red Flanders poppies. These resilient flowers flourished in the middle of so much chaos and destruction, growing in the thousands upon thousands.

In the Spring of 1915 Shortly after losing a friend in Ypres, a Canadian doctor, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae was moved by the sight of these poppies and that inspiration led him to write the now famous poem 'In Flanders Fields'. The poem then inspired an American academic named Moina Michael to adopt the poppy in memory of those who had fallen in the war.

Eventually, Earl Haig, the founder of the RBL, was persuaded to adopt the poppy as our emblem in the UK. The Royal British Legion, which had been formed in 1921, ordered nine million poppies and sold them on 11 November that year. The poppies sold out almost immediately. That first 'Poppy Appeal' raised over £106,000 to help veterans with housing and jobs; a considerable sum at the time and around £5m in today’s money.

In view of how quickly the poppies had sold and wanting to ensure plenty of poppies for the next appeal, Major George Howson set up the Poppy Factory to employ disabled ex-servicemen. Today, the factory and warehouse in Aylesford produces millions of poppies each year.

Remembrance in the UK today is very different than it was 100 years ago. People take part whatever their political or religious beliefs. The poppy remains a humble, poignant symbol of Remembrance and hope.

- With thanks to the Royal British Legion


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Collect (special prayer) for today:

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.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


One day, a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"

"It was great, Dad."

"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.

"Oh yeah," said the son.

"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered, "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden, and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden, and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard, and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on, and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them."

The boy's father was speechless.

Then his son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are."


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Remember, remember, the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.

It’s that time of year again…..fires, fireworks, hot dogs, parkin, treacle toffee all those things which have become recognised as part of the 5th November festivities.

But what about Guy Fawkes?

Born in York in 1570 to Protestant parents, Guy converted to Catholicism as a child. At 21 he left England to join the Catholic Spanish Army where he fought in the Eighty Years War, and changed his name to Guido.

In 1594 he joined a group of fellow English Catholics, led by Robert Catesby, in a plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament in order to kill King James I and his Government. Fawkes was responsible for lighting the fuse to the barrels of gunpowder, which they hid under the Houses of Parliament.

On October 26, an anonymous letter advising a Catholic sympathizer to avoid the State Opening of Parliament alerted the authorities to the existence of a plot.

A search party found Fawkes skulking in his cellar around midnight on November 4, with matches in his pocket and 36 barrels of gunpowder stacked next to him. He was taken to the Tower of London and tortured upon the special order of King James.

Soon after, his co-conspirators were likewise arrested, except for four, including Catesby, who died in a shootout with English troops. They were all found guilty of high treason and sentenced to death in January 1606 by hanging, drawing and quartering.

Immediately before his execution on 31 January, Fawkes fell from the scaffold where he was to be hanged and broke his neck, thus avoiding the agonies which awaited him.

After the plot was revealed, Londoners began lighting celebratory bonfires, and in January 1606 an act of Parliament designated November 5 as a day of thanksgiving, with the 1662 Book of Common Prayer adding special prayers for this day.



Stay safe and, if you have pets, this may help……Classic FM is playing music especially to help keep animals calm during tonight and tomorrow night – 6pm – 10pm.


Cx :-)