General Chat

Good morning :-)



A lady hired a plumber to help her restore an old farmhouse, and he had just finished a rough first day on the job: a flat tyre made him lose an hour of work, his electric drill broke, and his ancient truck refused to start.

While she drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited her in to meet his family. As they walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands.

When opening the door, he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles, and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

Afterward, he walked back to the car. They passed the tree, and her curiosity got the better of her. She asked him about what she had seen him do earlier. "Oh, that's my worry tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having worries on the job, but one thing's for sure; those worries don't belong in the house with my wife and the children. So, I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home and ask God to take care of them. Then in the morning, I pick them up again. Funny thing is," he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Having had 3 special days in a row, it’s interesting to note that 3rd November is memorable in itself. Many are aware that Her Majesty the Queen is noted as being ‘Supreme Governor of the Church of England’, but how so?

It all began on this day in 1534 when The first Act of Supremacy was passed by Parliament. It granted King Henry VIII and subsequent monarchs Royal Supremacy, such that he was declared the Supreme Head of the Church of England.

The Act declared that the King was "the only supreme head on Earth of the Church of England" and that the Crown shall enjoy "all honours, dignities, pre-eminences, jurisdictions, privileges, authorities, immunities, profits, and commodities to the said dignity. The wording made it clear that this was an established fact and, in this Act, King Henry abandoned Rome completely.

The Queen's relationship with the Church of England was symbolised at the Coronation in 1953 when Her Majesty was anointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and took an oath to "maintain and preserve inviolably the settlement of the Church of England, and the doctrine worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established in England".

Archbishops and bishops are appointed by The Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister, who considers the names selected by a Church Commission. They take an oath of allegiance to The Queen on appointment and may not resign without Royal authority. Church of England deacons and parish priests also swear an oath of allegiance to the Sovereign.

In her Christmas message in 2014, the Queen said…."For me, the life of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, whose birth we celebrate today, is an inspiration and an anchor in my life. A role model of reconciliation and forgiveness, he stretched out his hands in love, acceptance and healing. Christ's example has taught me to seek to respect and value all people of whatever faith or none."

We thank God for the example she has set before us.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Amen to your prayer this morning Cynthia.

All Souls Day reminds me of family and friends who were once part of my earthly daily life but now are a part of my closely held special memories.

May all our loved ones Rest In Peace and Rise again in Glory amen.

Good morning :-)

Today is All Souls’ Day, also known as the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed.

We are all aware that sad things happen in life, especially when someone we love dies. Today is a special day in the Church’s year when we remember and give thanks for the lives of people who have died.

During Autumn, we are reminded about life and death because of the changing appearance of the trees and plants. The branches look bare because all the leaves have fallen off but, when we look at the leaves on the ground, it reminds us of how lovely the tree once looked. When a loved one dies, it can feel a bit like this as it leaves us empty and sad but we can remember how special those people were to us and we believe they were special to God too.

As Christians, we believe that death is not the end of life, we believe that when Jesus died, he came back to life again so that we could have a new life with him for ever.


Father of all, we pray to you for those we love, but see no longer: Grant them your peace; let light perpetual shine upon them; and, in your loving wisdom and almighty power, work in them the good purpose of your perfect will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Take time to think of those loved ones who have died and remember them in your heart. <3


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)



Today is All Saints’ Day

Those of us on here are all into family history and many families can trace their families back to the 1600’s - there are usually some interesting characters tucked into those years. Many are fortunate enough to be able to remember some of the later generations and the love and kindness and great faith which came from them.

As part of the family of God, the bible is rather like a family history book to us too. In it, we learn all about the first saints, those who knew Jesus and who followed him. Some amazing stories are told.

Today we give thanks for the saints of old and for the saints of recent generations too.

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!

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)



The Collect (special prayer) for today:

God of holiness, your glory is proclaimed in every age:
as we rejoice in the faith of your saints,
inspire us to follow their example with boldness and joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


So it’s Halloween tomorrow night…….what do we make of it? We’re probably all aware that we are ‘stuck’ with it, like it or not. We will see little wizards, witches and skeletons running around, happily knocking on the doors of total strangers in order to be given sweets, and oblivious of the meaning of this special night.

All Hallows Eve, or Halloween, was originally a festival of fire, the dead, and the powers of darkness. It is the night before the Christian festival of All Hallows Day (All Saints Day) which commemorates the saints and martyrs, and was first introduced in the seventh century. It is marked by prayers for the souls of the dead.

The Bible has a lot to say about witchcraft. Witchcraft and its many cousins, such as fortune-telling and communication with the dead, are Satan’s counterfeits to holy spirituality. The Bible expressly condemns all forms of witchcraft.

Dear God, this Halloween, many people will be living in fear. Whether they are afraid of the spread of Coronavirus, of taking their children trick or treating, of the costumes and masks, of the dark elements of Halloween, or of the physical darkness at night, Halloween can highlight many of our fears. Be with everyone who is afraid this Halloween. Bring them comfort, peace and joy. Remind them that you are victorious, that you have already defeated the devil. Amen.



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

After worship the new vicar was shaking hands with parishioners, when one woman turned bright red and looked at her shoes as she shook his hand.

“‘I hope you didn’t take it personally, Vicar”, she said, ‘when my husband walked out during your sermon.”

“‘I did wonder,’ the Vicar replied. “I hope and pray he’s not ill.”

“Oh, no!” said the woman. “My husband’s been walking in his sleep ever since he was a child.”

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Good news about your husband Vera and sending love and prayers as you deal with the other anxieties in your life. <3


Bent over and obviously in pain, the old man with a cane hobbled laboriously through the sanctuary and into the pastor’s office while the choir was practicing.

Ten minutes later he came out, walking upright and moving with grace and speed.

“Good gracious,” the choir director exclaimed. “Did the pastor heal you by faith?”

“No,” the old man said with a smile. “He just gave me a cane that wasn’t six inches too short!”


Cx :-)

Thank you Cynthia for last week's "colours" posts and this week's lovely stories.

I hope everyone is well and contented. We had some good news in that OH's latest health scare just needs to be monitored for the time being so further scans in 6 months but no treatment at the moment. We do have another problem, not health related, which is causing some anxiety so I am focusing on our blessings and all the things we have that make us thankful.

Good morning :-)


Little Philip was walking home in the rain with his mother following Sunday worship. It finally stopped raining as they rounded the corner, where to their surprise and delight appeared a vivid double rainbow in the sky.

“Doesn’t it look like an artist painted this rainbow?” his mother exclaimed. “I bet God painted this just for you!”

“Yes,” replied Philip, “God did it, and he did it left handed.”

Confused, his mother asked him, “What makes you say God did this with his left hand?”

“Well,” said Philip, “we learned in Sunday School that Jesus sits on God’s right hand.”


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


A devout old shepherd lost his favourite Bible while he was out looking for a wayward lamb. Three weeks later, a sheep walked up to him carrying the Bible in its mouth. The shepherd couldn’t believe his eyes. He took the precious book out of the sheep’s mouth, raised his eyes heavenward and exclaimed, “It’s a miracle!”

“Not really,” said the sheep. “Your name is written inside the cover.”

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Timmy didn’t want to put his money in the offering plate Sunday morning, so his mother decided to use some hurried creative reasoning with him.

“You don’t want that money, Timmy” she whispered in his ear. “Quick! Drop it in the plate. It’s tainted!”

Horrified, the little boy obeyed.

After a few seconds he whispered, “But, mummy, why was the money tainted? Was it dirty?

“Oh, no dear,” she replied. “It’s not really dirty. It just ‘taint yours, and it ‘taint mine,” she replied. “It’s God’s.”


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Collect (special prayer) for today :

Almighty God,
who alone can bring order to the unruly
wills and passions of sinful humanity:
give your people grace so to love what you command
and to desire what you promise, that,
among the many changes of this world,
our hearts may surely there be fixed where
true joys are to be found; 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 forever. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


This week we have been looking at the colours of the seasons in the church’s year.

Colour. Colour is everywhere. Colour is God's way of filling his world with beauty and giving pleasure to those who live in this colourful world. Christians, for centuries, have used colour in divine worship to emphasize how God sent his Son to die for us.

Colour, like music, plays an important role in the life of God's worshiping people. The various colours complement the message of the seasons and occasions during the church year. When we sit in church, our eyes are often drawn to the colour of the altar frontal, of the flowers, of the windows. Liturgical colours help to create an atmosphere in which we are open to hearing the word of God.


Colour, like light, stimulates our senses. Colour allows us to see the Light of Life, Jesus Christ. It communicates the message of salvation especially when it reinforces a specific “colourful” chapter in the life of our Lord and his church, retold annually by the church calendar.


God of love,
whose patience humbles us,
and touch can heal us,
we praise your holy name.
God of peace,
who breaks down barriers,
and walls that divide us,
we praise your holy name.
God of eternity,
who has always loved us,
and by grace has saved us,
we praise your holy name


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Lovely, lovely seasonal colours ……...in church.

WHITE
White represents light, innocence, purity, joy, triumph, glory and, as such, is used at church festivals. Christmas, Easter, Festivals of Our Lord and the Blessed Virgin Mary, All Saints’ Day and the Festivals of those saints who did not die as martyrs. The list goes on. It is used for Marriages, and is suitable for Baptism, Confirmation and Ordination and may be used in preference to purple or black for Funerals, and should be used at the Funeral of a child.

Toward the end of the 4th century, references are made to shining white garments worn by celebrants at the Eucharist – imagine how heavenly that must have looked.

God of life,
whose love enfolds us,
and spirit fills us,
we praise your holy name.

God of joy,
whose sunrise wakes us,
and sunset amazes us,
we praise your holy name.

God of hope,
whose promise sustains us,
and power upholds us,
we praise your holy name.
Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)



Lovely, lovely seasonal colours – in church

Red
This colour symbolises both blood and fire and we are reminded of the gift of the Holy Spirit which appeared as flames. Red is used on Palm Sunday, Pentecost and has traditionally been associated with martyrs – those who have shed their blood for their faith.

It is appropriate for any services which focus on the gift of the Holy Spirit, and is therefore suitable for Baptism, Confirmation and Ordination.
Something I had not really picked up on, is the fact that the Pope occasionally wears red shoes, for all the above reasons.

Prayer for Christian Martyrs
Lord, so great is our love for you
That even though we walk in a world
where speaking your name can mean certain death
Your faithful still speak it
And speak it all the louder.

Help us work for a world where all may speak their creeds
And pray their prayers
Without fear of violence.

Hear the prayers of those who abide with you
in dangerous times
and in dark valleys,
And who die with your name on their lips.
Draw them quickly to your side
Where they might know eternal peace.

AMEN


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Lovely, lovely, seasonal colours – in church.

PURPLE is a penitential colour, a time of remembering our sins, in contrast to celebrating. It is used during Advent and Lent which are both penitential seasons. The forty days of Lent, use this deep, rich colour which has come to represent solemnity, penitence, and prayer.

Violet or purple was a very cherished and expensive colour in the world Jesus lived. The dye used to make the colour was painstakingly acquired from a Mediterranean shellfish. It was therefore, only the rich who could afford it and was worn most exclusively by the royalty.

Jesus, the king of the Jews, wore a purple robe only once. Just before they crucified him, it is said that the soldiers put a ‘purple garment’ on him in order to ridicule him. Purple is used during Lent to remind us of the way Jesus was mocked and ill-treated and of the sacrifice that he made for our salvation.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father: We have sinned against you, through our own fault, in thought, and word, and deed, and in what we have left undone. For the sake of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us all our offences; and grant that we may serve you in newness of life, to the glory of your Name. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

As soon as I read your name Pat, I thought 'the bells', 'the bells' :-D :-D

At the moment, the church is in the season of 'Ordinary time'.

So, what is ‘ordinary time’? The Church year is divided into several seasons.

Advent - which looks forward to Christmas.
Epiphany - the visit of the Wise Men.
Ordinary Time
Lent - preparing for Easter
Easter - celebrating the Resurrection
Ascension - when Christ rose into heaven
Pentecost - the coming of the Holy Spirit
Ordinary Time

So the term “ordinary” does not mean “usual or average.” Ordinary here means “not seasonal.”

Each church season has its own colour which we see in the altar frontals and vestments of the clergy. These colours not only remind us of where we are up to in the church’s year, but they bring beauty and colour to our buildings. For Ordinary Time the colour is green symbolising a sign of triumph over death, like regrowth in springtime. The readings during Ordinary Time show us how to live out our Christian faith in our daily lives.

Lord of creation,
whose glory is around and within us:
open our eyes to your wonders,
that we may serve you with reverence
and know your peace at our lives' end,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.


Cx :-)

It's St Luke's Day today. I hadn't thought about it until 7am - you're correct Cynthia - the bells started clanging.

St Luke is the patron saint of the village. There maybe some sort of a fair and food stalls today, none last year. We'll know this evening as they'll be cars parked up here even though we are a distance from the activities.

We avoid it, went for 3 years but so much the same and aimed at children. Nice to go a few times though. :-D