General Chat

Good morning :-)

Thank you for the good wishes yesterday. We didn't celebrate in any special way, but were joined by our children and grandchildren which was celebration enough. Our church family gave us flowers, and there was much laughter when the celebrant announced that it was our anniversary and my husband added that it was 1,000 years!! :-D


As there are some major sporting events taking place, I thought it would be an idea to think of athletes and sportsmen everywhere:


God, let me play well but fairly.
Help me to learn something that matters
once the game is over.
Let competition make me strong but never hostile.
Always let me help my opponent up.
Never catch me rejoicing in the adversity of others.
If I know victory, allow me to be happy; if I am denied, keep me from envy.
Remind me that sports are just games.
If through athletics I set an example,
let it be a good one.


Thinking of kandj, Emma's young friend and all who would appreciate prayer at this time. Cx :-)

And yes John will be reading this thread.. if you look at the opening post or any of his posts you will see his name is now JackBunion and he has changed his avatar.. if there is anything you want to say on this thread let one of us know by PM and we will put it on here.

You will have to follow up one of our pms to you as a reply to me, Cyns or one of the others..

If you want to go on another thread weeeellllllll we may have to censor it first,

Persie

No change for our friend but our thoughts and prayers
go out to her and all others in need of comfort and strength
to help them through at this time <3

Dear All

Hello

A small prayer.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Look for me in Rainbows"


"Time for me to go now, I won't say goodbye;
Look for me in rainbows, way up in the sky.

In the morning sunrise when all the world is new,
Just look for me and love me, as you know I loved you.

Time for me to leave you, I won't say goodbye;
Look for me in rainbows, high up in the sky.

In the evening sunset, when all the world is through,
Just look for me and love me, and I'll be close to you.

It won't be forever, the day will come and then
My loving arms will hold you, when we meet again.

Time for us to part now, we won't say goodbye;
Look for me in rainbows, shining in the sky.

Every waking moment, and all your whole life through
Just look for me and love me, as you know I loved you.

Just wish me to be near you,
And I'll be there with you".

Music and lyrics: Conn Bernard (1990). Vicki Brown




Dedicated with deep respect to our Genes Reunited colleague and friend, Michael,

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Take gentle care
Sincere wishes
Elizabeth,
xx

Good morning... :-)


Thank you for those lovely words Elizabeth. I don't think I ever spoke to Michael but I saw the thread stickied at the top of the board. He was obviously much loved by his family and much admired by members on here. May he rest in peace.


A small prayer for today :

Nothing in life that is worthy
Is ever too hard to achieve
If you have the courage to try it
And you have the faith to believe

Faith is a force that is greater
Than knowledge or power or skill
And many defeats turn to triumph
If you trust in God’s wisdom and will.

Faith is a mover of mountains,
There’s nothing that God cannot do,
So start out today with faith in your heart
And Climb Until Your Dream Comes True.


~ Helen Steiner Rice

Love to all friends, especially remembering kandj, Emma's young friend, Michael's family and all who would appreciate prayer. Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


I have received a message from kandj who continues to be so grateful for all the prayers and kind thoughts sent her way. Caring for a sick relative is very wearing at times but she is trusting in the Lord and taking things as they come.

'JackBunion' is keeping busy and active within his church life and is enjoying time spent with his new granddaughter.


Prayer for today:

God, who is with us
in the midst of traffic chaos and noisy commerce,
remind us to stop and listen to the sounds of longing hearts.
In the dark loneliness of crowded living,
remind us to look for glimpses of your light.
When tempted to see only struggle and bad news,
remind us that the city is full of stories of hope and human flourishing.
Help us to be the human agents of your divine grace.

Amen.

- Michaela Youngson,


Enjoy your day Cx :-)

Thinking of all in need hoping they find strength in prayer
to help them through their day <3

Good morning... :-)

I hope everyone is well. We continue to remember kandj and her husband and Emma's young friend and her family in our thoughts and prayers.


For today:

Guiding God
be with us
in our going out
and coming home
in our journeying
and returning
in our decision making
and organising

Guarding God
be with us
through the calm
and through the storm
be our comfort
when we’re hurting
be our helper
when we’re falling

Gracious God
walk with us
every moment
of this new day

Cx :-)

Thank you for today's offering Cynthia <3

Good morning :-)


It's a dull start to the day here and I will soon be off to take my OH for yet another eye injection bless him. For someone who hates needles, he is remarkably calm when the time comes, and then he comes out as if nothing had happened....... :-)


A prayer for the day ahead....




There are so many things I take for granted. May I not ignore them today.

Just for today, help me, God, to remember that my life is a gift, that my health is a blessing, that this new day is filled with awesome potential, that I have the capacity to bring something wholly new and unique and good into this world.

Just for today, help me, God, to remember to be kind and patient to the people who love me, and to those who work with me too. Teach me to see all the beauty that I so often ignore, and to listen to the silent longing of my own soul.

Just for today, help me, God, to remember You.

Let this be a good day, God, full of joy and love. Amen.


- Rabbi Naomi Levy


Love to all. Cx :-)

Good morning :-)



All went well with the injection in the morning and then, in the evening, I went to watch our granddaughter as she arrived for her 'prom' after leaving school. Doesn't seem two minutes since I was pushing her down the lane in her pram. :-)


For today:

If wishes worked like magic
And plans worked that way, too
And if everything you wished for,
Whether good or bad for you,
Immediately were granted
With no effort on your part,
You’d experience no fulfillment
Of your spirit or your heart,
For things achieved too easily
Lose their charm and meaning, too,
For it is life’s difficulties
And the trial-times we go through
That make us strong in spirit
And endow us with the will
To surmount the insurmountable
And to climb the highest hill.
So wish not for the easy way
To win your heart’s desire,
For the joy’s in overcoming
And withstanding flood and fire,
For to triumph over trouble
And grow stronger with defeat
Is to win the kind of victory
That will make your life complete.

Helen Steiner Rice



Thinking of kandj, Emma's young friend and family and all who would like prayer at this time. Cx :-)

Cynthia I knew that was a HSR offering when I saw the
first two lines..wonderful words, thank you x

My thoughts and prayers to those in need of support
and comfort, and for those in pain in body and mind
may you find strength to carry you through these times.

Emma x

Good morning :-)


This is quite a weekend in the sporting world.......World Cup, Wimbledon, Grand Prix and Tour de France.....the crowds will be enormous at each event.

There will be crowds at church services too .... in cathedrals and churches across the country. There will be special services as deacons are ordained, babies are baptised, the recently departed remembered and the general hum of normal Sunday worship.

I am reading the New Testament lesson for today - a rather convoluted piece- Romans 7. 15-25a. - where St. Paul seems genuinely frustrated with the way he behaves.


The Collect for today:

Almighty God,
you have broken the tyranny of sin
and have sent the Spirit of your Son
into our hearts whereby we call you Father:
give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service,
that we and all creation may be brought
to the glorious liberty of the children of God;
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.



I hope everyone enjoys whatever they are doing today..... Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


I hope everyone has had a peaceful and relaxing weekend. Our son and daughter-in-law celebrated their wedding anniversary yesterday, so we went to see them in the evening. They were watching the video of their wedding and we joined them with some laughter, some teasing and a little sadness as we saw loved ones who have since died.

Our prayer for today - something we read far too much about in the news...


Domestic Violence

Home should be a place where we feel safe,
yet for many it is a place of fear because of domestic violence.


Lord, we pray for those who commit violence against their loved-ones,
that You would bring a complete transformation of the heart.

May they realise the damage they are causing
and make a genuine commitment to change.

Lord, would You help me to be aware of the times when I pursue
power instead of loving others.

Mandy Marshall




Remembering kandj and Emma's young friend in our prayers. xx

Cx :-)

An unusual prayer Cynthia but one needed to be heard
more often.

Emma :-)

Good morning :-)


Yes Emma, an unusual prayer and that's what I love about prayer.....so many different types and versions....there is a prayer for every situation in life. :-)

I was struck by a news item yesterday and the fact that so many older folk are living very lonely lives. Such a sad situation to be in and, maybe, a symptom of our society. At our church we have the Friday lunch club which caters for all ages and there are a mixed group of people who attend. There are some local hairdressers who pop in; occasionally the Community Police enjoy a meal, as do the council workmen who mow the church lawn.

However, there is a nucleus of widowed men and women who meet up and enjoy a laugh with their friends and it's good to listen to the laughter and banter which is going on.

On that theme.......


Loving God,
there are times in each life
when there is no one.
No one with whom to share
a word,
a laugh,
a sad remembrance,
a gentle touch,
a fond embrace,
a kiss of love.

Bless each one who suffers
from such loneliness.
Enrich life with a friend
or gentle stranger
who will spend a moment
noticing
and loving.

In those times
your love shines through,
the world is reborn,
and Christ is known.
So be it!
Amen.


Thinking of kandj, Emma's young friend and family, and anyone who would like or needs prayer at this time. Cx :-)

Amen to that Cynthia <3

so sorry to see that John has been banned :-(

Good morning :-)


Welcome back Sylvia.....and yes, we do miss John very much. Personally I miss his off-beat humour, his sense of mischief but, most of all I think, his love of God and his insight into the faith he holds dear.


With humour in mind.........I thought of the expression 'Fools for Christ' - taken from 1 Corinthians 4:10



Call to Worship: Fools for Christ


We come into the presence of a God

we can neither see nor touch,

yet a God we can sense.

We are fools for Christ’s sake.



We come in the name of Jesus,

whose beauty we cannot explain or capture,

but know intimately.

We are fools for Christ’s sake.



We come to hear from a book,

words and stories that are ancient, and yet ever new.

We are fools for Christ’s sake.



We live in a world whose economy is based on keeping,

yet in this place we are invited to give.

We are fools for Christ’s sake.



We come, leaving behind all the business of our lives—.

all the other important things we could be doing.

We come here to worship.

We are fools for Christ’s sake.


Lord, may we ever be a fool for you.



Cx :-)

Dear All

Hello

Over the weekend, I had the privilege of seeing 3 separate rainbows during one afternoon.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"GOD'S RAINBOW"



Rainbows appear after mighty storms,

When things look their very worst,

Just when the skies are darkest gray,

Look for the rainbow first.



The rainbow is a sign of God's promise,

That He will guide us through any storm,

That He will see us through all our troubles,

No matter what their form.



When you feel battered by life's storms,

And you are filled with doubt and dismay;

Just remember God's rainbow is coming —

It's only a prayer away.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Take gentle care
Best wishes
Elizabeth,
xx