General Chat

Good morning :-)


And we see yet another terrible attack on innocent victims :-(


Loving Lord, we come to you trusting in your mercy and knowing that your steadfast love endures forever.

Look with mercy on those who have lost loved ones or who have been injured by the attack in Barcelona.

Grant them your strength to meet the days ahead. Allow those who are affected to experience your peace which passes all understanding and new hope in the resurrection.

Move in those who are able to give aid, that they may be your hands and heart on the earth. Be with all who offer assistance; may your Spirit uphold them to face the challenges ahead.

Give us the assurance of your presence even in this time so that we can cling to your promise of hope and life shown us through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Out of respect to the dreadful events in Spain yesterday, there were no jokes on this page. Today, we return to remembering that God gave us the gift of laughter - and what a wonderful gift that is.

ADAM BLAMED EVE
EVE BLAMED THE SNAKE
AND THE SNAKE DIDN’T HAVE A LEG TO STAND ON.
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LET’S MEET AT MY HOUSE SUNDAY, BEFORE THE GAME
- GOD
________________________________________

DON’T GIVE UP – MOSES WAS ONCE A BASKET CASE.
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WE ARE A FACEBOOK CHURCH -
WE SEEK HIS FACE AND READ HIS BOOK.


We thank God for his wonderful gift of humour. :-D



Cx :-)

Hello all

Yet more tragedy and pointless loss of life in Barcelona...... my thoughts and prayers are with all who have been affected by the latest terrorist attack.

Vera we also were thinking of all A level students picking up their exam results on Thursday. Always a very stressful day for teachers, students and families alike.
Next Thursday our granddaughter will go into school for her GCSE results. There
seems to be so much more pressure on our young ones these days.Bless them all.

Good morning :-)

The Collect (special prayer) for today :

Let your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of your humble servants;
and that they may obtain their petitions make them to ask
such things as shall please you; 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.

The gospel reading for today tells the story of Jesus talking about what is in our hearts and then the healing the daughter of the woman who has great faith.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

A miserable day in the North West, but we all have blessings……..of one kind or another, but do we always recognise them?


I have in my hands two boxes
Which God gave me to hold.
He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black box
And all your joys in the gold."

I heeded His words, and in the two boxes
Both my joys and sorrows I stored.
But though the gold became heavier each day
The black was as light as before.

With curiosity I opened the black
I wanted to find out why.
And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole
Which my sorrows had fallen out by.

I showed the hole to God, and mused
"I wonder where my sorrows could be."
He smiled a gentle smile and said
"My child, they're all here with me."

I asked God why He gave me the boxes
Why the gold, and the black with the hole?
"My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings
The black is for you to let go."

:-D


Love to all Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


We hear the word ‘blessing’ used in church quite a lot. Each service ends with a blessing as the priest sends us out into the world and back to our everyday life.

The blessing at the end of a service may only be given by the priest – there are authorised alternative forms of words for lay folk to use. There are some beautiful priestly blessings……….here is a familiar one.

The Lord bless you and watch over you,
the Lord make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you,
the Lord look kindly on you
and give you peace;



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The blessings given in church at the end of a service, give us strength to go out into the world and live our lives. One of the most powerful blessings I think, is this one......

Go forth into the world in peace;
be of good courage;
hold fast that which is good;
render to no one evil for evil;
strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak;
help the afflicted; honour everyone;
love and serve the Lord,
rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Hubby had a fall yesterday so not the best of days here and he now has a big black bruise on his back, poor love. We are calming ourselves down and counting our blessings knowing that it could have been so much worse... phewww. Never a dull moment here.

One of our Vicars several years ago used this lovely Irish blessing after many services.

Irish Blessing.

May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
The rain fall soft upon your fields, and
Until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Sending out warm and gentle blessings to all in need today. xxx

Sorry to hear about your husband's fall kandj. I hope his back isn't too sore today. Best wishes to him for a quick recovery and sending you a hug <3

I have always loved the Irish blessing. It is so gentle yet heartfelt. I remember the comedian Dave Allen always ended his programmes with the words "May your God go with you" which I liked because it was so inclusive.

Wherever you are and whatever you are doing today may your God go with you.

Good morning :-)


Oh dear.......so sorry to hear about your husband's fall kandj - the last thing you need. Hope you both soon settle down after the shock. <3


Each day there are showers of blessings
Sent by the father above
For God is a great lavish giver
And there is no end to his love.

His grace is more than sufficient
His mercy is boundless and deep
And his infinite blessings are countless
And all this we are given to keep.

If we but seek God and find him
And ask for a bounteous measure
Of this wholly immeasurable offering
From God's inexhaustible treasure -

For no matter how big man’s dreams are
God’s blessings are infinitely more
For always God’s giving is greater
Than what man is asking for.

- Helen Steiner Rice


Cx :-)

Hello all

Thanks to Cynthia and Vera for you kind words. Hubby has a black bruise but we are still managing to count our blessings as usually his falls cause much serious problems and often hospital admission too.

We have both been cheered up today by a Skype with our Granddaughter Katie
crying with relief and excitement as she shared her GCSE exam results with us.
1 A*, 7 A and 2 B......brilliant grades but down to hard work and long hours of revision on Katie's part. Our family are just so happy that her efforts have been
rewarded. There does seem to be so much more pressure on youngsters now.

BIG (((hugs))) to students and families facing re-sits in months ahead. xx

Good morning :-)


Wow! Well done Katie - that's wonderful news for the whole family. You must be so proud of her kandj. <3


Blessings - something the Irish are famous for.............


May there always be work for your hands to do
May your purse always hold a coin or two;
May the sun always shine on your windowpane;
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
May the hand of a friend always be near you;
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.



Cx :-)

A brilliant set of marks - well done to Katie. You must be very proud of her, and rightly so..

I hope your husband is feeling a little better after his fall.

As kandj knows, we are off to Russia at the crack of dawn tomorrow and I am looking forward to seeing some of the amazing churches and cathedrals. It is a belated celebration of OH's 80th birthday which was a couple of months ago and our greatest blessing is our health, without which we wouldn't be able to undertake what promises to be a hectic couple of weeks.

Thinking of everyone who is in need of a little support today
<3

Good morning :-)

Oh my word! I didn't know you were off to Russia Vera! How wonderful.....I do hope you both have a fabulous time.

I had a wonderful surprise yesterday. Our granddaughter has been working in Ibiza since May and is due back in October. Whilst having our lunch at church yesterday, my son suddenly appeared.....I was totally confused....why wasn't he at work? And then.......in comes the rest of the family, including our granddaughter. Apparently, my face was an absolute picture - one of those occasions where there should have been a camera on me :-D I was totally stunned but so, so happy. She had planned to have a weekend at home which everyone else, apart from me, knew about. They got the reaction they expected :-D :-D

Ending our week of looking at 'blessings', I couldn't finish without posting this........


When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God has done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings—money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT5qk8bx3ZM

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Collect (special prayer) for today:

Let your merciful ears, O Lord,
be open to the prayers of your humble servants;
and that they may obtain their petitions make them
to ask such things as shall please you;
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.


The gospel reading for today is where Jesus asks the disciples who they think he is and tells Peter that he will give him the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Cx :-)

Hello all

What a wonderful surprise your family gave you yesterday Cynthia. You're sure to have a happy weekend as your Granddaughter shares lots of news with you all.

Safe travels now to Vera and OH as they begin a very special holiday of a lifetime.
Vera is sure to have lots to tell us when they both get back home again.

The fall on Tuesday has knocked hubby for six and me too... we can really do without these ongoing "challenges" hopefully things can only get better.

A sunny Sunday morning;..... a time to refuel your soul and be grateful for your blessings. Take a deep breath and relax a while. Enjoy your surroundings, your family and one another.... wishing everyone a Happy Sunday today. xxx

Good morning :-)

I'm hoping Vera has lots to tell us too kandj - its going to be a marvellous experience for them both.

Meanwhile......whilst we are enjoying a fine weekend, we think of those poor people who are affected by the horrendous floods in America.

Creator God, we remember at this time all those whose homes and communities have been damaged by flooding in America.

In the name of Jesus we give thanks for the courage and dedication of the emergency services who have come to the help and rescue of all in need.

We celebrate the kindness of neighbours in caring for the most vulnerable.

Lastly, we ask in the power of your healing Spirit to rebuild not just the physical communities which are coping with many problems today but also to give us a sense of trust in your goodness through the kindnesses of one another, in Your Holy Name. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-D

Last week we counted our many blessings. This week we will look at those who struggle to be Christians throughout the world.


The news headlines this morning make today's thoughts very pertinent. Its a longish read but I make no apologies for that and the information is taken from Open Doors, a charity which supports persecuted Christians. Much more can be found on their website and others.

CAN'T DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY? Consider yourself lucky that you are able to have the choice!

Imprisonment, torture, death: this is what you risk if you decide to follow Jesus in North Korea.

PERSECUTION IN NORTH KOREA It is estimated that many thousands of Christians are imprisoned in camps in that country; most will die there.

North Korea is ruled by Kim Jong-un, the third generation of the Kim dynasty who have ruled North Korea with an iron grip since 1948. The two ideologies used to govern the state are 'Juche', which points to man's self-sufficiency, and 'Kimilsungism', the god-like worship of the Kims; children are taught the name of Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-un's grandfather, before they are taught the names of their own parents.

Any suggestion that there could be a higher authority than the Kims is immediately crushed. North Korean citizens are constantly scrutinised by the Inminban, a neighbourhood watch system in which the leader writes reports on their neighbours, trying to work out if anyone is disloyal to the ruling regime.

Christians must keep their faith completely secret; most do not even tell their own children about their faith until they are older teenagers for fear that they may let something slip. If a Christian has a Bible, or part of one, it will be carefully hidden and only read when the believer is sure they are alone.

A social stratification system in North Korea called 'Songbun', similar to the Indian caste sys-tem, divides people into three main classes: the loyal, the wavering and the hostile. These are further divided into 51 subclasses; Christians are part of the 'hostile' class, with Protestant Christians being number 37 and Catholic Christians being number 39.

If discovered, Christians face arrest, torture, imprisonment, and perhaps even public execution - they are considered spies and traitors of the nation, and are condemned for treason.

And yet, many have decided that knowing Jesus is worth the risks they face. The church in North Korea is not only surviving, but growing - and they have great hope for the future. One Christian has shared: "One day the borders will open and we will unite with the South Korean and the Chinese church to bring the gospel to some of the darkest places on this earth."

Your prayers and support make a real difference to believers in North Korea. One shared with us: "Whenever we faced difficult situations you supported our North Korean underground believers so that we could break through all difficulties with courage and spiritual power in Christ. We thank you and all supporters in Christ who encourage and support our believers."

PLEASE PRAY
For Kim Jong-un, that he would come to know the one true God. Pray for change within the regime and that the power of evil will be broken.
For protection for secret Christians, and for strength and endurance for those in labour camps.
Ask God to protect Open Doors secret workers as they smuggle food and Bibles into North Korea.


https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q7WL2gUNQ3o


Cx :-(

It is so frightening that in the 21 st century people are still not free to practice their faith openly. These Christians are so brave.

We have seen several cathedrals/churches in the last few days. Some are still used for services, some more like museums. We had a guide with us when we saw the three main churches in the Kremlin so he was able to explain a lot of the icons to us. The icons often seem as though the perspective is wrong because the saints depicted are looking out at us rather than us looking at them, and the gold leaf and gilding surrounding them,which I had assumed was just expensive decoration, represents the light of heaven shining on us.

Today on our own we explored St Basil's Cathedral which is a warren of nine small interconnected churches and is more like a museum now, though I believe there is still a Sunday service. We also went to the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour which is stunning. Very ornate, lots of iconography and lots of gold. While I generally prefer simpler churches, this one did have a more spiritual feel to it.

I am thankful that I am free to travel and see these wonderful places and tonight I will give a thought for those who don't have that freedom.

Good morning :-)


What a surprise to hear from you today Vera - but a lovely surprise :-) How wonderful to be able to see those breathtaking places....please tell us more..... <3


No. 2 on the list of countries which persecutes Christians is Somalia. A shorter read today, but nonetheless disturbing.

If you are even suspected of being a Christian in Somalia, you could be murdered on the spot.

At least 12 Christians were killed in 2016 when their faith was discovered. The militant Islamist group al-Shabaab has stated publically that it 'wants Somalia free of all Christians', and they are able to persecute Christians with impunity, as Somalia is basically lawless.

Somalia is a tribal society, and many tribal leaders see being Somali as being Muslim - leaving Islam is a betrayal of the tribe.

Christians must keep their faith completely secret - even a positive response to a Christian post on social media can have serious consequences.

Christians are able to gather together in small underground groups, but must constantly change the locations of their meetings to avoid monitoring by al-Shabaab militants or community leaders.

PLEASE PRAY
Praise God that, despite the terrible risks they face, there are men and women in Somalia following Jesus in secret. Pray for their protection - even reading about Christianity on the internet can be dangerous.
That Somali Christians will find ways to be disciples in secret.
Many Muslims in Somalia are seeking God. Ask God to reveal Himself to them.


http://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/worldwatch/somalia.php


Cx