General Chat

Good morning Cynthia, I hope you and yours are well :-D <3

Ive been looking at the John Cedars channel. He gives an

eye opening history of the JW's

They only acquired the name Jehovah's Witnesses under their

second leader Joseph Franklin Rutherford.

Good morning :-)

Nice one Dermot - thank you :-D Actually, there is so much truth in that. It's not only other faiths where this happens, it happens within one faith.....ours. I am told that only about 40 years or so ago, Anglicans and Roman Catholics in our village would walk on opposite sides of the road. Nowadays things are very different thank God. On our northern Walking Days, RCs, Anglicans and Methodists happily walk together proclaiming their faith.


The next verse of Sunday's hymn…


Feel for the parents who’ve lost their child,
Feel for the women whom men have defiled,
Feel for the baby for whom there’s no breast,
And feel for the weary who find no rest.

Prayer
Jesus, we seem to face far too much loss these days. Loss through death; loss through abuse; loss through disaster.
In times like these, when we are so weary we choose to rest our heads on your sacred shoulders. Weep alongside us. Lift our heads. Rejuvenate our vision. Bring us back to a place of play. Of wonder.
This world is dark, but we recognize right now, in this moment, that You are glorious light. Please, please shine down on us so we can see You at work. Replace our mourning with dancing. Hold our hands, our hearts, our dreams – help us to be a touching place for you. Amen.


Cx :-)

Just a little snippet I read this morning from 'The Story of Civilisation' by Will Durant :-

'We are sometimes surprised to discover that followers of other faiths can be as civilised, humane & trustworthy as ourselves, if not more so'.

Good morning :-)


Fine thank you David....a little hassled, frazzled and confused, but fine :-D


Lovely to hear from you Vera and I hope all is well with you. I will confess that I haven't listened to that hymn yet - it was a new one on me too! :-)

The next verse of the hymn:

for the people we most avoid,
Strange or bereaved or never employed;
Feel for the women, and feel for the men
Who fear that their living is all in vain.

Our prayer for today:

Lord make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
And where there is sadness, joy.
Lord, help us to be touching places for you. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good evening

Another interesting theme for the week. Thank you Cynthia. I had never heard the hymn "A Touching Place" before so I found it on youtube and had a listen. The words certainly made me think.

Sending a ((((hug)))) to anyone in need of a little extra support tonight

Good afternoon, I'm hoping you are all well <3

Good morning :-)


The second verse of the hymn from Sunday...



To the lost Christ shows His face;
To the unloved He gives His embrace:
To those who cry in pain or disgrace,
Christ makes with His friends A touching place.


Prayer:

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.
May I be a touching place for Christ.
So be it!
Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Bless you Emma, it must be such a difficult time for all of your family. Sending love <3



The first verse of the hymn we read yesterday and a prayer to help us live it.....

Hymn: CHRIST’S IS THE WORLD in which we move,
Christ’s are the folk we’re summoned to love,
Christ’s is the voice which calls us to care,
And Christ is the One who calls us here.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ,
alive and at large in the world,
help me to follow and find you there today,
in the places where I work,
meet people,
spend money,
and make plans.
Take me as a disciple of your Kingdom,
to see through your eyes,
and hear the questions you are asking,
to welcome all with your trust and truth,
and to change the things that contradict God’s love
by the power of your cross
and the freedom of your spirit.
Amen.


Cx :-)

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers for Connie
my family and myself <3

Good morning :-)


Yes indeed David. If you remember, I covered the topic of those to whom Jesus appeared after his resurrection, just after Easter :-D


Yesterday, we welcomed a new ordained clergyman to our church. He spoke well about the gospel reading where Jesus sent his disciples out to preach the gospel. He ended with the words...

“If we take no other thought away from today, let’s always savour we are a touching place for Christ in the world”

He introduced us to a Roman Catholic hymn, (written by John Bell, a Church of Scotland Minister and member of the Iona Community) which summed up these thoughts. We can take a look at this hymn during the week….. and how we can be 'touching places for Christ' in our lives.

Christ’s is the world in which we move;
Christ’s are the folk we’re summoned to love;
Christ’s is the voice which calls us to care,
and Christ is the one who meets us here.
Refrain: To the lost Christ shows his face,
to the unloved he gives his embrace,
to those who cry in pain or disgrace
Christ makes, with his friends, a touching place.

Feel for the people we must avoid -
strange or bereaved or never employed.
Feel for the women and feel for the men
who fear that their living is all in vain.
To the lost.............

Feel for the parents who’ve lost their child,
feel for the women whom men have defiled,
feel for the baby for whom there’s no breast,
and feel for the weary who find no rest.
To the lost..............

Feel for the lives by life confused,
riddled with doubt, in loving abused;
feel for the lonely heart, conscious of sin,
which longs to be pure but fears to begin.
To the lost.................


Cx :-)

Following his resurrection Jesus preached to over 100 before his Ascension
which was witnessed.

Good morning :-)


I remember hearing/reading about Christopher Hitchens a while ago David. Yes, he was a very provocative writer who now knows the truth I guess.


The Collect (special prayer) 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.


The gospel tells of Jesus sending out the 72 disciples……..


Cx :-)

Christopher Hitchens was aaan extreemey intelligent man,

yet he delighted in taking religions to pieces and trying to prove them wrong.

Hello all

Thoughts and prayers for baby Connie and for Emma and all her family at such a worrying time. xx

"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,
Do not fear; I will help you". (Isaiah 41:13 NIV),

This is my very favourite verse in scripture that has helped me countless times. I hope this will bring comfort to Emma today and to others who are struggling one way or another.

Some years ago I read an article titled The God Concept.

I confess I found it disturbing. It troubled my mind for a long time.

:-(

Good morning :-)


Thank you for that message re baby Connie Vera - as I only come on here briefly, I tend to miss things. The family must be so worried about this little one but its good to know that she is in good and capable hands. Praying that her recovery will be complete and rapid. Also praying for Emma as I am sure she will be alongside the parents encouraging and supporting. <3 <3


Today I will remember to put you before all things.
Lord before tiredness - you are energy
Lord before stress - you are peace
Lord before need - you are the gift
Lord before decisions - you are truth
Lord before toil - you are rest.
Today I will remember to put your energy, your peace, your gift, your truth and your rest before my working day.
That I may go not in my own strength but be led by your Spirit.


Cx :-)

Thoughts and prayers tonight for baby Connie, her parents and all Emma’s family, not forgetting Emma herself of course <3 <3. A prayer of thanks too for the skill and care of the medical team looking after this precious little girl.

Good morning :-)


I know just what you mean Vera.....it can be hard for us mere mortals to comprehend these things sometimes..... we do the best we can and then allow room for growth :-D


Dear Father,

I give you this day, may your spirit be at work in me. Clear the mix of dreams and thoughts from my mind and help me to embrace everything that you have for me today. I give you the mental and physical tiredness I can feel and ask for your life to flow though me. May your hope stir in those who are close to me and bring joy into their hearts. May your love cause me to find new energy, ideas and solutions throughout the day. And may your truth allow me to stay on track and walk confidently in all that I do.

Father, I give you this day.

Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

A man is here to service the boiler and do things with the water tank so I have a free few minutes while he gets on with his work.

Cynthia, you are right that the Bible passage starting “In the beginning was the Word...” is one of the most well known but I think it is one of the hardest to understand. I have read lots of explanations but every interpretation varies, particularly depending on the writer’s view of the Trinity. As the song from “The King and I” says, Is a Puzzlement.

Even though I don’t fully understand the passage I can feel very moved by the rhythm and sheer poetry of it.

I hope you all have a beautiful God-given day

Hello all

A beautiful sunny God-given day, a good tonic for us all. We are blessed indeed.

Amen to your morning prayer Cynthia. Thank you for your ongoing daily postings.

Vera, good to read your OH is making a steady recovery, not so good news about your brother. He has had a lot of operations to cope with. Thoughts and prayers with you and all your family at an upsetting\worrying time.

David I find your postings thought provoking and Rose's reply on the Trinity very different but so interesting. Always a difficult subject to comprehend I think.

Sending gentle hugs to all who need one today xx