General Chat

A beautiful verse Cynthia x

Good morning :-)

St Mark continues....

A woman healed
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” So he went with him. And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him.

Now there was a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse.

She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately her haemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.

Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth

He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

A verse from an old hymn which fits in well….

If I could just touch the hem of His garment
If I could just touch some part of His clothes
I know I'd be healed, my sins are forgiven
If I could just touch Him, I know I'd be whole.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Thank you Emma xx

The Collect (special prayer) for today :

Almighty and ever-living God, clothed in majesty, whose beloved Son was this day presented in the Temple, in substance of our flesh: grant that we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts, by your Son Jesus Christ 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 tells of the wonderful story of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple.
(Luke 2)


Cx :-)

So interesting Cynthia, I learnt something new today.

It is true one is never too old to learn new things.

Have enjoyed the readings from St. Mark this week, thank you. x

Good morning :-)

These weekends seem to come round very quickly!! :-0

Our next reading from St. Mark......a bit long, but worthwhile :-D


Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac

They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain; for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him.

Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him; and he shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not tor-ment me.” For he had said to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country.

Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding; and the unclean spirits begged him, “Send us into the swine; let us enter them.” So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea.

The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the coun-try. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighbourhood.

As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. But Jesus refused, and said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.


Lord, help me to overcome the demons within! Show me how to overcome bad feelings of self-doubt and depression. Redirect my path. Help me to acknowledge what I am and what I have become. Teach me to forgive myself for the insensitive things I have done to others. Help me to respect the relationships that mean so much to me. Lead me to a better understanding of what it is you would have me to do, and then take me to the best life possible. Through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour we pray. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Some dreadful weather conditions around - take care and stay warm. <3

Continuing with St. Mark...…

Jesus Stills a Storm

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him.

A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”


Mighty God, who speaks a word of peace to calm our troubled sea;
Caring God, who nudges us away from fear and toward faith;
Ever-present God, who fills us with awe
but also raises many questions
without easy answers;
Open our eyes to see you in our boat—today,
Strengthen our hearts for the challenges that lie ahead,
Open our ears this hour to hear the word you speak.
This we pray, In Jesus’ name. Amen

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Rather chilly at the moment......says she in an understatement..... :-D

Continuing with St. Mark....

The Parable of the Mustard Seed
He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

Father, today I confess my trust and reliance on you.
Thank you for depositing seeds of faith in my heart so that I can live in total victory. I believe that, with you, all things are possible. Amen.


Keep warm. Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Thank you Vera......I think that's a 'Marmite' hymn - you either love it or loathe it!! :-D :-D

Contining with St. Mark...

The Parable of the Growing Seed
He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.”


Lord, please grow in us a harvest for the world. Sow a seed of hope within our souls Lord, that we might yield goodness, patience and kindness in abundance.

Sow a seed of peace in our lives Lord, that we might bear the fruits of forgiveness, compassion and righteousness.

Come sow a seed of love in our hearts Lord, that others would reap the blessings of family, friendship and community.

May each seed of hope, peace and love grow within us into a harvest that can be feasted on by all. Amen.

Cx :-)

Just popping in to say a quick hello to everyone

Cynthia, your post today made me think of the hymn Shine, Jesus, Shine and it’s been going round and round my brain all day :-)

Good morning :-)

Our journey with Mark....


A Lamp under a Bushel (Basket)

He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.”


Lord Jesus, you have said this with such power and finality -- hear and do, hear and put into practice, hear and proclaim. Let me never be ashamed of You and your Word as sometimes I have been. Forgive me. Let me proclaim it as fearlessly as you and your disciples did. Light of the world, come and shine on us and help us to shine our lights. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Emma <3


Moving on with St. Mark..

The Purpose of the Parables

When he was alone, those who were around him along with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything comes in parables; in order that
‘they may indeed look, but not perceive, and may indeed listen, but not understand;
so that they may not turn again and be forgiven.’”

And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: when they hear the word, they immediately receive it with joy. But they have no root, and endure only for a while; then, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.

And others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word, but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing. And these are the ones sown on the good soil: they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”


Jesus the sower
whatever I am today, whatever the mix
of path, rock, thorns or soil
help me to become good ground
for you, for your word and for your presence. Amen.



Love to all. Cx :-)

Amen for your prayer today Cynthia.

Good morning :-)


Today is Holocaust Memorial Day - a day to remember the millions of people who were murdered in the Holocaust under Nazi Persecution, as well as those killed in the genocides in the years that followed - Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. During the Holocaust - between 1941 and 1945 - six million Jewish men, women and children were killed.

The aim of Holocaust Memorial Day is to remember those killed and reflect on the circumstances that led to so many deaths in those genocides.

Let us pray for God’s ancient people, the Jews, the first to hear his word -
for greater understanding between Christian and Jew
for the removal of our blindness and bitterness of heart
that God will grant us grace to be faithful to his covenant and to grow in the love of his name. Amen.



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Matchsticks needed today...…………….. :-D

A very familiar story from St. Mark today :


The Parable of the Sower

Again he began to teach beside the sea. Such a very large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the sea and sat there, while the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land.

He began to teach them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away.

Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” And he said, “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!”



Lord, Help me to grow in faith so my relationship with you is not shallow and weak, but a deep and mature faith.
Grant me a faith that can move mountains of doubt and oceans of fear.
Teach me to triumph over temptation.
Help me to believe in you, even when I do not understand the capricious nature of the weather and the cruelty in some people.
Lord, I am yours. Take me as I am. Shape me. Make me. Mould me into the person you would have me to be.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour we pray. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Continuing our journey with St. Mark....

The True Kindred of Jesus

Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.” And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”


Let us come before God with humility and a willingness to obey.
Let us put others first and serve our brothers and sisters in Christ.
May we seek God first, putting aside our own desires.
May we become intercessors for our brothers and sisters in Christ.
May we pray more and criticize less. May we be encouragers and uplifters.
Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Thank you Emma.... <3


The next story from St. Mark

Jesus and Beelzebub
Then he went home; and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.” And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Sa-tan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom can-not stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plun-der his property without first tying up the strong man; then in-deed the house can be plundered.
“Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— for they had said, “He has an un-clean spirit.”


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 offenses;
and grant that we may serve you
in newness of life,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good Morning Cynthia :-)

Your posts set me up for the day ahead Cynthia
thank you x

Lovely to see you kandj x

Good morning :-)

Another day missed......ooops….Lovely to see kandj popping in though.

Jesus Appoints the Twelve apostles

He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message, and to have authority to cast out demons. So he appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boa-nerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.


Surround us with your love,
fill us with your grace,
and strengthen us for your service.
Empower us to respond to the call of Jesus –
to deny ourselves,
to take up our crosses,
and to follow.
Make us your disciples.
Amen

Lovely to see your post Kandj. Just keep taking one step at a time. Sending you a gentle hug <3

I haven’t felt I had anything useful to add to the posts but I am looking in every day.

Hello all

I'm back in church from the start of this year. It seems strange without my
precious hubby beside me. I'm ok with the service/prayers but struggle with hymns as we both loved singing in church and I miss hearing his lovely voice now.

Gentle hugs to all in need today. xxx