General Chat

Good morning :-)


Today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany.

The Collect (special prayer) for today:

O God, who by the leading of a star manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: mercifully grant that we, who know you now by faith, may at last behold your glory face to face; 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 reading tells of the arrival of the Three Kings.

Epiphany is a Christian festival which is celebrated 12 days after December 25, the date which signals Christmas has officially ended.

Apparently, up until the 19th century, the Epiphany was more important than Christmas Day, and it was used to celebrate both the three kings' (or three wise men's) visit to Jesus after his birth and also Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist.
However, the Bible does not say there were only three wise men. There could have been many more. Tradition says that there were three and that their names were Gaspar/Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar/Balthazar, but since the Bible does not say, we have no way of knowing whether the tradition is accurate.
They were certainly men of great learning. Today we'd called them astrologers
When the Wise Men found Jesus and Mary, they would have been living in a normal house, probably in Bethlehem or Jerusalem, because by this time Jesus would have been aged between one and two. Then they gave their gifts to him. The gifts seem quite strange to give to a baby, but Christians believe that they had the following meanings:
• Gold: is associated with Kings and Christians believe that Jesus is the King of Kings.
• Frankincense: is sometimes used in worship in Churches and showed that people would worship Jesus.
• Myrrh: is a perfume that is put on dead bodies to make them smell nice; Christian believe that it showed that Jesus would suffer and die.

Cx :-)

(Thinking of Pat and her ear muffs) :-D

Good morning :-)


Lord,
May we not keep our blessings,
but give them away:
so that others might learn new dance steps,
so children might be fed,
so bridges might be built
and so grace may flow to all in your world. Amen.

Good morning :-)

As soon as I saw your name Pat, I thought BELLS! :-D Epiphany sounds like fun out there! :-D


Oh God, we long to know you and to love you, but the busyness of life often gets in the way.
Help us to recognise the ordinary daily ways that our family can learn about you and grow closer to you.
We know that you are near us, leading and guiding us. Amen.

Love to all. Cx :-)

Happy New Year everyone.

People out here are still in holiday mood. We've had Christmas Day and New Year holidays but the big event out here is still to come on Sunday the 6th January, it's Epiphany a religious bank holiday. I'll see food being piled into cars as families get together and if warm enough it'll be BBQ time.

The bells will be ringing Sunday morning :-( ;-)

:-D :-D <3 <3

Good morning :-)


Thank you Emma and to you and yours too <3

So glad to be returning to some sort of 'normality'...…. :-D


It was interesting to read that, in the US, New Year resolutions fall into 4 categories :

1. Improve my health
2. Improve my life
3. Improve my behaviour
4. Get closer to God

These resolutions are kept for very long but there is one resolution that when kept, helps in all four areas… and that is…..reading your bible.

Regular Bible reading improves your health, improves your life, improves your be-haviour, and gets you closer to God. How come?

Many physical and emotional health issues are the result of stress which can affect your body, thoughts and feel-ings. Throughout the bible we are reminded that God created us in His image and loves us deeply – even when we wander away.

The bible offers encouragement. Comfort. Reassurance. Strength. Peace. Hope. Interesting reading.

Cx :-)

Happy New Year Cynthia to you and yours x

Good morning..... :-)


And I see I missed yesterday......oh dear....apologies to those who look in. It really was one of those days I'm afraid. I am hoping that normal service has now been resumed :-D Happy new year to you all. <3

Thank you Lord for giving me
The brand new year ahead
Help me live the way I should
As each new day I tread.
Give me gentle wisdom
That I might help a friend
Give me strength and courage
So a shoulder I might lend.
The year ahead is empty
Help me fill it with good things
Each new day filled with joy
And the happiness it brings.
Please give the leaders of our world
A courage born of peace
That they might lead us gently
And all the fighting cease.
Please give to all upon this earth
A heart that's filled with love
A gentle happy way to live
With Your blessings from above.


by Charlotte Anselmo


Love to you all. Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


And so we reach New Year's Eve...…


God our Father, we give thanks for all that has been and, trustfully, we place the past into your hands.

We ask you to inspire us in the year ahead to seek and fulfil your will. May we truly look on each new day as the start of the rest of our lives.

Enable us, with the power of your Spirit, to remain positive and confident, and live fully and joyfully with those people you have placed into our lives.

Lead us to bring out the best in one another that we may all grow as the people you call us to be. Amen.



Enjoy your celebrations. Love. Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Ooops....sorry about missing yesterday - just noticed. Life is a tad hectic. Knowing what day it is would be helpful!! :-D

During our morning service at church, we will be remembering, by name, those for whom a funeral service has been held in church during 2018. We pray for the families of these people.

The Collect (special prayer) for today

Almighty God, who wonderfully created us in your own image and yet more wonderfully restored us through your son Jesus Christ: grant that, as He came to share in our humanity, so we may share the life of His di-vinity; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The gospel reading today is taken from John and is where Jesus tells us that ‘in my father’s house, there are many mansions.’


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Dear Lord,
Joy to the World. The Lord is Come!
Jesus is born! Born in a manger. Born into this world. This life. This joy. This mess. This brokenness. This hope. Jesus is born.
For us. For the world.
Be with me in this joy. This moment. This gift. This life. This baby. This mystery.
Jesus is born!

May I never grow weary of this mystery.
May I never grow too old to believe.
May I never forget the beauty of a baby.
Jesus is born.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

It’s another saint’s day today – St John the Apostle, also called St. John the Evangelist or St. John the Divine. Not to be confused with St. John the Baptist.

John was an apostle of Jesus who founded many churches in Asia Minor and was the author of three letters, the Fourth Gospel, and possibly the Revelation to John in the New Testament. He played a leading role in the early church at Jerusalem. John was the son of Zebedee, a Galilean fisherman, and Salome. John and his brother St. James were among the first disciples called by Jesus.
John stood faithfully at the cross when Christ made him the guardian of His Mother.

Tradition relates that he was, by order of Emperor Dometian, cast into a cauldron of boiling oil but came out unhurt, and was banished to the island of Patmos for a year. He lived to an extreme old age, surviving all his fellow apostles, and died in Ephesus about the year 100.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Boxing Day – the day after Christmas Day, and it is also St. Stephen’s Day.

It is generally thought that Boxing Day was so-called because it was the day when the donation box in churches were opened and the money distributed to the poor.

Nowadays, of course, it is known for its sales as thousands of people rush to the shops to spend money. How things change.

Saint Stephen was one of the first deacons of the Christian Church and was also the first Christian martyr. He was stoned to death because he accused the Jews of being ungrateful to God and of murdering Jesus, whose coming, he said, had been foretold by Moses.

Hope everyone had an enjoyable day.....Love, Cx :-)

Good morning and a very Happy and Blessed Christmas to you all.


And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Thank you Emma, and I hope your Christmas is happy and peaceful.


The final Advent thought....

At last Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem. It was crowded with other people who needed to pay their taxes. Mary was very tired and needed a place to stay. At each inn, the story was the same. There was no room for them. Eventually, one kind innkeeper said he had a stable where he kept his animals. They were welcome to stay there.

Advent Act of Kindness

Pray for all those who are fleeing their own country and for those who are about to give birth.

Cx :-)

Thank you again Cynthia x

Have a lovely Christmas Vera with your son and family.

My son is home from Nigeria for Christmas and we are fortunate
also to be with them and rest of family on that day.

Cynthia I wish you and yours seasons greetings.

My thoughts and prayers to those who are grieving and alone at this time
and hope they find some comfort with their memories. <3

Good morning :-)


Thank you for your posting Vera - I agree how sad it is with families falling out. Our Christmas will be a bit subdued as my son's mother-in-law died last week and we are having to wait until after Christmas for the funeral to take place.


I am sure you will have a lovely time in Yorkshire Vera - one of my favourite counties... <3


The Advent calendar for today :


Maybe Christmas
He thought
Doesn’t come
From a store.
Maybe Christmas, perhaps,
Means a little bit more.
- The Grinch

Advent Act of Kindness

Pray for all clergy as they begin the long haul of Christmas services - and for their families.

Thank you for the week's posts Cynthia.

I was having coffee with a group of friends this morning and they were all talking about members of their families who were at loggerheads. One hadn't spoken to her son for ten years, another said that her daughter-in-law had fallen out with her mother and wasn't speaking to her, another said she was the go-between for her two sisters who wouldn't communicate with each other. It all seemed so sad to me and brought home to me yet again how blessed I am to be part of a very close and supportive family. Special Christmas thoughts for everyone who isn't surrounded by love of family and friends.

We are off to our son in Yorkshire for Christmas so I would like to wish you all a joyful and peaceful Christmas <3

Good morning :-)


Look at the candy cane
What do you see?
Stripes that are red
Like the blood shed for me.

White is for my saviour
Who is sinless and pure
‘J’ is for Jesus my lord
That’s for sure.

Turn it around
And a staff you will see
Jesus my shepherd
Was born for me.

ADVENT ACT OF KINDNESS

Take a box of chocolates to your doctor's surgery to thank them for their help over the last year.

Cx :-)

Good afternoon :-)


A bit late, but one of those days........

Winter has arrived so my computer tells me.

Our Advent calendar for today...


CHRISTMAS IS NOT SO MUCH ABOUT OPENING PRESENTS, AS OPENING OUR HEARTS.

Today's Advent Act of Kindness.

Write out several little ‘happy’ notes and place in a box. Give the box to someone who needs cheering up so that they can look at one each day.'


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Almost at the shortest day...….


Words from a popular carol...…."Been a long time little donkey, through the winter's night, don't give up now little donkey, Bethlehem's in sight."


Advent Act of Kindness

Invite someone who lives on their own, in for coffee and mince pies.

Cx :-)