General Chat

Good Morning :-)

Thank you Suffolk Vera for the Psalm number ,I had not realised the hymn was quite that old !

Love from
Elizabeth :-)

Good morning :-)


Lovely to see a conversation once more....... :-) A bit of a long post today - sorry....


That is such a lovely hymn Elizabeth and very comforting to listen to as well as to sing.

With church funerals, we have seen a rise in the number of people wanting a modern song played as the cortege leaves the building. We also find that many people simply do not know where to start when choosing suitable hymns. If they have no church background, that is understandable but such a shame as there are so many hymns with wonderful tunes and heartening words.

Sorry about the chocolate Emma - I would post a picture of a different chocolate every day if this site would let me :-D

It is our church Carol Service tonight. If it goes as usual, it will be a case of 'standing on heads'. I have arranged for my son to come and dadsit whilst I am out - but he has a cold and I need to see how he is today......sigh.

I also run our church's Facebook page and will, hopefully, be posting many pictures of people singing their hearts out as we draw near to the day itself :-D


The Collect (special prayer) set for today.
O Lord Jesus Christ,
who at your first coming sent your messenger to prepare your way before you: grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise
so prepare and make ready your way by turning the hearts of the
disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to
judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in your sight;
for you are alive and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Gospel tells us “There was a man sent by God, whose name was John.”

Behind today's Advent Calendar door is...........................

http://www.methodist.org.uk/…/advent-and-c…/advent-calendar/


Love to all Cx :-)

Elizabeth, Be Still My Soul was written in the 1700s by Katharina Von Schlegel and it is generally believed that she based it on Psalm 46:10 - Be still, and know that I am God. There are other possibilities in the psalms and other biblical verses that she could have based it on but psalm 46 is most often quoted.

I love that hymn. I think most of us aspire to be still sometimes even if we don’t achieve it. Also the hymn nowadays is usually sung to the theme tune from Finlandia which is one of my all time favourite pieces of music. At my funeral (which is hopefully a long way off) I would like this hymn to be played either at the beginning or the end of the service. Perhaps I had better make sure my family know :-)

Kandj, it is lovely to hear from you. I realise your priority is your husband but try to look after yourself as well. You clearly have a very loving family so let them take over some of the chores at Christmas and give yourself time to relax a little. We are all keeping you in our thoughts <3

I loved the piece of artwork behind today’s advent door but I am glad there was an explanation as I would not otherwise have understood the significance.

Love opening the doors Cynthia but where is my chocolate,
maybe tomorrow :-D

I'm not too keen on modern art but there is something about
this one which I quite like.

Kandj lovely to hear from you x

Good morning,I, like Nyx am a "popper in" :-)

I look in most days and follow the "chat "

"Be Still My Soul" is being used a lot a lot more at funerals, I really like it, could someone remind me which Psalm it is from please :-(

I agree with Cynthia about changes in hymn/prayer catching you off guard !!

Good morning :-)

Lovely to see you kandj and so glad that you are managing to cope. It will be lovely to see your family and I am sure they will want to spoil you both. <3


Thanks Emma - I feel like a child, wondering what is behind each door, do you? :-D

An interesting piece of modern art today - with an explanation beneath it. Not sure what to make of it.......................

http://www.methodist.org.uk/our-faith/worship/advent-and-christmas/advent-calendar/


Love to all. Cx :-)

Hello all, just letting you know that it is a week since hubby was brought home after a month in hospital and it has seemed like a very long week to the two of us.

We are working together to help get him as well as he can be as our family are planning to come here for Christmas. After so much stress and anxiety, we are all looking forward to relaxing and unwinding together and enjoying a family Christmas.

Very many thanks for all your ongoing thoughts and prayers, they really have helped.

Really enjoying opening each day and the messages
given. x

Good morning :-)


For today's Advent calendar offering, I would suggest that you make a nice cup of coffee and give yourself a few minutes break. Two ladies from the Methodist church talk about visiting during this special season. You will hopefully feel uplifted afterwards :-)

http://www.methodist.org.uk/our-faith/worship/advent-and-christmas/advent-calendar/



No word from kandj, so she must be so busy bless her. She and her husband both remain in our thoughts and prayers <3


Love to all Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Nice to see you popping in Nyx :-D

I had a quick look at what was happening with the Lord's Prayer and it does seem that a lot of the controversy is over the various translations of the wording. We church folk are monkeys for 'mucking around' with the tried and trusted wording of Scripture and of hymns for that matter.

There are those folk who sit on liturgical committees and devise new ways of worship, new wordings and goodness knows what else.

I have lived through quite a few changes to scripture, services and hymns and, whilst not always happy with those changes, I have learned to adapt. Possibly, week by week worship helps with the familiarity of new wordings but there are some things which I prefer in the style I grew up with.

I can be merrily belting out an old familiar hymn, then suddenly I realise that it has been changed to be politically correct........grrrrrrr and I get the urge to say 'Leave it alone for heaven's sake - I'm not stupid and can see what the hymnwriter was getting at thank you very much".


Phew.......just one cup of coffee for me too Nyx :-D

Today's Advent Calendar shares a prayer for world peace


http://www.methodist.org.uk/our-faith/worship/advent-and-christmas/advent-calendar/

Don't forget to scroll down to read it all.


Cx :-)

Thank you Cynthia. I am enjoying the advent calendar.

Now you have made me think Rose which is probably a good thing - I don’t do it very often. I believe we sometimes switch on to automatic pilot mode when we recite such familiar words and what we are saying doesn’t always register with us but, on reflection, I don’t think I want the words changed.

Thank you Rose and may your God go with you x

Thank you Cynthia...both worked x

Good morning just popping in :-)

David, I believe the Pope thinks the Lord's prayer should be altered on the line

" *Lead* us not into temptation"

as that *lead* implies that it is God leading us into temptation....I think he wants it to be something like, 'let us not fall into temptation'?

I don't want it changed ( traditionalist here lol, I keep the "Forgive us our trespasses" not the alternative 'debts') but I see that literally it makes sense... it depends I suppose whether you think God might proactively 'lead' you towards temptation so you can show strength/faith in your resistance?...or whether you believe that God should steer you away from all temptation as a kindness.

Gosh this is deep for me on just one cup of coffee lol.

Take care all, and may your God go with you x

Good morning :-)


Hope that this link works today..........

More about the Anna Chaplains in the Advent calendar........

http://www.methodist.org.uk/adventcalendar/

Scroll down to see the explanation.


Love to all Cx :-)

Oh dear. It did that for me too Emma. Try this...

http://www.methodist.org.uk/adventcalendar/

Could not see today's one Cynthia, came up ...page not found :-(

Thoughts and prayers to all in need of comfort x

Good morning :-)


No news from kandj, so I guess she is really busy looking after her husband. We continue to hold her in our prayers and she is so very grateful for the kind thoughts and good wishes expressed on here.

On today's Advent Calendar there is a lovely short but encouraging prayer.

http://www.methodist.org.uk/prayer-and-worship/advent-and-christmas/advent-calendar

(scroll down each picture for an explanation)


Cx :-)

Thinking of kandj and her husband x

Good morning :-)

The Advent Calendar for today.....

http://www.methodist.org.uk/prayer-and-worship/advent-and-christmas/advent-calendar

(scroll down each picture for an explanation)

Love to all. Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


No idea on your question David - I didn't realise it was an issue at the moment. If I remember, I will have a looksee later.

How sad for your relative Vera ...... things like this always seem more poignant at this time of year. When I was writing my Christmas cards, I realised that we had lost 6 friends since last year........very sobering.

For today :


The Collect (special prayer) set for today.

O Lord, raise up, we pray, your power
and come among us,
and with great might succour us;
that whereas, through our sins and wickedness
we are grievously hindered
in running the race that is set before us,
your bountiful grace and mercy
may speedily help and deliver us;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honour and glory, now and for ever.


The gospel tells of the coming of John the Baptist.


A rather nice picture on today's Advent Calendar.

http://www.methodist.org.uk/prayer-and-worship/advent-and-christmas/advent-calendar

(scroll down each picture for an explanation)


Hoping kandj is coping.......love to all Cx :-)