General Chat

Hello all

The days of Lent are going by quickly. Day 34 now of the 40 days of Lent.

Chapter 34: Thinking Like A Servant.
But my servant Caleb was different. He follows me completely.
So I will bring him into the land that he has already seen, and his
people will get that land.
(Numbers 14:24. New International Version.)

Thinking of all in need of prayerful support tonight. xxx

Good morning :-)

I can remember that I was driving along a country lane when the news of the Dunblane shooting came over the radio. Such shock......such a terrible event.....such suffering.

Suffering is very much the theme for the next two weeks as we approach Easter.....

Passiontide (in the Christian liturgical year) is a name for the last two weeks of Lent, beginning on the Fifth Sunday of Lent, long celebrated as Passion Sunday, and ending on Holy Saturday.

The Passion of Christ is the story of Jesus Christ's arrest, trial and suffering. It ends with his execution by crucifixion. The Passion is an episode in a longer story and cannot be properly understood without the story of the Resurrection.
The word Passion comes from the Latin word for suffering.

The Passion is a story about injustice, doubt, fear, pain and, ultimately, degrading death. It tells how God experienced these things in the same way as ordinary human beings.


May the Christ who walks with wounded feet
Walk with us on the road.
May the Christ who serves with wounded hands
Stretch out our hands to serve.
May the Christ who loves with the wounded heart
Open our hearts to love.


Thinking of those who are suffering at this time......Cx :-)

Hello all

Emma, such a tragic event. Hard to believe that it was 20 years ago.
Thoughts and prayers for family and friends of the children and teacher.
May those little ones, and the teacher continue to Rest In Peace.

Continuing with the reading of Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life. Day 33

Chapter 33: How Real Servants Act.
This, however is not the way it is among you. If one of you wants to
be great, you must be the servant of the rest.
(Mark 10:43 Good News Translation.)

Praying for people who have felt sad and upset today. xxx

Remembering the children and their teacher
who died 20 years ago on this day in Dunblane.

<3

Good morning :-)


Within the church, today is know as Passion Sunday heralding the arrival of Passiontide - that time when we remember the suffering of our Lord as we head up towards Holy Week and Easter.

The Collect (Special prayer for today)

Most merciful God,
who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ
delivered and saved the world:
grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross
we may triumph in the power of his victory;
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.


Remembering those who suffer in any way....... Cx :-)

Hello all

Amen to your prayer this morning Cynthia. It could almost have been written for me.

Chapter 32. Using What God Gave You.
In the same way, even though there are many of us, we are
one body in Christ, and individually we belong to each other.
(Romans 12:5. Common English Bible.)

Remembering those who grieve for a loved one today. xxx

Good morning :-)

I still have a button box - goodness knows why - I hardly ever sew a button on these days. There is something strangely calming in pushing them around the tin, but don't ask me why. :-)

For today:

Sometimes I wonder what I might say if I were to meet you in person Lord.
I think I might say "Thank You Lord" for always being there for me.
I know with certainty there were times when you carried me, Lord.
When it was through your strength I got through the dark times in my life.
Help me Lord to be more conscious of your presence.
Teach me to recognise your presence in others.
Fill my heart with gratitude for the times
Your love has been shown to me through the care of others.
Amen.

Love to all Cx :-)

Hello all

Cynthia, my Mum always had a button box. All old clothes that were no longer any use had all buttons cut off before being discarded. Some of the buttons were so pretty and shiny. I loved playing and making patterns with them when I was a
small child......simple pleasures ha ha.

Quite a way now along a Lenten journey in faith. Day 31 of 40 Days of Lent.

Chapter 31. Understanding Your Shape.
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body, and
knit them together in my Mother's womb.
(Psalm 139:13 The Living Bible.)

Praying for all the people whose lives have been devastated by rain and floods. xxx

Good morning :-)

I like the matchbox/trunk comparison. I remember a friend of mine who used to be a counsellor, offering a tin of buttons to those who saw her and asking them to choose a button which best described how they felt. If they were fairly upbeat, then they would choose a pretty button.....if they were very down, they would go for the dullest and plainest button they could see. All interesting stuff.

For today - a reminder that Spring is around the corner and we are moving towards Easter.....

BURIED TREASURE

Beneath the snows of Winter,
Spring treasures can be found
In seeds that lie there sleeping
Below the frozen ground.

While snow falls in the meadow,
The rose must get her rest.
Soon Spring will kiss his princess
And she must look her best.

Sleeping beauty shall awaken
And yawn without a sound
As sprigs of buried treasure
Come bursting from the ground.

All earth proclaims God's glory
When Spring is in the air.
Each bud fulfils a promise -
Each rose an unanswered prayer.

Spring is a resurrection -
Winter's stone is rolled away
To reveal God's buried treasure
Each sun-kissed springtime day.
- Clay Harrison


Remembering all those who feel like very dull buttons and are sitting on a very large trunk of trouble today........Cx :-)

Hello all

Cynthia, very many years ago a group of friends and I went on a yoga/exercise weekend. One of the exercises was to suggest a container that would hold all your worries that day. Way back then I said that a matchbox was alright for my concerns.
Others chose varying size containers. Today I would ask for a suitcase to fill with my worries, while others are sure to suggest a trunk to hold so many of their problems. Even now, after all those years ago, there are always very many others worse off than we are. Take a look around and be grateful for small cross above.

Chapter 30 Shaped For Serving God.
Your hands have shaped and made me.
(Job 10; 8. Good News Bible.)

Thinking of all who have felt stressed or upset for whatever reason today. xxx

Good morning :-)


A short but meaningful story for today.....

The young man was at the end of his rope. Seeing no way out, he dropped to his knees in prayer.
“Lord, I can’t go on,” he said. “I have too heavy a cross to bear.”
The Lord replied, “My son, if you can’t bear it’s weight, just place your cross inside this room. Then open another door and pick any cross you wish.”
The man was filled with relief.
“Thank you, Lord,” he sighed, and did as he was told. As he looked around the room he saw many different crosses; some so large the tops were not visible. Then he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a far wall.
“I’d like that one, Lord,” he whispered.
And the Lord replied, “My son, that’s the cross you brought in.”



Praying for all those who are carrying heavy crosses at the moment....... Cx :-)

Hello all

A beautiful link Cynthia many thanks even though the day is almost over now.
I am finding it quite difficult finding the time to read and digest my chosen book for Lent, hence my usual lateness coming on to this thread. However, I am persevering and determined to continue with this challenge that I have set myself this year.

By coincidence........ day 29 reading is rather appropriate to me!

Chapter 29 Accepting Your Assignment
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do
good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
(Ephesians 2 : 10. New International Version.)

Praying for those who will find it hard to sleep tonight, for whatever reason. xxx

Good morning :-)


You are doing a grand job with that book kandj.....interesting thoughts from it. Thank you.

Baptism prep class again tonight. I have been told that we are fully booked for baptism until November................................................. :-0

For today's prayer, and a peaceful stat to your day, please click on the link....


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vyuQvwsQV8


Praying for all families who are suffering turmoil at the moment. Cx :-)

Hello all

Day 28 of a Lenten journey in faith.

Chapter 28 : It Takes Time.
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you,
will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.
(Philippians 1:6 New International Version.)

Thinking of all in need of prayerful support right now. xxx

Good morning :-)

And so we continue our Lenten journey............

Lent is a time to take time to let the power
of our faith story take hold of us,
a time to let the events get up
and walk around in us,
a time to intensify our living unto Christ,
a time to hover over the thoughts of our hearts,
a time to place our feet in the streets of
Jerusalem or to walk along the sea and
listen to his Word,
a time to touch his robe
and feel the healing surge through us,
a time to ponder and a time to wonder….
Lent is a time to allow
a fresh new taste of God!
Perhaps we’re afraid to have time to think,
for thoughts come unbidden.
Perhaps we’re afraid to face our future
knowing our past.
Give us courage, O God,
to hear your Word
and to read our living into it.
Give us the trust to know we’re forgiven
and give us the faith
to take up our lives and walk.


Remembering those who are dealing with the appalling refugee crisis .....

Cx :-)

Hello all

How lovely to have a full church with so many events happening yesterday.
Your late Vicar is sure to be remembered for many years as he was special.

Vera, it is good to reminisce and reflect on church services in times gone by.

Chapter 27 of my chosen Lenten book written by Rick Warren.
Defeating Temptation.
Run from anything that gives you evil thoughts.......but stay close to
anything that makes you want to do right.
(2 Timothy 2 : 22. The Living Bible)

Praying for families who have sick children in hospital tonight. xxx

Good morning :-)

My word, we had a full church yesterday! All the uniformed organisations, the Rose Queen and her retinue along with the regular congregation - certainly manic and brought back memories of our late beloved vicar who would have been in his element.

As well as the usual Holy Communion service there was the procession of standards to the altar, the choosing of the new Rose Queen for 2016, the giving out of bunches of daffodils to every lady in the congregation, and a case of projectile vomiting by one small boy. A lovely morning :-D

We are now half-way through Lent......so now for something completely different..

Enjoy.....(the answers are easily found) :-D

http://www.churchyear.net/lentpuzzint.html



Love to all. Cx :-)

Amen to your prayer today Cynthia. I would also add a thought for those whose childhoods were made unhappy by their mothers, that they can let go of any bitterness and not repeat the mistakes with their own children.

It's lovely to see the day called Mothering Sunday, rather than Mothers' Day. I think people forget that the origin lay in the return to the 'mother' church.

Kandj, I well remember the little bunches of flowers. In our church they would be at the front of the church and all the children would go to the front and collect a posy to present to their mothers. There were always a few extra for other ladies in the congregation. Happy memories.

Hello all. Happy Mother's Day wishes to one and all.

When I attended church regularly I was a part of the ladies flower group, and we made lots of tiny posies to be handed out to every lady who came to church for this special Mothering Sunday service. Little things mean a lot. The surprised look on the women's faces more than made up for the time we spent in the cold vestry.

Amen to your posting this morning Cynthia.

Chapter 26: Growing Through Temptation.
Blessed is the man who endureth temptation: for when he is tried
he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to
them that love him.
(James 1:12 King James Version.)

Thinking now of those who feel upset or sad on this Mothering Sunday xxx

Good morning :-)


'Transformed by Trouble' - I like that and can relate to it.


Today is Mothering Sunday.........the Sunday in mid-lent when we remember not only our mums but our mother church.

All-loving God, we give you thanks and praise for mothers young and old.

We pray for young mothers, who give life and tend to our every need; may they be blessed with patience and tender-ness to care for their families and themselves with great joy.

We pray for our own mothers who have nurtured and cared for us; may they continue to guide us in strong and gen-tle ways.

We remember mothers who are separated from their children because of war, poverty, or conflict; may they feel the loving embrace of our God who wipes every tear away.

We pray for women who are not mothers but still love and shape us with motherly care and compassion.

We remember mothers. grandmothers, and great-grandmothers who are no longer with us but who live forever in our memory and nourish us with their love.

Amen.


Cx :-)