General Chat

Good morning :-)

Easter - New Life

Why do most people come alive in spring? It marks the season of new life.

There's a huge stirring in the garden too. It’s amazing how plants respond to the increasing light levels. After the cold and dark of winter, signs of new life begin to emerge. The sights, sounds and smells bring us hope and cheer as more light and warmth encourages unfurling leaves and colourful plants.

Along the roads, we can see the first flowers of spring in gardens and green spaces, bringing vibrant yellows, pinks, purples and blues amid vivid green and white. Just beautiful.


Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the wonderful season of spring. During this lovely time, I ask You for a fresh beginning in each of our hearts. Please allow each of us, as Christians, to bloom in Your world, just as the flowers are blooming. Help us to be witnesses whenever there is an opportunity, and to be followers of Your word every day. We ask this in Your name. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good afternoon - sorry for the delay - had visitors.

So glad you managed the celebration in memory of your brother Vera - how special he must have been to you all. <3

Like kandj, we had a good Easter service yesterday. Lots of people in and creme eggs for the children.


Easter Eggs and New Life

Easter is the most important date in the Christian calendar. Every year, Christians around the world remember Jesus’ crucifixion and celebrate his resurrection on Easter Sunday.

For Christians the egg is a symbol of Jesus' resurrection, as when they are cracked open they stand for the empty tomb. No-one actually knows when eggs were first used as symbols at festival times but it was long before Jesus' time. Eggs were always thought to be special because although they do not seem alive, they have life within them especially at springtime when chicks hatch out.

The first English chocolate egg was sold by Fry’s in 1873, and Cadbury’s quickly followed them, introducing their own chocolate egg in 1875. These early Easter eggs were made using dark chocolate, and were smooth and plain, but in 1897 the famous Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Chocolate was first introduced.

An important part of Easter celebrations today is giving (and eating!) chocolate eggs, and in the UK we buy about 80 million Easter eggs each year!

Dear God, we thank you for the gift of Easter eggs, a sign of new life and of Christ’s resurrection. May the joy of Easter be a reminder of the joy we have in you now and always through Christ’s death and resurrection. Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed. Alleluia.

Anyone for a battered deep fried creme egg then? ??

Cx :-)

Hello all

A dry and bright but a really cold day today.

Hoping Cynthia is well and having a good day.

Vera, it sounds like you had a lovely day, sharing happy memories with family and friends of your brother. Handing out the wild flower seeds was a lovely idea, I've not heard of that before.

Ongoing thoughts and prayers for all in Ukraine.

Happy Easter everyone.

It was good to see your post the other day Tabitha.

With the sun shining, new plants showing through the earth and the birds singing and nesting, it does feel very much like a time of renewal and hope. Just what Easter Sunday should be.

Now that most restrictions have been lifted yesterday was a Celebration of Life for my beloved brother. As you may know he died 15 months ago but restrictions at the time meant only a handful of us could attend his socially distanced and masked funeral and there could be no gathering afterwards. Our family and friends are scattered throughout the UK and abroad but about 90 people attended yesterday, one distant cousin even flying from Spain to be there. It was a great comfort to me, and to brother's partner, that so many wanted to be there. I think it is a measure of the esteem in which he was held by everyone he came across. I now feel we have said a proper goodbye to him.

I am so grateful that I was privileged to be his sister and when I went to bed last night I said an extra thank you for his life and all he achieved.

Hello all

Many thanks for the daily calendar Cynthia.

A special Easter Day communion in church today.
with two traditional hymns sung during the service.

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia,
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia,
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia,
Suffer to redeem our loss, Alleluia. to begin with and another traditional hymn to close with.

Thine be the glory,
Risen conquering Son
Endless it the victory
Thou o'er death has won.

I drove home singing this uplifting hymn.

Happy Easter everyone.

Good morning and a very Happy Easter to you all <3


The last of the family Lenten calendar.

https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/what-we-believe/lent-holy-week-and-easter/livelent-embracing-justice-our-lent-0

God of grace and mercy, we rejoice at your presence with us, and bring to you the whole of our lives that you may shine light in the shadows. May we walk in grace and hope as we share the good news of your resurrection. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning


Holy Saturday

https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/what-we-believe/lent-holy-week-and-easter/livelent-embracing-justice-our-lent-0

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.



Cx

Hello all

Nice to hear from you Tabitha and many thanks for your good wishes for Easter time.

I went along with a few others this afternoon for a Watch by the Cross one hour emotional meditation service, lead by the Curate as vicar's now retired.

The last verse of the last hymn When I Survey the Wondrous Cross gets to me every time!!

Were every realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Good morning :-)


Today is Good Friday - a very special and Holy day for Christians.

Today's family Lenten calendar.......

https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/what-we-believe/lent-holy-week-and-easter/livelent-embracing-justice-our-lent-0



God of the powerless, help us see where you are at work, challenging and reshaping people and systems, and join in with your work of justice and renewal. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good afternoon :-)


Maundy Thursday - such a special day.

The family Lenten calendar for today :

https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/what-we-believe/lent-holy-week-and-easter/livelent-embracing-justice-our-lent-0


Lord Jesus, we lay down our pride and ideas of superiority before you: wash us clean, and renew our minds and imaginations that we may follow you more truly. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning all

Beautiful Spring day and i hope everyone is well.

May i wish you all a very happy and peaceful Easter.
I really enjoy your messages Cynthia and all the little notes from people popping in.

Easter blessings to you all.
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Good morning :-)

Holy Wednesday, also known as Spy Wednesday.

Today's family Lenten calendar.... :

https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/what-we-believe/lent-holy-week-and-easter/livelent-embracing-justice-our-lent-0



Loving God, create in us the desire to love as you have loved, so that we may love one another as your people, and share this love with all we encounter. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Thank you Vera. I haven't seen that prayer before <3

Today's family Lenten calendar.......(the idea is easily googled)

https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/what-we-believe/lent-holy-week-and-easter/livelent-embracing-justice-our-lent-0

Lord Jesus, help us discern the way ahead, and cling to you rather than our own strength and life, that we may see your salvation. Amen.

Cx :-)

Another week gone by and a new one starting - where does the time go? Thank you for the continuing posts Cynthia. The links to the calendar have made me think once or twice.

Ongoing thoughts for the people of Ukraine. Watching the news made me imagine my small town being destroyed and the homes around me being reduced to rubble and I found I was shivering thinking about the confusion and fear I would be feeling. I find myself repeating a line from a prayer for peace that we used to say at school and seems particularly relevant now:

“Guide with Thy pure and peaceable wisdom those that take counsel for the nations of this earth”

Good morning :-)


Yes, it was Palm Sunday yesterday and we too, were given palm crosses. It was an interesting morning as our complete sound system had packed up, but we managed to sing lustily nevertheless :-D

Now into Holy Week and today's family Lenten calendar......

https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/what-we-believe/lent-holy-week-and-easter/livelent-embracing-justice-our-lent-0

Generous God, help us never treat others as a problem or a project, but only ever come alongside in humility and shared humanity. Amen.


Cx :-)

Hello all

Palm Sunday and in the Christian calendar it is the beginning of Holy Week.

It was good to be in church this morning and sing Ride on, Ride on In Majesty. Still not liking the face masks, but it felt good nevertheless.

Ride on, ride on in Majesty!
Hark all the tribes, hosanna cry.
O Saviour meek, persue your road,
with palms and scattered garments strewed.

Ride on, ride on in Majesty!
In lowly pomp ride on to die.
O Christ, your triumphs now begin
o'er captive death, and conquered sin.

My Palm Sunday cross is pinned onto the kitchen notice board.

Good morning :-)

Today's Lenten calendar :


https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/what-we-believe/lent-holy-week-and-easter/livelent-embracing-justice-our-lent-0

Loving God, may we grow to love you as you have loved us and have the courage to share this love with our neighbour. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Today's family Lenten calendar :

https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/what-we-believe/lent-holy-week-and-easter/livelent-embracing-justice-our-lent-0

Risen Christ, may we know your presence on the way, and let ourselves be fashioned into a people of truth, compassion and justice in our words, deeds and relationships. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning..................made it!! :-)


Today's family Lenten calendar:

https://www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/what-we-believe/lent-holy-week-and-easter/livelent-embracing-justice-our-lent-0


God of the cross, we pray for the courage to follow you, and the desire to want to follow you when shadows gather and the way of justice is costly. Amen.


Cx :-)

Hello all

Many thanks Cynthia, better late than never.

A bitterly cold wet and windy day. I was blown around the streets as I did my prayer walk today.

Ongoing thoughts and prayers for all in Ukraine.