General Chat

Good morning :-)


Your granddaughter, like so many others Vera, does sterling work in caring for those with this dreadful condition. We are so grateful to them.


A Dementia Friend
by Sarah Merriman


“Who do you see when you look at me ?”
I’m not the person I used to be.
At times I will not know your name,
But really I am not to blame.
Dementia has changed a part of me.
A part that you can’t even see.
It’s had an effect upon my brain,
But deep, deep, down, I’m still the same.
I can still feel and laugh and cry.
So when you see me, don’t pass by,
Without a word, a wave, a smile.
Please just stop and chat a while.
You’ll cheer me up and make my day,
Maybe, we’ll laugh at things I say.
For there’s still humour to be found,
It is not doom and gloom, all round.
So, please, please, treat me just the same.
The word ‘Dementia’ is only a name,
For a condition that I’ve got,
But I can still do such a lot.
I may just need a bit more time,
So please be patient when in line,
I’m struggling at the shopping till.
I’ll get there in the end, I will.
So take a moment, pause a while,
And then give me a nod, a smile.
And maybe then, your hand you’ll lend.
For you are now a ‘Dementia Friend ‘.


Cx :-)

Cynthia, like kandj I also have experience of dementia in a close family member and so say a very loud Amen to your prayers for both sufferers and carers. I am also very proud of my granddaughter for sticking at her "temporary" job in a dementia care home. She has been working there for almost a year now. She is more or less on permanent night shift which sounds easier but, of course, some dementia patients don't distinguish between day and night.

Good morning :-)

A good step forward Dermot? :-D


Dementia week :


Dear Father,
I can feel so very alone as I care for my loved one. Yet I know that your presence is with me, for you walk with me through the day and night. I feel great loss and grief, watching Alzheimer’s strip my beloved of their memories, their abilities, health and dignity.
Lord help me to come to you with this suffering, to remember that you took all this pain upon yourself at the cross. Please give me the vision to see my loved one being redeemed. Help me to trust that you are watching over them. Thank you that you are taking each aspect of their unique character and being and are keeping these things safe in Heaven. Amen.

Cx :-)

'Catholics & Protestants Share Communion at German Ecumenical Convention'.

(C&P from a religious publication).

Hello all

I have experienced Dementia within my family and it's distressing for the patient and carer alike.

I help to support my local hospital dementia wards and also the dementia residents in the village Care Home by knitting and passing on Twiddle Muffs.

Take care and stay safe.

Good morning :-)


Dementia Week


Dear Lord
Living with dementia feels so difficult, so frightening at times.
I feel as though I am stepping into the unknown.
Lord, I ask that You will be my Shepherd,
That You will guide me through this time and that I will
Learn to put my trust, my faith in You.
I thank You for all the times that You have been there in the past. The times when You have supported me, when You have defended me.
I ask You now that You would watch over me,
as the Shepherd who protects His flock. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


DEMENTIA – a word that can strike fear into the heart of any one of us and one that has impacted on the lives of several of our church family. This week is Dementia Awareness week, so we will be concentrating on praying for those who suffer from this dreadful disease and those who care for the sufferers. The Church of England has been looking at ways to develop dementia-friendly churches. Four key elements have been identified as offering potential for developing such a church.

• our pastoral care
• our church buildings
• our services and activities
• our community networks

Pour your grace, O loving God,
upon all suffering with dementia.
It is frustrating
not to find a word;
it is fearful
to lose one's memories.
Bless them with patience,
a loving and supporting family,
and days of hope and accomplishment.
In Christ's name we pray.
Amen


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


The Collect (special prayer) for today : The Sunday after Ascension

O God the King of glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
we beseech you, leave us not comfortless,
but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us
and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Gospel reading for today : John 17. 6–19
Jesus prays for His disciples.



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Lord God,
Your Son Jesus has now ascended into heaven to be with you.

He has send us into the world to preach the good news of your kingdom.
Help us to fulfil this calling wherever we go and whenever we can.

Fill our hearts with your love
that all we may speak to will hear your word through us
and so be drawn to you, Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Dermot, I do believe that we have the box set of BT somewhere! :-D


As a reminder that yesterday was Ascension Day......... you may sing to your heart's content if you know the tune!! :)


Lord, enthroned in heav'nly splendour,
first-begotten from the dead,
You alone, our strong Defender,
Lifting up Your people's head.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Jesus, true and living Bread!

Paschal Lamb! Your off'ring finished
once for all when You were slain,
in its fullness undiminished
shall forevermore remain.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Cleansing souls from ev'ry stain.

Life-imparting heav'nly Manna,
stricken Rock, with streaming side,
heav'n and earth with loud hosanna
worship You, the Lamb who died.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Ris'n, ascended, glorified!

Cx :-)

'How much kinder is God to us than we are willing to be to ourselves'.

(Anthony Trollope - Barchester Towers.)

Hello all

Ongoing prayerful support for Tabitha.

"He was lifted up and a cloud took him out
of their sight." Acts 1 v 9.

HAPPY ASCENSION DAY everyone.

Good morning :-)

Good luck with the job hunting Tabitha.......you can do it!! <3



Today is Ascension Day – an important day in the life of the church. We are still in the period of Easter which lasts for 50 days. The final 10 days begin today, when we celebrate Jesus’ ascension into heaven. Churches around the country mark the day with services – sometimes outside or on the roof of their church. Finally, at the end of the 50 days, we celebrate Pentecost (sometimes called Whitsun) when Jesus' disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit.


“Easter is incomplete.
Pentecost is impeded,
And the Second Coming is impossible
Without the Ascension.”

Risen Jesus,
Help us to begin living eternal life today.
Help us to know
Your presence with us now,
Even as we anticipate the joy of heaven.
Teach us to live this life
In a way that draws us into eternal life with you. Amen.


Cx :-)

Hello all

Good luck Tabitha... here's hoping that you will have a better response to your 2nd interview. I also have a similar ongoing situation within my own family.

A dry sunny day today after lots of rain and cold winds..... I feel blessed.... and I've been weeding for a little while today. Still much more to do yet!

I admit to being apprehensive and anxious after such a long time of being isolated. I won't be going out and about in a hurry.

Take care everyone. Keep safe X

Thank you all for your kind words, thoughts and prayers.

Still waiting on one of the jobs - the other one had 54 people apply for 11 places and its only for 4 months work - still never mind - I will keep looking.

Hope all are keeping well and looking forward to Monday and the chance to meet up with people and family again.

Take care all

Good morning :-)


Rogation Days - especially devoted to asking for God’s blessing on agriculture and industry.


With our eyes and hearts focused on those who raise crops and work in industries, we cannot help but remember those who live in the shadow of poverty as they produce food and goods for others.

In lands rich in natural resources, people too often wonder about their next meal and worry that their children will have little more than they. We remember those who have lost the land they have loved and now wander in cities where they are often seen as strangers rather than neighbours in need.

Mindful that all the earth is yours and all who live in it, O God, embrace with tender heart and hands those who suffer so others may be fed and live. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Hi Vera, yes both of the tunes are very familiar and I also like the John Rutter setting, but prefer to listen to it rather than sing it I think. Bit of both maybe. x

Rogation Days - especially devoted to asking for God’s blessing on agriculture and industry.

Lord, we pray today for those who work in the factories and industries that produce so much we need to live and thrive. Hour upon hour, day upon day, their lives are committed to transform the gifts of the land into the goods that meet our every need. We are grateful for their hard work, their creative minds, their tireless spirits and their deep commitment to serve others as you have served them. Amen.


Cx :-)

Thank you for last week's Top of the Pops psalm list Cynthia. I expect we all guessed correctly what No 1 and No 2 would be but one or two of the others were a surprise. When I was young psalm 23 was usually sung to the tune Crimond but at our school we always sung it to Brother James' Air.

Amen to your prayer today.

Good morning :-)

Yesterday was known as Rogation Sunday which leads into the Rogation Days.

Rogation Days are the three days preceding Ascension Day, especially devoted to asking for God’s blessing on agriculture and industry. In some areas, Churches will often mark the Rogation days with a “Rogation procession,” where the vicar, choir and congregation process outdoors and say prayers over the fields and farms.



Father God, we give you thanks for those who work on the earth you have created; farmers and gardeners, who till the soil, plant the seed, tend the crops, and harvest so others may eat. We give you thanks for those who work long hours to fill our tables with the gifts of your hand. Remind us that every good and perfect gift comes from you and we thank you. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Collect (special prayer) for today:

God our redeemer,
you have delivered us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of your Son:
grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life,
so by his continual presence in us he may raise us
to eternal joy;
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.


Cx :-)