General Chat

Good morning :-)




On the home front, it wasn’t only food that was rationed – clothes were in short supply too.

Clothes were rationed in Britain from 1 June 1941. This limited the amount of new garments people could buy until 1949, four years after the war's end.

Shoppers carefully spent their precious clothing coupons and money on new clothes to make sure their purchases would be suitable across spring, summer and autumn and winter.

Despite the restrictions, the war and civilian austerity did not put an end to creative design, commercial opportunism or fashionable trends on the British home front.

Fabric was essential for war purposes, such as uniforms. By reducing civilian clothing production, factory space and labour could be freed up for war production.

Rationing forced people to be painfully mathematic in how they spent their limited supply of clothing coupons - and to find shrewd ways to avoid doing so. The government-backed 'Make Do and Mend' scheme was introduced to encourage people to revive and repair worn-out clothes.

Handmade and hand-repaired clothing became an essential part of wartime life. People got creative across the country out of necessity, finding ways to make and care for clothes - and forge their own wartime style.

We thank God for the ingenuity given to people during those dark days.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


As we end our week of looking at life on the home front during WW2, we look at something that everyone was given but no-one used…….

Gas masks (also called respirators) protected people from poison gas attacks which Britain feared the Germans would carry out.

They were made of black rubber and contained a filter to clean the air which was breathed in. Mustard gas was the most deadly gas available – it couldn't be smelt easily and took 12 hours to take effect.

By the end of September 1939, 38 million gas masks had been handed out by the government. People had to carry them wherever they went in a cardboard box and they would be fined if caught without it. The special children’s gas mask was nicknamed ‘Mickey Mouse’ and in school, they would regularly practice putting them on.

To indicate danger, a gas rattle would sound and the tops of pillar boxes were coated in a special paint that would change colour when poison gas was around. Fortunately however, no poison gas bombs were dropped on Britain during the war.

Lord, as we have looked back at how our ancestors dealt with everyday life during wartime, we thank you for their courage and fortitude. We pray that peace may reign throughout your beautiful world and that people will live in love and harmony for ever. Amen.



I seem to have been on my own this week but never mind. Love to all Cx :-)

Woken up at 5.55 am by the bells :-( An early morning service.

It's fast days for those who are strict Greek Orthodox. It's another 40 days fast, it lasts until Christmas.

Meat will soon be cheaper in the supermarkets. :-)

The rules are here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativity_Fast

Many do not observe the fast or go to the early morning services. Today it is Obadiah's Day.

I did notice the local priest wandering around the local supermarket when we were shopping on Thursday. Was he doing his shopping, he didn't have a trolley or basket, or was he checking on his flock? :-S

Thinking of Kandj and OH.


:-)

You are not alone on here Cynthia I have enjoyed reading
your posts, thank you x

Thinking of those in need of comfort and support and
holding kandj and her husband in my prayers and thoughts x

Indeed you are not alone Cynthia. I have also been reading your posts with interest. Thank you.

Thoughts for all in need of support at this time, especially Kandj and her husband.

Good morning :-)


Its so nice to see someone popping in now and then.....thank you <3


I do have to smile when Pat mentions the bells..........and have visions of her with her hands over her ears and grimacing. What a pity we can't post images on this site....we could really have some fun. :-D


Today we celebrate the feast of Christ the King.


Eternal Father,
whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of heaven
that he might rule over all things as Lord and King:
keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit
and in the bond of peace,
and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

The Gospel for today tells of how Jesus was mocked when he was crucified.


Love to all......Cx :-)

Hello all and Amen to your morning prayer Cynthia. Thank you for your postings.

We are praying that we will have a better week, less painful for my hubby and
more restful nights for the two of us.

Very many thanks to you all for your kind words and prayerful support. Such a help. xx

A Christian man, Nassar Hussain, who has been repeatedly attacked after his conversion from Islam, has been moved from his home in Bradford to a safe-house.

Mr Hussain, aged 50, and his family, were escorted by armed police to a secret location outside Yorkshire on 4 November, after police were warned of a credible threat against his life. On Wednesday of last week, Mr Hussain and his wife, Kubra, returned to the property to collect their belongings, escorted by armed officers.

The family’s departure followed more than 15 years of harassment, which was perpetrated, Mr Hussain said, by individuals from the Pakistani Muslim community. The family car was vandalised several times, and an unoccupied house next to theirs was set on fire. Last November, Mr Hussain was hospitalised for 11 days after two men attacked him with a pickaxe handle. No one has been charged in connection with the attack.

The chairman of the British Pakistani Christian Association (BPCA), Wilson Chowdhry, said last week that the area of Bradford in which Mr Hussain had lived had become “a no-go area for apostates (converts from Islam)”.

Mr Hussain was hospitalised for 11 days following the attack. Speaking last Friday, Mr Hussain, who converted from Islam to Christianity in 1996, said that, when the incidents first occurred, they were recorded as neighbourhood disputes rather than hate crimes, which he described as “political correctness gone mad”. He suggested that the police were reluctant to investigate incidents he reported because they did not want to jeopardise relations with the Muslim community.

A statement from West Yorkshire Police (WYP) this week said: “Police and partners have been working together for some time to try and resolve the situation to the benefit of all parties concerned. All the incidents reported by Mr Hussain have been recorded in line with national guidance.”

In June, after meeting Mr Hussain, Karen Bradley, then a Home Office minister, wrote to the Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire, Mark Burns-Williamson, stressing the importance of recording crimes perpetrated because of a victim’s religion as religious hate crimes.

Mr Hussain said that, although he and his family had attended an independent church, he had hoped for support from the Church of England, but had not received any. The family has been supported by Barnabas Fund and Christian Concern, which helped them to relocate.

Asked what support the Church of England offers to converts from Islam, a Church House spokeswoman said: “Each case is quite different and needs to be handled with great pastoral sensitivity.” She highlighted the interfaith work of the Presence and Engagement programme. A spokesman for the diocese of Leeds cited the Faithful Neighbours project, which “promotes interaction between people of different faiths”, including “open, honest dialogues on difficult issues within safe spaces.”

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief called last week, in light of the Hussain family’s relocation, for a Government review into whether young people are being taught about the freedom to convert.

(*Copied from The Church Times.)

Good morning :-)


Thank you for the article Dermot - what a sad state of affairs. I see you have quite a broad spectrum of reading matter :-D


Its lovely to see how folk are supporting kandj and her husband in prayer. Sending love to them both <3


A quiet morning in church yesterday, but a far livelier afternoon as our Boys' Brigade celebrated 100 years. Our FB page has many lovely photos of members both old and new as they paraded and gathered for their centenary service. :-D


After two weeks of remembrance for the brave and the fallen, we give thanks for all our blessings……..

Lord thank you for a new day
Please go before me and clear the way
Thank you for protecting me.
Thank you for guiding me.
Thank you for loving me.
In Jesus name. Amen.


Cx :-)

Never regret a day in your life.

Good days

give you happiness
and bad days give
you experience.

Both are essential in life.

All are God's blessings.

'Admonish sin without putting on airs or being a hypocrite.

Offering counsel & admonishing sinners are works of mercy, but they are not a license to pretend to be better than others, said Pope Francis speaking to people gathered in St Peter’s Square on 16th November.

To counsel others is a chance to see how well you, too, measure up to essential standards'.

(From The Catholic Universe.)

Good morning :-)


Two very wise quotations greet me this morning. Thank you both. :-)


Father God
Thank you for your gracious hand which is upon my life
I give you glory today for all that you have done in the past,
All that you are doing today
And all that you will do in the future.
I love you and trust you in all things
Knowing that your love surrounds me like a shield
In Jesus name

Amen.


Love to all. Cx :-)

“I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion,” Pope Francis decreed.

The Pope has granted all priests the right to forgive abortion, rendering permanent a temporary measure he introduced for his holy year of mercy, which ended on Sunday.

“I henceforth grant to all priests, in virtue of their ministry, the faculty to absolve those who have committed the sin of procured abortion,” he wrote in an apostolic letter published yesterday, which highlighted his push for a more forgiving church.

According to the Catholic Church, the sin of abortion incurs excommunication for the mother and the person who performs the abortion. Previously, in some parts of the world, only bishops or a special confessor have been allowed to give absolution and rescind the excommunication.

(Excerpt from today’s Times newspaper.)

I can now appreciate the oft used expression:- 'Expect the unexpected'.

Good morning.... :-)


That's quite a turnaround for the RC church Dermot and I am all for absolution which involves full repentance. In fact, the sermon we heard on Sunday gave a similar message and one which made you think. Thanks for your contributions.

For today :

The knots prayer

Please untie the knots that are in my mind my heart my life.
Remove the have nots, the can nots and the do nots
That I have in my mind.

Ease the will nots, the may nots the might nots
That find a home in my heart.

Release me from the could nots should nots and would nots
That obstruct my life.

And most of all, I ask that you remove from my mind, my heart and my life all the am nots that I have allowed to hold me back, especially the thought that I am not good enough.

I ask this in your name Amen.


Cx :-)

Thank you for The knots prayer Cynthia Had never
heard of it before.

My thoughts and prayers to kandj and her husband x

The Pope’s abortion comments have provoked confusion.

The furore caused by Misericordia et Misera is a damning indictment of those surrounding the Pope.

Pope Francis is not an expert in canon law. I do not think His Holiness would mind me putting it that bluntly. In fact I rather suspect that, given his personal style, he would happily agree. It is far from heresy to point out that a Pope might not be a born canonical expert, anymore than it would be unreasonable to suggest that Donald Trump has no particular natural expertise in American constitutional law.

The Pope wears a number of different hats (three, if you take a look at the papal coat of arms) and he is sometimes speaking as a priest, sometimes a teacher, and sometimes as the head of a coherent legal society. The roles are not distinct in how they are exercised, or at least they shouldn’t be, and what he does, or wants to do, as one necessarily has a direct impact on the other two.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*I dare not copy any more of the printed article on here - but it is available in its entirety in The Catholic Herald website. An embarrassing episode to say the least!

Good morning :-)


There may be embarrassment in some circles Dermot, but I do think that this pope has brought a breath of fresh air to the RC church. Most leaders within the church and in other organisations wear different hats in their role. The most important thing, is that the head which bears the responsibility of fulfilling that role is true to its calling and, if that means breaking with tradition........so be it. :-)


For today....


Dear God
If I am wrong, right me
If I am lost guide me.
If I start to give up, keep me going
Lead me in light and love. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Do take care if you are bargain hunting today.....maybe this prayer will put things into perspective :-)



Dear God
Let me be content with who I am,
What I have, and where you are leading me.
Help me to have a mindset of confidence, courage
And thankfulness all day long.
Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

I certainly didn't camp outside a shop in order to get a bargain but, I unwittingly saved 20% on an electrical item I was ordering for my daughter on line. I was a very happy bunny! :-D

Heavenly Father,

You know every decision we need to make and every challenge we face.
Please forgive us for the times we have tried to figure this life out on our own.
We need you, we need your Holy Spirit to give us strength, wisdom and direction.
Amen.


Cx :-)

Like you Cynthia I don't do standing in line for a store
to open bargain or not but....
Son ordered on line a Christmas present I want for OH
and also got a bargain for me :-)

Remembering those in need of comfort and prayer x