General Chat

Good morning :-)


What an uplifting start to the day - with the postings from other members. Thank you. <3

Its been quite a weekend for me. On Good Friday I was given a parcel which had been left in church for me. When I opened it, I discovered it was an Easter Egg in the shape of Shaun the Sheep (whom I love). It was part of a scheme called Random Acts of Kindness and I do not know who it was from. My name was on the outside and there was a card inside which simply said 'With love'. I have been so touched by this lovely gesture. Mind you, he is just too cute to eat!

Easter Day got off to a good start.........not. Coming downstairs I fell off the bottom stairs and ended up in a heap by the front door..... :-( It was my wonky ankle again. I am not really hurt apart from the ankle and knee. I carried on (as we women do) and made it to church. No way was I going to miss Easter Day.

Church was as full as I have ever seen it. We used all the chairs in the meeting room and some of the men even went across the road to bring chairs from a building we have connections with.

There were two infant and one adult baptism taking place so it was total chaos but controlled chaos if you know what I mean. All the children were given a crème egg and everyone was happy. The church looked lovely.

As my daughter-in-law was working yesterday, I had invited my son and the grandchildren for lunch. When he saw me hobbling in, he immediately took over and cooked the lunch himself bless him. He even came back later in the day to take his sister home to save me - I don't think I could have driven though.

I am now hoping for a relaxing day........ :-D


So, it’s Easter Monday …….Bank Holiday Monday. Apparently, it is also known as Bright Monday, Renewal Monday, Wet Monday, and Dyngus Day, and is the Monday immediately after Easter Sunday.

I do rather like the Wet Monday idea…..where siblings and/or spouses wake each up by pouring a bucket of water on the other. That could come in useful :-D

I do hope that you all had a happy Easter Day and manage to get some rest and relaxation today.

Gracious God,
We praise you for the light of new life
made possible through Jesus.
We praise you for the light of new life
that shone on the first witnesses of resurrection.
We praise you for the light of new life
that continues to shine in our hearts today.
We pray that the Easter light of life, hope and joy,
will live in us each day;
and that we will be bearers of that light
into the lives of others.
Amen.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Oh dear Cynthia, not the start for Easter Sunday that you wanted or deserved!!!
You are blessed to have your family living close enough to help. I hope that you
have been able to rest and today and will feel much more comfortable now.

Not liking the Wet Monday..... I think I will stick with Easter Monday instead.

What a kind gesture, you are obviously appreciated with the Shaun the Sheep choc.

Blessings to all in need today xxx

Good morning :-)


Thank you kandj - my ankle is recovering slowly but surely. Certainly not as sore and I can hobble quite well :-D I am, indeed, blessed with my family.

Taking a look at some of the events which happened after the Resurrection.

St Luke chapter 24, tells the very powerful story of the two men walking along the road to Emmaus, discussing all that had happened in the last couple of days…..They are joined by a stranger who stays and eats with them. It’s a while till the penny drops and their eyes are opened – they are talking to the risen Jesus Christ!



Lord Jesus Christ,
Stay with us, too, we pray,
in every part of our journey,
no matter how full of doubt or fear we may be today.

Through your Holy Spirit,
we pray that you will open our eyes, too
Help us see you as our risen Lord
in all your beauty,
and in all your loving power.
Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Browsing through some of the events which happened after the resurrection.

We’ve all heard the phrase ‘Doubting Thomas’- it refers to a sceptic who refuses to believe without direct personal experience—a reference to the Apostle Thomas who refused to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead unless he saw him for himself.

When Christ did appear before him, Thomas fell to his knees saying “My Lord and my God!” Jesus responded ……“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

I have found some advice….

When you rise in the morning, greet your Saviour: “My Lord and my God!”
As you bow your head in gratitude for a meal, begin: “My Lord and my God!”
When you pray for a friend or someone in need, say, “My Lord and my God!”
When you lay your head on your pillow at night, whisper: “My Lord and my God!”



Love to all Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to many people.

One morning, when Peter and some of the other disciples had just spent all night fishing and catching nothing they saw a figure standing on the shore.  They were startled to see that it was Jesus, and he was cooking breakfast. He called out to the men on the boat to cast their nets on the other side if they wanted to catch fish.

Miraculously, they immediately caught an enormous amount of big fish and then joined Jesus on the shore. During breakfast, Jesus talked to Peter and told him "Feed my sheep".  Even though Peter had denied Jesus during his trial, Jesus forgave Peter and accepted him back as a friend.


Tender Shepherd, thank you for being the God of second chances. Help us to embrace the calling you give us to care for the people you place in our paths. We pray in your name. Amen.


Love to all Cx :-)

Hello all

Reading your post this morning Cynthia an old school hymn came into my mind.
It was sung at the morning assemblies we had all those years ago. Isn't the brain
amazing as I can remember being with class friends singing loudly but not really
thinking of what these beautiful words really meant.

Loving shepherd of Thy sheep, keep Thy lambs in safety keep
Nothing can Thy power withstand, none can pluck me from Thy hand.

Loving Saviour Thy didst give, thine own life that we might live
And the hands outstretched to bless, bear the cruel nails impress.

I would praise Thee each day, gladly all Thy will obey
Like the blessed ones above, happy in Thy precious blood.

Loving Shepherd ever near, teach Thy lamb Thy voice to hear;
Suffer not my steps to stray, from the straight and narrow way.

Where Thou leadest I would go, walking in Thy steps below
Till before my Father's throne, I shall know as I am known.

Cynthia I hope that your ankle is less painful and I send healing vibes to
you and others who need them today. xx

Good morning :-)


My ankle is recovering well thanks kandj........ I am trying to rest when I can but it isn't that easy as you can image... :-D


Thinking of how many people saw Jesus after the resurrection, I was reminded of that quiet hymn which makes a lovely prayer….

Open our eyes, Lord
We want to see Jesus
To reach out and touch Him
And say that we love Him

Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen
Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus.


Cx :-)

Happy Birthday wishes to HM the Queen. 91yrs old today. Amazing!!

Good morning :-)


Yes indeed kandj, it was only later on that I realised it was Her Majesty's birthday.......what a wonderful woman she is to be sure.

For today:


Lord, may the joy of Easter last throughout the season;
may the hope of Easter be a guiding light in difficult times;
may the love which triumphed in the darkest day transform lives for all eternity.

Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Good morning everyone..........today is traditionally known as 'Low Sunday' - probably so named because of its relative unimportance in contrast with Easter Sunday. Usually, there are less people who attend church on this Sunday, but we can always prove statistics wrong! :-D

The Collect (special prayer) for today…

Almighty Father, you have given your only Son to die for our sins and to rise again for our justification: grant us so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness that we may always serve you in pureness of living and truth; through the merits of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, 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 tells the story of Doubting Thomas - a story we looked at earlier in the week.

Today is also St. George's Day.....and lots of information about our Patron Saint can be found here......

http://www.stgeorgesday.com/


Love to all Cx :-)

Hello all

Amen to your Collect prayer for today Cynthia. I hope your ankle is less painful now.

Happy St George's Day to everyone. There are the traditional red diagonal cross on a white background displayed in many of the shops on the main road in our village and a large flag is flying in the churchyard and in the Community Centre too where an afternoon tea dance has been held and a St George Day concert is taking place tonight. These annual events are always popular and well supported. It makes us proud to be British!!

We were both swallowing hard and holding back the tears watching one marathon runner help a struggling man across the finishing line, without a thought that his time would be delayed...... awww, he was a very real present day Good Samaritan.

Sending out (((hugs))) to all who need one right now. xxx

Good morning :-)


That was such a touching moment during the marathon yesterday wasn't it. They are going to be on BBC Breakfast shortly apparently. True sportsmanship.

I know the weather is going through a silly phase at the moment, but this poem reminds us of spring :-D

For flowers that bloom about our feet,
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet,
For song of bird, and hum of bee,
For all things fair we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!

For blue of stream and blue of sky,
For pleasant shade of branches high,
For fragrant air and cooling breeze,
For beauty of the blooming trees,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


It’s spring! We have experienced the resurrection! Let’s have some uplifting Christian quotes this week ........


God loves each of us as if there were only one of us.
- St. Augustine


Cx :-)

Hello all

It might be Spring Cynthia but we have a bitterly cold wind here this morning.
Mustn't complain though as it is dry and bright too.

Happy Tuesday Blessings to everyone looking in right now. xx

I hope your ankle is well on the mend now Cynthia. This is a quote I like, though I am not sure where it came from.

When God pushes you to the edge of difficulty trust him fully, because two things can happen. Either He'll catch you when you fall or He will teach you to fly.

Good morning :-)


It's a lovely quote Vera - thank you <3

Yes there is a chilly wind kandj, but it's really nice from behind closed windows :-D


My ankle is much better thanks, but the top of my foot is still a bit sore, so I am being a bit careful still.

A quote for when we feel unsure about what is around the corner for us...


"I don’t know what my future holds, but I know who holds my future".

- Tim Tebow


Love to all. Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Excuse me if I yawn.......OH has started being restless at night again.....sigh. :-(

Never mind, I tend to go back to bed for an hour after breakfast....not the same as a good night's rest but it's helpful. :-D


For today :


“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows; it empties today of its strength.” – Corrie Ten Boom.



Love to all Cx. :-)

The Pope is taking a risk by visiting Egypt, but he is going to the right place at the right time.

Pope Francis will be going to Egypt at Eastertide, but for the Christians of that country it will still be one long Good Friday.

The Copts – as most of the country’s Christians are known – are still reeling from the mass murder of nearly 50 of their number by suicide bombers during Palm Sunday liturgies. They know that more is to come: they have been designated by the so-called Islamic State terrorists as “our favourite prey”.

(The Catholic Herald 27.04.17).

Good morning :-)


We can only pray for the safety of the Pope and for the hope that he will bring inspiration and comfort to the Christian church in that area. Such awful happenings :-(


For today :

"Have courage for the great sorrows in life, and patience for the small ones. And when you have laboriously accomplished your daily tasks, go to sleep in peace, God is awake."

- Victor Hugo


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)



“God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.”

- J.M. Barrie


Hope everyone is well. Cx :-)