General Chat

Men & women sleep rough in squats, tents, cars, parks, bins, under flimsy sleeping bags in damp shop doorways – all unimaginable spaces in our capital city and beyond.

Back to the reading from a couple of days ago.

I remember my mother saying I was baptised in water from the River Jordan when I was 6 months old. The vicar had just returned from the Holy Land and brought some water back. I never thought about it before, however since a tiny child I had always wanted to go to the Holy Land. I collected pictures and books where I could.

It wasn't till my wedding my mother told the vicar about my baptism as we were back in the same church.

Was it something to do with being baptised in water from the Jordan that gave me the longing to go there?

I had the great privilege of spending some time in the Holy Land and visiting all the places possible. I managed to dip my hand in the River Jordan and spent New Years Eve staying on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. We sailed in a boat like the fishermen during the day and welcomed the New Year by walking in the water.. The tranquil time at this very peaceful location will always stay with me. When i need a happy place i always dream of my time in this wonderful country.

I took some water back for my mother who was in hospital and hope it helped in her last few months.

I so want to go back there and hope its still as tranquil as it was when i was there.

Sharing my tranquil moments with all who need it.

Thank you for sharing Tabitha.
I hope you do get back there and have more wonderful moments.

Hello all

Tabitha, what a wonderful story, thanks for sharing your tranquil moments with us all.

Dermot I agree with you sadly and feel each one has a special story to tell.

Emma, joining in your thoughts and prayers for all the homeless people especially right now.

Hoping Cynthia is managing to relax a little today.

Lovely story Tabitha. Thank you for sharing it with us

I just poppped on to say I hope you all have a day full of blessings.

Stay strong Cynthia and take care of yourself <3

Good morning :-)

What a lovely story Tabitha - thank you. We certainly need cheering up in these trying times.

Sorry about your teef David....ouch!

Yes, what does happen with all the poor homeless people who are on our streets? Sad days indeed. :-( God bless all those who work with these vulnerable folk.

At least the weather forecast says that it's going to be drier next week. :-)


Lent Course

John 4.7-15
7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink’. 8 (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?’ (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, “Give me a drink”, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.’ 11 The woman said to him, ‘Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12 Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?’ 13 Jesus said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14 but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.’ 15 The woman said to him, ‘Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.’



A woman goes to fetch water and finds Jesus waiting at the well. She longs for a more satisfying life. For freedom from the shame that made her go to the well when she expected no one else to be there. Jesus treats her with respect and dignity. Forgetting his own physical thirst, he attends to her spiritual thirst. Jesus offers “living water” – water that brings us blessing and refreshment right to the core of our being.

Can you give – or raise – money for a charity providing clean water and sanitation in areas of need, such as Toilet Twinning? Visit the Toilet Twinning website to twin a home, workplace, church or school toilet.


Cx :-)

<3 <3 Cynthia & family

Good morning :-)

Hoping to go to church later - not sure how long we will have services though, so making the most of it!


The Collect (special prayer) for today

Almighty God,
whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain,
and entered not into glory before he was crucified:
mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross,
may find it none other than the way of life and peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.



The Gospel tells the story of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well.

Cx :-)

Good morning Cynthia.

Thank you for continuing to post.

Our parish is still holding services, but no communion wine, I've heard. No coffee and refreshment will be served after services.

Sadly, this also means that Lent lunches, which are held weekly will also be cancelled.
Hopefully people will still make a donation to the church's nominated charity, which would have benefited from Lent Lunch contributions.

Good morning <3

Has any one read The poem of the Man-God by Maria Valtorta ?

Our churches are still holding services, no matter the religion.

However meetings of more than 250 people are now banned, so the large communities are having to make adjustments. This includes soem Catholic parishes, Jewish, Evangelical, Muslim and Sikh.

The Sikh religion in particular is having to make really big changes to their normal routines ......... they hold communal meals, mainly lunches I think, every day in the Gurdwara (temple), made and served by volunteers and open to everyone. Many of the larger Gurdwaras can have 1,000 people or more taking part in that meal. It's the main part of the day for many of their community, especially the elderly.

Now the volunteers have to be trained in even more safety procedures, or are dropping out, and the numbers have to be less than 250 at any time.

We have a large Sikh population in Canada, especially in BC. We live not far from the largest one in this city, and there are two more in neighbouring cities. One of those had to cancel its Holi Parade last week ............. they did it voluntarily but it usually attracts over 500,000 people.

In the Anglican and Catholic communities, there are changes to communion wine, wafers etc, no peace hugs or hand shakes, no coffee, or meeting in the hall after church.

OH has gone to church this morning, he still does the occasional "duty" after withdrawing from the choir to keep his connection there ...... I think this morning it is one of the Readings. But it is also the first service taken by the new Priest after her Induction last Monday.

She did take the service last Sunday, but I'm not sure how "legal" that was as she had not been inducted, or whether she was a "temporary". :-D

Hello all

Similar changes in our church, collection on a plate going into church, no wine, offered, no tea/coffee or staying after the service had ended and a regular coffee morning has also been closed temporarily too.

The Lent Course is still going ahead (without drinks) until we hear anything to the contrary.

I haven't heard of that David, I'll need to Google it.

Take care and stay well everyone.

I saw the Pope prayed alone for an end to this Coronavirus.

St Peter's Square is empty.

I haven’t come across that book before David. I did google the author and don’t feel her work would be for me but I mustn’t pre-judge as I haven’t read any of her writings.

Happy Birthday Emma <3 <3 <3. I hope you have a day full of love and laughter.

Thank you Vera <3

Having a lovely day, spoilt asusual :-)

Hello All

Very special Happy Birthday wishes Emma, I hope you're having a really good day today.

((hugs)) to all who are affected by the virus x

Happy Birthday, Emma

Thank you kandj and Sylvia xx

Good morning all <3

If my understanding of what I've read is correct The Poem of the God-Man was written

post WWII by a Catholic Nun comprising 1500 pages set out in 5 books. It is

apparently the life of Jesus from his Conception to his Crucifixion. The work was

apparently dictated to the author by Jesus.

Good morning :-)


Sorry I missed yesterday - don't know how that happened - just lack of concentration I guess.... :-(

Don't know that book either David - I tend to stay with the tried and trusted.

Church was a bit empty last week but it was good to be there. Looks as though they are going to be cancelled soon though :-( Lots on Twitter about how clergy and churches are thinking up ways to stay connected.

I am not happy at having to self-isolate because of my age and am thinking up strategies to keep occupied - thank God for the internet :-D

Belated Happy Birthday Emma - sorry I missed it but you seem to have been thoroughly spoiled, which is lovely. <3

Today's Lent Course....


Jeremiah 17.7-8
7 Blessed are those who trust in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
8 They shall be like a tree planted by water,
sending out its roots by the stream.
It shall not fear when heat comes,
and its leaves shall stay green;
in the year of drought it is not anxious,
and it does not cease to bear fruit.


The Bible points to trees as an example for us to follow so that when difficulty comes, we, like them, can hold fast to life. Trees do so much to support the world around them. They absorb carbon from the atmosphere. They hold back storms and flooding. They protect the soil and restore moisture to it. They provide habitats for wildlife.

Deforestation has put the whole earth in danger. Planting more trees is a vital way of protecting our world.

Can you plant a tree this Lent? If not, the Woodland Trust can plant one for you. Or why not encourage your church to plant a tree whenever someone is baptised?


Prayer for the week
When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze:

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

From “O Lord my God!”,
by Stuart K. Hine (1899-1989)



Keep well everyone.......

Cx :-)