General Chat

I haven’t posted for a while but have been following the thread with interest. The Christian Unity week was particularly interesting to me as from 1972 till 1986 we lived in a village that had an Anglican and a Baptist church and they shared much.and I think learnt a lot from each other.

I love Cynthia’s posts of yesterday and today. Thank you.

Good morning :-)

Take time to work, it is the price of success.
Take time to think, it is the source of power.
Take time to play, it is the secret of perpetual youth.
Take time to read, it is the fountain of wisdom.
Take time to be friendly, it is the road to happiness.
Take tie to dream, it is hitching your wagon to a star.
Take time to look around, it is too short a day to be selfish.
Take time to laugh, it is the music of the soul.
~ Old English Prayer


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

I AM THANKFUL
For the taxes I pay - it means I am employed.
For the mess after a party - it means I have been surrounded by family and friends.
For the clothes that fit a little too snug - it means I have enough to eat.
For my shadow that watches me work - it means I am out in the sunshine.
For a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing - it means I have a home.

I AM THANKFUL
For all the complaining I hear about the government - it means we have freedom of speech.
For the parking spot, I find at the far end of the parking lot - it means I am capable of walking, and I have been blessed with a vehicle.
For my huge heating bill - it means I am warm.
For the lady behind me in church who sings off-key - it means I can hear.
For the pile of laundry and ironing - it means I have clothes to wear.
For the weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day - it means I have been capable of working hard.

I AM THANKFUL
for the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours - it means I am alive.
I am thankful for my loving God who watches over me day and night.
Thank you God.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Collect (special prayer) for today:

Almighty God,
you have created the heavens and the earth
and made us in your own image:
teach us to discern your hand in all your works
and your likeness in all your children;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns supreme over all things,
now and for ever. Amen.

Today we hear how God became man.

Cx :-)

Hello all.

Amen to your prayer today Cynthia.

May we all have a good night sleep and
wake up tomorrow with new hopes and
a lot of positive energy.

Sweet dreams everybody.

Good morning :-)

Lord, may nothing separate me from You today. Teach me how to choose only Your way today so each step will lead me closer to You. Help me walk by the Word and not my feelings. Help me to keep my heart pure and undivided.

Protect me from my own careless thoughts, words, and actions. And keep me from being distracted by MY wants, MY desires, MY thoughts on how things should be. Help me to embrace what comes my way as an opportunity... rather than a personal inconvenience. And finally, help me to rest in the truth of Psalm 86:13, 'Great is your love toward me.'

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Today, we celebrate Candlemas, the official day of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM ANNA AND SIMEON?

Over the last few days, we have been looking at the story of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. There is a meme which reads “Wise men still worship Him.” Simeon and Anna were two wonderfully wise saints who recognized the Christ Child when most only saw the infant as another Hebrew child born into poverty.

Through Simeon and Anna, we honour all those elderly Christians who have the light of Jesus shining in their eyes. They still recognize the face of Christ in those they gently serve.

A special prayer for Candlemas
Almighty and ever-living God,
clothed in majesty,
whose beloved Son was this day presented in the Temple,
in substance of our flesh:
grant that we may be presented to you
with pure and clean hearts,
by 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

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


I think I should buy a bed just to be used at church. With all that is going on, I seem to be there every day with one thing or another. May get some of my own housework done soon!!! :-D

The Pensioners in the Temple - Anna

We are told that Anna was a widow, and that she was married only seven years when her husband died. She was living in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus’ birth and was in the Temple courtyards day and night worshipping God through fasting and prayer. She was longing to see the promised Messiah.

She loved the house of God.
She was a woman of great self-denial.
She had known sorrow, but she had not grown bitter.
She was at least 84 years old, but she never ceased to hope.

Anna was faithful in praying for others. Her great age did not deter her from serving the Lord. She told all who would listen that the Messiah had come. Their searching was over! She conveyed this news wherever she could find an interested hearer. She was quite an evangelist!

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Jesus was received into the Temple by Simeon and Anna – two very old people, but what was so special about these two people?

Simeon lived in Jerusalem and was known for being "righteous and devout”. He had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Messiah.
When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the Temple for the rite of purification (which was Jewish law and custom), Simeon recognised the baby as the promised Saviour, took him in his arms, and raised this hymn of praise……….., "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel".

This song is still sung today, especially at evensong and Christian funerals and is known by its Latin name of the Nunc Dimittis.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Presentation of Christ in the Temple………the baby Jesus was recognised as the Messiah by two pensioners.

A past article in the Church Times continues……..

“Churches should listen more imaginatively to older people's experiences and be ready to learn from them. Older people can provide a longer perspective in a time of change. They know about making mistakes and understand human nature, work, and faith.

Some older people are natural evangelists. They have time for people and for spiritual friendship. Their lives often reflect many of the virtues of discipleship: empathy, patience, and compassion. These are attractive resources for mission.”

We give thanks for our older, faithful Christian friends.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Many thanks to kandji for covering for me while I went to a family gathering in Cambridge. It was a lovely break. :-D



When Jesus was taken to the Temple as an act of thanksgiving by his parents, it was two old people who recognised that this was, indeed, the Lord they had been waiting for. Both Simeon and Anna would have been well into their eighties.

Each generation of churchgoers moves through a state of ‘wanting to attract younger members to church’. It’s an age-old problem and yet, the church is still here. An article in a Mothers’ Union magazine stated that, if younger members could not be found, then the organisation would die out. That article was printed in the 1950’s and the MU. still has many thousands of members spread across 84 countries.

An article in a past copy of the Church Times states……“Too many of us in the Church apologise for our congregation with words such as "I am afraid we are all elderly here. Surely, we should celebrate our older members, not be ashamed of them”.

Yes, we should be grateful and thankful for our older members God bless them.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Cynthia is well and enjoying a family get together
this weekend. I'm sure she's loving the change.

I think this quote is appropriate.

Relax.... do nothing at all.
Take a moment for yourself.
Enjoy the moment.
Just..... because you deserve it!

Sending a hug for those who need one just now.

Hello all

Continuing Cynthia's Christian Unity theme.........

"Only humility will lead us to unity, and unity
will lead to peace." (Mother Teresa).

Take care everyone.

Good morning :-)


Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

God Bless All Churches
by Caleb Davis Bradlee

We have but one Leader, Christ Jesus, the Lord,
We’ll join in his praises with gracious accord;
May all Churches love the one Guide to proclaim,
And write on their banners the Saviour’s blest name.

With Jesus as Leader, Defender, and Guide,
The other great doctrines we will not decide;
But we’ll leave to each Church its own special plea,
And each one shall speak it as each one shall see.

We’ll all look to Heaven as a right blessed home,
We’ll all do our best whilst on earth we shall roam;
We’ll love one another forever and aye;
And “God bless all Churches” we daily will pray.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

God of life, You have created us to have life, and life in all its fullness. Help your wounded Church to be a source of hope and healing. As we follow Jesus’ way with determination, may we lead others to you. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)



Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

God of love, who writes love in our hearts, instil in us the courage to look beyond ourselves and see the neighbour in those different from ourselves and to be the unexpected neighbour, that we may truly follow Jesus Christ our brother and our friend, who is Lord, for ever and ever. Amen

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

It’s been interesting for me to read that our Bishop, is very involved in the work of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.

This organisation acknowledges that the churches are of different traditions and theologies, but are, nonetheless, committing themselves to a journey towards full visible unity. How lovely that our traditions and differences are respected whilst we are all travelling the same road.

Lord, give us the grace to know you deeply, in order to love you entirely. May the gift of your Holy Spirit enable our eyes, ears and minds to receive the unconditional love with which you love us. Purify our hearts that we may always be ready to love our neighbour, however different, as ourselves. Through the self-giving life of Christ our Lord. Amen

Cx :-)

Hello all

I'm blessed to have friends who hold Atheist, Catholic, Baptist, Methodist and Pentecostal views.

In this week of Christian Unity it's good to come together in prayer. Unity doesn't mean sameness, it means a oneness of purpose in our chosen faith.

"Whatever our age, capacity,
church calling or location,
We are as one,
Called to the work to help Him
In His salvation of Souls,
Until He comes again."
(President Henry B. Eyring."

Stay safe during the strong winds everyone.

Good morning :-)


Many of us have friends who belong to other denominations -Methodist, Roman Catholic, Baptist etc. and we get on well. There are many different Christian churches and denominations throughout the world, but all have the same basic calling – to worship God, to share the good news about Jesus Christ and to work for the good of all people.

This week is known as the Week of Christian Unity, so churches have the opportunity to work together in all ways, maybe sharing and explaining worship traditions, organising events for the community and simply loving each other.

What a fantastic witness this could be and all to the glory of God.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


The Collect (special prayer) for today:
Almighty God,
whose Son revealed in signs and miracles
the wonder of your saving presence:
renew your people with your heavenly grace,
and in all our weakness
sustain us by your mighty power;
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 :-)