General Chat

Amen to the familiar prayer Cynthia.

Words fail me with such an horrific attack and my heart goes out to the children's parents and their families right now.

Suffer the little children to come unto me....... Matthew 19v14.

Safe in the arms of Jesus and all are little angels now. May each one Rest In Peace.

Amen.

Amen to that

RIP Peshawar children

Why?

Good morning :-)


Why? That's the question everyone is asking Vera.......it's just so very sad.


On a happier note, I have been to two school productions this week, both based on how Christmas is celebrated around the world. The children were full of excitement and happiness as they took turns to explain the various activities which happen and the food that is eaten.

The 5 and 6 year olds were especially appealing - there were angels with wonky haloes; angels with handbags; angels with the usual childhood unsavoury habits which make you smile. After each little group had finished explaining about the country they were representing, they took a gift to the baby Jesus in the manger. It was very touching.


For today:

Not Only Christmas Day

Lord, this is my prayer
Not only on Christmas Day
But until I see You face to face
May I live my life this way:

Just like the baby Jesus
I ever hope to be,
Resting in Your loving arms
Trusting in Your sovereignty.

And like the growing Christ child
In wisdom daily learning,
May I ever seek to know You
With my mind and spirit yearning.

Like the Son so faithful
Let me follow in Your light,
Meek and bold, humble and strong
Not afraid to face the night.

Nor cowardly to suffer
And stand for truth alone,
Knowing that Your kingdom
Awaits my going home.

Not afraid to sacrifice
Though great may be the cost,
Mindful how You rescued me
From broken-hearted loss.

Like my risen Saviour
The babe, the child, the Son,
May my life forever speak
Of who You are and all You've done.

So while this world rejoices
And celebrates Your birth,
I treasure You, the greatest gift
Unequalled in Your worth.

I long to hear the same words
That welcomed home Your Son,
"Come, good and faithful servant,"
Your Master says, "Well done."

And may heaven welcome others
Who will join with me in praise
Because I lived for Jesus Christ
Not only Christmas Day

-- Mary Fairchild


Remembering our friends in prayer Cx :-)

Remembering those in need. x

Good morning :-)


And so more bad news continues to filer through with the deaths of those eight children in Australia. So very sad.


A Prayer For Those Who Mourn

Lord, we pray for those who mourn,
for parents and children,
friends and neighbours.
Be gentle with them in their grief.
Show them the depths of your love,
a glimpse of the kingdom of heaven.
Spare them the torment of guilt and despair.
Be with them as they weep beside the empty tomb
of our risen Saviour,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.



With love to all and remembering our friends in prayer... Cx :-)

Even in the UK during 2014, many things have been experienced by the public on a day-to-day basis: shootings, stabbings, muggings, suicides, poverty, depression, robberies, fear, repossessions, bankruptcies, homelessness, leaderless & bullying.

But we carry on as best we can.

Yet even more sorrow and heartache, may they all Rest in Peace.

Perpetual Light

At this time dear Lord,
may your perpetual light
shine on all our departed loved ones,
all those we remember
and love dearly.
May they know your mercy and love
and share the joy of your presence.

As you came that first Christmas
to dwell with us,
now may they dwell with you
and rejoice to see your glory.
Amen.

Good morning :-)

I hope everyone is well. The work on my downstairs loo is almost finished - I now have a door on it! All that is needed is.......................a toilet!


Time for something a bit different I think.

Santa's Prayer on Christmas Eve

The sleigh was all packed, the reindeer were fed,
But Santa still knelt by the side of the bed.
"Dear Father," he prayed "Be with me tonight.
There's much work to do and my schedule is tight.
I must jump in my sleigh and streak through the sky,
Knowing full well that a reindeer can't fly.
I will visit each household before the first light;
I'll cover the world and all in one night.
With sleigh bells a-ringing, I'll land on each roof,
Amid the soft clatter of each little hoof.
To get in the house is the difficult part,
So I'll slide down the chimney of each child's heart.
My sack will hold toys to grant all their wishes.
The supply will be endless like the loaves and the fishes.
I will fill all the stockings and not leave a track.
I'll eat every cookie that is left for my snack.
I can do all these things Lord, only through You,
I just need your blessing, then it's easy to do.
All this is to honor the birth of the One,
That was sent to redeem us, Your most Holy Son.
So to all of my friends, least Your glory I rob,
Please Lord, remind them who gave me this job."


- Warren D. Jennings


With love to all Cx :-)

Glad to know all is progressing well with your building project Cynthia.

Thank you for today's posting. Such a happy and exciting time for little ones.

With all the added stress and pressure for us adults, let's not forget to look beyond the tinsel glitter to remember and discover the Christian story of Christmas this year.

CHRISTMAS GLITTER

With our eyes
we see the glitter of Christmas,
With our ears
we hear the merriment,
With our hands
we touch the tinsel-tied trinkets,
But only
with our hearts
can we feel
the miracle of it.

Helen Steiner Rice.

Sending special Christmas blessings to all who are struggling today.

Cynthia hope you get that toilet before Christmas :-D
Loved Santa's Prayer x

kandj HSR and Christmas Glitter thank you x

Remembering those in need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITIaYoWCPkE&list=FLjSBvB--PxRtX_Vk0FFJV-w&index=1

Good morning :-)


Thanks RottenR, that was a beautiful version of a beautiful hymn. Much appreciated. :-)


Yesterday, I arranged a Christmas afternoon at church. There was a powerpoint presentation which was themed at 'Christmas starts with Christ' - a campaign which is running through many churches.

I continued on from the presentation I led in August where we commemorated the 100th anniversary of WWI. I took the life of one of the soldiers on our War Memorial and looked back at Christmas 100 years ago in the Edwardian era. After that, we adjourned to the meeting room for a festive tea and some carols and entertainment. Everyone seemed to thoroughly enjoy it, so that's alright then! ;-)

Today, we light the fourth of our Advent Candles.....

God our redeemer,
who prepared the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the mother of your Son:
grant that, as she looked for his coming as our saviour,
so we may be ready to greet him
when he comes again as our judge;
who is alive and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever.

Amen.


Continuing to pray for our friends........Cx :-)

Remembering those who died this day in 1988
at Lockerbie.

Thank you RottenR for that link..... absolutely beautiful. It gave me goosebumps!

Your presentation sounds really interesting Cynthia, its good to remind people Christmas begins with Christ. Thought provoking no doubt for some folk.

Emma, it's hard to believe that 26 years have passed since the Lockerbie air disaster. A terrible tragedy. R.I.P.

Thoughts and prayers now for all who feel sad today, for whatever reason.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7FgdChoXus

Good morning :-)


Thank you for that link RottenR......it was different, interesting and helpful. :-)


As we enter this special week..........

Lord, in this holy season of prayer and song and laughter,
we praise you for the great wonders you have sent us:

for shining star and angel's song, for infant's cry in lowly manger.

We praise you for the Word made flesh in a little Child.

We behold his glory, and are bathed in its radiance.

Be with us as we sing the ironies of Christmas, the incomprehensible
comprehended, the poetry made hard fact, the helpless Babe who cracks the world asunder.

We kneel before you shepherds, innkeepers, wisemen.

Help us to rise bigger than we are.

Amen.


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

Good morning :-)


Arggh....just what I don't need! A streaming cold in Christmas week......... :-(


Never mind, we press on in faith...


“Behold, I Bring You Good Tidings of Great Joy”
“Glad Tidings? herald the Christ Child’s birth-
“Joy to the World” and “Peace on Earth”-
“Glory to God” – let all men rejoice
And harken once more to the “Angel’s Voice”…
It matters not who or what you are,
All men can behold “The Christmas Star” –
For the Star that shone is shining still
In the hearts of men of peace and good will,
It offers the answer to every man’s need,
Regardless of colour or race or creed…
So, joining together in brotherly love,
let us worship again our Father above,
And forgetting our own little selfish desires
May we seek what “The Star” of
Christmas inspires.

by Helen Steiner Rice



Cx :-)

Cynthia lovely words and hope you feel better soon.x

To those who are alone this Christmas my wish for you
is that you find comfort and happiness in your memories
of years gone by <3

Good morning.... :-)


Still coughing and spluttering a bit, but I think the worst of my cold is over thank goodness.


Christmas Eve once again, and there is much talk about WWI and the truce which took place.

The carol which is associated with that time is, of course, Silent Night.


The origin of the Christmas carol we know as Silent Night was a poem that was written in 1816 by an Austrian priest called Joseph Mohr. On Christmas Eve in 1818 in the small alpine village called Oberndorf it is reputed that the organ at St. Nicholas Church had broken. Joseph Mohr gave the poem of Silent Night (Stille Nacht) to his friend Franz Xavier Gruber and the melody and music for Silent Night was composed with this in mind. The Silent Night music was therefore intended for a guitar and the simple score was finished in time for Midnight Mass. Silent Night is the most famous Christmas carol of all time and its beautiful lyrics convey the essence of peace and love.
Silent night, Holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin, mother and child
Holy infant, so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, Holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

Silent night, Holy night
Shepherds quake, at the sight
Glories stream from heaven above
Heavenly, hosts sing Hallelujah.
Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour is born.


Continuing to remember our friends in prayer. Cx :-)