General Chat

Good morning :-)

Goodness me! I had to scroll up and down the page - it was like being on the wrong page with the extra comments :-D That was an interesting article Dermot and I will try and remember to mention it to our friend who is an RC priest when he next pops in for coffee....we have some wonderful discussions and always end up in laughter.

I will also post a link to an article on FB which gives some encouraging news from Lambeth Palace and is linked in to the impending meeting in Rome - I'm quite impressed by the Archbishop's page on there.


https://www.facebook.com/archbishopofcanterbury/photos/pcb.
1100108050043340/1100107700043375/?type=3&theater


For today:

Dear Lord, thank you so much for another day of life on Earth.

Thank you for another beautiful sunrise to enjoy.

Thank you for the wonderful sounds of nature, from the cool breeze brushing through the trees to the birds singing melodies.

You are a wonderful God, full of grace and mercy.

I praise you for allowing me another day to spend with my family.

I love you Father! Amen.


Cx :-)

ps. Arrrghhhhh it looks as though that link may not work - just look at his page if it doesn't. :-D

Good morning :-)

I came across this prayer yesterday…..I had never heard of Fenelon before but thought this was helpful to those who struggle with prayer……that’s all of us at times.


Prayer of Fenelon:

God, I don't know what I ought to ask of you.
You only, know what I need.
You love me more than I know how to love myself.
God! Give me what I don't know how to ask!
I don't dare ask for crosses or consolations.
I simply present myself before you.
I would have no other desire than to accomplish your will.
Teach me to pray. Pray yourself… in me.

Amen.


Love to all. Cx :-)

I agree Cynthia, prayer does not come easy,
circumstances, stress and strain of life are
difficult at times and often take over.

Good morning :-)


Hi Emma - yes life can take over and you can't always think clearly, never mind pray!
At times like that I have always found it helpful to have prayerful friends who will step in to pray for me when I am struggling. :-)

Lord,

As I face a new day
Let me take your hope
Rising with the dawn.

As I face a new day
Let me feel your love
Dancing through the birdsong.

As I face a new day
Let me see your promises
Glittering through my day.

Lord, as I face a new day
I turn my face to yours
That I may feel and see you close to me today.
Amen.


Love and prayers Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


I had a non-stop day yesterday..........it was one thing after another. Two more babies for baptism on Sunday, so that's where I was in the evening. We are now booked up until June with baptisms.

My son came for his evening meal and stayed with his dad. There was a power cut when I left them but apparently it came back on without half an hour! :-D


I see there is a thread from Phyll asking for prayers for her daughter who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Lord, we ask for your blessing on Phyll's family as they come to terms with this news. May they know your peace as treatments are discussed, options considered and appointments made. Help them to lean on you and draw strength from your endless love and limitless grace and to face the future with confidence. Amen.


For today :

Lord, You walk beside me
You are always there.
Come into my workplace
Go with me everywhere.

Lord, Your hand will guide me
Your light will show the way.
Come into my thinking
Journey with me today.


Love to all Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


I managed to have quite an easy day yesterday which was lovely. I was able to get my act together re my efforts for our church's 150th anniversary....so that's a relief :-D

For today:


I come before you O Lord
As the sun rises may your hope rise up in me.
As the birds sing may your love flow out of me.
As the light floods into this new day,
May your joy shine through me.
I come before you, O Lord.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Praying everyone is well.....



May you find a gift this morning
Laid out for you in the sky.
A beautiful reminder
That sets your hope in flight.

May you notice birds above you
That soar and ride the winds.
And know that as you lift your prayer
God lifts your heart and sings.

May you hear the sweet birds chirping
May you smell the fresh cool air
And know that God's love is all around
Holding you so dear.

May this day be like a present
That fills your heart with awe
And takes your world from grey to gold
And soothes your very soul.


Cx :-)

'The Pope & Archbishop of Canterbury prayed together publicly for the first time since the churches split nearly 500 years ago.

The landmark event happened just two weeks after the Catholic & Orthodox churches reached a deal that will pave the way for greater unity between the churches that formerly split in 1054.

Meanwhile, Lutheran leaders have said that they hope to fully heal their divide with Rome during this 500th anniversary year'.

(Excerpt from 'The Philadelphia Trumpet' magazine.)

Good morning :-)


Thank you Dermot - there have been some brilliant photos on FB regarding the Pope meeting the Archbishop......it looks as though they have really 'hit it off' too :-D


The Collect (special prayer) for today :

God, the giver of life,
whose Holy Spirit wells up within your Church:
by the Spirit's gifts equip us to live the gospel of Christ
and make us eager to do your will,
that we may share with the whole creation
the joys of eternal life;
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.


The Gospel reading is taken from St. Luke and tells the story of Jesus healing ten lepers - and only one returning to say thank you.


Facts from the Leprosy Mission :

One child is diagnosed with leprosy every two minutes.

Since 1982, over 15 million people have been cured from leprosy using multi drug therapy.

At the beginning of 2007, there were over 240,000 cases of leprosy.


Sobering thoughts.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Two baptisms and total chaos :-D The church was absolutely packed and we had to get chairs out to make sure everyone had a seat. Despite the crowd, the behaviour was better than usual - and that was the adults! :)

The start of another working week......


You Walk Beside Me
(a short prayer for a good day at work)

Lord, You walk beside me
You are always there.
Come into my workplace
Go with me everywhere.

Lord, Your hand will guide me
Your light will show the way.
Come into my thinking
Journey with me today. Amen.


Praying all are well. Cx

Good morning :-)


After 'one of those nights', I am ready for sleep :-D


For today:

In the beginning there was nothing,
and out of nothing you fashioned a universe so vast,
so unimaginable that we can only sigh with amazement
when we stare upwards on a star-lit night.
And within this universe you positioned the earth and populated it,
provided for it and designed for it to be a place of beauty.

Creator God: Thank you.



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


I really do not like putting the central heating on.......it reminds me of winter :-(


Working up towards our Anniversary weekend........I think my laptop is about to explode with all the info on it :-D


For today:


In the beginning there was just potential;
the seed within the packet, soil’s nutrients,
sunshine’s warmth, rain clouds gathering.
And within the tiny seed all that is our daily bread encoded,
primed and ready should it be planted and allowed to grow.

Creator God: Thank you


Cx :-)

Hello every one. On reflection I've spent more than half my life struggling with the consequences of wrong decisions, unwise choices. Been often scared to decide and circumstance has chosen for me. Making so many unhappy because of my foolishness. Being weak when people looked to me. So often disregarded because of a track record of folly.
Yet despite so much recklessness on my part, here I am saying THANK YOU, AMEN

David - what an honest & thought-provoking comment.

I think you have just described most of mankind since The Garden of Eden incident.

Good morning :-)


An honest and brave comment David......and I think many will identify with you. Being able to still say 'thank you' after such a journey is heartening. Thank you.


Dear God, we hear of peace only as a dream;
a dream we would love to be part of,
a dream we long to have in our hearts, in our neighbourhoods,
in our countries, in the world.

We pray that we may experience that peace
that passes all understanding,
we pray, O God, that we may experience You,
the Peace of the world.
Amen.


Cx :-)

Ingratitude is an integral part of society. Ask people if they are ever ungrateful, they will probably reply, “Of course not!” However, this attitude is so ingrained in their lives, they cannot openly admit or even realise that they are ungrateful.

If you live in America or any other nation descended from ancient Israel, you live in one of the most abundantly blessed lands in the world. The USA enjoys plentiful food, shelter, electricity, running water, wealth, air conditioning, heating, transportation, sanitation, and many other blessings. Let's take a moment to look around and fully take in all of the many blessings.

However, these lands are also filled with chronic grumblers and complainers. Although there are countless blessings, there seem to always be numerous things to gripe about - be it traffic, the economy, food prices, problems at work, difficulties with family, desire for additional material possessions, ill health, or even Presidential elections.

Never before in the history of man has the world shown this horrible characteristic of ingratitude as it does today! The Bible records the experiences of another nation - the ancient nation of Israel - who also constantly complained and murmured. No matter what God did for them, it was never enough.

(A short excerpt written by David C Pack & published in ‘The Real Truth’ magazine.)

Good morning :-)


I agree and, sometimes Dermot, I think we take too much for granted - we expect so much and, when It doesn't happen, we complain. People demand their human rights without facing their responsibilities. Unlike our parents, we don't really know what it is to 'do without' and many war time slogans come to mind. Our children's generation is probably more ungrateful than ours - and so it goes on. :-)


For today:

Father, clear my sleepy head and fill my mind with expectation
Awake my slow body and energise my heart with love in action.
Ignite my spirit and set this day on fire with promise.
Make the ordinary extraordinary.
Engage me, show me your kingdom alive
Help me to see that every waking moment
Is full of promise because of you.
Amen.

Cx :-)

Just to say that Kandj is facing difficult times at the moment so she is not sure when she can next post. We send our love and prayers to her as she struggles to balance so many things bless her.

My thoughts and prayers are with Kandj at this time x

My thoughts are with Kandj. Sending her love <3