General Chat

Happy New Year Cynthia to you and yours x

Good morning..... :-)


And I see I missed yesterday......oh dear....apologies to those who look in. It really was one of those days I'm afraid. I am hoping that normal service has now been resumed :-D Happy new year to you all. <3

Thank you Lord for giving me
The brand new year ahead
Help me live the way I should
As each new day I tread.
Give me gentle wisdom
That I might help a friend
Give me strength and courage
So a shoulder I might lend.
The year ahead is empty
Help me fill it with good things
Each new day filled with joy
And the happiness it brings.
Please give the leaders of our world
A courage born of peace
That they might lead us gently
And all the fighting cease.
Please give to all upon this earth
A heart that's filled with love
A gentle happy way to live
With Your blessings from above.


by Charlotte Anselmo


Love to you all. Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


And so we reach New Year's Eve...…


God our Father, we give thanks for all that has been and, trustfully, we place the past into your hands.

We ask you to inspire us in the year ahead to seek and fulfil your will. May we truly look on each new day as the start of the rest of our lives.

Enable us, with the power of your Spirit, to remain positive and confident, and live fully and joyfully with those people you have placed into our lives.

Lead us to bring out the best in one another that we may all grow as the people you call us to be. Amen.



Enjoy your celebrations. Love. Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Ooops....sorry about missing yesterday - just noticed. Life is a tad hectic. Knowing what day it is would be helpful!! :-D

During our morning service at church, we will be remembering, by name, those for whom a funeral service has been held in church during 2018. We pray for the families of these people.

The Collect (special prayer) for today

Almighty God, who wonderfully created us in your own image and yet more wonderfully restored us through your son Jesus Christ: grant that, as He came to share in our humanity, so we may share the life of His di-vinity; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The gospel reading today is taken from John and is where Jesus tells us that ‘in my father’s house, there are many mansions.’


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Dear Lord,
Joy to the World. The Lord is Come!
Jesus is born! Born in a manger. Born into this world. This life. This joy. This mess. This brokenness. This hope. Jesus is born.
For us. For the world.
Be with me in this joy. This moment. This gift. This life. This baby. This mystery.
Jesus is born!

May I never grow weary of this mystery.
May I never grow too old to believe.
May I never forget the beauty of a baby.
Jesus is born.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

It’s another saint’s day today – St John the Apostle, also called St. John the Evangelist or St. John the Divine. Not to be confused with St. John the Baptist.

John was an apostle of Jesus who founded many churches in Asia Minor and was the author of three letters, the Fourth Gospel, and possibly the Revelation to John in the New Testament. He played a leading role in the early church at Jerusalem. John was the son of Zebedee, a Galilean fisherman, and Salome. John and his brother St. James were among the first disciples called by Jesus.
John stood faithfully at the cross when Christ made him the guardian of His Mother.

Tradition relates that he was, by order of Emperor Dometian, cast into a cauldron of boiling oil but came out unhurt, and was banished to the island of Patmos for a year. He lived to an extreme old age, surviving all his fellow apostles, and died in Ephesus about the year 100.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Boxing Day – the day after Christmas Day, and it is also St. Stephen’s Day.

It is generally thought that Boxing Day was so-called because it was the day when the donation box in churches were opened and the money distributed to the poor.

Nowadays, of course, it is known for its sales as thousands of people rush to the shops to spend money. How things change.

Saint Stephen was one of the first deacons of the Christian Church and was also the first Christian martyr. He was stoned to death because he accused the Jews of being ungrateful to God and of murdering Jesus, whose coming, he said, had been foretold by Moses.

Hope everyone had an enjoyable day.....Love, Cx :-)

Good morning and a very Happy and Blessed Christmas to you all.


And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Thank you Emma, and I hope your Christmas is happy and peaceful.


The final Advent thought....

At last Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem. It was crowded with other people who needed to pay their taxes. Mary was very tired and needed a place to stay. At each inn, the story was the same. There was no room for them. Eventually, one kind innkeeper said he had a stable where he kept his animals. They were welcome to stay there.

Advent Act of Kindness

Pray for all those who are fleeing their own country and for those who are about to give birth.

Cx :-)

Thank you again Cynthia x

Have a lovely Christmas Vera with your son and family.

My son is home from Nigeria for Christmas and we are fortunate
also to be with them and rest of family on that day.

Cynthia I wish you and yours seasons greetings.

My thoughts and prayers to those who are grieving and alone at this time
and hope they find some comfort with their memories. <3

Good morning :-)


Thank you for your posting Vera - I agree how sad it is with families falling out. Our Christmas will be a bit subdued as my son's mother-in-law died last week and we are having to wait until after Christmas for the funeral to take place.


I am sure you will have a lovely time in Yorkshire Vera - one of my favourite counties... <3


The Advent calendar for today :


Maybe Christmas
He thought
Doesn’t come
From a store.
Maybe Christmas, perhaps,
Means a little bit more.
- The Grinch

Advent Act of Kindness

Pray for all clergy as they begin the long haul of Christmas services - and for their families.

Thank you for the week's posts Cynthia.

I was having coffee with a group of friends this morning and they were all talking about members of their families who were at loggerheads. One hadn't spoken to her son for ten years, another said that her daughter-in-law had fallen out with her mother and wasn't speaking to her, another said she was the go-between for her two sisters who wouldn't communicate with each other. It all seemed so sad to me and brought home to me yet again how blessed I am to be part of a very close and supportive family. Special Christmas thoughts for everyone who isn't surrounded by love of family and friends.

We are off to our son in Yorkshire for Christmas so I would like to wish you all a joyful and peaceful Christmas <3

Good morning :-)


Look at the candy cane
What do you see?
Stripes that are red
Like the blood shed for me.

White is for my saviour
Who is sinless and pure
‘J’ is for Jesus my lord
That’s for sure.

Turn it around
And a staff you will see
Jesus my shepherd
Was born for me.

ADVENT ACT OF KINDNESS

Take a box of chocolates to your doctor's surgery to thank them for their help over the last year.

Cx :-)

Good afternoon :-)


A bit late, but one of those days........

Winter has arrived so my computer tells me.

Our Advent calendar for today...


CHRISTMAS IS NOT SO MUCH ABOUT OPENING PRESENTS, AS OPENING OUR HEARTS.

Today's Advent Act of Kindness.

Write out several little ‘happy’ notes and place in a box. Give the box to someone who needs cheering up so that they can look at one each day.'


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Almost at the shortest day...….


Words from a popular carol...…."Been a long time little donkey, through the winter's night, don't give up now little donkey, Bethlehem's in sight."


Advent Act of Kindness

Invite someone who lives on their own, in for coffee and mince pies.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Rain and more rain...…..


Gracious Lord, we pray for all those who are refugees. Those running in fear. Those in camps. Those taking tremendous risks just to survive. We pray that you might be with them and we ask for your presence to be with all those who work with refugees. Give them favour and encouragement in their work. Amen.

Advent Act of Kindness

Pray for other Christians around the world who are preparing to celebrate Christmas in their own culture.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Sounds really windy this morning...……….. :-(


Lord, we thank you for what we learn from one another.

We love the miracle of the worldwide Church. People of all ages brought together through your amazing love. Those of every tongue, tribe and nation.

Help us God never to lose sight of the global Church and all you are doing in and through it. Amen.

Advent Act of Kindness for today :

Pray for all the military personnel who will be away from home this Christmas - and for their families.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)



Thank you Vera...... <3


Our Advent Calendar for today :

Gracious Lord, we pray for those who are feeling lost, lonely and sad as we approach Christmas Day. There are those for whom the day is anything but special - those who are ill, bereaved, lost or lonely.

May we all be aware of those folk in our midst and do what we can to alleviate their pain. Amen.


Advent Act of Kindness

Say something encouraging to everyone you meet today.

Good evening

I hope you had a more restful night Cynthia.

I second Emma’s thanks for the week’s posts. I like the suggestions for the daily acts of kindness as they are small and achievable but can make a big difference to someone’s day.

I hope you all have a good week in the lead up to Christmas :-)

Good morning :-)


Thank you Emma - so nice to see you.


The Collect (special prayer) for today :



Today is the 3rd Sunday of Advent

The Collect (special prayer) for today :
O Lord Jesus Christ,
who at your first coming sent your messenger
to prepare your way before you:
grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries
may likewise so prepare and make ready your way
by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
that at your second coming to judge the world
we may be found an acceptable people in your sight;
for you are alive and reign with the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

The gospel is from Luke and tells of John the Baptist proclaiming the Good News.

Today's Advent Act of Kindness..

Pray for the doctors and nurses who will be working over Christmas.


Cx :-)