General Chat

Good morning :-)


The Collect (special prayer) set for today…..

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life: raise us, who trust in him, from the death of sin to the life of righteousness, that we may seek those things which are above, where he reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The gospel reading for today tells the story of the Good Shepherd.

It seems as the though the little boy who was so desperately ill with meningitis may be coming to church with his family this morning. That's rather nice.... <3

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Gas men! arrrghhh. I have had them digging two great holes outside - they have been crawling in and out of the little cupboard under the stairs - and forever knocking at the door for some reason or other. I think they have finished inside now but we cannot get the car on the drive yet. Its a scrabble to find a spot to park and you can almost see all those affected lining up to get their car in a space across the road!

To cap it all, I have realised that our gas boiler is due for its annual service today! Hey ho. No rest for the wicked. :-D

To end our week of looking at Peace in its varying forms.....

Thank You, Lord, for complete peace, for perfect peace, for a peace that keeps my heart from being troubled.

Come now and fill me with Your peace. Thank You for the perfect peace that comes when I put my trust in You. Let it wash over me and flood my innermost being.

Show me the ways of peace, keep me in the paths of peace and guide me in the decisions that lead to peace. Jesus, be my peace today. Amen.


Love to all. Cx :-)

I was thinking of the Flanders and Swann ditty as well Elizabeth. I hope you are all sorted now Cynthia - I certainly don’t like the sound of 5.30am starts!

I’m not really a great fan of HSR’s poetry but I do like the garden verse that Emma posted

Amen to Cynthia’s prayers for peace this week - “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me”.

Sending Kandj a ((hug)) <3

Cynthia :-)

Have the "gas men" been-eth?

I am reminded of the Flanders & Swann song about the Gas Man !

Elizabeth

Good morning :-)

Thank you for that Emma - its one from HSR that I have never seen before that I can remember.

Towards the end of our week at looking at the various types of peace - Peace in families and relationships

Lord God,

I give you all the members of our family. You know them all so well and love them all. I ask that you would cover us with a rainbow of hope.

Hope that draws us together to work out our differences.
Hope that helps us to celebrate together and care for one another.
Hope that rides like a banner in our lives and watches over us wherever we go.
Hope that overcomes adversity and gathers strength to overcome.
Hope that guides us and gives us vision for our future alone and together.
Hope filled with love.
Hope that fuels faith.
Hope that breathes peace.

May our family live in you
Underneath your promises.

Amen.


Cx :-)

My Garden of Prayer

My garden beautifies my yard
and adds fragrance to the air.
But it is also my cathedral
and my quiet place of prayer.
So little do we realize
That TheGlory and the Power
Of He who made the universe
lies hidden in a flower.

Helen Steiner Rice.

For all those who are uplifted by their garden x

Good morning :-)

Up with the lark once more as we wait the gasmen - for the 3rd morning on the trot :-|

Everything keeps being delayed for one reason or another.......and, each time I find myself nodding off, one of the workmen knocks on the door!


In our thoughts of peace this week.....

Lord,
We pray for peace in our communities today.
We commit to you all who work for peace and an end to tensions,
And those who work to uphold law and justice.
We pray for an end to fear,
For comfort and support to those who suffer.
For calm in our streets and cities,
That people may go about their lives in safety and peace.
In your mercy, hear our prayers,
now and always. Amen

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Awww poor kandj. Sending (hugs). Hopefully, the sessions will get easier as they progress. You are going through such a hard, hard time bless you. You are still in our prayers <3

I am not sure if I am coming or going - the gasmen did not appear when expected, but called later to say that they will be coming TODAY.....arggh.... Up again at about 5.30 so let's see what happens.

Our week of prayers for peace.

Peace in the Middle East


God of peace, bearer of hope, we seek your help for the peoples of the Middle East.

Quiet the clamour of war and guide us towards peace.

Where there is hatred and division sow seeds of calm and openness.

Where there is destruction help us to rebuild.

Where children are crying bring an end to tears.

Shelter your peoples and protect them, guide them and keep them from harm.

Show us how to break down the barriers of history and fear and breathe whispers of hope. Amen.


Cx :-)

Hello all

Amen to all prayers for peace in our world. Cynthia I hope your son improves soon

My thanks to everyone for kind messages and ongoing thoughts and prayers too.

The GP arranged for me to have Bereavement Counselling and today has been the first of 10 booked sessions. I drove home in tears and poured a large glass of wine.
Not usually the done thing BUT it helped to ease the upset I felt in a now empty home.
I had thought I would go outside and do some weeding but I feel totally drained today.

Good morning :-)


Now waiting for the gas man. All the houses in the road are having their gas pipes renewed so it is quite chaotic outside. We were told that they would be here at 8am to deal with ours. We are still waiting :-( Have been up since 5.30 so feel as though I am halfway through the day to start with...................... :-D

In our week of praying for peace…..

World peace.

We pray for peace in our world: that all people may live free from violence, in safety and security, and with hope for the future. We pray for thosewho have been affected by violence as they rebuild their lives: that they may find it in their hearts to move forwards in peace and forgiveness. Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayer. Amen.

Cx :-)

Thank you Rose that was beautiful, peace, if only, we can pray
that it comes soon to the world.

Cynthia good to hear that your son is doing well.
I ask myself the same question many times, my
daughter was 52 last week.

Good evening... :-)


Arrghhh I tried for ages to get on here this morning but had to give up as we were expecting visitors.

It's still taken me ages just now :-(

Anyhow, here I am and how nice it is to see both Nyx and Vera - thank you both. <3


Its been a funny old few days really. On Thursday, our son had an operation on his back to relieve compression on his spine due to a disc prob. He is out of hospital and doing really well. Then, our granddaughter was 20 on Saturday. I mean 20! How the heck did that happen? Sheeeesh.....

Had a lovely time with our visitors whom we have known for er....rather a long time. :-D

Anyhow......for today - what is left of it!!

There is so much in the news about the unrest in the world, violence on the streets and tension in so many areas of life. We long for peace – in all its forms.

Peace with God. One of the hardest parts of knowing peace is understanding how it has nothing to do with control.

Oh Lord, I seem forever stressed and anxious. Confusion reigns, and I need your peace—the deep-down-in-your-heart kind that stays with me day and night.

I know that when I pray and give thanks instead of worrying, you have promised that I can experience the kind of peace that passes all understanding. That's your kind of peace, Lord. And it's the kind I crave.

You're the only one who can calm my fears, and give me peace. And when I draw close to you—in prayer, in reading your Word, in helping another, in taking my mind off myself—you will be there, up close and personal.

Help me to find your peace Lord. Amen.


Cx :-)

I saw this on Fb and thought of this thread :-)

From St John's Church, Chester, prayers for peace.

"Almighty Father, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of all: govern the hearts and minds of those in authority, and bring the families of the nations, divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin, to be subject to his just and gentle rule; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, who would fold both heaven and earth in a single peace:
let the design of thy great love
lighten upon the waste of our wraths and sorrows:
and give peace to thy Church,
peace among nations,
peace in our dwellings,
and peace in our hearts:
through thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen. "

Thank you as always for the posts this week Cynthia. I am quite busy at the moment but I do pop on every day for a quick look. We have much to be thankful for.

Elizabeth, I shall keep an eye out for the book you recommended. It sounds interesting and useful.

I have been thinking of Kandj and hope she is OK. Thinking too of anyone who is in need of a little extra support today <3

Good morning :-)

Thank you Emma, I am so pleased that you have enjoyed the prayers this week.

Dermot, it's quite the thing at the moment within church circles - how to help refugees. Some churches are really taking it up, but others are more reticent.
We have had the interesting experience over the last 12 months of a young man from Kurdistan (I think) who has been baptised and confirmed into the Christian faith. I am not directly involved with him, but one of our families has taken him under their wing and are helping him with all the legal processes he has to go through. Not sure how it is all going to turn out to be honest.


The Collect (special prayer) for today :

Almighty Father, who in your great mercy gladdened the disciples with the sight of the risen Lord:
give us such knowledge of his presence with us,
that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life and serve you continually in righteousness and truth;
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 tells of Jesus appearing to his disciples after the Resurrection with the words 'Peace be with you'.

Love to all Cx :-)

'It takes commitment & planning for small ecumenical groups of Christians to put their faith into action by supporting resettled refugees across the UK'.

An excerpt from our church newsletter seeking help.

Thank you for your beautiful postings this week
Cynthia, really appreciated them x

Good morning :-)

Thank you for your recommended reading Elizabeth - I will have a google and find out more. <3

Lord, thank you for walking with us through the seasons of our lives.

For the winter, when we are held safe in your arms through the darkness.
For the hope of spring, as we are filled with new promise and life.
For summer time, full of warmth and colour
And for autumn days as leaves fall to seed new growth.

You are always with us.

Amen.

Cx :-)

Dear All

Hello

On my reading list is the following book:

"How to read a church"

- A guide to images, symbols and meanings in churches and cathedrals.

By Richard Taylor

The book explores the symbols in the church,
such as the stations of the cross
and looks at the ways a church reflects on the Christian year.

Easy to read and understand.


Take gentle care
My very best wishes
Love Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Dear All

Hello

On my reading list is the following book:

"How to read a church"

- A guide to images, symbols and meanings in churches and cathedrals.

By Richard Taylor

The book explores the symbols in the church,
such as the stations of the cross
and looks at the ways a church reflects on the Christian year.

Easy to read and understand.


Take gentle care
My very best wishes
Love Elizabeth, EOS
xx