General Chat

Good morning...... :-)


Things sound very hopeful indeed for your church kandj. It must be very uplifting for all those of you who have continued to worship there through more difficult times.


John, I almost felt as though I were in the car with you - your description was so graphic and the place sounded very special indeed.



A thought for today:

God Is


To modern people, He’s not logical;
Some don’t believe He’s true;
And yet they always seek Him
When an ill wind comes blowing through.

Beneath the surface of our mind,
Buried in our souls,
Is the ever-present knowledge
Of God’s creative role.

You cannot deny our presence
Or the presence of our Lord;
We had to come from somewhere
And have something to head toward.

To declare that God is not
Is to deny our soul within;
And if that is denied,
We are doomed to sink in sin.

In everything that lives
And every gem or common rock,
The spark of God exists;
They are things that He has wrought.

- Betty Killebrew



Enjoy your day Cx :-)

A more stable setting with Rev Jan at the spiritual helm and her kind and friendly nature is endearing her to us golden oldies and the faithful few elderly who are blessed to have new Rector that we can relate to and work with.

Jan is also keen to bring the village community and church family together given time so we all can benefit from fellowship and friendship to help and support one another.

Good morning and some words from a favourite writer......



Be Of Good Cheer - There Is Nothing To Fear


Cheerful thoughts like sunbeams
Lighten up the "darkest fears,"
For when the heart is happy,
There's just no time for tears.

And when the face is smiling,
It's impossible to frown,
And when you are "high-spirited,"
You cannot feel "low-down."

For the nature of our attitude
Toward circumstantial things,
Determines our acceptance
Of the problems that life brings.

And since fear and dread and worry
Cannot help in any way,
It's much healthier and happier
To be cheerful every day.

And if you'll only try it
You will find, without a doubt,
A cheerful attitude's something
No one should be without.

For when the heart is cheerful,
It cannot be filled with fear,
And without fear the way ahead
Seems more distinct and clear.

~ Helen Steiner Rice ~



Have a lovely day.....Cx :-)

Cynthia thank you <3

Emma :-)

Cynthia. Yes, it is good to be of good cheer. :-D :-D

Very happy about your situation kandj. Your new Reverend sounds a wonderful leader :-D

From the Message translation of First Corinthians Chapter One (tgext for this week of special prayer for Christian Unity).

The Cross: The Irony of God’s Wisdom

10 I have a serious concern to bring up with you, my friends, using the authority of Jesus, our Master. I’ll put it as urgently as I can: You must get along with each other. You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common.

11-12 I bring this up because some from Chloe’s family brought a most disturbing report to my attention—that you’re fighting among yourselves! I’ll tell you exactly what I was told: You’re all picking sides, going around saying, “I’m on Paul’s side,” or “I’m for Apollos,” or “Peter is my man,” or “I’m in the Messiah group.”

13-16 I ask you, “Has the Messiah been chopped up in little pieces so we can each have a relic all our own? Was Paul crucified for you? Was a single one of you baptized in Paul’s name?” I was not involved with any of your baptisms—except for Crispus and Gaius—and on getting this report, I’m sure glad I wasn’t. At least no one can go around saying he was baptized in my name. (Come to think of it, I also baptized Stephanas’s family, but as far as I can recall, that’s it.)

17 God didn’t send me out to collect a following for myself, but to preach the Message of what he has done, collecting a following for him. And he didn’t send me to do it with a lot of fancy rhetoric of my own, lest the powerful action at the centre —Christ on the Cross—be trivialized into mere words.

Good morning everyone and I hope you are all well.



Today is a special day for those of our friends who live in Scotland........Burns Night!


I thought we would remind ourselves of one of his most famous pieces.....

Some hae meat and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it,
But we hae meat and we can eat,
And sae the Lord be thankit.



A short and sweet thought indeed!!



Enjoy your day.........Cx :-)

By coincidence, I was also thinking about Robbie Burns this morning. Never forget today, as it is wife's birthday :-D :-D No Scots blood in either of us, but always think of our Scottish friends today.

Just wiki'd Burns and he was voted in 2009 the most important Scotsman ever in an STV poll.

Brought up from age of 7 on a rented farm Mount Oliphant, southeast of Alloway. "Here Burns grew up in poverty and hardship, and the severe manual labour of the farm left its traces in a premature stoop and a weakened constitution.

He had little regular schooling and got much of his education from his father, who taught his children reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, and history and also wrote for them A Manual Of Christian Belief."

What incredible parents he must have had. It makes us all realise how fortunate we probably were with at least one of our own parents. Do we do as much for our own children and grandchildren?

At the end of this week of prayer for Christian Unity, the last few verses of the Bible reading are:

"18-21 The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It’s written,

I’ll turn conventional wisdom on its head,
I’ll expose so-called experts as crackpots.

So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn’t God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb—preaching, of all things!—to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation.

22-25 While Jews clamour for miraculous demonstrations and Greeks go in for philosophical wisdom, we go right on proclaiming Christ, the Crucified."

(The Message - I Corinthians Chapter 1)

Concludes in AV with familiar words of St Paul "We preach Christ, and him crucified".

Wishing A Happy Burns Day/Night to all in Scotland.

Thank you everyone.

Emma :-)

I note that tomorrow is "Homelessness Sunday" in churches. And Monday is Holocaust Memorial Day.

And Chinese New Year starts on 31 Jan for 3 days. There are over 500 Chinese students in Trefforest alone, and probably many more on the other sites.

So our prayers for all of those who have no permanent home. And those remembering dear lives destroyed in the holocaust.

And out thoughts are with all these lovely Chinese students in the UK, many with Christian beliefs. How they enjoy their festivities, and my son was friends in his first year with a few Chinese and he had the most wonderful time celebrating with them in Pontypridd and Cardiff.

Good morning everyone. It seems that it is also Leprosy Sunday today John - apparently our Lay Reader emeritus is preaching on it. So many causes to pray for.


The Collect 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.


Hoping everyone is well. Cx :-)

Amen Cynthia.

Thanks for your words John, lots of worthy causes and many people in need of prayer.

Good morning all. :-)


It was an atrocious morning yesterday, and I wondered how many folk would brave the weather to attend church. Not as many as usual, but it was still a fair turnout, which was encouraging.

There is to be a parish weekend away next week as around 45 of our congregation travel to the Lake District to a Christian Conference centre for a time of prayer and relaxation together.

It had been arranged before our beloved vicar so sadly died and his presence will be badly missed. I am unable to attend because of OH's Parkinson's being so unpredictable but we have been on other such events in the past and been greatly blessed.

Meanwhile, back home as it were, the rest of us will be 'manning the fort'..
:-)


A thought for today - based on the wet weather so many have been enduring recently :



God's Rainbow

The falling rain dissolves into mist
And the thunder begins to die;
As the sporadic lightning fades,
An arch of colors pours from the sky.

Rainbows appear after mighty storms
When things look their worst;
Just when the skies are darkest gray,
Out of heaven does the rainbow burst.


God first sent the rainbow to Noah
As a sign that His word is true;
The rainbow's eternal message
Still speaks to me and you.


The rainbow is a sign of God's promise
That He will guide us through any storm;
That He will ease all our troubles
No matter what their form.


When you feel battered by life's storms
And you are filled with doubt and dismay,
Just remember God's rainbow is coming
For it's a blessing ... you only have to pray.

~ Author Unknown


Hope everyone is well. Cx :-)

Cynthia :-D :-D I was watching the Welsh league football match from Carmarthen (v Aberystwyth) on Saturday afternoon. One of the commentators (ex-goalkeeper Dai Davies) was holding an umberella and it was nearly whipped out of his hands and kept blowing inside out. And the game had to be stopped for 15 minutes mid-game because the ball was blowing all over the place.

I can imagine the Lake District weekend will be wonderful for all concerned, and am sure you will miss the companionship and the beautiful scenery. I went to my first study weekend ever in November in Wye Valley and it was most uplifting - a wonderful leader who was a Canon of Chester Cathedral (Dr Trevor Dennis).

Think weather will be very cold this weekend - but if it is sunny, then it will be quite stunning and I am sure they will see some beautiful rainbows up there. :-D :-D. Am sure you will enjoy hearing their stories almost as much as if you were there.

I also have been on many Christian retreats over the years but no longer possible now. Always was an amazing, uplifting experience to learn and share fellowship with other like minded people. Never mind Cynthia, you and I have been blessed previously and now others can experience the same wonderful feeling.

I wasn't able to go to church yesterday and now won't know what day of the week it is until next Sunday (??!!). I think that our elderly congregation is getting used to the new Rectors services now and I'm sure that any changes Rev'd Jan has in mind to make will happen gradually which is very wise.

We have been blessed indeed kandj and also had a lot of fun too. My very favourite retreat house/conference centre/holiday venue is in Yorkshire and you probably know of it :

www.scargillmovement.org/?


A prayer from the Methodist church today:


Dear God,
we seek to reach out in mission,
to make a difference in your world today.
Sometimes what we can do for you seems insignificant.
Help us to recognise that
every time we help a person to feel wanted
we share your love;
every time we speak of our faith
we share a little of you;
and every time we work together to meet needs
we serve you.
Bless the work we do in mission. Amen.



Have a lovely day.......Cx :-)

No Cynthia I have never managed to go to Scargill House retreat in North Yorkshire. Firstly my children were too small and again serious illness prevented me from joining my church family for a parish week away. I heard many tales and have passed this place many times though.

I went to the churchyard today and was caught in a hailstone storm...... not good, but the snowdrops are out although not open (yet). A beautiful reminder that Spring in near.

Next Sunday is an All Age Worship/Baptism service. Now I am wondering who the family are who have requested their baby be baptized during the morning service as there is a Baptism service taking place after this. Keeping our new Rector busy

Good morning everyone. :-)


kandj, the first time I went to Scargill House was almost 47 years ago. We were engaged to be married and were attending a friend's wedding there. Little did I realise that the place was to become so important to me. It has had up and downs over the years but now seems to be in a more settled place.

We spent part of several summer holidays there because they put on special programmes for the children and kept them entertained. Bliss...... :-)


And so to today......


"Peek A Boo"

"Peek A Boo ... I see you!"
I overheard my neighbor's child;
"Peek A Boo ... I love you!"
I watched and listened for awhile.

The little girl skipped down the walk,
Humming as she moved.
From time to time, I'd see her stop,
And sing her childish tune.

"Peek A Boo ... I see you!"
Her sweet face looked so intent;
"Peek A Boo ... I love you!"
Then down the path she went.

I saw her do this several times,
Poor, lonesome child, I thought;
She only has a nursery rhyme,
To go with her on her walk.

"Peek A Boo ... I see you!"
She did it then once more;
"Peek A Boo ... I love you!"
Then I scurried out my door.

I could not stand it any longer,
What did this child see?
I hurried up and caught her,
Hoping she'd explain to me.

"Peek A Boo ... I see you!"
Her face buried in some Daisies;
"Peek A Boo ... I love you!"
Was this child crazy?

"Honey," I called out to her,
"What are you looking at?"
(I may have to tell her mother,
And I needed all the facts).

She gave me then a vacant stare,
And said, "There's nothing's wrong;
I see Lord Jesus everywhere,
That's why I sing my song."

"Mama says He's in the flowers,
And He's in the bushes and the trees,
And He's in rainbows and in showers,
And He's even in the breeze."

"I see Him everywhere I look,
And I like to tell Him so;
You see, He's not just in The Book,
He's everywhere I go."

"Peek A Boo ... I see you!"
I peeked into her precious face;
"Peek A Boo ... I love you!"
Then I thanked God for such grace.

~ Virginia Ellis


Lovely words........I hope they make folk smile today.....Cx :-)

Peek a boo, everybody :-D :-D

Intrigued by this baptism, kandj - sounds as if might be a bit special.

Had to search for Scargill House as I thought it must have something to do with Arthur Scargill. Wonder if he got his surname from such an idyllic place. 47 years sounds a very long association with Scargill, Cynthia. But 1966/67 - World Cup year, Beach Boys - sounds no time ago :-)

Life races on relentlessly, doesn't it? Last night, somebody from USA asked me about some recent research I had done about a family who used to live at the Commandery in Worcester. Thought reserach was done a couple of years ago at most. It was 2005 :-0 :-0

Peek a boo to you all this morning. Made me smile Cynthia, thankyou.

John, I think this house was used at one time by the NUM.... could be wrong but it seems to ring a bell. I am still no wiser as to who the baby is that will be baptized during our next Sunday morning service. Quite a rare occasion these days. It might not be a baby......(??), could even be an adult before confirmation later this year.
Watch this space!