General Chat

Good morning :-)

Good to see you back with us kandj - you've been missed. <3

Such is love......

"What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.” ~ Augustine


Cx :-)

Hello all

I'm here and ok..ish, life can be challenging at times, thank you Cynthia and Vera for asking about me.

I've read two books about Rob Burrows and been upset by both of them... the video showing how Rob's wife cares for him is also very moving.

"Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one
ever come to you without leaving happier."
(Mother Theresa).

A very moving video today Cynthia. Carers seldom get the help and support they need and deserve. My brother gave up his home in Wales and a job he loved to return to Essex and become a full time carer for our father for the last 2; years of his life. Dad was quite severely physically disabled and by then had dementia and I know the toll it took on my brother.

I had noticed kandj hasn’t been posting recently. I do hope she is alright. Sending her love <3

Good morning :-)

Has anyone seen kandj around?

Such is love...............


https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2054192351648675



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

I hope everyone has a happy and relaxing Bank Holiday.


Such is love.
One Sunday, a vicar invited a guest cleric to share a story of a father who sacrificed his only son to save his son's friend during a terrible storm at sea.

The father's decision was based on the fact that he knew his son had a strong faith but that his son’s friend didn’t. The father wanted to save his son's friend from an eternity without Jesus. The cleric urged the congregation to accept God's offer of salvation.

After the service, the guest revealed that he was the father in the story who lost his only son to the sea, and the son's friend he chose to save was, in fact, their vicar.

The story reminds us of the love of God, who sacrificed His only begotten Son to save us.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Collect (special prayer for today)

God our redeemer,
you have delivered us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of your Son:
grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life,
so by his continual presence in us he may raise us
to eternal joy;
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

Today we remember how Jesus taught us to love one another.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Bearing fruit:

A Christian is: a mind through which Christ thinks, a heart through which Christ loves, a voice through which Christ speaks, and a hand through which Christ helps. — Saint Augustine


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Bearing fruit

A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love. — St. Basil


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Bearing fruit.

“Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand”.
Mother Teresa

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Bearing Fruit

“I carry fast food gift cards in case I happen to see someone who might need a meal. One winter day I walked out of a store and saw a homeless man. I asked him if I could give him a gift card, and he asked me if I would give it instead to an old lady who was at the bus stop.. Here was a man who clearly could use this gift but he thought of someone else before himself. ‘What you do for the least of my brethren you do for me.”
- Janie A.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The reading on Sunday was about Jesus being the true vine, us being the branches and how we should be bearing fruit. There are plenty of examples of Christians who are bearing fruit in the world.

Kerry Davidson: Liberia
In Liberia, most people spend their time outside of their homes. They cook, do laundry, and wash dishes in their yards. When we first moved here, we often saw our neighbors fighting in the street. These fights ranged from shouting matches to physical altercations. Sometimes the police had to be called to resolve the situation.

Feeling troubled by the situation, I decided to pray for peace and reconciliation between our neighbors. I asked Jesus to intervene and transform their hearts. Miraculously, since I started praying, there hasn't been a single fight in our community. I believe that this is a result of God's grace and His ability to bring peace where there was once conflict.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Please indulge me........... yesterday, we had the wonderful news that our church is not to be closed! We are considered viable, active and effective. The relief is overwhelming. However, at least 2 closures were announced so, whilst we rejoice, our heartfelt sympathies go out to those who are to lose their churches <3

We love the place, O God,
wherein thine honour dwells;
the joy of thine abode
all earthly joy excels.

We love the house of prayer,
wherein thy servants meet;
and thou, O Lord, art there
thy chosen flock to greet.

We love the sacred font;
for there the holy Dove
to pour is ever wont
his blessing from above.

We love thine altar, Lord;
O what on earth so dear?
for there, in faith adored,
we find thy presence near.

We love the word of life,
the word that tells of peace,
of comfort in the strife,
and joys that never cease.

We love to sing below
for mercies freely given;
but O we long to know
the triumph-song of heaven.

Lord Jesus, give us grace
on earth to love thee more,
in heaven to see thy face,
and with thy saints adore.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


The Collect (special prayer) for today.
Almighty God,
who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ
have overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life:
grant that, as by your grace going before us
you put into our minds good desires,
so by your continual help
we may bring them to good effect;
through Jesus Christ our risen Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Today we hear Jesus explaining that His father is the gardener!
Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Good Shepherd
Psalm 23 - familiar, traditional and comforting words, especially at times of grief.

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
<3 <3 <3

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Good Shepherd
An odd choice for a morning post but relevant nonetheless……..a lovely hymn, rarely sung these days.

ALL IN AN APRIL EVENING


All in the April evening
April airs were abroad;
The sheep with their little lambs
Pass'd me by on the road.
The sheep with their little lambs
Pass'd me by on the road;
All in an April evening
I thought on the Lamb of God.

The lambs were weary, and crying
With a weak human cry;
I thought on the Lamb of God
Going meekly to die.
Up in the blue, blue mountains
Dewy pastures are sweet:
Rest for the little bodies,
Rest for the little feet.

Rest for the Lamb of God
Up on the hill-top green;
Only a cross of shame
Two stark crosses between.
All in the April evening,
April airs were abroad;
I saw the sheep with their lambs,
And thought on the Lamb of God.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


The Good Shepherd

As Christians, we have to wonder if God was smiling when he formed these fluffy balls of wool we call sheep. Perhaps he made them just so we would see ourselves in a non-threatening way and realise that we too, can’t make it without a shepherd.

1. Sheep follow others blindly. We are compared to sheep because we can often follow anyone without thinking and cannot defend ourselves in times of trouble.

2. Sheep are emotional and recognise the shepherd’s voice but run when they hear a stranger’s voice. We get anxious and distressed and feel sadness. We must listen for our Shepherd’s voice to keep us calm in times of trouble.

3. Sheep are not meant to carry burdens. You will never see a sheep with a pack on its back as they would be crushed by the weight. We are told to give our heavy loads to Jesus so that He can carry them for us.

4. Sheep will settle for less. When they're thirsty they will stop at a dirty puddle right in front of them instead of moving forward to the clean water just a little ahead. They lack discernment and don’t know what is good for them. How often have we settled for less? This is why we need a Shepherd to guide us to better things.

5. Sheep are valuable. You were counted as a wealthy person in bible times if you had a large flock of sheep – they provided meat, milk and wool and they had offspring to carry this on. How much more precious are we? God thought us so valuable that He was willing to die for us.
Things to think about.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


The Good Shepherd
A young vicar was leading a Sunday School class and telling the children about Jesus being the Good Shepherd. He explained that sheep weren't very smart and needed lots of guidance. He told them that the shepherd’s job was to stay close to the sheep, protect them from wild animals and keep them from wandering off and doing stupid things that would get them hurt or killed.

He pointed to the little children in the room and said that they were like sheep and needed lots of guidance.

Then, he lifted his arms in a dramatic gesture, and with raised eyebrows said to the children, "If you are the sheep then who is the shepherd?" He was obviously indicating himself.

A silence of a few seconds followed. Then a young lad said, " Jesus, Jesus is the shepherd."

The young vicar, obviously caught by surprise, said to the boy, "Well, then, who am I?"

The little boy frowned thoughtfully and then said with a shrug, "I guess you must be a sheepdog."


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

A famous Shakespearean actor used to end his performances with a dramatic recitation of Psalm 23, which always left the audience in awe. However, one day a young man from the crowd asked if he could recite the Psalm instead. The actor, taken aback but confident in his own abilities, agreed to let the young man take the stage.

The young man recited the Psalm with a gentle voice, and when he finished, there was no applause or ovation, only tears from the audience. The actor was astonished and asked the young man how he did what the actor could not, despite years of experience and training. The young man humbly replied, "You know the Psalm, but I know the Shepherd."

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Yesterday in church, we heard about Jesus the Good Shepherd.

Being a shepherd is an important role in life.
James Hogg was a poor shepherd in Scotland. He took care of a rich landowner’s sheep near the Ettrick Water. James had a dog named Sirrah who was his helper. One night, a storm came up while James was on the hilltop with 700 lambs. The lambs ran off in different directions and James lost sight of them. He searched for them all night with the help of other shepherds, but they found nothing.

The next morning, they discovered the whole flock in a narrow and deep ravine. Sirrah had gathered all the lambs together and kept them safe. Not one lamb was missing. James was grateful to Sirrah and said that even the best shepherd in Scotland couldn’t have done better. James had trained Sirrah well and Sirrah had learned how to work. May we too, follow the guidance of our Good Shepherd.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Collect (special prayer) 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.

Cx :-)