General Chat

Good morning :-)

I hope I am back on track now :-D

I agree with Sylvia, David. Do please get checked over, you simply can't take chances at the moment.

It's another beautiful day here so I have to think which room I am travelling to :-D


A poem for today - now, who could I be thinking of? :-D


“An Easter Prayer”

God, give us eyes to see
the beauty of the Spring,
And to behold Your majesty
in every living thing –
And may we see in lacy leaves
and every budding flower
The Hand that rules the universe
with gentleness and power –
And may this Easter grandeur
that Spring lavishly imparts
Awaken faded flowers of faith
lying dormant in our hearts,
And give us ears to hear, dear God,
the Springtime song of birds
With messages more meaningful
than man’s often empty words
Telling harried human beings
who are lost in dark despair –
‘Be like us and do not worry
for God has you in His care.

by Helen Steiner Rice


Cx :-)

David ..........

It is possibly time for you to phone the doctor's office or your health service, and tell them.

It sounds as if you have a fever ........ one of the first signs for covid. It is better to be careful and get it checked out ASAP.

Neither you nor your wife can afford to take chances.

I know you have not been out, but you have had health care workers coming to your house.

Please, please, phone someone and get yourself checked.

Same as yesterday kandj thank you <3

Ellen has artificial knees so she can get about. For my many sins I

crippled myself, but I can use the PC and the telephone and my Kindle,

so things aren't as bad for me as for some.

Hello all

Yes, a very different Easter Day for everyone Cynthia

I began the morning listening to the radio 4 church broadcast, then watched BBC1 service from Bangor, then Songs of Praise and I sang along very loudly!

David, I hope you're feeling better today and that you and Ellen are managing alright during this lockdown.

Easter Monday is usually a fun-filled day here as families take children to roll hard boiled eggs down a hilly lawn of a local Trust house, but not this year.

Happy Easter Monday to one and all. Keep safe.

Good morning :-)

I simply cannot believe that I didn't pop in here yesterday of all days! I am so sorry. My only excuse is that I was so busy with the church fb page that time slipped by.

It was a very strange Easter indeed but, in these days of Zoom, fb and Youtube, there was, at least, a variety of services to watch. I shimmied between The Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Bangor Cathedral. No wonder it was hectic!


This morning, I am going to share with you something our Lay Reader wrote for the church page today.

Jesus is Risen, Hallelujah

In looking at various bible readings for today, I was quite amazed to find much relevance that compares with what’s happening in today’s world. St. Peter quoted David from the Old Testament, “For God is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; And You will not abandon my soul.” This to me, is God speaking to US saying, “Hold firm, when this is all over, I will still be there for you.”

Matthew shows us where Jesus says to ‘Mary Magdalene and the other Mary,’ “Greetings…do not be afraid.” And so, during these difficult times, Jesus still wants to meet with US, AND He doesn’t want us to be afraid. In simple terms, let’s all keep talking to God (in conversation or prayer) with the full knowledge that He’s right here with us, every moment of every one of these testing days.

One of the Psalmists says, “Open your gates of righteousness and I will enter them and give thanks to the Lord.” Yes, God wants us all to go through those gates, even when things aren’t all that they should be. That’s because, as the prayer goes, ‘He will deliver us from all evil’.

Matthew explains where the eleven disciples went to a mountain in Galilee where (it says) Jesus had made an appointment with them. When they saw Jesus, some of them still doubted until He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.” In other words, Jesus is always in charge.

All I would say here is; No matter who we are and what we may think, Jesus knows all of our different thoughts, circumstances and difficulties, and He wants to make an appointment with each one of US as well. He wants US to enter those same gates of righteousness.

So, let’s keep listening out for what Jesus wants to say to us. Because He IS here.

May God bless you all this Easter time.


With much love and sincere apologies, Cx :-)

Evening to yo all :-D <3
I haven't been well these last few days. I've been sweating profusely, hot and flushed.
But today I'm a little better. Had breakfast and a midday meal.

Dear Friends and Colleagues

Hello

On this day, this prayer says it all:


The Lord's Prayer

Our Father, which art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy Name.

Thy Kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth, As it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive them that trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory,

For ever and ever.

Amen.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

However you spend today, keep safe.

Take gentle care
Love Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Read more at: https://www.lords-prayer-words.com/lord_traditional_king_james.html

Hello all

A very different Easter Sunday for us all this year.
So many concerns and anxious time ahead but today let us be grateful and continue to count our blessings

Thine be the glory
Risen, conquering Son
Endless is the victory
Thou o'er death has won.
Angels in bright raiment
Rolled the stone away
Kept the folded grave clothes
Where Thy body lay.
Thine be the glory
Risen, conquering Son
Endless is the victory
Thou o'er death has won.

Christ is Risen!... He is Risen Indeed. Allelulia.

Wishing a Happy and Peaceful Easter Day to all X

Good morning all,

An Easter morning like none of us has known. I walked near the church yesterday evening on my exercise walk and it was strange not to see flowers showing through the windows. Usually there is such a wonderful show on Easter morning, after the bareness of Lent.
But the Easter message of Hope is still the same.

It's a strange world at the moment and yet there are many positive signs, especially in the way that communities are drawing on their strengths to help other people.

We are all in this journey together.


Brother, sister, let me serve you,
Let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to
Let you be my servant, too.


We are pilgrims on a journey,
And companions on the road;
We are here to help each other
Walk the mile and bear the load.


I will hold the Christ-light for you
In the night-time of your fear;
I will hold my hand out to you,
Speak the peace you long to hear.


I will weep when you are weeping,
When you laugh I'll laugh with you;
I will share your joy and sorrow
Till we've seen this journey through.


When we sing to God in heaven
We shall find such harmony
Born of all we've known together
Of Christ's love and agony.


Brother, sister, let me serve you,
Let me be as Christ to you;
Pray that I may have the grace to
Let you be my servant, too.

All day yesterday I had the hymn “There is a green hill far away” going round and round my brain. I haven’t heard it sung for years but I suppose the day brought it into my mind.

It will be a strange Easter indeed for many. There are so many sick and worried and so many grieving. I am keeping them all in my thoughts, especially Sue “Supercrutch”. Normal wishes for a happy Eastertide seem inappropriate but I wish everyone peace and hope for the future for, above all, it is a time of hope.

Hello all

"In the silence of Saturday there is HOPE in
the darkness."
These are very poignant words for today written by
Kay Arthur.

Sending out Holy Saturday Blessings wishing all who look in a Blessed and Beautiful day....... stay safe.

Good morning :-)


A very strange Good Friday indeed kandj.


Today is Holy Saturday, also known as Easter Eve or Black Saturday. It is the day when we remember Jesus laying in the tomb and His triumphant descent into Hell. At the end of today, the Easter Vigil is celebrated as we await the resurrection of Our Lord.

Christ was crucified the day before the Jewish Sabbath on what is called the Day of Preparation when observant Jews cook food and do other tasks in advance because they aren’t allowed to work on the Sabbath.

According to another Jewish tradition, bodies are buried the same day the person died, so Jesus was hastily entombed before sundown on the Day of Preparation. The next day on the Sabbath, according to the Jewish law, everyone was under mandatory rest, which meant no work could be done.

Dear Father,
On Holy Saturday I pray for the personal times in my own life when I have suffered deep and unthinkable loss. In my darkest times when I am still in shock and mourning the death of part of my life as I’ve always known it, give me a glimmer of hope.

Just as on Holy Saturday when Christ rested in the grave, help me through the stillest and stagnant days of my physical, emotional and spiritual life. Give me endurance and expectancy as I cling to Your Word, to the promise you made in Your Holy Scriptures:

“All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37, NIV).


Cx :-)

Hello all

No Walk of Witness today for Good Friday. It's going to confuse me no end.

Not liking a closed church and not being able to be in there for the Watch by the Cross service today.

No hot cross bun with a cuppa either. Really strange

Good morning :-)

So we have come to this most special day.....

Good Friday is the most difficult day of Passion Week. Christ's journey turned treacherous and acutely painful in these final hours leading to his death.

According to Scripture, Judas Iscariot, the disciple who had betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, was overcome with remorse and hanged himself early Friday morning.

Meanwhile, before the third hour (9 a.m.), Jesus endured the shame of false accusations, condemnation, mockery, beatings, and abandonment.

After multiple unlawful trials, he was sentenced to death by crucifixion, one of the most horrible and disgraceful methods of capital punishment known at the time.
Before He was led away, soldiers spit on him, tormented and mocked him, and pierced him with a crown of thorns.

Then Jesus carried his own cross to Calvary where, again, he was mocked and insulted as Roman soldiers nailed him to the wooden cross.


Cx

kandj .......... thank for that. I thought that there would have been some arrangement.

Also good news about Boris being moved back into a general ward. Fingers crossed for him ......... and everyone else.

Hello all

Just back from the clap for the NHS along with other neighbours. I feel that it is the least I can do.

Sylvia, I read that the Queen has been forced to send the traditional Maunday money by post this year owing to the coronavirus pandemic outbreak.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been moved from ICU back to a general ward for close monitoring, which is good news for him and for all his family.

Has there been any word about whether Maundy money will be distributed to "aged pensioners"?

There obviously will not be a Maundy Thirsday with the Queen or anyone congregating. But I wondered if they had found a way to do it distantly?

Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Good morning :-)

I forgot to go and look at the Pink Moon......I had seen about it but........sigh....

Today is Maundy Thursday when we commemorate the Last Supper of Christ with the Apostles.

During the meal Jesus took bread and wine and shared them with his disciples. Christians continue to share bread and wine as part of their worship in church.
The Last Supper was probably a Passover meal – the meal which Jewish people share together to celebrate the time when God delivered Moses and the people from slavery in Egypt.

During the Last Supper, Jesus washed his disciples' feet. This act has sometimes been followed literally in history as a good way of reminding rulers that they are here to serve their subjects.

The night of Maundy Thursday is the night on which Jesus was betrayed by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane.



Luke 22.14-20
14 When the hour came, he took his place at the table and the apostles with him. 15 He said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’ 17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ 19 Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ 20 And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

Food plays an important role in our humanity. The meals we share not only give our bodies energy but also build community and relationships. At Holy Communion – the heart of Christian worship – we remember the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples before he died.


Many of us miss meeting together to take part in our Holy Communion services. :-(


Cx :-)

kandj ............

I'm glad you mentioned the moon.

It has been incredibly bright the last few nights, and the skies are clear over here as we are having lovely sunny warm weather.

Tonight will be the full moon, and it has been said that it will be the largest Supermoon of the year, so it will appear huge.

It is called the Pink Supermoon. I read somewhere the other day that it was called the Pink Moon by First Nations on this side of the Atlantic because some flowers in full bloom at the time were pink.

Unfortunately I don't know what wild flowers were meant.

I went out on Monday for the first time in 3 weeks .......... OH drove me to the local coffee shop, we picked up take-out coffee, tipped it into our travel mugs, and then drove to a small neighbourhood park in the middle of apartment land. It has a small play area which has been closed, and a largish area of grass with just 5 benches very well-spaced around that area. There was hardly anyone there, 3 of the benches were vacant, so we sat in the sun for about half-an-hour.

It was just so nice to be out in the sun.

Yesterday we repeated the experiment, and this time we saw several of our friends near the coffee shop or in the park, and had a little chat with them, making sure that we kept more than 2 m away from them.

Life will go on!!!

Keep safe, stay home, and keep your distance.


I think of the Jewish people celebrating Passover today, the Christians celebrating Easter Sunday, and the Sikhs celebrating Vaisakhi on Monday ............... all having a very different time this year as all normally include celebratory meals with family and friends.