General Chat

Thank you as always Cynthia.

I find a lot of things that Maya Angelou has said quite inspirational and comforting. Here are a couple of quotes that seem relevant to the current situation.

“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude”. Something we could bear in mind when we’re tempted to hoard.

“No matter what happens, or how bad things seem today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow”.

This morning OH and I have been for a walk in a country park near us where we could get some exercise but keep away from people. We hardly saw anyone but one lady walking her dog called out to us from a short distance away “How can things be so wrong in the world on such a beautiful day?” The sun was shining, the birds were singing and we were looking at a lovely calm view. It did us good to focus on some God-given positives.

Special thoughts for all in need of help right now.

Good morning :-)


Maintaining as much normality as possible :-D


The Lent Course

Leviticus 25.1-5
25 The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying: 2 Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: When you enter the land that I am giving you, the land shall observe a sabbath for the Lord. 3 For six years you shall sow your field, and for six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather in their yield; 4 but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of complete rest for the land, a sabbath for the Lord: you shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard. 5 You shall not reap the aftergrowth of your harvest or gather the grapes of your unpruned vine: it shall be a year of complete rest for the land.

Allowing land to lie fallow – rather than always seeking to gain all that you can from it – is the way God taught his people to farm, and also to live.

Buying and consuming as much as we can and feeling we must have more can become a habit. We can also look at others and imagine that the more productive they are, the more valuable. The sabbath principle challenges us to think differently, to live more sustainably.

Buying local seasonal produce helps support biodiversity as well as reducing carbon emissions. Try to buy local for at least two meals in the coming week. (Lots of links to local farm shops on Facebook I have noticed) :-D


Cx :-)

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few (Matt 6:12-13).

Hello all

A frosty start but much brighter now.

New every morning is the love
Our wakening and uprising prove
Through sleep and darkness safely brought
Restored to life and power and thought.

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
They are new every morning:
(lamentations 3 v 22-23) English Standard Version

Keep safe everybody.

Good morning :-)

There is so much information flying around that I am quite dizzy with it all.....as are so many others. I can't keep up with the way things are altering all the time... :-S :-S

Anyway, let's keep going with the Lent Course

John 15.1-4, 7-9
15 ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. 2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3 You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.



Jesus was surrounded by trees throughout his ministry. He was hailed by palm branches when he entered Jerusalem, and a few days later was nailed to a wooden cross, wearing a crown of thorns.

Jesus speaks of himself as the vine, with branches that draw their strength and fruitfulness from him. Jesus’ disciples, then and now, are invited to abide in him through prayer, and bear the pruning necessary for new growth and fruitfulness.

Prune your life of those things which are taking up unnecessary space in your everyday living - let go of the things which hold you back - embrace that which enriches and blesses.


Love to all

Cx :-)

Hello all

Such a frightening time for the whole wide world.

One of my favourite bible verses which I'd like to share on here right now:..............

"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,
Fear not, for I will help you."
(Isaiah 41 v 13)

Take care everyone X

Keep safe everyone xx

David ........ very simple if basic

the idea is to get children

One man with 4 or more wives begets a lot of children

one woman with 4 or more husbands is still limited to the number of children that she might have with one husband. Plus who knows which man fathered which child?

Father is known (one hopes) for the man with 4+ wives.

Plus I think there was/is something about the number of children a man has being important for a Mormon.


Add to that ................. most, if not the majority, of women find one man more than enough to handle, two would be impossible! ;-)

Good afternoon :-D

I recall buying a second book by Joseph Smith when I was young.
It was very much a copy of the Gospel of St Luke. Plagiarism ?

An intriguing thought, if Morman men are allowed four wives,
why aren't the women allowed four husbands :

Good morning :-)

It's a strange world at the moment, isn't it? Yes, churches are closed for the foreseeable future which is so sad....but we have to follow the guidelines. There are so many guidelines and instructions coming through that it makes one dizzy :-S

Today's Lent Course

Joel 1.2-4, 10-14
2 Hear this, O elders,
give ear, all inhabitants of the land!
Has such a thing happened in your days,
or in the days of your ancestors?
3 Tell your children of it,
and let your children tell their children,
and their children another generation.
4 What the cutting locust left,
the swarming locust has eaten.
What the swarming locust left,
the hopping locust has eaten,
and what the hopping locust left,
the destroying locust has eaten.

10 The fields are devastated,
the ground mourns;
for the grain is destroyed,
the wine dries up,
the oil fails.
11 Be dismayed, you farmers,
wail, you vine-dressers,
over the wheat and the barley;
for the crops of the field are ruined.
12 The vine withers,
the fig tree droops.
Pomegranate, palm, and apple—
all the trees of the field are dried up;
surely, joy withers away
among the people.
13 Put on sackcloth and lament, you priests;
wail, you ministers of the altar.
Come, pass the night in sackcloth,
you ministers of my God!
Grain-offering and drink-offering
are withheld from the house of your God.
14 Sanctify a fast,
call a solemn assembly.
Gather the elders
and all the inhabitants of the land
to the house of the Lord your God,
and cry out to the Lord.


Failures of justice and of care to places and peoples over time destroy lives and landscapes, and God’s creation is grief-stricken with the exploitation and loss. The earth witnesses to the sins of humanity.

St Paul speaks of creation groaning like a woman in labour and that it longs to be set free (Romans 8.22). We too mourn for our planet and long for its health. As children of God let us repent and turn to life.

So much news today reports bad things happening to our planet, yet most people do care. Pray for those leading positive change and encourage environmental action by your own local church community.


Love to all

Cx :-)

My thoughts and prayers for those who live alone x

I am so pleased you heard Elvis on Youtube - its so lovely.

I love the readings and the Lent course on here. Forgotten how beautiful some of the words of Isaiah are. Thank you Cynthia for reminding me. I can think of some beautiful songs and music to go with that reading.

I think virtual get togethers can be more beneficial in some ways, and as Cynthia knows she was one of my virtual family to keep me healthy and encouraged me to keep going through all the pain and depression back in 2009. I have tried to stay strong since then. I fell I have found a few more virtual family members on here.

We have all been sent home and work at home if you can.
Its very strange bringing my office life to my home. All my office friends and I try to be intouch each day if we can, by instant messenger if we can.

My cat is not happy - he took over my OH's study chair when he retired last year. Now I am in the study but on my own chair. He will not come in while I am here - not a very happy cat, he keep looking round the door with a very unhappy face.
I feel so guilty.

Keep safe everyone.

Hello all

It's a long time since I heard Elvis sing How Great Thou Art Tabitha, I looked on Youtube and it's given me goosebumps.

Cynthia, our Lent Course has been cancelled along with the coffee mornings and Craft Group sessions.

Sunday morning church services have also been stopped for the foreseeable future. Understandable given the circumstances, but I'm feeling a bit sad too

Thoughts and prayers for all the NHS workers now X

Good morning :-)

Thanks Tabitha - it's certainly a rousing hymn..... :-D


Today's Lent Course.

Today's reading :
Isaiah 55.10-13
10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
12 For you shall go out in joy,
and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall burst into song,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial,
for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.


Reading the Bible reminds us that the earth is not silent and inert. In today’s reading we have a picture of human beings, mountains and trees united in joy and praise.
Land is an indispensable part of what salvation looks like. Isaiah 65 describes a future where people live in their own houses and eat the fruit of their own vineyards. Revelation pictures the New Jerusalem as a garden city with a river and trees.

Reduce your paper use this week. Always ensure it is 100% recycled or from sustainable forests.* Only print if you really have to – and always double-sided.


Hope you are all remaining safe and well <3


Cx :-)

Thank you Cynthia - while reading your thought for the day I could hear Elvis singing "How Great thou Art " - a lovely still calm in a noisy office.

I love his version - so very peaceful.

Happy St Patrick's day - he was my house saint at my junior school, and i have always felt a liking for him, especially as he got rid of all the snakes in Ireland.
Always wanted to go to St Patrick's in new york too - one day if I ever retire.

Good morning :-)


Sorry I missed yesterday - don't know how that happened - just lack of concentration I guess.... :-(

Don't know that book either David - I tend to stay with the tried and trusted.

Church was a bit empty last week but it was good to be there. Looks as though they are going to be cancelled soon though :-( Lots on Twitter about how clergy and churches are thinking up ways to stay connected.

I am not happy at having to self-isolate because of my age and am thinking up strategies to keep occupied - thank God for the internet :-D

Belated Happy Birthday Emma - sorry I missed it but you seem to have been thoroughly spoiled, which is lovely. <3

Today's Lent Course....


Jeremiah 17.7-8
7 Blessed are those who trust in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
8 They shall be like a tree planted by water,
sending out its roots by the stream.
It shall not fear when heat comes,
and its leaves shall stay green;
in the year of drought it is not anxious,
and it does not cease to bear fruit.


The Bible points to trees as an example for us to follow so that when difficulty comes, we, like them, can hold fast to life. Trees do so much to support the world around them. They absorb carbon from the atmosphere. They hold back storms and flooding. They protect the soil and restore moisture to it. They provide habitats for wildlife.

Deforestation has put the whole earth in danger. Planting more trees is a vital way of protecting our world.

Can you plant a tree this Lent? If not, the Woodland Trust can plant one for you. Or why not encourage your church to plant a tree whenever someone is baptised?


Prayer for the week
When through the woods and forest glades I wander
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze:

Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!

From “O Lord my God!”,
by Stuart K. Hine (1899-1989)



Keep well everyone.......

Cx :-)

Good morning all <3

If my understanding of what I've read is correct The Poem of the God-Man was written

post WWII by a Catholic Nun comprising 1500 pages set out in 5 books. It is

apparently the life of Jesus from his Conception to his Crucifixion. The work was

apparently dictated to the author by Jesus.

Thank you kandj and Sylvia xx

Happy Birthday, Emma

Hello All

Very special Happy Birthday wishes Emma, I hope you're having a really good day today.

((hugs)) to all who are affected by the virus x