General Chat

Thank you indeed for the continued posts Cynthia.

Kandj, you took me right back to my early childhood with Jesus Bids Us Shine. My mother had a terrible tuneless voice which I have inherited but every night she sang to me when I went to bed. I had 3 little songs and the last was always Jesus Bids Us Shine. When my mother sang that everything was right with my little world and I went happily to sleep :-)

Morning Cynthia and kandj :-)

Thank you from me also Cynthia for your postings,
much appreciated. <3

Good morning all

Thank you for even more interesting postings Cynthia.

I'm left with a childhood hymn Jesus Bids Us Shine after reading todays words buzzing around my head!

Jesus bids us shine with a clear pure light,
Like a little candle burning in the night,
In this world of darkness, we must shine,
You in your small corner and me in mine.

Good morning :-)


From Everyday Faith

Most of us probably see a policeman every day – even dashing past in their cars. We are grateful for their presence and protection - we’re glad that they are there – doing their duty.

Mike is an armed response officer. A high-pressure role. As a Christian, Mike understands that he needs to fulfil this duty in a manner that reflects his faith. What does this look like for Mike?

Mike’s job – his vocation, maybe – is to keep the peace, but Mike has noticed that his duties are not the only way he is a peacemaker. He is often the person who will calm down an argument at work. He doesn’t hold a grudge. Working this out has helped him to notice God at work through him in his everyday life.

We all have a role to play as service: as a friend, parent or sibling, in the workplace. ... What is it about you, about the way that God is forming you, that really shines?

Lord, help us shine for you in our everyday lives. Amen.


READING
“Jesus said, ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.’ ”
Matthew 5.14–16

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

From Everyday Faith

The reading for today is from the Old Testament and tells us about Moses seeing a burning bush in the desert. He was busy at the time and it probably wasn’t unusual to see such a thing, but that wasn’t what Moses noticed, it was the curious fact that the bush wasn’t being burned up. That was what woke him up to the fact that God was present in that place at that moment.

I wonder if we ever deny God’s presence in our everyday lives. Maybe we think we have had too much caffeine or we’ve been thinking about ‘more important’ things”. Maybe we should just daydream a little more and wake up to God being around us in our every day.

Perhaps we need a stimulus to wake up to God in our everyday lives – a bit like having a cold shower to shock us awake. For Victoria, the hairdresser, this involved being asked a challenging question on what difference being a Christian makes to washing someone’s hair.

What difference does being a Christian make to us when we go about our normal routines – at work, shopping, hobbies, housework?

Lord, may we be aware of your presence within and around us each and every day. Amen.


READING
“Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, ‘I must turn aside and look at this great sight and see why the bush is not burned up.’ When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ ”
Exodus 3.1–4


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Everyday faith :

Our first story of everyday faith is about Victoria. Victoria is a hairdresser and sees this as a vocation. She cuts hair not just for the money, not only for the satisfaction of being creative, not even for the genuine pride found in using her skills to help people feel good; but because she sees how God can work through her to bless others. Victoria believes in prayer.

We all have a variety of roles to fulfil and maybe we feel that one of our roles is our vocation. Sometimes people think that a vocation is just for being a priest, a doctor or a special type of job where one is ‘called’ or specially chosen, but ALL Christians are called to serve God in God’s world and the many roles we already have can be part of this. This is what Victoria found in her role at work. That’s her secret, not just praying blessings on the people she serves.

Lord, make me a blessing to those around me today. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Continuing prayers indeed kandj - <3

The C of E is running another course…..so I thought we could run alongside with a slightly shortened version. (Run in the metaphorical sense of course) :-D

Many people lead really busy lives – places to go, people to see and jobs to do, whilst others have less hectic lives and have time to dream.

How do we find God in our various lifestyles and how often do we feel that life is full and blessed?

We’ll think about how much God means to us and how we can live this out in our lives. We all know that there are times when we rely on God, especially when things go wrong, but the good news is that God is with us all the time, not just when there is a crisis.

Suggested reading….Colossians 1. Vs. 15-17 (Let me know if anyone would like the readings printed here).

This reading shows us how important our faith in God is – through Jesus, and how He holds all things together. Our faith is found in our happiness and in our sadness - in the challenges and conflicts we face, and we lean on God’s presence and help. Our faith keeps us going as we work out how God is helping us and using us in His work. Faith is our everyday existence with God who holds all things together.

Dear Lord, help me - every single morning - to find faith in the midst of the chaos. Give me the desire and ability to see You, hear You, talk to You, and give thanks to You. Amen.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Continuing to remember all who are coping with the devastating Australian fires and also the family and friends who are grieving the loss of loved ones who lost their lives in the Ukrainian plane shot down in Tehran.

Good morning :-)

Thank you for your comment LaGooner - appreciated <3

David, if you google, there are lots of answers to your query about the rosary and it s purpose. I can understand most of it, especially where the simple act of passing it through your fingers quietens the mind and helps you to meditate on other things. Mary is of great significance and importance in both Roman Catholic and Protestant beliefs - it is right that she should be held in high esteem.


Today we remember the Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan.

The Collect (special prayer) for today.
Eternal Father,
who at the baptism of Jesus
revealed him to be your Son,
anointing him with the Holy Spirit:
grant to us, who are born again by water and the Spirit,
that we may be faithful to our calling as your adopted children;
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 the story of Jesus’ Baptism by his cousin John.

Cx :-)

Hello, good morning, thank you :-D <3

It is interesting that the Bible can / does record huge spans of Judea and

Christian history list lineages of prominent people, while in modern times I

count myself lucky to be able to trace my Grand-parents back 4 generations.

David in answer to your post it is meditation upon the Rosary mysteries , they tell the tale of our lord Jesus and his Mother Mary. We do not just honour Our Lady by using them . :-)
Thank you for this lovely thread Cynthia and Bless all that contribute to it <3

I never understood the devotion so many Catholics attach to Mary
Their Rosary with its repetitive Hail Mary is reciting the Gospel of
Saint Luke where two angels appeared to Mary saying Hail Mary
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed art the fruit of thy womb.
Mary was a virgin, betrothed to Joseph (Yosef) son of Jacob.
Mary was herself a miracle, born to Joachim and Anne. Joachim was sterile
They prayed for a miracle, the result was Mary. So her son Jesus was born
of a virgin who was herself a virgin birth.
Her lineage goes back to King David, Josephs to Abraham.

Good morning :-)

You're very welcome Emma - I hope your head soon settles down....moving is so stressful. <3

Father, clear my sleepy head and fill my mind with expectation
Awake my slow body and energise my heart with love in action.

Ignite my spirit and set this day on fire with promise.
Make the ordinary extraordinary.

Engage me, show me your kingdom alive
Help me to see that every waking moment
Is full of promise because of you.

Amen.


Cx :-)

Thank you once again Cynthia for your weekly
prayers to keep me going.
Not adding much to this thread as my head is in the moving
house space at the moment, whenever that may be <3

Good morning :-)

A sad start indeed kandj….. :-(


Compassionate God,

Be with those who need you. The unloved, the friendless, the oppressed, the sick, the dying, the bereaved.

Take your love where we can't, or won't, reach.
Make your Spirit known in the worst places and times, so that all may benefit from the sacrifice that Jesus made for humankind.

It is in his name we pray. Amen


Cx :-)

Hello all

Amen to your prayer today Cynthia.

Tuesday I was at the local crematorium..... not nice..... I was told that a relative has sadly lost his fight against Cancer..... definitely not a good way for our family to begin 2020...!!

Good morning :-)

Hope everyone is well...…


Thank You Lord for Your blessings this week. Grant me strength and energy to go through this blessed Thursday morning, as I seek Your face, Your comfort, Your rest.

Keep me safely wrapped in Your loving arms. Bless me with Your peace that passes all understanding. Amen.

Cx :-)

Cynthia a beautiful prayer and I join you
in this, God help the people in Australia Amen.

Good morning :-)

Yes I know David, I did some googling :-D


The fires in Australia are so dreadful...…

We pray for gentle rains,
and no wind;
we pray for cooling skies,
and water in abundance;
we pray for the burning land,
we pray for the four legged,
and the winged,
for the koala and the kangaroo,
and all of their neighbours;
we pray for the people who are trapped,
for the people who have lost their homes,
for the firefighters and the first responders,
for the exhausted and the tapped out,
we pray for Australia,
from east, to south, to west, to north,
and all the places in between.
In this world of changed and changing climate, God,
we ask that you would help us
to help those who are in immediate danger;
may we use what we have to help and to heal -
then call us to repent of all the ways
we continue to make this world
a place of death, rather than life.
Help us, O God... because we
don't seem to be able
to do it on our own.
In Christ's name,
on the wings of the Holy Spirit,
we pray.
Amen.


Cx :-)

I kid you not. The church's name is St Hugh of the Epiphany