General Chat

We will remember them.

The Inquisitive Child

Why are they selling poppies, Mummy?
Selling poppies in town today.
The poppies, child, are flowers of love.
For the men who marched away.

But why have they chosen a poppy, Mummy?
Why not a beautiful rose?
Because my child, men fought and died
in the fields where the poppies grow.

But why are the poppies so red, Mummy?
Why are the poppies so red?
Red is the colour of blood, my child.
The blood that our soldiers shed.

The heart of the poppy is black,
Mummy. Why does it have to be black?
Black, my child, is the symbol of grief.
For the men who never came back.

But why, Mummy are you crying so?
Your tears are giving you pain.
My tears are my fears for you my child.
For the world is forgetting again.

Author unknown


We will remember them.


Cx :-)

Hello all

It wasn't easy attending the two funeral services but I needed to pay my last respects and also to help support both families through a sad day. Been there, done that myself
God is good and provides the strength we need at times like this.

Awww, loving the hugs from Emma and Vera. You're both very kind. Thank you both.

Thoughts and prayers for all the people who have been flooded out of their homes. xx.

Good morning :-)

A difficult week indeed kandj…..hope you are keeping your chin up! <3


Another aspect of civilian life during wartime...….rationing

Before the Second World War started Britain imported about 55 million tons of food a year from other countries. After war was declared in September 1939, the British government had to cut down on the amount of food it brought in from abroad as German submarines started attacking British supply ships. There was a worry that this would lead to shortages of food supplies in the shops so the British government decided to introduce a system of rationing.

Rationing made sure that people got an equal amount of food every week. The government was worried that as food became scarcer, prices would rise and poorer people might not be able to afford to eat. There was also a danger that some people might hoard food, leaving none for others.

How did food rationing work? Every person in Britain was given a ration book. They had to register and buy their food from their chosen shops. There were no supermarkets, so people had to visit several different shops to buy meat, vegetables, bread and other goods. When people wanted to buy some food, the items they bought were crossed off in their ration book by the shopkeeper.

People were encouraged to provide their own food at home. The 'Dig for Victory' campaign started in October 1939 and called for every man and woman to keep an allotment. Lawns and flower-beds were turned into vegetable gardens. Chickens, rabbits, goats and pigs were reared in town parks and gardens.

De-Rationing Rationing of food lasted for 14 years and ended on July 4, 1954.

Father God, we thank you that there really is enough food for everyone in this world - when it is properly shared. Help us to share with those who are less fortunate than us, to support those who are hungry or thirsty.

We pray for those who live in countries where food is hard to grow or where the government is corrupt. We pray for the countries who are at war and where food is rationed still. We thank you that there are agencies who are working to alleviate these problems and to bring hope to the people. Amen.


Cx :-)

Kandj, it must have been a difficult week for you but I am sure your presence will have been of comfort to those involved. I am following Emma and also sending you a (((((hug))))) <3

kandj must have been very hard for you to do
and I send (((hugs))) to you for finding the strength. x

Hello all

Not been the best of weeks as I have been to two funeral services this week. Losing my lovely husband and also my big sister last year,this was very hard for me to do.

Heavenly Father,
Thank you that You hold my hand and that you are my rock, when I falter.
Today, I am feeling so blessed, just knowing that You would never leave me.
Amen

Sending ((hugs)) to all in need of support for whatever reason today xxxx

Amen for your prayer today Cynthia.

My thoughts and prayers for those who are flooded
in Yorkshire and other places that they stay safe.x

Good morning :-)

Thank you for those words Sylvia, they are much appreciated. <3


As we approach this very special weekend, we take a look at the effect warfare had on the people who were left at home.

Evacuation
With the start of the Second World War came Operation Pied Piper. It wasn’t only children who were evacuated, the disabled people, pregnant women, and teachers were also evacuated to safety from the air raids.

Children living in big cities were transferred to the country areas such as Devon, Cornwall and Wales where they stayed with host families. Some were sent to the US, Australia and Canada.

The main transportation used by thousands of children to go to the host families were the special trains. All of them were sad when they had to leave home and family but, since most of them were very young, they thought that they were having a holiday.

The children were given a giant gas mask in case of air raids and were given enough food for the journey. Each one had a label pin on their clothes which stated their name, school, home address and destination. To keep in touch with the parents, the evacuated children were encouraged to send letters

Many evacuees had returned home long before March 1946. In April 1945, the Government began to make travel arrangements to return the evacuees to their homes when the war was over.

Lord
Help us to be grateful for our safety today. Help us not to forget that there is still warfare in this world and that people are still fleeing from their homes to places of safety. Give strength and hope to those who are less fortunate than ourselves, that they may be able to cope with the difficult times ahead of them. Amen.


I googled pictures of the evacuees - and some are just so poignant.....I can't imagine what it must have been like to wave your little one off on their own. :-(


Cx :-)

Thank you, kandji

I was afraid that you all might think I had come across a bit strong for this thread, but I felt it had to be said.


I do read your postings almost every day, though I don't often post.

Thank you so much, Cynthia and everyone, for keeping it going.



even this non-churchgoer gets a lot of satisfaction from reading what is posted. xxx

Good morning :-)


Thank you for that Emma <3

:.To end our time of analogies between fireworks and Christians...…....a damp squib

A squib is a small firework. A damp squib would not go off properly, and so it would be a disappointment, a let down.

It's so disappointing when churches (all denominations) spend time and effort in encouraging people in the faith - leading to baptism/confirmation/membership, and then never see them again. What was the point? What more can we do? We pray they will return ??

In last Sunday's sermon, our latest confirmees not to be damp squibs, but to be shining lights for Jesus.

Lord, whether we are Catherine Wheels, Sparklers or Fountains, may we always be prepared to serve you to the best of our ability. Amen.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Sylvia we are in agreement with advice for David. I hope he heeds us all.

Vera, I am also blessed with good family support. Just wished they lived nearer.

Cynthia...... I have come across many Church folk who are like fountains and been blessed to have them inspire me over the years.

Emma, I haven't read this HSR poem before, how true her words are. Thank you.

Morning all :-)

Never Borrow Sorry from Tomorrow

Deal only with the present ---
never step into tomorrow,
For God asks us just to trust Him
and to never borrow sorrow.
For the future is not ours to know,
and it may never be,
So let us live and give our best
and give it lavishly...
For to meet tomorrow's troubles
before they are even ours
Is to anticipate the Saviour
and to doubt His all wise powers,
So let us be content to solve
our problems one by one,
Asking nothing of tomorrow
except " Thy will be done."

HSR

Good morning :-)

Yes, it's time to get in touch with the Doctor I think David. Take advice from the wise women on here :-D

How lovely for you to be with your family Vera - family love in times of trouble is so important. <3


Christian Fireworks.....today, Fountains

Fountains are inspiring fireworks which put out showers of beautifully coloured sparks far and wide, leaving people feeling uplifted.

This is reminiscent of those within our churches who have the gift of inspiring and leading others by their words and actions.

Lord, we thank you for those who set us a good example by the way they live their lives for you. Help us to follow in their steps as we continue on our Christian journey. Amen.

Cx :-)

David ...............

please do NOT wait for the District Nurse to "call", unless you are expecting her tomorrow.

PHONE your doctor's office and ask for him to come to see you.

It's dangerous to play around with legs turning blue and purple.

Don't be stupid about it.

Good evening all <3 No, I haven't been to the Doctor, my legs wouldn't get me to

the end of the street. My intention is to discuss it with the District nurse when she

calls to give me a flu injection. On a previous occasion when they were a problem

I had a chest scan and X ray at the RVI and informed "normal" 2- 3 years ago.

Was reading about God's name. What a "mystery" over the past 4 5 Thousand

years. Seems for a very long time it was ineffable to all but Priests on special days

How we come to know it is a mystery itself.

Good afternoon

I hope you are feeling a little better today David.

Another interesting theme this week Cynthia. Thank you. Your posts do make me think.

We spent the weekend with my son and his family in Yorkshire, collecting our eldest granddaughter en route and taking her with us and I do feel very blessed that we are always made to feel so very welcome and that we have such a close knit family. There are difficulties and problems in our son’s immediate family but there is also an abundance of love. My thoughts and prayers today are with those who don’t have a family background of love and support and who must feel very alone at times. May they be given the strength they need.

Hello all

David have you been to see the GP about your legs? Hope you're feeling better.

I well remember sparklers on bonfire night Cynthia. Church member only have to put themselves forward to volunteer to do a job and it becomes theirs for life. I think this is true in most churches. The sparkle lessens with age imho.

Day by Day
3 things I pray
That I may see You more clearly
Love You more dearly, and
Follow You more nearly
Day by Day
Amen.

Good morning :-)

Christians …. are they like fireworks?

The Sparkler

The sparkler – a nostalgic childhood reminder for many UK adults of cold Novembers made entertaining thanks to this very simple, humble form of firework.

Where would the church be without our Christian ‘sparklers’ the people who form the backbone of a church – willing to sparkle in whatever they are good at – be it cleaning, serving, singing in the choir, giving out books – humble but essential servants of God.

We thank you Lord, for those who serve our church in the various mundane but necessary everyday tasks. We thank you for their love and dedication to you and to your church here on earth. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Sounds like a visit to the doc re your multi-coloured legs is in order David. Hope he can sort you out. Yes, your posts are very thought provoking at times, and its interesting to see what you will think of next. :-D

Our recently confirmed candidates received their first Holy Communion yesterday and an excellent sermon was heard. This got me thinking - always dangerous!

Already fireworks are exploding all around us and more will be on the way. Some will be damp squibs – the sort which never really ignites and fizzles out, whilst others will be beautiful showers of colour in the night sky. We were encouraged not to be a ‘damp squib’ in our Christian journey, but to be a blessing of colour and light to our world.

During this week we will take a look at the variety of fireworks available and how they compare to our Christian lives.

One of the most famous fireworks is the Catherine Wheel which got its name from St. Catherine who, according to legend, was to be martyred upon a spinning wheel. The legend states that when Catherine touched the wheel it broke into many pieces, as if by a miracle.

The Catherine Wheels of today are made up in a couple of ways – one being of a tube filled with powder which is then coiled. When the fuse is lit, the wheel rotates at speed thus producing a spiral effect of coloured flame and sparks.

There are those who are so tightly wound up that their fuse blows and they scatter into a thousand pieces. This is not how God wants us to be as stress in our lives can distract us from our relationship with Him.

As scripture says….”Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV)”

Cx :-)