General Chat

Hello all

Just one christening today during our morning service. A pretty little girl about 5 years old I think who loved all the attention from our elderly congregation.

Nothing you post offends me David but I do have to put my thinking cap on sometimes.
I hope that you're feeling a little better today. Perhaps a visit to the GP is needed?

After several days of heavy rain, it's been a dry bright and sunny day. I feel blessed

Thank you Cynthia <3 My lower limbs aren't what they were, and they're

different colours, one going purple, the other blue.

I sincerely hope my posts in recent months on your thread haven't been too

"offensive" they were only intended to be thought provoking.

Good morning :-)

I thought you were very quiet David - hope you feel better soon.

Today at our church, we welcome those who confirmed recently as they receive their First Holy Communion. We pray for these youngsters as they continue on their journey of faith.

The Collect (special prayer) for today:

Almighty and eternal God,
you have kindled the flame of love
in the hearts of the saints:
grant to us the same faith and power of love,
that, as we rejoice in their triumphs,
we may be sustained by their example and fellowship;
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 reading tells the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus – the tax collector who climbed the tree to see Jesus.

Cx :-)

Thank you Cynthia and kandj for the prayers <3 <3

Good morning to everyone :-D <3 Been under the weather recently,
sleeping far too much. Will catch up on the posts. :-)

Hello all

Amen to your morning prayer Cynthia. I like "simple" but don't always get it. as quite often life gets in the way. I'm sure that I'm not on my own with these thoughts either.

Dear Lord.
I pray we will press through every struggle, endure every trial and
overcome every hurdle knowing You are by our side.
Amen

Happy Saturday blessings to all who pop in today xxx

Good morning :-)

This is another day, O Lord…
If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely.
If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly.
If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently.
And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Thanks Gwyn and Pat for those interesting posts...... <3

Today is All Saints' Day


All Saints’ Day is an opportunity for believers to remember all saints and martyrs, known and unknown, throughout Christian history.

Lord, we thank you for every Christian who has helped us on our journey and encouraged us to keep believing when we felt like giving up. Thank you for all those who taught us the faith. Thank you for those who made the ultimate sacrifice of their lives to ensure others could hear of your love in Christ

We remember the saints in heaven. Thank you for releasing them from the burden of sin and death in this life and for keeping your promise to them. We especially remember those from our community who have passed away in the past year. Give comfort to all those who grieve over loved ones no longer with us on earth. Give them the hope only your word can offer us.

We pray for your church on earth, that it may remain faithful to the apostles' teaching and that it will strive for unity. We pray for all Christians, especially those under persecution, that they may imitate the martyrs in bold witness to the gospel. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.


Cx :-)

A town in this south east corner has a crypt containing many hundreds of bones, mostly skulls and femurs are on view.
At this time of year, there is a short procession to that area of the parish church and prayers are said for those passed parishioners.

It is special to us as a family as it's our daughter's birthday - we have our very own witch. ;-)

https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Halloween/

Good morning :-)

It’s that time of year again…..Hallowe’en and all that it involves.

Christians traditionally have an uneasy relationship with Halloween because, no matter how commercialized, it has almost completely pagan origins. As innocent as it may seem to some, it is not something to be taken lightly.

The New Testament teaching about the occult is clear. The promises made at baptism include ‘Do you reject evil?’ As Christians, we are placed in this world to be a light in a world of darkness.

Many church groups are increasingly embracing the event by holding ‘light’parties designed to add a religious significance to the festival. Halloween (October 31st) is connected with All Saints Day (November 1st) and All Souls Day (November 2nd). These three days taken together are also called Allhallowtide ("Hallow" means to honour as holy).

Halloween is, therefore, the first day of Allhallowtide, the time of year when the living honour all the dead in Christ and the saints in heaven. It is a beautiful celebration of the Communion of Saints!

“Lord Christ, your saints have been the lights of the world in every generation: Grant that we who follow in their footsteps may be made worthy to enter with them into that heavenly country where you live and reign for ever and ever. Amen”

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


It's a very popular form of communication these days Emma, I seem to hear a lot about it and how lovely that your granddaughters are using it to help others. <3


We are encouraged to communicate the Good News far and wide. One of the methods of communication we are familiar with, is Braille.

Braille is a tactile writing system used by people who are visually impaired. It is traditionally written with embossed paper. Braille users can read computer screens and other electronic supports using refreshable braille displays. It was created by 12 year old Louis Braille who was a Christian.

The bible is obtainable in Braille but making them available is not easy. The bible in Braille is made up of at least 40 large books, which, when stacked, stand around 2metres high and weigh about 40kg. Bibles in Braille cost about 50 times more than the normal version which is very expensive to those with limited means.

Thank you Lord for the various ways we can communicate your Good News to all people.

Cx :-)

Morning Cynthia,

My granddaughters use Makaton one teaches it to children
in her nursery the other teaches it to children and adults with
learning disabilities.
My great grandchildren apart from Connie all use it at their schools and nursery.
Its lovely to see them singing and using Makaton. x

Good morning :-)

Don't forget that the disciples were very ordinary men - mainly fishermen. Something was stirred within them when Jesus called them......beyond explanation really. Today, men and women are still called by Jesus - I am on Twitter and see many, many global posts about vocations and ordinations. It gives one hope that the gospel is still very much alive and kicking in this world of ours.


Moving on from widgits :-D

Thinking of communicating the Gospel to others, today we look at Makaton sign language

With Makaton, signs are used, with speech, in spoken word order. This helps provide extra clues about what someone is saying. Using signs can help people who have no speech or whose speech is unclear. Using symbols can help people who have limited speech and those who cannot, or prefer not to sign.

For those who have experienced the frustration of being unable to communicate meaningfully or effectively, Makaton really can help. Makaton takes away that frustration and enables individuals to connect with other people and the world around them. This opens up all kinds of possibilities.

Take a look at the Lord Prayer signed in Makaton.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEt9ihvsekU


Cx :-)

David "Why would twelve adult intelligent men drop everything to follow Jesus ?"

Adult intelligent men have dropped everything to follow much lesser beings.

But I assume because they believed in him, believed he was the Son of God and the light and the way. The same reasons I imagine that those on here who believe, still believe? ( over to Cynthia :-) )

https://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/12-disciples.htm


Cynthia, very interesting about widgits!

Good evening :-D <3

Were the twelve Disciples of Jesus symbolic of the twelve tribes ?

The twelve are known and named and their history available to death.

Why would twelve adult intelligent men drop everything to follow Jesus ?

Very interesting Cynthia, something I had never even
thought about, how selfish of me.

Good morning :-)

Communication – a way of imparting and sharing information.

As Christians, we are encouraged to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those we meet. However, there are those for whom this is not always easy – those with sight loss, deafness, mental capability or some other reason.

This is where various means of making communication easier comes in and today we look at Widgits.

For over 30 years, Widgits have used in the field of developing materials for people who have difficulty in understanding and using text. They are used in hospitals, schools and anywhere they can be helpful. I would love to be able to show you a morning prayer on here, but because of the limitations of this site.....I can't :-(

Here is a link to give you an idea of what witgits look like....

https://www.widgit.com/resources/curriculum/re/prayer_books/index.htm

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

A new one to me Emma, thank you <3




The Collect (Special prayer) for today:

Blessed Lord,
who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
help us so to hear them,
to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them
that, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word,
we may embrace and for ever hold fast
the hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Gospel reading tells of Jesus telling the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector.

Cx :-)

Faith is a Mighty Fortress

We look ahead through each changing year
With mixed emotions of hope and fear
Hope for the peace we long have sought
Fear that our hopes will come to naught
Unwilling to trust in our Father's will
We count on our logic and shallow skill
And in our arrogance and pride
We are no longer satisfied
To place our confidence and love
With childlike faith in God above
And tiny hands and tousled heads
That kneel in prayer by little beds
Are closer to the dear Lord's heart
And of his kingdom more a part
Than we who search and never find
The answers to our questioning minds
For faith in things we cannot see
Requires a child's simplicity
Oh, Heavenly Father, grant again
A simple, childlike faith to men
Forgetting colour, race and creed
And seeing only the hearts deep need
For faith alone can save man's soul
And lead him to a higher goal
For there's but one unfailing course
We win by faith and not by force.

Helen Steiner Rice