General Chat

Thank you kandj and Cynthia for your thoughts and prayers <3

Good morning :-)

I am so slow in catching up on here sometimes. Lovely news from Emma but also an anxious time for the family. We pray that this little one will make a speedy recovery. Lord, we lift this little one to you for your healing touch. Bless her and bless her family as they anxiously watch and wait. May they be aware of your presence and peace at this time and give them courage and strength during their wait. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

The Difference Today
I got up early one morning
And rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish
That I didn't have time to pray.
Problems just tumbled about me,
And heavier came each task;
'Why doesn't God help me?' I wondered.
He answered, 'You didn't ask.'
I wanted to see joy and beauty
But the day toiled on grey and bleak
I wondered why God didn't show me
He said, 'But you didn't seek',
I tried to come into God's presence;
I used all my keys in the lock.
God gently and lovingly chided,
'My child, you didn't knock.'
I woke up early this morning,
And paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish
That I had to take time to pray.
- Author Unknown

Cx :-)

Hello all

I have just read a posting from Emma who is announcing the arrival of Great Grandchild number 4. Baby girl has Strep B so an anxious time for everyone.

Thoughts and prayers for the baby and I hope she recovers very soon.
Hugs for Emma xx

Children's children are a crown to the aged; and parents are the pride of their children.(Proverbs 17:6. NIV)

Good morning :-)


Yes David, plenty of witnesses....we looked at some of them just after Easter. :-D


Be with us all, Lord:
in all our daily struggles as we seek to follow you.
Be with us all, Lord:
in our periods of doubt and despair;
and in our times of happiness, health and loving.
Be with us all, Lord:
until that time
when in your in your Kingdom of Love
our joy will know no end: AMEN.


Cx :-)

Trump's son-in-law buys Watchtower HQ, has big, beautiful plans for it ...
https://www.brooklynpaper.com/.../dtg-kushner-watchtower-deal-2016-08-12-bk.htm...
8 Aug 2016 - Donald Trump's son-in-law and campaign advisor, developer Jared Kushner, bought the Jehovah's Witnesses' iconic Watchtower .

Good morning all. It is said Jesus taught as many as 120 nefore his Ascension

so there were no shortage of witnesses, and Thomas put hid hand on Jesus'

lance wound

The first one to talk to him thought he was the gardener.

He asked her "Why seek ye the living among the dead ?"

Good morning :-)

Don't worry David......people make their own choices, but the mainstream churches do not acknowledge the teachings and beliefs of JWs.


Today is Ascension Day.


Almighty God,
as we prepare for today,
we ask that you will stretch our imaginations
to sense the majesty and mystery of your ascension.
Help us perceive how Jesus' presence in heaven
can give us confidence in our praying
and hope for the future.
Through Jesus, our Lord.
Amen.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Thanks for reminding me of the happy times hubby and I have shared many years ago at the Well Dressings in Tideswell, Bakewell, Matlock, Hathersage and Eyam.

Today take a few quiet moments and be thankful for all that you have had and all that you have around you now.

Sending gentle hugs to those in need today xxx

Good morning Cynthia. I'm not "attacking" them, merely saying some things about their brief back ground that most are unaware of, even current members.

Good morning :-)


Hmmm....interesting, I didn't know that David. Thank you.


A British tradition associated with Ascension Day is Well Dressing in Derbyshire and other areas.

Well Dressing is an ancient Christian custom with its origins lost in the mists of time; what is certain is that it is a thanksgiving for a supply of clean water and that it is most prevalent in the Peak District and surrounding area.

The dressings themselves are beautifully crafted pictures made from flower petals and other natural materials pressed into clay on frames; they take many hours to make and in some places visitors can watch them being crafted. When the Dressings are finished they are set up at wells and springs to decorate them and in some cases there will be events through the short display season.


Blessing of well
Lord God of all creation, we thank you for the gift of water, bless now this well
Continue to provide us with the water we need
Help us to use it well and wisely
We honour the gift
and give thanks to the great Giver. Amen.

Cx :-)

Since Charles Taze Russel to "Judge" J F Rutherford to Nathan Knorr and two

other leaders since the JW's.Org have repeatedly changed their Church's title

Each change becoming more and more business like.

Their repeated change of prophecy fulfillment dates hasn't stopped them from

publishing a succession of books including their own Bible.

Three years ago Donald Trump's son in law Jarad Kush purchased all of

the Jehovah's Witnesses buildings in Brooklyn.

Good morning :-)


Got it in a nutshell David. The mainstream churches follow teaching which was handed down from earliest times - ancient manuscripts, scholars, councils etc. For a group to take this teaching and tamper with it to your own ends is just not on.


Traditions of Ascension Day…….

This ancient English tradition has more or less died out and our parish boundaries are rapidly disappearing, but it’s interesting nevertheless…..

Beating of the Bounds - a form of pilgrimage.

Ascension Day is also the day for Beating the Bounds, or Boundaries, of your church's parish. The custom was once found in almost every English parish, but now is only carried out in a few places, but it still happens!

The ceremony of Beating the Bounds custom has existed in Britain for well over 2000 years. In simple terms it involves people in the locality walking around their farm, manorial, church or civil boundaries pausing as they pass certain trees, walls and hedges that denote the extent of the boundary to exclaim, pray and ritually 'beat' particular landmarks with sticks. In some places it was quite normal to bump on the boundary marker a child so that locations would be 'sorely remembered'.


Almighty God, we pray for your blessing on all who
share in the life and work of our Church and Parish:
In the ministry of word and sacrament,
in teaching and pastoral care,
in service to the Diocese and Deanery.
The community and those in need,
in ecumenical fellowship and co-operation.
We pray for all members of the congregation,
that in their life and work they may advance
your kingdom and bear witness to your love,
shown in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.


Cx :-)

The organisation in question has only been in existence for just over a hundred years.

It has a "governing body" who decide what to print, preach how to act who to bar.

In that 100 years they have made one prediction after another, even wrote their own

version of the Bible, New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures.

If previous translators couldn't get it right how could they ?

Good morning :-)


Miserable weather here. David, I really don't know a lot about the JW's apart from the fact that mainstream Christians steer clear of them. I understand that they have tampered with scripture as it was passed to us down the ages, and that their theological thinking is flawed.

On Thursday of this week, we celebrate Ascension Day, the day when Jesus departed from Earth into the presence of God 40 days after Easter Day. It is celebrated by the Christian Church around the world and is always on a Thursday.

The Ascension is meaningful to Christians as it signifies the end of his work on Earth and allowed him to prepare a place for followers in heaven.

During the week we will look at various aspects of this important event.

From today until Wednesday is known as Rogationtide. The word "rogation" come from the Latin rogare, which means "to ask," It's traditionally a time when prayers are made for God's blessing on the land, livestock and crops in the hope of a good harvest.


Lord, we thank you for your mercy and loving-kindness towards us.
Bless this good earth and make it fruitful.
Bless our labour and give us all things needed for our daily lives.
Bless the homes of our parish and all who live within them.
Bless our common life and our care for our neighbour.
Hear us, good Lord. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good afternoon to you all. I apologise for digressing from the thread title.

Incidentally, in UK so many bars are closing / have closed is because

you cannot smoke cigarettes in bars any longer and the bars were losing

custom and becoming unprofitable.

Did you know the JW's in the 20's built a mansion at San Diego Cal

called Beth Sharim (Home of the Princes) its intention was to be a home

for the Patriarchs when they returned to earth. I read on another thread

it is deeded to Abraham, Issac and Moses. In fact "Judge" Joseph

Franklin Rutherford lived in it until he died. This Beth Sharim was built

at the time of the great depression when people were starving.

Good morning :-)

Thank you Emma - I appreciate that <3


Dermot - some very valid points there. The only RC church in a seaside town not open for visitors.....what a missed opportunity! A missed opportunity for the local faithful; the faithful visitor; the visitors who have no faith but who are searching for something; the interest and history of the church and, to be honest, the possible financial benefit. Methinks you should rally to the cause, get a posse together and
put some ideas to your priest. Take a wet sponge :-D


The Collect (special prayer) for today

God our redeemer,
you have delivered us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of your Son:
grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life,
so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy;
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 is from John where Jesus is speaking to his disciples about his forthcoming ascension.


Cx :-)

Have learnt lots from your posts this week Cynthia
thank you once again x

Cynthia - thanks for your reply.

Unfortunately, the lock-up is constant throughout the week, every week, except for publicised services.

It just was more apparent when some Easter visitors to our lovely seaside town couldn't understand why they could not visit the one Catholic Church in the immediate area while other Christian churches in this town remained opened & welcoming to all.

In my previous parish In Exeter, (20 miles away) for example, the Catholic Church there remains open from 7am to 7pm most days with a sign outside clearly showing its facility to all holidaymakers.

Granted, CCTV has been installed plus, like your suggestion, a handful of senior citizens keep an eye on the place. Very welcoming they are too.

Good morning :-)


Morning menfolk! :-D

Closure of churches is a big issue at the moment, although I think I have heard that pubs are closing at a faster rate....????

Was this just specific to Easter Dermot, or is the church normally closed except for services? The sad thing is the insurance issue and the possibility of theft or damage to the building. One way round it is to gather a group of volunteers who would be willing to be 'on duty' so that the church could be open for much of the time. Access for disabled should be high on the priority list to be honest.

Why not email the bishop and remind him of your letter? There is no excuse for him not to answer - that's just bad manners.

Whilst the Church of England may be the biggest landowners etc David, if they sold all that they had, how would things be financed? Once the money is gone......it is gone. :-(


Moving on from our two men...……... :-D

We will end the week with a look at two of Jesus’ closest female friends – Martha, and her sister Mary. Their brother was Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead.
Martha and Mary (and Lazarus) lived in Bethany, and it has been wondered if Martha was a widow and her siblings were lodging with her. Whatever the case, Jesus loved this little family and often visited their home.

The sisters were different characters, with Martha being a ‘doer’, anxious and bustling around, trying to be helpful, whereas Mary, was quieter and very earnest. When Jesus visited them, Martha would be rushing round getting everything ready, whilst Mary would be quietly sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to him speaking.

Some of us tend to be more like Mary in our Christian walk, while others resemble Martha. It's likely we have qualities of both within us. We may be inclined at times to let our busy lives of service distract us from spending time with Jesus and listening to his word.

Serving is a good thing but sitting at Jesus' feet is best. We must remember what is most important.

Good works should flow from a Christ-centred life; they do not produce a Christ-centred life. When we give Jesus the attention he deserves, he empowers us to serve others.

Lord help us to be aware of listening for you and to you in our busy lives. Amen.

Cx :-)

Further to Dermot's post. I think you might wait forever for an apology or an

explanation. I think the Church may have been locked to keep out would be thieves

and or vandals. Sad but these things happen in Churches.

The C of E are one of the biggest property and land owners. Many of their

Churches with small congregations are sold.