General Chat

It is so sad to hear of the events in Sri Lanka; so many deaths and injuries and pain for the families and the wider community. Easter is a time of hope and renewal so I pray all those involved receive “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow“.

Amen to Cynthia’s prayer. A happy Easter to you all <3

Good morning everyone :-)


HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! ALLELUIA!

Good morning everyone, and a very happy Easter to you all on this, the most important day in the Christian calendar.

It is with sadness that we hear of the bombings in churches and hotels in Sri Lanka and pray for all those involved.

The Collect (special prayer) for today:
Lord of all life and power,
who through the mighty resurrection of your Son
overcame the old order of sin and death
to make all things new in him:
grant that we, being dead to sin
and alive to you in Jesus Christ,
may reign with him in glory;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be praise and honour, glory and might,
now and in all eternity. Amen.

The Gospel - as is to be expected - tells of the Resurrection.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Thank you Elizabeth and kandj - lovely words.

Life has, indeed, been hectic for me lately but I am adjusting to the increased pace (I think) :-D

It's going to be a beautiful day - ending in the Holiest night of the year! Holy Saturday is a very special day indeed.

Lord God,
On the Sabbath,
Jesus rested.
He was in the grave.
He had finished his work.
To most people’s eyes,
It looked as if it were all over.
He was dead and buried.
But only as a seed dies when it is planted in the earth,
Not to decay, but to spring to new life.
Teach us to take refuge in you when we are afraid
Teach us that death is not our end
Teach us to hope always in you
And in the resurrection, the making of all things New.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.

Cx :-)

Dear All

Hello

"I believe in the sun even when it is not shining;

I believe in love even when feeling it not;

I believe in God even when he is silent".

— An inscription on the wall of a cellar in Cologne where a number of Jewish people hid themselves for the entire duration of the war.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Take gentle care
Love Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Hello all

I've have just read back and add Amen to Cynthia's prayer for today and I hope that this special day will be a calm one for Cynthia (and for us all).

I'm joining Emma, Vera, Rambling Rose and Elizabeth of Seasons in thanking Cynthia for her daily postings which are all so meaningful and interesting to read.

Vera, I hope that your brother continues to make a steady improvement. Your visit will have helped him on the road to recovery and helped to lift his spirits I'm sure.

Church for me later today for the 2-3pm Watch by the Cross Good Friday quiet service. Always very emotional seeing the altar stripped bare and crosses covered.

I'm sending gentle hugs to all who are in need of one today xxx

Good morning... :-)

It improved slightly Emma, but not as much as I would have hoped! :-D.


Today is Good Friday - a very special day for Christians. Many will be gathering in churches for suitably quiet services....

Father,
As we gather together today, we remember the supreme sacrifice of our beautiful King, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Led like a lamb to the slaughter, clothed in humility and grace, he willing offered himself to death so that we might live forever. We are truly thankful for the extent of his love, stretched out on a cruel wooden cross.

We dwell on the pain he bore for us and are truly grateful for the forgiveness that he offers. As we worship and praise now, help us to live in the wonder of this goodness and marvel at his endless grace. Amen.


Cx :-)

Hope the day has got better for you Cynthia :-) x

Good morning :-D

My day so far.....

1. Forgot to put dishwasher on last night.
2. Knocked over 4pts milk, losing quite a bit - so toast it is.
3. No toast bread


TODAY IS MAUNDY THURSDAY

On that day, Jesus had his last meal with his disciples before he was killed. This meal is now known as 'The Last Supper'. At the meal, Jesus and his friends would have followed the Jewish Passover custom of eating roast lamb and unleavened bread (matzah) and drinking red wine.

However, Jesus gave the bread and wine a special meaning. When they got to the part of meal when the bread was eaten and the wine drunk, Jesus said that these would be a symbol of his body and blood to his followers to help them remember that through his death, our sins are forgiven. From this, we get the service of Holy Communion/Eucharist/Mass.

Maundy comes from Latin and is the word for 'Command'. At the meal that Jesus had with his followers, he told them: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." John 13:34.

It was at this meal that Jesus washed his disciples’ feet to show that is important to be helpful and serve others.

After the meal, Jesus and some of his disciples went to a nearby garden called Gethsemane to pray. He was later arrested.

Christ Jesus, you call us to walk humbly with you and to serve one another in love. Inspired by your example may we reach out to one another, tending to one another’s needs. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Praying through Holy Week

Holy Wednesday - Jesus is betrayed

Matthew 26:27-56

Lord God,
We tremble to think
That it was one of Jesus’ own friends who betrayed him.
One who sat by him, who broke bread with him.
Give us strength, we pray,
To walk faithfully with Jesus,
Even when the road we walk is rocky
Even when the message of the cross seems like foolishness
And even when we feel betrayed.
You, Lord, are always faithful.
We stumble, we become lost,
But you are steady and sure.
Give us the grace to endure our troubles,
And reveal to us the glory of your kingdom,
Through your son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Thank you kandj - lovely to see you back on here.... <3


So sad about Notre Dame..... :-(


Praying through Holy Week.
Holy Tuesday
The Temple Debates: Matthew 21:23-23:39.

Lord Jesus, it was on a Tuesday that you spoke out against abuse of power, collaboration with oppressors, misuse of authority. So today we pray, comforter of the abused, strengthen those who live under corrupted rule or injustice; rescue the overwhelmed; be present to those who call on your name, to those we name on our lips, and in the silence of our hearts, those whose concerns are known only to you; Amen.

Cx :-)

In church yesterday it was hard to think it was Palm Sunday already, but good to sing the old traditional hymns and be given a palm cross to come home with.

I have read back and need to say THANK YOU Cynthia, for such interesting posts.
Like others who pop in all that you share is very much appreciated. xx

Good morning :-)


Thank you Emma <3

This is Holy Week, and during this most special week, we will go through each day as Jesus went through it...

Holy Monday : Jesus clears the money changers out of the temple. (John 2 13-17)

Jesus,
on that Monday you went into the temple,
you walked into your house and looked around.
On this Monday, draw us to you
that we may walk with you through our places and patterns of worship.

Jesus,
on that Monday you set foot in the Holy Place
and your jaw dropped.
God’s presence obscured by mammon’s throne,
God’s voice drowned out by the rattle of coins.
Profit being made from prayer.

Jesus,
on this Monday show us what you see in the places where we worship,
show us what you see in our hearts.
If we have obscured your presence – show us,
if we have drowned out your voice - show us.

Jesus,
on that Monday your hands gripped the edges of tables
with the strength of your arms you toppled them over -
coins spinning to the ground,
doves flying free.

Jesus,
on this Monday show us what needs to change.
Breathe the Holy Spirit upon us,
that as we worship,
Your ‘house will be called
a house of prayer for all nations.’
Amen

Cx :-)

Amen.

Cynthia another wonderful week of posts.

Much appreciated by those of us who look in x

Good morning :-)

TODAY IS PALM SUNDAY WHEN WE REMEMBER JESUS ENTERING JERUSALEM ON A DONKEY.

The Collect (special prayer) for today:

Almighty and everlasting God,
who in your tender love towards the human race
sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ
to take upon him our flesh
and to suffer death upon the cross:
grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility,
and also be made partakers of his resurrection;
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.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

God is our refuge
in times of trouble,
keeping our feet steady upon the road,
watching over us and keeping us from harm.
Where does our help come from?
Our help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth!


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Thank you Vera, you're welcome :-D


Easter Reflections

With OUR EYES we see
The beauty of Easter
as the earth awakens once more...

With OUR EARS we hear
The birds sing sweetly
to tell us Spring again is here...

With OUR HANDS we pick
the golden daffodils
and the fragrant hyacinths...

But only with OUR HEARTS
can we feel the MIRACLE of GOD'S LOVE
which redeems all men...

And only with OUR SOUL
can we make our 'pilgrimage to God'
and inherit His Easter Gift of ETERNAL LIFE.


Cx :-)

Food for thought in this week’s posts. Thank you Cynthia.

Good morning :-)

It's a beautiful morning here - hope it is wherever you are too... :-D


Lent should be more than a time of fasting.
It should also be a joyous season of feasting.
Lent is a time to fast from certain things and to feast on others.

It is a season to turn to God:

Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.
Fast from worry; feast on divine order.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives: feast on affirmatives.
Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Loving God,
You have heard my complaints, my impatience.
Sometimes I become frightened
when I move away from you.
Guide my heart back to you.
Help me to think beyond my own wants
and to desire only to do you will.
Thank you for the many blessings in my life
and for the ways I feel your presence. Amen

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Thank you Emma <3


Browsing through various Lenten themes, I came across the following Spiritual Practices. We may not be able to do all of these things today, but there will be quite a few that we can do……
..

a. Practice humility today in all your actions.
b. Be generous today; help someone in need.
c. Look for ways to be helpful throughout the day.
d. Do a job that needs to be done without being asked.
e. Be courageous; walk away from any impure situations today.
f. Don’t be idle at all today. Always be doing something for others or for your spiritual growth.
g. Go out of your way today to help or talk to someone who is usually difficult.
h. Volunteer for an extra job today.
i. Pray for those who come to know Jesus today.
j. Visit someone who is sick or lonesome today.

Cx :-)