General Chat

Hello all

Two weeks now into hubbies recovery from pneumonia. heart attack and the MRSA hospital bug. He is still very very tired but the Physio has begun standing up exercises which is a big improvement from the bed/chair ones, he is doing his best to keep up and she is pleased with his progress so far, he is a real fighter, bless him

Our nephew came and kept hubby company whilst I went to the Crematorium for his brother funeral service. Another sad day for my in-laws as this was the third death in just 10 month, he wasn't well enough to be there, so I went to represent us both.

Cynthia this is also a very sad time you and your family. What an honour bestowed upon your Uncle. He really was a very remarkable man. RIP to all three.

Good morning :-)


My uncle's funeral was held on Tuesday. As I was unable to go, my last surviving cousin kept me informed of events. One thing which I did not know, was the fact that my uncle, who was 93 when he died, had been awarded, by the President of France, to the rank of Chevalier (Knight) in the Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur. This happened last year, and he never, ever, mentioned it to me when we spoke on the phone. Such a modest and brave man.

My cousin's funeral will be held today.


A message behind today's Advent Calendar...

http://www.methodist.org.uk/adventcalendar/



Love to all and remembering Kandj and her husband. Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Be inspired, be uplifted, be calmed by what is behind today's Advent Calendar door....


http://www.methodist.org.uk/our-faith/worship/advent-and-christmas/advent-calendar/

Remember to scroll down.


Love and prayers Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


A note from kandj tells me that she is coping quite well at the moment - thanks to online food shopping and a local shop delivering some meals. This is so good to hear and she continues to be grateful for our love and prayers.



And behind today's Advent Calendar door is...................................... :-)

Always remember to scroll down........

www.methodist.org.uk/adventcalendar/


Busy day today and tomorrow but much love to all Cx :-)

I smiled when I read about the children and was so pleased for you that your
son was able to dadsit. :-)

My son arrived home today from Nigeria and popped
in for a coffee before he went home with my grand daughter
to his new house.
That is all my family together for Christmas <3

Good morning :-)


It's strange how sometimes the link doesn't work...its happened to me too. Like yourselves, however, I find there is always another link to try :-D


Our son came over to dadsit which was great. Our carol service went well and the children had the 'Awwww' factor as they trotted down the aisle carrying Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the three kings and a camel to the stable at the front of church. :-D

Behind today's door is.................................. :-D


http://www.methodist.org.uk/our-faith/worship/advent-and-christmas/advent-calendar/


Love to all. Cx :-)

Same with me Vera, but as you say other
links take you there.

Cynthia thank you once again x

Good morning everyone

For some reason today’s calendar link didn’t work but it’s not a problem because the earlier links take you there.

I hope your son’s cold is not too bad and he is able to Dadsit so you are can get to the carol service Cynthia.

Elizabeth, I think the translation of that hymn is later, somewhere about 1850 I believe, but still quite old. I also think it’s one of those rare times when the translation is better than the original. I don’t know if you know any German but the original “Stille, mein Wille” doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as “Be Still My Soul”.

Have a peaceful Sunday everyone

Good Morning :-)

Thank you Suffolk Vera for the Psalm number ,I had not realised the hymn was quite that old !

Love from
Elizabeth :-)

Good morning :-)


Lovely to see a conversation once more....... :-) A bit of a long post today - sorry....


That is such a lovely hymn Elizabeth and very comforting to listen to as well as to sing.

With church funerals, we have seen a rise in the number of people wanting a modern song played as the cortege leaves the building. We also find that many people simply do not know where to start when choosing suitable hymns. If they have no church background, that is understandable but such a shame as there are so many hymns with wonderful tunes and heartening words.

Sorry about the chocolate Emma - I would post a picture of a different chocolate every day if this site would let me :-D

It is our church Carol Service tonight. If it goes as usual, it will be a case of 'standing on heads'. I have arranged for my son to come and dadsit whilst I am out - but he has a cold and I need to see how he is today......sigh.

I also run our church's Facebook page and will, hopefully, be posting many pictures of people singing their hearts out as we draw near to the day itself :-D


The Collect (special prayer) set for today.
O Lord Jesus Christ,
who at your first coming sent your messenger to prepare your way before you: grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise
so prepare and make ready your way by turning the hearts of the
disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to
judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in your sight;
for you are alive and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Gospel tells us “There was a man sent by God, whose name was John.”

Behind today's Advent Calendar door is...........................

http://www.methodist.org.uk/…/advent-and-c…/advent-calendar/


Love to all Cx :-)

Elizabeth, Be Still My Soul was written in the 1700s by Katharina Von Schlegel and it is generally believed that she based it on Psalm 46:10 - Be still, and know that I am God. There are other possibilities in the psalms and other biblical verses that she could have based it on but psalm 46 is most often quoted.

I love that hymn. I think most of us aspire to be still sometimes even if we don’t achieve it. Also the hymn nowadays is usually sung to the theme tune from Finlandia which is one of my all time favourite pieces of music. At my funeral (which is hopefully a long way off) I would like this hymn to be played either at the beginning or the end of the service. Perhaps I had better make sure my family know :-)

Kandj, it is lovely to hear from you. I realise your priority is your husband but try to look after yourself as well. You clearly have a very loving family so let them take over some of the chores at Christmas and give yourself time to relax a little. We are all keeping you in our thoughts <3

I loved the piece of artwork behind today’s advent door but I am glad there was an explanation as I would not otherwise have understood the significance.

Love opening the doors Cynthia but where is my chocolate,
maybe tomorrow :-D

I'm not too keen on modern art but there is something about
this one which I quite like.

Kandj lovely to hear from you x

Good morning,I, like Nyx am a "popper in" :-)

I look in most days and follow the "chat "

"Be Still My Soul" is being used a lot a lot more at funerals, I really like it, could someone remind me which Psalm it is from please :-(

I agree with Cynthia about changes in hymn/prayer catching you off guard !!

Good morning :-)

Lovely to see you kandj and so glad that you are managing to cope. It will be lovely to see your family and I am sure they will want to spoil you both. <3


Thanks Emma - I feel like a child, wondering what is behind each door, do you? :-D

An interesting piece of modern art today - with an explanation beneath it. Not sure what to make of it.......................

http://www.methodist.org.uk/our-faith/worship/advent-and-christmas/advent-calendar/


Love to all. Cx :-)

Hello all, just letting you know that it is a week since hubby was brought home after a month in hospital and it has seemed like a very long week to the two of us.

We are working together to help get him as well as he can be as our family are planning to come here for Christmas. After so much stress and anxiety, we are all looking forward to relaxing and unwinding together and enjoying a family Christmas.

Very many thanks for all your ongoing thoughts and prayers, they really have helped.

Really enjoying opening each day and the messages
given. x

Good morning :-)


For today's Advent calendar offering, I would suggest that you make a nice cup of coffee and give yourself a few minutes break. Two ladies from the Methodist church talk about visiting during this special season. You will hopefully feel uplifted afterwards :-)

http://www.methodist.org.uk/our-faith/worship/advent-and-christmas/advent-calendar/



No word from kandj, so she must be so busy bless her. She and her husband both remain in our thoughts and prayers <3


Love to all Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Nice to see you popping in Nyx :-D

I had a quick look at what was happening with the Lord's Prayer and it does seem that a lot of the controversy is over the various translations of the wording. We church folk are monkeys for 'mucking around' with the tried and trusted wording of Scripture and of hymns for that matter.

There are those folk who sit on liturgical committees and devise new ways of worship, new wordings and goodness knows what else.

I have lived through quite a few changes to scripture, services and hymns and, whilst not always happy with those changes, I have learned to adapt. Possibly, week by week worship helps with the familiarity of new wordings but there are some things which I prefer in the style I grew up with.

I can be merrily belting out an old familiar hymn, then suddenly I realise that it has been changed to be politically correct........grrrrrrr and I get the urge to say 'Leave it alone for heaven's sake - I'm not stupid and can see what the hymnwriter was getting at thank you very much".


Phew.......just one cup of coffee for me too Nyx :-D

Today's Advent Calendar shares a prayer for world peace


http://www.methodist.org.uk/our-faith/worship/advent-and-christmas/advent-calendar/

Don't forget to scroll down to read it all.


Cx :-)

Thank you Cynthia. I am enjoying the advent calendar.

Now you have made me think Rose which is probably a good thing - I don’t do it very often. I believe we sometimes switch on to automatic pilot mode when we recite such familiar words and what we are saying doesn’t always register with us but, on reflection, I don’t think I want the words changed.

Thank you Rose and may your God go with you x

Thank you Cynthia...both worked x