General Chat

Good morning :-)

Oh my goodness, what a wonderful surprise I had yesterday :-D I knew my son was taking me out for my birthday treat but had no idea where we were going. OH and daughter came with us and we set off. As the journey progressed, I eventually realised that we were heading to my favourite place - Scargill House in Yorkshire.

My son had pre-planned the visit, even down to a birthday cake. I had a lovely time wandering around and remembering the hundreds of happy hours I have spent there over the last 50 years. I am so blessed with my family..... <3

Oh yes, and OH coped much better than expected - so that was good too :-D

The Collect (special prayer) for today :

Lord, you have taught us that all our doings without love are nothing worth: send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love; the true bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whoever lives is counted dead before you. Grant this for your only Son Jesus Christ’s sake, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.


The gospel for today tells of Jesus giving his disciples encouragement before they embark on their missionary journey.

Have a peaceful day everyone........Cx :-)

Hello all

It is much cooler this morning and so much better for hubby with his breathing.

How lovely to be taken out today Cynthia..... a mystery trip but sure to be good for your family to share special time together.
Your husband will be feeling more comfortable too now that his leg has healed.

Our family fly back today from a short break abroad. It will be good to hear that
they have landed safely and to catch up with all their news.

Praying for safety for all who are on the road, sea or in the sky this weekend xx

Good morning :-)


OH is now bandage free - the leg has healed nicely so we revert to 'normal'. hahaaaa

Today, my son is taking us out for a belated birthday treat for me. No idea where we are going but it won't be far away because of OH. However, it will be lovely to be altogether for a while. :-D

From leading a life where the diary was once full to overflowing, and the days passed in a haze of busyness, to a life where the pages of our diary are empty and the days mainly likewise, is a challenge. However, life is full of challenges and we face them as they come.


For today:

I come before you O Lord
As the sun rises may your hope rise up in me.
As the birds sing may your love flow out of me.
As the light floods into this new day,
May your joy shine through me.
I come before you, O Lord
And drink in this moment of peace,
That I may carry something of your hope, love and joy
Today in my heart.
Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Much fresher this morning and a touch of dampness in the air. Quite refreshing really.

Off to see about the leg this morning and, hopefully, the bandage can be removed. It seems it is all healing nicely.

For today:

Dear Lord, I don’t know who or what will cross my path today, but I do know that You are my rock and my fortress.

You are my shield and my strong tower. Help me to anchor myself to You today. Teach me how to stand strong in You and choose only Your way today.

Help me walk by Your truth and not my feelings. Help me to embrace anything that comes my way as an opportunity to see You at work and as opportunity to point others to You. Amen.


Love to all Cx :-)

Hello all

Thank you Cynthia and Vera for your kind words for my hubby. It is cooler today
and he is feeling less breathless and more like his old self......... huge relief!!

I've been singing the lovely Petula Clarke song all morning worthy of sharing I think.

Thank you for waking me this morning
Thank you for giving me today
Thank you, for every new day dawning
I'll be thanking you.

Thinking of those who feel they have nothing to be thankful for today. xx

Good morning :-D

What a difference this morning.....overcast with rain in the air and a nice cool breeze :-D


Father, clear my sleepy head and fill my mind with expectation
Awake my slow body and energize my heart with love in action.
Ignite my spirit and set this day on fire with promise.
Make the ordinary extraordinary.
Engage me, show me your kingdom alive
Help me to see that every waking moment is full of promise because of you.
Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

We tend to stay indoors when it is so hot......and watch from the shade :-D

Your poor husband kandj.........hope he is still managing to cope. Do you have a fan going in the room where he is?


Dear Father God,

I thank you for waking me up today, another day of life.

You have given me another sunrise to enjoy.

Thank you, Lord God, for the wonderful sounds of nature and the cool breeze brushing through the trees making the birds sing beautiful melodies.

I praise you, Father, for allowing me to live another beautiful day in Your Kingdom. Amen.


Stay cool everyone Cx :-)

My goodness, it is hot here still. It seems very ungrateful to complain about such beautiful sunshine but it would be good if it were just a little cooler.

I hope your husband is finding it easier to breathe now Kandj.

Still holding in my thoughts those affected by all the tragic events of the last few weeks both at home and overseas.

Hello all

Cynthia, simple profound words as always from HSR, thank you.

Much cooler thankfully as hubby poor breathing doesn't bode well with the heat.
It is a worry as I am not able to help much. God is good to give us daily help.

"God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him."
(1Peter 5:7)

Good morning :-)


Oh boy, its been a bit warm hasn't it? We have kept our blinds closed to try and maintain a level of coolness - and it has helped I must admit. Off to get OH's leg redressed today. It is healing nicely and the nurses are very pleased with it. Getting him to sit with his leg up is another matter though :-D

We haven't heard from Helen Steiner Rice in a while..........


Bless me, heavenly Father,
forgive my erring ways,

Grant me strength to serve Thee,
put purpose in my days …

Give me understanding,
enough to make me kind

So I may judge all people
with my heart and not my mind …

And teach me to be patient
in everything I do,

Content to trust Your Wisdom
and to follow after You …

And help me when I falter
and hear me when I pray

And receive me in Thy Kingdom
to dwell with Thee some day.

– Helen Steiner Rice


Love to all Cx :-)

Hello all

I loved the confirmation services where young and not so young came together to join the church family. Always a full church, great excitement and fellowship later.

Yet more violence and unrest in London.... when/how will it all end I wonder??

The World Peace Prayer

Lead me from death to life
From falsehood to truth.

Lead me from despair to hope
From fear to trust.

Lead me from hate to love
From war to peace.

Let peace fill our hearts
Our world, our universe.
Amen.

Good morning :-)


Another manic morning in church yesterday. The annual Confirmation Service - it was great. The church was packed with families and friends of those being confirmed as well as with our regular worshippers.

Those being confirmed, both children and adults, made their vows seriously and we prayed for them as they continue on their journey of faith. They were given their candles as a sign of the Light of Christ and then the bishop took them on 'a lap of honour' around the church to great applause and cheering! :-D


Yet another sad event in London. We pray for those who have been killed or injured in the attack in Finsbury Park; for those who witnessed what happened and for the emergency services who responded. We pray for peace in these difficult times.

Let there be peace on earth - and let it begin with me. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Heavenly Father,
by the power of your Holy Spirit
you give to your faithful people new life in the water of baptism.
Guide and strengthen us by the same Spirit,
that we who are born again may serve you in faith and love,
and grow into the full stature of your Son, Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit
now and for ever. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


How sad but how understandable to see the anger which is being expressed in the aftermath of the terrible fire in London. We pray that those poor people directly affected will get the help they need as soon as is possible. It must be a dreadful challenge to the authorities trying to deal with disaster which came so suddenly and unexpectedly.

Tomorrow is our annual confirmation service. We have over 20 young people and adults who have offered themselves for this sacrament. I will share with you what two of the youngsters have said....


M……….My journey and relationship with God started when I was baptised as a baby. My confirmation means that I get to stand up and declare that God is a big part of my life, and I continue to be part of the Church’s community.


N………I would like to be confirmed. This isn't just because I want to understand more about God; I want to help others understand who He is. Up to now, my Mum and Dad have helped me to know God and Jesus and now I would like to take more responsibility for my own faith. Receiving the bread and wine is a way of me making my own choices in my Christian journey.


Personally, I have been extremely touched by the sentiments expressed by the confirmees over the last few days and feel we are extremely fortunate to have these youngsters within our church family. May God bless them all over the coming years.


Cx :-)

Hello all

Good to know that you're well Cynthia, was it a Senior Moment? I have them too.

A weary day here,hubby had a hospital appointment and this is always tiring for him

We continue to pray for all who are suffering because of the tower block inferno.
The news coverage is heartbreaking to watch and we feel so helpless seeing it all.

Vera it's good that you and your husband are back safely from your holiday now.

Good morning :-)

Oh my goodness, I didn't post yesterday but really thought I had. So sorry to worry you Vera <3

I am often dodging about with various jobs when posting and can be called to see to my OH. Maybe I forget to pop back here. Sigh..........if I had a brain, I would be dangerous... :-D

I'm here now.

As the coverage of the horrendous fire continues, we hold in our prayers those who have the horrible task of searching those destroyed homes. We pray that they may be given strength of body, mind and soul. Amen.

Ongoing thoughts and prayers for all those affected by the recent tragic events. They will need help and support for a long time to come. Sending them all a gentle hug <3

I do hope all is well with you Cynthia. I am guilty of taking you for granted and I expect to see a post from you when I open my iPad in the morning and am concerned when I don't see one. I expect you are simply busy - or maybe even managing a lie-in :-D. I hope that is the case.

Hello all

Such tragic news this morning of the fire in the tower block in London. Unbelievable

Thoughts and prayers are with the families concerned coping with loss and grief.

Praise to the Fire Service who dealt with such harrowing scenes of devastation.

It just seems to be one horrid event after another at the moment. We can only hold in our thoughts all those affected by this latest disaster and be grateful for our wonderful emergency services <3

Oh dear Lord! What awful news to wake up to.

As we watch in helplessness, we pray for all those caught up in the dreadful fire in London.

We thank God for the emergency services who are striving to put the fire out and for those who are trying to rescue those trapped inside those flats.

We pray for those who are waiting news of loved ones. We can but simply hold all these folks out to God's loving mercy.

Cx