General Chat

Good morning :-)

Musical instruments in worship - the organ.

Organs of sorts have been made at least since 265B.C.(Greek) They were known to be in England in 1100. Organs were, until the advent of the clock the most complicated machines known to man.

They have evolved according to the wealth of the Church, taste, fashion, the development of music, and the endless possibilities afforded by the industrial revolution and beyond. The resulting explosion in technical ingenuity and the advent of new materials took organ building to new heights.

Organs were first with programmable music…… the barrel organ with pinned drum, others with perforated paper “recordings”, perforated card books, and now even midi interfaces for church pipe organs. Memories can store stop selections set up in advance of a performance. Today, organs can, indeed, be ‘all singing and all dancing’!

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Musical instruments in worship - The harp.

Several sorts of stringed instruments are mentioned in the Bible. The harp and the lyre, especially, were prominent in the music of the sanctuary. The harp was the national instrument of the Hebrews and was well-known throughout Asia.

Ancient stringed instruments were plucked, not used with a bow like the instruments of the violin family that we see today. The harp is the only musical instrument that Scripture describes as pleasant:

Scripture mentions only the harp as the musical instrument that is played in the worship music of heaven.

Psalm 147:7 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Musical instruments in worship

There are many stories about trumpets in the bible. Early trumpets were made from animal horns (such as a ram’s horn) perforated at the tip, and used for various purposes.

Trumpets were blown at special festivals, and to herald the arrival of special seasons and the beginning of each Jubilee year. They were used to gather the people together and to announce the imminent presence of God.

Over the following centuries, the trumpet evolved into what we know today. Some churches have bands and groups and there is usually a trumpeter to be found. We are also used to seeing State Trumpeters at formal royal occasions and there are those who specialise in playing the trumpet at weddings and other celebratory events.

Trumpets have certainly moved on - a solid platinum trumpet manufactured by Yahama, went on sale for $125,000!

“With trumpets and the sound of the horn
Shout joyfully before the King, the LORD.” —Psalm 98:6

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Music has been an essential part of worship since the beginning – both in the Old and New Testaments. It can cheer us up and also soothe and calm us. Most of all, it gives us the chance to sing God’s praises in thanksgiving.

Tambourines are mentioned a few times in Scripture, most notably when Miriam played one to celebrate the Israelite’s Exodus from Egypt. They are great for spontaneous parties! The tambourine is held in one hand and hit with the other, which means you can play and dance at the same time.

‘Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing.’ (Exodus 15:20)

The Salvation Army are well known for its tambourine playing, especially during their open-air meetings. Check this link ....
Cx :-)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPH80sd0bZI

Good morning :-)

Nearly 60 years Vera - that's quite a milestone. Glad you enjoyed the hymn. <3

Music is an inherent part of every society. The unearthly sounds of throat-singing in Mongolia and Siberia are as important to their cultures as Bach is to European cultures or drum-driven song and dance are to Native American cultures. Since music is such an important part of life, it should not be surprising that the Bible says much about it. We'll find out more :-D


Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy. Psalm 33:3

Cx :-)

Another interesting theme this week Cynthia - thank you.

The hymn yesterday brought back many happy memories as it was one that I chose for our wedding almost 60 years ago. We have been very blessed in our marriage and are very fortunate to still be able to enjoy life together so I certainly have much to be grateful for.

Good morning :-)


The Collect (special prayer) for today :

Almighty and everlasting God,
increase in us your gift of faith
that, forsaking what lies behind
and reaching out to that which is before,
we may run the way of your commandments
and win the crown of everlasting 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 for today:

Luke 18 1-8 Jesus tells the story of the Persistent Widow.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

An attitude of gratitude.....

A hymn of thankfulness...

Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

Oh, may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And guard us through all ills in this world, till the next!

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,
The Son, and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven—
The one eternal God, Whom earth and Heav’n adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

An attitude of gratitude

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which read, “I am blind, please help.”

There were only a few coins in the hat – spare change from folks as they hurried past.

A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. Then he put the sign back in the boy’s hand so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.

Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.

That afternoon, the man who had changed the sign returned to see how things were.

The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, “Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?”

The man said, “I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way.”
I wrote, “Today is a beautiful day, but I cannot see it.”

Both signs spoke the truth. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind, while the second sign conveyed to everyone walking by how grateful they should be to see…

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


An attitude of gratitude

"Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude." A.A. Milne

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

An attitude of Gratitude

Be grateful for the kindly friends
that walk along your way,
Be grateful for the skies of blue
that smile from day to day,

Be grateful for the health you own,
the work you find to do,
For roundabout you there are those
less fortunate than you.

Be grateful for the growing trees,
the roses soon to bloom,
The tenderness of kindly hearts
that shared your days of gloom,

Be grateful for the morning dew,
the grass beneath your feet,
The soft caresses of your babes
and all their laughter sweet.

Acquire the grateful habit,
learn to see how blessed you are,
How much there is to gladden life,
how little life to mar!

And what if rain shall fall today
and you with grief are sad,
Be grateful that you can recall
the joys that you have had.

by Edgar Albert Guest

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

An attitude of gratitude

“At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” – Albert Schweitzer

Lord, we thank you for those who have lit up our lives when we were facing dark days. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

An attitude of gratitude
Yesterday, we heard the story of Jesus healing 10 lepers and yet only one returned to thank him. We all have so much to be grateful for, maybe more than we imagine……..

A story of gratitude
Anthony Ray Hinton spent 30 years on death row for a crime he didn’t commit. The police told him he would be going to jail because he was black.

His time in jail was spent in solitary confinement in a five-by-seven-foot cell, allowed out only one hour a day. But, Hinton quickly became a friend and counsellor to other inmates and the death row guards, many of whom begged Hinton’s attorney to get him out.

A unanimous Supreme Court ruling ordered his release and he was able to walk free. In an interview he is quoted saying: “One does not know the value of freedom until it is taken away, People run out of the rain. I run into the rain…I am so grateful for every drop. Just to feel it on my face.”

In a later interview, the interviewer asked if he was angry at the people who put him in jail. He said he forgave them all. The interviewer asked, “but they took 30 years of your life — how can you not be angry?”

Hinton responded:
“If I’m angry and unforgiving, they will have taken the rest of my life.”

Lord, we are grateful for our freedom and for the rain. Thank you. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Almighty God,
you have made us for yourself,
and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you:
pour your love into our hearts and draw us to yourself,
and so bring us at last to your heavenly city
where we shall see you face to face;
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.


Luke 17 11-19 The story of Jesus and the Lepers.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


October’s Party.

October gave a party;
And leaves by hundreds came –
The Chestnuts, Oaks and Maples
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet
And everything was grand
Miss Weather led the dancing and
Professor Wind, the band.

The Chestnuts came in yellow,
The Oaks in crimson dressed,
The lovely Misses Maple,
In scarlet looked their best;
All balanced to their partners
And gaily fluttered by;
The sight was like a rainbow
New fallen from the sky.

Then, in the rustic hollow
At hide-and-seek they played,
The party closed at sundown
And everybody stayed.
Professor Wind played louder;
They flew along the ground
And then the party ended
In jolly ‘hands around’.
- George Cooper

God of fallen leaves lying in coloured patterns on the ground, our lives have their own patterns. As we see the patterns of our own growth, may we learn from them.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Thank you Vera - they are very good quotes aren't they?


Colours of Autumn

The colour brown reminds us of the beauty of nature especially the rich soil in our gardens. Our fruit, flowers, trees and vegetables depend much on good soil. Many of the leaves which are falling are a lovely brown colour.

When we see the colour brown this season, let’s remember that we are rooted in Christ. We no longer topple in life’s storms but stand firm. As part of the body of Christ, we celebrate the growing family we have within the church where we can offer a feeling of comfort and home to others. May we share the love of Christ with all.

Cx :-)

Another good theme this week Cynthia. Thank you.

I came across a couple of quotes yesterday that I thought I would share with you as they made me think. The first is Benjamin Disraeli and I think is quite well known though it was the first time I had heard it:

Judaism is not complete without Christianity and without Judaism, Christianity would not exist.

I do not know the author of the second:

Happiness is letting go of what you think your life is supposed to look like and celebrating it for everything that it is.

EDIT: The author is Mandy Hale

Good morning :-)

The colours of Autumn

Orange, that wonderful colour of the mixture of both red and yellow and a basic colour of this season. Although not specifically mentioned in scripture, the colour orange encourages contentment, joy and hope for the future.

When we watch those wonderful orange leaves tumbling to the ground, we remember that God provides us with wisdom, complete freedom and every reason for being optimistic.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The colours of Autumn

Another autumnal shade we see in nature is crimson/red in those beautiful leaves such as maple and rowan. In the bible, red tends to symbolize blood, fire, power and love. Red can also express anger and frustration as in ‘seeing red’.

In autumn, the leaves change and fall from the tree. When they meet the soil, they are nourished, allowing for new growth in the spring. As we watch the beautiful red leaves flutter down, we can think of Jesus and the sacrifice he made on the cross so that we could have eternal life.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The colours of Autumn
For many people, this is a favourite time of the year due, mainly, to the wonderful colours we see as nature takes its course with the falling leaves and fading plants.

One colour which particularly catches the eye is – Gold and those beautiful golden leaves fluttering down.

Gold can symbolise several things such as wealth, love, and light as in wedding rings and gifts. It can symbolise diligence and learning as in receiving a Gold Star. In the bible, yellow and gold are commonly associated with fire – fire represents the mighty, all-consuming presence of God and the Holy Spirit.

When we see the colour gold this season, may we remember God's amazing love for us, which brings light to our spirit and joy to our hearts.

Cx :-)