General Chat

Good morning :-)

Good morning everyone.........??

Hoping the storms have died down..........stormy weather in the reading last Sunday and stormy weather in our lives but, we have an anchor!

I've heard a saying that's very true.
You have probably heard it too.
"Into each life, some rain must fall."
We'd have a drought with no rain at all.

When it's dry, we pray for the rain
To water the earth for a harvest to gain.
No rain can cause a famine, you know.
For without rain, crops cannot grow.

Storm clouds gather, and how we fret!
We've been through storms hard to forget.
In the midst of a storm, shelter we seek.
Thunder will roar; lightning will streak.

The storm rages, and we long for peace.
We pray for the wind and rain to cease.
Then the sun shines, and skies are clear.
All is calm, and there's nothing to fear.

We go through storms on the sea of life.
We suffer heartaches, sorrow, and strife.
Trust in Jesus, and in Him abide.
All through the storm, He's by your side.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

A few weeks ago on Twitter, I spotted a comment from a young clergyman about his hymn (song) list for the following Sunday. Quite a few people responded and said they didn’t know any of them. His response was… “Really? Wow. Two of them are over 25 years old, so I see them as pretty retro”. How to feel old without trying!

The hymns most of us were brought up on were often a hundred or more years old when we sang them as tiddlers – we came to no harm. Somehow, I don’t think many of the songs we hear today will stand the test of time.

We heard about the hymn 'Will your Anchor hold' on Sunday. The author of this hymn was Priscilla Owens who was born in Baltimore, USA in 1829. She was a Sunday School teacher and wrote a number of hymns for her pupils.

"Will Your Anchor Hold" was sung outside the door of the dying hymn-writer Mary Fawler Maude (Thine For Ever! God of love). She sent her singers the message, "Tell them that it does not fail - it holds."

The words were inspired by the Epistle to the Hebrews, Chapter 6, Verse 19; “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast…”. Other Biblical texts are also referenced in the verses of the hymn. What more could we want?

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Yesterday’s Gospel reading was the story of Jesus calming the storm. Storm? High winds? Noise? Sounds a bit familiar after we have endured storm Eunice the last few days. Funnily enough, the name Eunice appears in the bible – she was the mother of Timothy, the young evangelist and St. Paul’s protégé, but more about her another time. Back to Jesus and the storm. we had an excellent sermon yesterday when we were reminded of that familiar hymn much loved by the Boys’ Brigade…. “Will your anchor hold in the storms of life”. Many of us left church uplifted and strengthened.

Trust in the Lord
by Anonymous

The wind's not always at our back,
The sky is not always blue.
Sometimes we crave the things we lack,
And don't know what to do.

Sometimes life's an uphill ride,
With mountains we must climb.
At times the river's deep and wide,
And crossing takes some time.

No one said that life is easy,
There are no guarantees.
So Trust in the Lord continually,
On calm or stormy seas.

The challenges we face today,
Prepares us for tomorrow.
For faith takes our fears away,
And peace replaces sorrow.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Collect (special prayer) for today:

Almighty God,
you have created the heavens and the earth
and made us in your own image:
teach us to discern your hand in all your works
and your likeness in all your children;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns supreme over all things,
now and for ever.

The Gospel reading Luke 8:22-25
Jesus calms the storm.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Many thanks for this week's love postings Cynthia.

"The second commandment is this: 'You shall love your neighbour as yourself.' There is no other greater commandment than this." (Mark 12:v 31).

Take care during the stormy weather. Stay safe all.

Good morning :-)

At the end of a 'lovely' week........


"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Having a ‘lovely’ week……Agape

Agape is almost always used to describe the love that is of and from God. God does not merely love; He IS love. Everything God does comes from His love. Agape is also used to describe our love for God, a servant’s faithful respect to his master.

The type of love that characterizes God is not a soppy, sentimental thing. God loves because that is His nature. He loves the unlovable and the unlovely, not because we deserve to be loved, but because it is His nature to love and He must be true to His nature. Agape love involves faithfulness, commitment, and an act of the will. Because of God’s love for us, we are able to love one another.

“And now abide in faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Having a ‘lovely’ week

Pragma — “Enduring Love”

Pragma is the sort of love you settle down to in a long lasting marriage and its where we get the English word pragmatic. It’s a practical kind of love that stands the test of time. It’s the kind of love a husband and wife have after fifty years of marriage, and they still want to kiss and hold hands. As the opposite of Eros where the passion burns white hot and fades quickly, pragma is like fine wine. It matures and grows over time into something truly special.

We can see evidence of it in the bible when we read about Abraham and Sarah.
They had been married for decades before God finally blessed them with a son. It takes pragma for a couple to last that long enduring life’s ups and downs while waiting for God’s promise to come true. Eventually, God did keep His promise to them and Isaac was born.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Having a ‘lovely’ week….

An unfamiliar word…..’Storge’

Storge (pronounced storjay) refers to “familial love,” a “deep and caring bond that develops naturally between parent and children, husbands and wives, siblings” and also others who are close enough to be called “family.” Storge love is a protective love that can withstand hardships and trials.
This kind of love is steady and sure.

Matthew 12:50
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Cx :-)

I am enjoying this week’s love theme and it has reminded me of my old school motto which was Amor Vincit Omnia - love conquers all.

Good morning :-)

Having a ‘lovely’ week

Affectionate love – called Philia, is a love without romantic attraction and is the love shared between friends or family members. It occurs when both people share the same values and respect each other — it’s commonly referred to as “brotherly love.” This is where the city Philadelphia gets its name from. How do we show brotherly love?

• Engage in deep conversation with a friend.
• Be open and trustworthy.
• Be supportive in hard times.

In the bible we read (from Peter) “Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.”

Cx :-)

Hello all

"We love because God first loved us."
(1 John ch 4 v 19). NIV

Happy St.Valentine's Day everyone.

Good morning :-)

Let’s have a ‘lovely’ week – even a ‘love fest’.

Today is dear old St. Valentine’s Day once again, and all the romantics will be busy exchanging gifts and sentimental cards with their beloved. We have often heard the story of this Christian saint and how he was martyred for the faith, but let’s think about love!

Some tend to think love occurs solely between romantic partners, but this isn’t true. Humans can experience several types of love in various relationships, such as with romantic partners, friends, family and even strangers on the street.

Today’s love theme centres on Eros — Romantic Love. Eros is a primal love that comes as a natural instinct for most people. It’s a passionate love displayed through physical affection. Even the bible has its romantic verses , especially from the Song of Solomon…….
“Your love delights me,
my treasure, my bride.
Your love is better than wine,
your perfume more fragrant than spices.”

Happy St. Valentine’s Day everyone.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)



The Collect (special prayer) set for today :


Almighty God, who alone can bring order to the unruly wills and passions of sinful humanity: give your people grace so to love what you command and to desire what you promise, that, among the many changes of this world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; 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 set for today:
Luke 6. 17-26

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


A great deal has changed in the world since 1952. Throughout the many changes, The Queen has been a faithful and stable presence in all our lives, quietly nurtured by her Christian faith and nurturing it in others. We give thanks for her and for her steadfast service.



"The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of hosts."
Haggai 2.8

God, save the Queen,
as we give thanks for Her Majesty’s
70 years of service to this nation
and to the Commonwealth.
With the splendour of silver,
the dignity of gold,
the sparkle of diamonds,
and the quality of platinum
may we seek to serve one another
and follow in the steps that she has trod
for the common good
and for the building up of your kingdom;
in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Thank you Cynthia, so much has changed since the 1950s era.


Remembering all who work hard to provide health and social care, especially as they are all exhausted. Thinking of all NHS staff in busy hospitals and also the many dedicated carers looking after people in their own homes, and all staff working hard in care homes too.

Good morning :-)

A different world – 1952

Health.
Vaccines are very much in the news at the moment. We are emerging from the effects of the Covid pandemic and, apparently, measles is on the rise once more. However, 1952 was no stranger to infectious disease or disaster. The Great Smog of London alone, caused many thousands of deaths and countless injuries. Polio, measles, diphtheria were responsible for millions of deaths.
Thankfully, due to the use of vaccines, these diseases are kept under control.

The NHS was developed as a tax-funded, universal health care system. It was, and still is, free at the point of use and people do not need to pay to see an NHS doctor. However, people using the NHS do pay for some things: in 1952 charges were introduced for prescriptions, dental treatment and spectacles. There was a one-shilling charge for prescriptions and a £1 charge for dental treatment.

We thank God for the continuing development of vaccines which will help to fight disease and keep us safe.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)



A different world – 1952

Fashion. The End of Rationing and the Beginning of Excess.

As the 1950s dawned, many war-torn countries were still rebuilding. Goods were available again in many places that had seen shortages. In many cases, returning soldiers had married and started families, and women had left the workplace to become stay-at-home wives and mothers. Some countries encouraged consumerism as a way of strengthening the economy.

Women's dresses in particular exploded with excess fabric, showing off intricate gatherings, a multitude of pleats, poofy petticoats, and fabulous collars, all made of the best taffeta, nylon, rayon, wool and leather in the brightest and boldest patterns and colours.

For men, fashions changed very little throughout the decade. Choices were suits, sport coats, slacks, sweaters, or casual wear all in similar fabrics and styles. Occasionally bolder patterns might emerge for casual wear, but business clothing remained largely unchanged during the fifties.

Fashion in church - What to wear
It’s often said that it doesn’t matter what we wear to church because God loves us anyway. But, thinking about it, God deserves our best, even when it comes to clothing. It would be considered rather rude to go to a wedding in scruffy casual gear, so going to worship is not an issue of being dressed up to the nines, but an issue of respect and reverence for who God is.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

A different world – 1952

Education

In 1952 there were no pre-schools or nurseries, so for most children their first day at school was the first time away from their home, on their own and without their mothers. Consequently, it could be a very tearful event – on both sides! Once they got over the shock, school life soon fell into a predictable routine. School milk was part of this routine, but not every child liked it. In Post War Britain school milk, a third of a pint per child, was introduced in schools to supplement the child’s diet.

Class sizes were large, often over 30 children to a class, as these were the ‘baby boomers’, children born after WW2. There were no classroom assistants, just the class teacher and so discipline was strict. It was quite common for a disruptive child to be rapped over the knuckles, on the buttocks or on the palm of the hand with a ruler. Children wrote on blackboards with chalk progressing to
pens (with nibs) and messy ink.

Reading, writing and arithmetic (the Three ‘R’s) were very important, as was learning by rote and times tables were learnt by chanting aloud in class.
There was also a strong sense of being British learning about the history and geography of Britain and the Commonwealth. Happy days!

Memories welcome :-D :-D

Cx :-)

Hello all

I also feel blessed to have the Queen as Head of the Church of England, she is an inspiration to me and to a great many of the elder generation too.

Vera, I fully agree with your husband's thinking that "the good old days" are now. I hope he is now enjoying better health after your holiday scary experience.

Sending Happy Tuesday blessings to one and all.