General Chat

Good morning :-)

You are very true in what you say Vera thank you. My grandchildren don't understand the Royal Family very much either - but I do my best to help make things clearer for them. We are certainly blessed with Her Majesty. <3

A different world – 1952

The Church of England. I quote……

In the 1950’s, the Church of England was smug and confident and had cause to be. Congregations were large and in many places growing. Many clergy would work at least a sixteen-hour day, saying the Offices and going to a daily Mass if that were the tradition, running youth clubs, teaching in the church school, and visiting, visiting, visiting.

There was little lay involvement and often no meeting, be it Mothers Union, Men’s Society or whatever, was valid without a clerical presence.

High and low
The Church then was divided into strict compartments, yet each group – at least on the surface – accepted that the Church of England was big enough to hold all together, albeit in a somewhat uneasy truce. The dismissive description was ‘high and crazy, low and lazy, broad and hazy’ but they rarely met.

We thank God for our churches and pray for a revival in faith and witness. Amen.

Cx :-)

Things certainly were very different in the early 1950s. People still talk about the "good old days" but my husband says the "good old days" are now. Certainly when the Queen came to the throne people knew their neighbours and everyone interacted more because we weren't all glued to screens, but most women still had to do the family wash by hand, beat the rugs, scrub the floors. I certainly wouldn't want to go back to running a home without a washing machine, vacuum cleaner and everything else that makes life easier.

I don't think people always realise how fortunate we are in this country to have such a steadying influence at the top. Governments come and go but the monarchy is always there. We had an interesting talk with one of our granddaughters recently. She had asked what the Royal Family actually do. She is a very bright girl but genuinely had not understood the goodwill generated around the world, particularly by the Queen, and the amount of wealth they indirectly bring in to the country in terms of trade and tourism.

I've rambled on but I am truly grateful for the technology that gives me an easier life than my parents had, for all the hard workers in the Royal Family, and especially for the Queen and her wonderful sense of duty and service. God bless her.

Good morning :-)


Life in 1952 was very different to what it is like now.

Food: When the Queen came to the throne in 1952, sugar, butter, cheese, margarine, cooking fat, bacon, meat and tea were all still rationed. Rationing did not actually finish until 1954, with sugar rationing ending in 1953 and meat rationing in 1954.

Food was seasonal (no tomatoes in winter for example); there were no supermarkets, no frozen food or freezers to store it in and the only takeaway was from the fish and chip shop.

The 1950s were the age of spam fritters (now making a comeback!), salmon sandwiches, tinned fruit with evaporated milk, fish on Fridays and ham salad for high tea every Sunday. The prices were very different too!

White bread 6d.
Butter 2/6d
¼lb tea 11d.
2lb sugar 1s.
1lb potatoes 2d.
1pt beer 1/3d

For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Today marks the 70th anniversary of the Queen's accession to the throne. May God bless her - always.

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, bless our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth, and all who are in authority under her; that they may order all things in wisdom and equity, righteousness and peace, to the honour and glory of your name and the good of your Church and people; 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 Collect (special prayer) for today :

O God, you know us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: grant to us such strength and protection as may support us in all dangers and carry us through all temptations; 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 is taken from Luke 5 1-11 and tells the story of Jesus calling the fishermen to be his first disciples.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Tomorrow marks Accession Day - 6 February 2022 will mark 70 years since The Queen acceded to the throne on the death of her father King George VI. Her Majesty has gone on to reign longer than any other British Monarch in history, and to become a beloved figure around the world.

In 1952, King George VI's health was poor, and illness forced him to abandon a proposed Commonwealth tour. Princess Elizabeth, accompanied by Prince Philip, took his place. On Wednesday 6 February 1952, she received the news of her father's death and her own Accession to the throne while staying in a remote part of Kenya. In an instant, she had ceased to be Princess Elizabeth and became Queen Elizabeth II.

A new Monarch comes to the throne at the moment of death of the previous Monarch, hence the phrase, 'The King is dead, long live The King! (or Queen)'

In 1952, she requested: “Pray that God may give me wisdom and strength to carry out the solemn promises I shall be making and that I may faithfully serve Him and you, all the days of my life’.

Tomorrow, special prayers will be said as we remember and give thanks for the 70 years of service given by our Queen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Children Learn What They Live
If a child lives with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, they learn to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, they learn to be shy.
If a child lives with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance, they learn to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement, they learn to be confident.
If a child lives with praise, they learn to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, they learn justice.
If a child lives with security, they learn to have faith.
If a child lives with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
they learn to find love in the world.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


NO PERFECT CHURCH

I think that I shall never see
A church that’s all it ought to be;
A church whose members never stray
Beyond the strait and narrow way;
A church that has no empty pews,
Where all the people pay their dues;
A church whose members always sing
And flock to church when bells do ring.
Such perfect churches there may be,
But none of them are known to me.
But still we’ll work and pray and plan
To make our own the best we can.
~ Unknown


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


February 2nd Candlemas, and so much to commemorate on this day!

Candlemas :
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (where Jesus is presented to Simeon and Anna)

The Purification of the Virgin Mary (a ceremony where women were 'purified' after giving birth)

The Blessing of the Candles (where the year's supply of candles is blessed)

The taking down of Christmas decorations - marking the end of the Christmas period (an old custom still upheld by many people including Her Majesty the Queen)

An ancient festival marking the midpoint of winter, halfway between the shortest day and the spring equinox

And, on top of all that, it's Groundhog Day
And, on top of all that, it's Groundhog Day
And, on top of all that, it's Groundhog Day ????


Dear Lord,
give us the eyes of faith
to see you in the world.
Where fear closes our eyes, help us.
Where tears blind us, heal us.
Set us free to see your love at work in the world.
Amen.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Amen to your morning prayer Cynthia.

My village church has a mainly elderly congregation, and so it was a joy to hear children's voices in during Sunday's service. Mum and Dad had brought their 3 year old and his 16 month old brother Noah who is being baptised next Sunday.
We desperately need young families to join us all.

White Rabbits..... for the 1st of February, wrap up and keep warm and safe everyone.

Good morning :-)


Remembering the elderly couple Simeon and Anna in the temple.

The elderly are, for us a living link to the past, becoming an invaluable resource in knowing and understanding the history and background of the church's practices and ways. A willingness to listen and learn from those who know our traditions often brings younger generations a wiser and more appreciative awareness of the heritage that is ours.


"My life is in Your hands and the joy of the Lord has been my strength throughout all the days of my life. My trust is in the Lord my God. My hope is built on nothing less that Jesus Christ and His righteousness. Praise Your glorious name for ever and ever, Amen."


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)



Yesterday, we had the lovely story of the elderly Simeon and Anna greeting the baby Jesus and his parents in the Temple. These days, within church life, so much centres on youth and it’s easy to sometimes forget the value of age. We forget the wisdom and the priceless value of experience which many of our older folk have.

“Ageism prevents many people of all ages from seeing that potentials are as bountiful as problems among older adults… It diminishes the church's witness and mission.” —UM Discipleship Ministries

“Don't dismiss elders for there's wisdom with age” - Oumar Dieng.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Collect (special prayer) for today:

God our creator,
who in the beginning
commanded the light to shine out of darkness:
we pray that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ
may dispel the darkness of ignorance and unbelief,
shine into the hearts of all your people,
and reveal the knowledge of your glory
in the face of 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 for today is from Luke 2. 22-40 and tells of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

So many styles of ministry…………Ordained Ministry

There is so much information about the ordained ministry, that we could spend a year on it. This quote, from an Anglican diocese, sums it up quite well.

‘Most often people are ordained first as Deacon and then a year later as Priest.
A priest (also known as presbyter) represents Christ and his Church in a particular way, through a ministry of teaching, preaching, celebration of the sacraments and pastoral care.

It is a ministry of leadership and mission, enabling all Christian people to share the Good News in their everyday lives.

But priesthood is not just about doing, but about being. Through the lives they lead, priests point to Jesus and encourage people to show love and compassion and to build the Kingdom of God. As they do this, priests share in people’s joys and sorrows as they walk with them on their journey through life.

"I would have every minister of the gospel address his audience with the zeal of a friend with the generous energy of a father and with the exuberant affection of a mother.”
~ Francois Fenelon

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Ministry……..so many styles of ministry….the ministry of altar servers

It’s quite common to hear of clerics and lay readers who began their Christian journey as altar servers, sometimes called acolytes. Doing this humble work can often make a great impression on young folk as they experience the atmosphere of reverence during Holy Communion.

An altar server is a lay assistant to a member of the clergy during a service of Holy Communion. They can be male or female (usually over the age of 10). They usually wear either a cassock and surplice or a plain white alb.

As one cleric puts it………………

“I tell my servers on a regular basis- they are on the forefront of evangelization at the parish.”

Cx :-)

Hello all

Another week of interesting posts. Thanks Cynthia.

We have blue skies and white clouds this morning. A much needed tonic after so many cold dull days.
The snowdrops are in bloom and other Spring bulbs are showing through. It's good to see God's work.

Thank you for waking me this morning
Thank you for giving me today
Thank you for every new day dawning
Thanks for everything.

I hope it's a good day for all looking in today.

Good morning :-)

So many styles of ministry..........



Ministry to the Sick.

This is a pastoral ministry of caring for those in hospital, in nursing homes, or confined to their own home. Pastoral care demonstrates the care and concern of the church community to those who are unable to attend church, giving them the opportunity to pray with others and to receive the Eucharist.

Church folk through the ages have usually appreciated a visit from their clergy – someone they relate to and can confide in.

Many churches have a small team of authorised lay folk who are able to take Holy Communion out to those who are unable to attend services.

‘It has always been the practice of the Church to take special care of those who are sick. We see the suffering Christ in them, and desire to take them his consolation’.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Many forms of ministry

Music ministry

During the pandemic, when our churches were closed and even when they were re=opened, one of the things people missed very much was singing. Singing has been an important part of worship for ever!

We thank God for those who lead and encourage the growth of music throughout our churches and for those who are willing to sing to the glory of God.

I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.
- Psalm 104:33

Good morning :-)


Ministry.......so many types of ministry……..

Children’s ministry. There are many volunteers who give happily of their time and talents to support and encourage the young in the church community. We give thanks for these people and ask God to give them energy and creativity to work together well in equipping, growing and encouraging the young people in their care. Help them to learn from one another and build one another up in Christ. Amen.


“Use your ministry to build people, not people to build your ministry.”
– Jacquelyn K. Heasley


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Yesterday, in church, we heard about Jesus preaching in the synagogue before He began His ministry, but.............

What is Ministry?

Listening, when you'd rather fix the problem.
Searching for the joy, when it's easier to say "it's not fair."
Helping, when you feel like you're the one who needs the help.
Telling God, "use me", when you'd rather ask to be rescued.
Encouraging, even when you don't understand God's reasoning.
Hugging when it feels awkward.
Saying, "let's pray right now," instead of "I'll pray for you."
Serving, when you doubt you have anything left to give.
Comforting, by being the flicker of light in others' dark caverns.
~ Author Unknown

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


The Collect (special prayer) for today :

Almighty God,
whose Son revealed in signs and miracles
the wonder of your saving presence:
renew your people with your heavenly grace,
and in all our weakness
sustain us by your mighty power;
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 is from St. Luke 4: 14-21 and tell us how Jesus preached in the synagogue before beginning his ministry.


Cx :-)