General Chat

Amen to your prayers this week Cynthia.

I hope you are all well and contented folks. Take care

Good morning :-)


God, help me love the life I live right now. Show me the good things I often overlook and help me be content with what I have. Forgive me when I compare myself to others, forgive me for longing for things outside of you and your kingdom. Thank you for loving me right where I am, right as I am. Help me keep my eyes on you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

God, we give you sincere thanks for the rest of the past night and for the gift of a new day, with its opportunities to pleasing you. Grant that we may so pass its hours in the perfect freedom of your service, that at evening, we may again give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Petula Clark! That's a name from the past........Downtown............ :-D :-D


Dear God,
At the start of each day, help us to recognize you above all else. Enlighten the eyes of our heart that we might see you, and notice how you're at work through our lives. Give us wisdom to make the best choices, fill us with a desire to seek after you more than anything else in this world. Let your Spirit and power breathe in us, through us, again, fresh and new. Amen.

Cx :-)

Hello all

A dark and rainy day today. The bonus is that I won't have to water the garden and the tubs.

After reading today's post I've had the Petula Clark hit song from the 1970s going around in my head.

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.

THANK YOU for every tree and flower
THANK YOU for every sky of blue
THANK YOU I should be every hour
Truly thanking you.

THANK YOU for every piece of music
THANK YOU for every song I sing
THANK YOU for giving me sweet music
Thanks for everything.

THANK YOU for everything you give me
THANK YOU for everything we share
THANK YOU for simply being with me
Thanks for being there.

THANK YOU for cheering me with laughter
THANK YOU for every smile you bring
THANK YOU for now and ever after
Thanks for everything.

Take care today and stay safe everyone.

Good morning :-)


Good morning, Lord! Today's a new day, a chance for a new start. Yesterday is gone and with it any regrets, mistakes, or failures I may have experienced. It's a good day to be glad and give thanks, and I do, Lord. Thank you for today, a new opportunity to love, give, and be all that you want me to be. Amen


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Ooooer! I know I was busy yesterday, but I didn't realised I hadn't popped on here - sorry about that. xx

This is what I should have posted :


TEAMWORK
It’s all very well to have courage and skill
And it’s fine to be counted a star,
But the single deed with its touch of thrill
Doesn’t tell the person you are;
For there’s no lone hand in the game we play,
We must work to a bigger scheme.
And the thing that counts in the world today
Is, How do you pull with the team?

They may sound your praise and call you great,
They may single you out for fame,
But you must work with your running mate
Or you’ll never win the game;
Oh, never the work of life is done
By the one with a selfish dream,
For the battle is lost or the battle is won
By the spirit of the team.

You may think it fine to be praised for skill,
But a greater thing to do
Is to set your mind and set your will
On the goal that’s just in view;
It’s helping your fellow friend to score
When their chances hopeless seem;
It’s forgetting self till the game is o’er
And fighting for the team.


Cx :-)

Hello all

No Cynthia?? I hope all is well with her and family.

Remembering today all who are ill, those who are close to them and care for sick family or friends.

Sending special thoughts and prayers for all in need

Hello all

Another interesting weeks postings. Thank you.

We have heavy rain and a cold breeze this morning. Not very Summery at all.

Keep well and stay safe everyone.

Good morning :-)

Working towards teamwork in church

Management of mistakes

Everyone makes mistake - even righteous people make mistakes and stumble occasionally. Mistakes are not failures, because you’re never a failure until you give up. Mistakes teach us what doesn’t work. If we’re not making any mistakes, it means we’re playing it safe and not trying anything new. It’s okay to make mistakes– as long as it isn’t the same old one and we learn from them. Mistakes are how we learn and get better. Don’t be afraid to make a mistake.

Lord, when we make mistakes, may they be opportunities of learning and growth and not of embarrassment and shame. Help us to be more aware of what we are doing and to take notice of when something could be done better. If we are criticised, may it be used for us to do better and to move forward having learned a lesson. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Working towards good teamwork in church.

Affirmation

Most of us like to be affirmed in what we are doing occasionally. If we don’t think our efforts are being welcomed, we can get a bit cranky. In teamwork, it’s just the same and it’s amazing how a smile and a simple word of encouragement can lift a team’s spirits. Four practical ways we can affirm them would be by :

Valuing their ideas
Appreciating their uniqueness
Commending their efforts
Praising their loyalty

Father, we offer our grateful thanks and praise for the teams of volunteers who quietly yet faithfully work in our churches. We ask Your special blessing on each one, knowing that they are the unsung heroes who sometimes receive little thanks for their valuable contribution and may be taken for granted. Help us to love and respect them, in gratitude for all that they do. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Working towards good teamwork in church……Energy!

No one can keep going all of the time. All churches rely greatly on volunteers and, whilst volunteering is a ministry in itself, it needs to be remembered that these good people have a life outside of their involvement with their church. It’s always good to have a plan B or a backup scheme for illness, holidays etc.

We all work at different energy levels – there are those who can rush round tirelessly, and wear themelves out, whilst others take a slower pace and complete the work eventually. Unless it is an emergency, sure and steady outlasts fast and furious!

Good planning ensures that we know when there is to be some pressure on us and we can be ready for it, but we also need some flexibility and fun to help keep our spirits energised. And yes, church life can be fun……and fruitful.

Everlasting God, strengthen and sustain all those who volunteer in our churches;
that with patience and understanding they may love and care for your people;
and grant that together they may follow Jesus Christ,
offering to you their gifts and talents;
through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Teamwork

Good communication is so important in keeping people up to date with what is happening. If we don’t communicate, then people go their own way and gradually drift off. It’s a reminder that, for healthy teamwork, we need to communicate, we need to talk to each other, to understand each other and to respect each other.

During the pandemic, there was much evidence of good team work in the number of phone calls made and shopping done for those who were vulnerable for whatever reason. However, the most important form of communication is our relationship with our Heavenly Father through prayer.

Father, we thank you for those in our churches who are involved in helping us to keep going in whatever way. We thank you for their various gifts and talents and time. May we build on this and encourage one another to work together to your glory. Amen.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Overcast with a chilly wind here this mornng.

Amen to your prayer Cynthia.

A sudden death yet again in the family. So sad.

Calm me Lord, as you calm a storm
Still me Lord, keep me from harm
Let all the turmoil within me cease
Enfold me Lord, in your peace.
Amen.

Good morning :-)



Yesterday, at church, we heard about teamwork. I would like to think that the majority of churches have people who work together for the benefit of all. There are the teams of those who lead us in worship, the teams of talented people who arrange flowers, or ring the bells or count the money. Of course, we mustn't forget the wonderful people who makes the drinks and refreshments we need!!
This made me look at what helps to build up teams of people working together:

TRUST
Trust is pretty essential if people are going to work together. People will trust us if they see us responding in a consistent and reasonable manner. They need to know where we are coming from in our decisions and responses. We need to be loyal to each other, assuming the best until there is concrete evidence to the contrary. We need to delegate. When we delegate, we are essentially telling them “I trust you”. People trust leaders who trust them.

Lord, You are the God of peace and love in Whom I place my trust. Give me a peaceful heart that rests in You and a loving spirit that pours fourth Your love to others. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


The Collect (special prayer) for today:

O God, the protector of all who trust in you,
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy:
increase and multiply upon us your mercy;
that with you as our ruler and guide
we may so pass through things temporal
that we lose not our hold on things eternal;
grant this, heavenly Father,
for our Lord Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.


The Gospel reading for today : JESUS CALMS THE STORM

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


To bring our week of thinking about seeds to an end, here is an old hymn which ties things up rather nicely. It is based on Psalm 126:6 and reminds us that it can be quite hard work sowing seeds, but that is well worth it when we know that we have helped to spread the gospel and we see people coming to know Jesus.


Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain:
Bringing in the sheaves,
Bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves;
Bringing in the sheaves,
Bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.


https://youtu.be/ad54bH-nQTM


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


GOD’S FRUIT STAND
A woman went into a marketplace, looked around, and saw a sign that read “God’s Fruit Stand.” “Thank goodness. It’s about time,” the woman said to herself.
She went inside and she said, “I would like a perfect banana, a perfect cantaloupe, a perfect strawberry, and a perfect peach.” God, who was behind the counter, said, “I’m sorry. I sell only seeds.”

Plant honesty and you will reap trust
Plant goodness and you will forge authentic friendships
Plant humility and you will reap depth
Plant perseverance and you will reap contentment and deep joy
Plant consideration and you will reap right vision and perspective
Plant hard work and you will reap real success
Plant forgiveness and you will reap reconciliation and possible new beginnings

Lord, help us to scatter these seeds as we meet with others day by day. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


We haven't heard from Tabitha for a while have we? Hope she's okay. <3



Two seeds lay side by side in the fertile spring soil. The first seed said, “I want to grow! I want to send my roots deep into the soil beneath me, and thrust my sprouts through the earth’s crust above me . . . I want to unfurl my tender buds like banners to announce the arrival of spring. I want to feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the blessing of the morning dew on my petals!” And so it grew.

The second seed said, “I am afraid. If I send my roots into the ground below, I don’t know what I will encounter in the dark. If I push my way through the hard soil above me, I may damage my delicate sprouts . . . what if I let my buds open and a snail tries to eat them? And if I were to open my blossoms, a small child may pull me from the ground. No, it is much better for me to wait until it is safe.” And so, it waited.

A yard hen scratching around in the early spring ground for food found the waiting seed and promptly ate it.


Lord, help us to be prepared to take risks for you, knowing that you love and care for us. Amen.


Cx :-)

Lovely, meaningful stories this week. I don't know how you come up with so many good ideas Cynthia but I am very glad you do. Thank you.

I wonder how Tabitha is getting on.