General Chat

Hello all

LOVE Pentecost Sunday, made even more special seeing a few other visiting relatives in church today.

My favourite Pentecostal hymn. Still not singing yet

Spirit of the living God
Fall afresh on me.

Spirit of the living God
Fall afresh on me.

Melt me, mould me. fill me, use me.

Spirit of the living god.
Fall afresh on me.

Happy Pentecostal Sunday. Stay safe everyone.

Good morning :-)

Today is Pentecost Sunday – that special day when we remember the coming of the Holy Spirit. It is also known as the birthday of the church.

The Collect (special Prayer for today)

God, who as at this time
taught the hearts of your faithful people
by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit:
grant us by the same Spirit
to have a right judgement in all things
and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort;
through the merits of Christ Jesus our Saviour. Amen.


Cx :-)

Hello all

A thought provoking subject this week. Thank you.

Vera. I'm sure that your family are all very proud of your young granddaughter and her caring ways.

Thinking of Tabitha and her search for employment, whilst coping with the loss of her Mother in Law.

Praying for the people in Southern Asia who are suffering because of the global pandemic.

Remembering too the people of Israel and Palastine, who are experiencing terrible violence. We give thanks for the cease fire and pray that this will hold fast.

Good morning :-)


So true Vera........this final post on dementia says so much.


End of Dementia Week

Many people with dementia, especially those raised in religious households, benefit from attending services and having home visits. Connecting with their faith and faith community may bring peace, hope and some sense of familiarity. They can often take part in age-old rituals and celebrations and enjoy hearing favourite music and readings.

Some aspects of faith that may bring comfort are:

Music: Even a person not able to converse with caregivers may quietly sing the right words to an often-repeated and much-loved spiritual song or hymn.

Prayers : Listening to or reciting prayers, especially those often-repeated or memorized in earlier years, can connect an individual to faith, memories and a sense of the familiar.

Readings: Bible readings also provide prompts to reconnect to the faith memory. Reading is a skill a person with a progressive dementia like Alzheimer’s Disease maintains for a long time.

As a footnote......I recently read of a priest who had gone to sit and pray with a dying colleague. Although the dying man could not manage to say 'please' or 'thank you', he was able to say 'Amen' at the end of each prayer. Such is faith.

Lord, help us, as a church family, to be always aware of the needs of those around us. Amen.

Cx :-)

I think there is quite a lot of evidence of how music helps people with dementia and it was certainly the case in our family. My brother made up a few CD’s of all our father’s favourite songs. When Dad was getting “worked up” we would quietly start one of the CDs and within minutes Dad would have calmed down and be singing along. He also would remember every word of the lyrics even though he couldn’t remember what we had said 5 minutes earlier.

Music is such a great gift.

Hello all

Heavy rain and a cold wind again so far today.

Thank you Cynthia for this week's postings for Dementia Week. A real food for thought.

"There but for the grace of God, go I"
(John Bradford)

I am blessed to still have a good memory and not be in the same unfortunate/unpleasant situation as so many others.

Good morning :-)

Yes Gwyn, I have heard that music helps to unlock memories too. I have often been told how folk with dementia and a church background, can remember hymns, prayers and psalms from their past - even if they have no idea of who their relatives are. Bitter sweet.


Dementia Week :

Loving Lord, Thank you for the gift of these few minutes to stop and breathe and to remember that you are with me in this very moment.

Dementia is an illness that tempts me to question why such a thing would exist. I am losing my loved one a litlet bit every day, and at times it is so sad for me.

But I have confidence in your words that “all the days ordained for me (and my loved one!) were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:16b).

Help me to see my loved one and our situation through your eyes. Show me all the ways you are present so that the caregiving struggles that tempt me to question myself turn into signposts that assure me of your presence. Amen.

Cx :-)

Thank you Cynthia for your thoughtful prayers relating to Dementia.

It is so very sad, when so many memories can no longer be shared, but sometimes there are surprising glimpses of the 'old' person and who they were pre dementia.
Those moments are treasured and show that sometimes those memories are locked away rather than completely lost.

Recently I watched a very moving feature on TV about wonderful work done with music and dementia patients. They went from sitting slumped in a chair to really engaging in enjoying music from their earlier years and being able to chat knowledgeably about past linked experiences, all brought about because music had unlocked those stored remembrances.

Good morning :-)


Your granddaughter, like so many others Vera, does sterling work in caring for those with this dreadful condition. We are so grateful to them.


A Dementia Friend
by Sarah Merriman


“Who do you see when you look at me ?”
I’m not the person I used to be.
At times I will not know your name,
But really I am not to blame.
Dementia has changed a part of me.
A part that you can’t even see.
It’s had an effect upon my brain,
But deep, deep, down, I’m still the same.
I can still feel and laugh and cry.
So when you see me, don’t pass by,
Without a word, a wave, a smile.
Please just stop and chat a while.
You’ll cheer me up and make my day,
Maybe, we’ll laugh at things I say.
For there’s still humour to be found,
It is not doom and gloom, all round.
So, please, please, treat me just the same.
The word ‘Dementia’ is only a name,
For a condition that I’ve got,
But I can still do such a lot.
I may just need a bit more time,
So please be patient when in line,
I’m struggling at the shopping till.
I’ll get there in the end, I will.
So take a moment, pause a while,
And then give me a nod, a smile.
And maybe then, your hand you’ll lend.
For you are now a ‘Dementia Friend ‘.


Cx :-)

Cynthia, like kandj I also have experience of dementia in a close family member and so say a very loud Amen to your prayers for both sufferers and carers. I am also very proud of my granddaughter for sticking at her "temporary" job in a dementia care home. She has been working there for almost a year now. She is more or less on permanent night shift which sounds easier but, of course, some dementia patients don't distinguish between day and night.

Good morning :-)

A good step forward Dermot? :-D


Dementia week :


Dear Father,
I can feel so very alone as I care for my loved one. Yet I know that your presence is with me, for you walk with me through the day and night. I feel great loss and grief, watching Alzheimer’s strip my beloved of their memories, their abilities, health and dignity.
Lord help me to come to you with this suffering, to remember that you took all this pain upon yourself at the cross. Please give me the vision to see my loved one being redeemed. Help me to trust that you are watching over them. Thank you that you are taking each aspect of their unique character and being and are keeping these things safe in Heaven. Amen.

Cx :-)

'Catholics & Protestants Share Communion at German Ecumenical Convention'.

(C&P from a religious publication).

Hello all

I have experienced Dementia within my family and it's distressing for the patient and carer alike.

I help to support my local hospital dementia wards and also the dementia residents in the village Care Home by knitting and passing on Twiddle Muffs.

Take care and stay safe.

Good morning :-)


Dementia Week


Dear Lord
Living with dementia feels so difficult, so frightening at times.
I feel as though I am stepping into the unknown.
Lord, I ask that You will be my Shepherd,
That You will guide me through this time and that I will
Learn to put my trust, my faith in You.
I thank You for all the times that You have been there in the past. The times when You have supported me, when You have defended me.
I ask You now that You would watch over me,
as the Shepherd who protects His flock. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


DEMENTIA – a word that can strike fear into the heart of any one of us and one that has impacted on the lives of several of our church family. This week is Dementia Awareness week, so we will be concentrating on praying for those who suffer from this dreadful disease and those who care for the sufferers. The Church of England has been looking at ways to develop dementia-friendly churches. Four key elements have been identified as offering potential for developing such a church.

• our pastoral care
• our church buildings
• our services and activities
• our community networks

Pour your grace, O loving God,
upon all suffering with dementia.
It is frustrating
not to find a word;
it is fearful
to lose one's memories.
Bless them with patience,
a loving and supporting family,
and days of hope and accomplishment.
In Christ's name we pray.
Amen


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


The Collect (special prayer) for today : The Sunday after Ascension

O God the King of glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
we beseech you, leave us not comfortless,
but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us
and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before,
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 : John 17. 6–19
Jesus prays for His disciples.



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Lord God,
Your Son Jesus has now ascended into heaven to be with you.

He has send us into the world to preach the good news of your kingdom.
Help us to fulfil this calling wherever we go and whenever we can.

Fill our hearts with your love
that all we may speak to will hear your word through us
and so be drawn to you, Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Dermot, I do believe that we have the box set of BT somewhere! :-D


As a reminder that yesterday was Ascension Day......... you may sing to your heart's content if you know the tune!! :)


Lord, enthroned in heav'nly splendour,
first-begotten from the dead,
You alone, our strong Defender,
Lifting up Your people's head.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Jesus, true and living Bread!

Paschal Lamb! Your off'ring finished
once for all when You were slain,
in its fullness undiminished
shall forevermore remain.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Cleansing souls from ev'ry stain.

Life-imparting heav'nly Manna,
stricken Rock, with streaming side,
heav'n and earth with loud hosanna
worship You, the Lamb who died.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Ris'n, ascended, glorified!

Cx :-)

'How much kinder is God to us than we are willing to be to ourselves'.

(Anthony Trollope - Barchester Towers.)

Hello all

Ongoing prayerful support for Tabitha.

"He was lifted up and a cloud took him out
of their sight." Acts 1 v 9.

HAPPY ASCENSION DAY everyone.