General Chat

Church doors still under 'lockdown'.

The reason is well known & logical. What else can be done?

Nevertheless, very unsettling.

Received an e-mail this morning from our local establishment wondering if I would consider joining the congregation through 'Zoom' - whatever that is. :-D

Hello all

Snow again throughout the night, pretty but COLD!

Cynthia the vaccination doesn't hurt, so be brave.

Vera I hope your brother's funeral service went as well as can be and that everyone had safe travels.

Heavenly Lord
We pray for children, students and all teachers as they cope daily with the emotional impact of Covid.
Empower teachers and all who work in education with wisdom and stamina to face the days ahead.
Amen.

Good morning :-)


Vaccination day today!! :-D


This week we will think about some of those whose lives have been turned upside down by the virus.


TEACHERS: Teachers have been tasked with a job they never expected. They have spent countless hours learning new teaching strategies and technology tools, all in the name of doing the very best job they can for the children in their care.

In the near future they may be returning to a classroom with anxiety in their hearts. Or maybe their new “classroom management” includes trying to keep the children 6 feet apart.

Pray for teachers to have peace about this year, to develop effective strategies for whatever modality they’re teaching in, and to have patience when things don’t go well. And while you’re praying – say a prayer of immense gratitude for the teachers in your life.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


We continue to pray for those whose lives have been turned upside down during the last months......

STUDENTS: Pray for students enduing a year they never imagined. Pray for peace, pray for health, and pray for patience.

Pray for the children for whom home is not a safe or peaceful place, and the students who struggle with online learning. Pray that they find way to make social connections despite the distance, and that they feel like they’re a part of their school community – whatever that looks like.

SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN: Pray for the children with special needs, the ones who can’t understand why things are so different, and who miss the routine of school.

Pray for the ones who have regressed, that they can regain the progress they’d made. Pray for their parents who are weary and miss the team that surrounds and loves their child.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Thinking of Vera on this sad day and sending lots of love. <3

This week we will think about some of those whose lives have been turned upside down by the virus. A touch of occasional humour may be added to brighten the day!

PARENTS: Pray for the parents who are schooling their children at home. Pray for those on the front line whose children are at school and who are worried about their safety.

Pray for the working parents who are trying to navigate work-at-home and school-at-home; the parents who work out the of home and worry about whether their child will be safe, healthy, and learning at school/home/childcare.

Pray for the single parents who are carrying this year’s burden alone, and who worry about a loss of income if they or their children get sick or have to quarantine due to exposure. We lift them to you Lord.


If your day needs brightening, then click on this link! ??

https://youtu.be/gpN9CGrK6IQ



Cx :-)

Hello all

Snow here overnight. I'm lucky not to have to go outside and plan to stay inside where it's warm.

Vera, I'm thinking of you and all your family travelling in snowy/icy road conditions to be together for your brother's funeral service today.

My thoughts and prayers are with you all on a very sad day.

Take care everyone and stay safe too.

Hello all

It's bitterly cold and trying to snow here. No church, so I'm not planning on going out at all today.

Candlemas Day has passed and I missed being in church and singing Shine Jesus Shine this year.

Snow and ice is forecast for the next few day. I'll be thinking about Vera and her family as they meet together for her brother's funeral service tomorrow.

Vera, I hope your journey and your son's isn't too stressful for you all. Travel carefully, stay safe

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.
Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Praying that all goes for your brother's funeral on Monday Vera. It will be a difficult day, but you will be surrounded by love. <3

A prayer reminding us of Candlemas and that Christ is the Light of the World.

Lord Jesus Christ, the length, breadth, depth and height of your love is beyond our understanding: grant that this love may so transform us through Your suffering as to make us reach out to the despairing and the desperate, and work for justice, reconciliation and peace among all people; for Your Name's sake. Amen.

Cx :-)

I am so sorry to hear that you have had another bereavement kandj. Please accept my sympathy and good wishes for you and your family. You have had so many losses in the last year or two and Covid restrictions make our normal grieving processes so much more difficult. I am thinking of you <3

My brother’s funeral is on Monday and has been arranged according to his wishes. My big worry now is the weather and possible poor road conditions.

It’s been interesting reading about Candlemas and I also enjoyed reading about the more obscure saints before that. By doing a bit of googling I see that there is a saint for just about everything you can think of. I definitely feel a connection with the patron saint of ice cream :-D (Saint Lidwina, also patron saint of ice skaters)

Good morning :-)

So sorry to hear that kandj - this week I watched my umpteenth online funeral. Such a different and difficult situation all round sadly. <3


On Candlemas night, many people place lighted candles in their windows at home.
Like some other Christian festivals, Candlemas draws some of its elements from Paganism.

In pre-Christian times, it was the festival of light. This ancient festival marked the mid point of winter, half way between the winter solstice (shortest day) and the spring equinox.

People believed that Candlemas predicted the weather for the rest of the winter.

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright
Winter will have another fight.
If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain,
Winter won't come again.


Cx :-)

Hello all

Yet another family death to get our heads around.
Strange times too for arranging funeral with Covid.

On a more positive note I had my first Covid 19 vaccination yesterday. All good this morning so far.

Thinking of Vera and her family at a grieving time.

Keep safe and stay well everyone.

Good morning :-)

We mentioned Simeon earlier in the week and it is from his prayer that we have the Nunc Dimittis which is often recited at funerals as the coffin is led out of church.

Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace :
according to thy word.
For mine eyes have seen :
thy salvation;
Which thou hast prepared :
before the face of all people;
To be a light to lighten the Gentiles :
and to be the glory of thy people Israel
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son :
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be :
world without end. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Yesterday was Candlemas, so called because this was the day that all the Church's candles for the year were blessed and it was sometimes known as the Festival of Light.

Candles were important not only because there was no electricity, but because some people thought they gave protection again plague and illness and famine. For Christians, candles are a reminder of something even more important – the light is Christ himself, our salvation and life - Jesus the Light of the World


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)



Today we celebrate Candlemas, when we remember Mary and Joseph taking baby Jesus to the Temple as was the custom. It was Anna and Simeon who received the baby Jesus in the temple – both were what we would call Senior citizens and they had been waiting many years to see the promised Messiah.
The church has a habit of wanting to desperately appeal to the younger generation but, in an article from the Church Times a while ago, I read…….

“Too many of us in the Church apologise for our congregation with words such as "I am afraid we are all elderly here”. We ought to see those in their second half of life as our natural spiritual constituency - people who have travelled further in life and have become more open to God. We should celebrate our older members, not be ashamed of them.”

It went on…
“Churches should listen more imaginatively to older people's experience and be ready to learn from them. Older people can provide a longer perspective in a time of change. They know about making mistakes, and understand human nature, work, and faith. Some older people are natural evangelists. They have time for people and for spiritual friendship. Their lives often reflect many of the virtues of discipleship: empathy, patience, and compassion. These are attractive resources for mission.”

We give thanks for our older, faithful Christian friends.

Cx :-)

Hello all

More concerns about the new SA variant now.

I continue to pray for the NHS workers, for care workers and for all those who work in schools.

I have an appointment for a Covid vaccination on Wednesday morning and I can't wait to get it done.

Stay well and keep safe everyone.

Good evening :-)

I remembered and then forgot again this morning. Sorry folks.

O God of steadfast love ,trusting you, we devote our hearts to learning and our lives to walking.
Teach us truth, that we may walk with courage.
Teach us mercy, that we may walk with humility.
Teach us forgiveness, that we may walk with compassion.
Teach us grace, that we may walk with strength.
Teach us wonder, that we may walk with praise.
Teach us goodness, that we may walk with those in need.
O God of steadfast love, learning from you, may we walk well.
Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Today we remember the Presentation of Christ in the Temple

The Collect (special prayer) for today :

Almighty and ever-living God,
clothed in majesty,
whose beloved Son was this day
presented in the Temple,
in substance of our flesh:
grant that we may be presented to you
with pure and clean hearts,
by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Cx :-)

Interesting wee of posts, Cynthia!

I forgot to return and tell you that OH did not even watch the online service ........... he wanted to see John in person!

Good morning :-)

Would you believe it? Last night, family & friends quiz night via Zoom, and the first question is........who is the Patron Saint of toothache!!!! ??????

Ending our week of going through a day with unfamiliar Patron Saints....

After having eaten breakfast, many people these days have time to sit down and watch some TV, so we switch on to St. Clare – Patron Saint of Television.
Pope Pius XII designated Clare as the patron saint of television in 1958 on the basis that when she was too ill to attend Mass, she had reportedly been able to see and hear it on the wall of her room.

Clare of Assisi (16 July 1194 – 11 August 1253). She is an Italian saint and one of the first followers of Francis of Assisi. She founded the Order of Poor Ladies, a monastic religious order for women in the Franciscan tradition, and wrote their Rule of Life, the first set of monastic guidelines known to have been written by a woman.

Following her death, the order she founded was renamed in her honour as the Order of Saint Clare, commonly referred to today as the Poor Clares.

There is a community of 23 Poor Clares in Arundel who have recently released an album 'Light for the World' which has been exceptionally popular in the classical charts.

Oh yes. The Patron Saint of toothache is St. Apollonia! ??


Cx :-)