General Chat

Good morning :-)

The prices for wreaths and decorations can be extortionate can't they? Early is December I thought I would buy just a simple wreath for the front door. HOW MUCH??? No thanks. I went home and rooted around and found two large openwork gold stars which, when put together, looked very effective. Job done :-D


Today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany - a season which lasts until February.


Most of us were brought up with the story of three foreign kings, arriving with their gifts at the manger scene just after Jesus was born.

However, when you read up about it, it is more likely that the wise men were intelligent, educated men rather than kings. The number of men is not mentioned in the bible, simply that they brought three gifts. It also appears that they didn’t actually get to visit Jesus until he was aged between one and two and living in a house.

However it happened, they arrived and brought three gifts for the infant Jesus – Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.

I have read where the ancient church understood the gifts to symbolize aspects of Christ's life and ministry, the work He would do. Gold, to suggest His royalty as King of the Jews and Lord of lords. Frankincense for his divinity. Myrrh to represent His humanity - because myrrh suggests death and burial. Thus, the gifts came to show Jesus as King, God, and Man.

Father, you revealed your Son to the nations by the guidance of a star. Lead us to your glory in heaven by the light of faith. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, forever. Amen.

Cx :-)

We also used to take down our tree, any greenery and decorations on January 6, and burn greenery (holly, bits from the front-door wreath or table decorations) in the fireplace, just as our parents used to do when we were young. The tree immediately went out the back door to wait for the next garbage (later compost) pickup.

We didn't bother putting up anything this year, although OH was given a table decoration by the Friends of the Garden ............. a few twigs of different conifers and a bit of holly stuck in a vase. Not one of their best efforts!! We'll get rid of that tomorrow.

I always used to make our front door wreath and any table decorations myself ............ the staff at the Botanical Garden would have an afternoon of decoration making accompanied by mulled "wine" ;-) . After I retired, OH still had an office there so he would bring home some "pickings" and I used what we had at home to make them. I still have a couple of wreath rings in the basement.

It is incredibly easy to make both wreaths and table decorations .......... basically using "prunings" and clippings from trees and shrubs. The price charged in stores is a huge profit!


I was always disappointed when I was young ........... my birthday is the 7th, and the house always looked so dreary when the tree and decorations were put away.

I remember on one occasion asking Mum if we could take the tree down but then put it back up for my party. Another time, I had discovered that January 7 was Orthodox Christmas, so I tried to convince her that we should have the tree up for that.

Nothing worked!! :-D :-D :-D :-(

Amen to your prayer from me as well Cynthia.

We always leave our tree and lights up till 6th January but we took them down today because I got in a muddle with the dates. That’s the problem with life at the moment, one day is just like the next. I keep having to check what day of the week it is :-S

I know I have mentioned it in previous years but around Epiphany I always have another read of T S Eliot’s poem Journey of the Magi. This poem made such an impression on me when I was introduced to it at school aged about 12 or 13. More than 60 years later it is still a favourite of mine and always makes me think.

Take care and stay safe

Hello all

Amen to your prayer for today Cynthia.

I am a traditionalist and still have my Christmas tree and candles shining brightly in two front windows, but after tonight they will be all taken down and put away in the attic until December.

National lock down yet again!!!

Take care everyone and stay safe,

Good morning :-)


Twelfth Night – Epiphany Eve

It is said to be unlucky to leave your Christmas decorations up later than 6th January because tree spirits living in the decorations need to be released outdoors once Christmas is over. If they are not released it causes agricultural and food problems. Good job we are Christians and don’t believe in tree spirits then!!

here are still people, HM the Queen included, who keep their decorations up until the beginning of February, taking them down at Candlemas on the 2nd.

For many people, they are just glad to take the decorations down to restore some sort of order (I know that feeling), and here’s an interesting point……

Shiny and metallic varieties of paper are not recyclable but we are advised to use the ‘scrunch test’ to confirm. If the scrunched-up paper in your hand stays in a ball it can go in the recycling, but if it springs back then it can’t. ??

Lord, may we live the grace of Christmas every day, only without all the trappings: May we always give generously, receive gifts gratefully, welcome others, and study your life. Make our houses be homes which have Christmas at their core, and our souls a home where Jesus always dwells. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Lovely to see you Emma - hope all is well with you <3


Sylvia, we have had snow and you can have it - willingly!! :-D


Christmas and New Year are behind us and we are now heading towards Twelfth Night and the season of Epiphany. We've all heard The Twelve Days of Christmas song and there are several ideas as to it’s meaning….this is one of the Christian versions for it.

A Partridge in a Pear Tree - Jesus Christ

Two Turtle Doves - The Old and New Testaments

Three French Hens - The three virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity

Four Calling/Collie Birds - Four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John

Five Golden Rings - First five books of the Old Testament

Six Geese-a-Laying - Six days of creation before God's rest on the seventh day

Seven Swans-a-Swimming - Seven gifts of the Holy Spirit

Eight Maids-a-Milking - Eight Beatitudes

Nine Ladies Dancing - Nine fruits of the Holy Spirit

Ten Lords-a-Leaping - Ten Commandments

Eleven Pipers Piping - Eleven faithful disciples

Twelve Drummers Drumming -Twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed


O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.


Cx :-)

Happy New Year to all on this lovely thread. <3

Thank you, Cynthia


Now if only the rain would stop!!

I'm even beginning to wish for snow .......at least it seems to be lighter with snow on the ground than water!

Good morning :-)


The Collect (special prayer) for today :

Almighty God,
in the birth of your Son
you have poured on us the new light of your incarnate Word,
and shown us the fullness of your love:
help us to walk in his light and dwell in his love
that we may know the fullness of his joy;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


A return to some sort of normality would be more than welcome. Glad you like the smiles Vera and that they have lifted your spirits. Just a few more and then they are exhausted!! <3

Waving to Sylvia across the pond and wishing you and your OH a very happy and peaceful New Year.


Here we go!

Why are Christmas trees very bad at knitting?
Because they always drop their needles

What do you call a train loaded with toffee?
A chew chew train

Why did no-one bid for Rudolph and Blitzen on eBay?
Because they were two deer

What has four legs but can’t walk?
A table

Why did Santa have to go to the hospital?
Because of his poor elf

What do frogs wear on their feet?
Open toad sandals

What’s round and bad tempered?
A vicious circle


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 :-)

Happy New Year to you all.

Let us hope that 2021 is a much better year for all of us than 2020, and that we get this virus beaten back so we can begin to live more normal lives.

Hello all

Grateful thanks for another years posting Cynthia.

Good to know that your foot is getting better Vera.

New Year's Day and this poem is fitting;-

I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year
"Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown." and he replied:-
"Go out into the darkness and put your hand into
the hand of God. That shall be better to you than light, and safer than a known way."
(Written by Minnie Louise Haskins).

Happy and a Healthy New Year to you all.

Thank you for the smiles Cynthia, just what I need this week as for various family reasons we are not going through a very happy time right now.

It was kind of you to ask after my foot kandj. I am walking around fairly normally now though I can still only manage a short walk outside and it still gives me some pain, but I am getting there.

It’s been a difficult year but I am thankful for its many blessings and I wish you all a new year full of peace and contentment

Good morning and a very Happy New Year to you all <3



We may as well enter this New Year with a smile......... :-D


What lies in a pram and wobbles?
A jelly baby.

What do you call a blind dinosaur?
A doyouthinkhesawus.

What do you get if you cross a hen with a bedside clock?
An alarm cluck.

Where are the Andes?
On the end of the armies.

What do you call a line of men waiting for a haircut?
A barberqueue

What do you call a woman who stands between two goal posts?
Annette


Consult not your fears, but your hopes and your dreams.
Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential.
Concern not yourself with what you tried and failed in, but what it is still possible to do.
Now is the time to put aside past and present setbacks and failures and look with confidence to the new day called tomorrow.

— Pope John XXIII

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Lifting the lethargy, the spirit and the mood......we need to smile ??

What does a frog do if his car breaks down?
He gets it toad away.

What lies at the bottom of the sea and shivers?
A nervous wreck.

What do vampires sing on New Year's Eve?
Auld Fang Syne.

What is black and white and noisy?
A zebra with a drum kit.

What's the fastest thing in water?
A motor pike.

What goes "Oh, Oh, Oh"?
Santa walking backwards


Dear Lord, we thank You for the Christmas period. We pray that You will help us to always remember the unconditional love of God and help us to follow your commandments and love one another as You love us. Amen.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Amen to your prayer Cynthia and THANK YOU
for the funny quotes. They have made me smile.

Is your foot better now Vera?

Stay safe and take care everyone.

Good morning :-)


To lighten the lethargy! :-D :-D


Why doesn't Santa suffer from claustrophobia when climbs down the chimney?
Because has had his flue jab.

What do you get from a pampered cow?
Spoiled milk.

What do lions sing at Christmas?
Jungle bells!

What did the grape say when the elephant stepped on it?
Nothing. It just let out a little wine.

How many ears has Captain Kirk got?
Three: the left ear, the right ear, and the final front ear.



Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your only begotten son Jesus to us at Christmas time. May we always be truly thankful for all the sacrifices that He made for us and pray that we will never forget the true reason for this season. Let our focus not be about the Christmas gifts we have received, but the eternal gift given by you Lord. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


We have snow - not too much - but enough. It may now go away!! :-D


Things always seem a bit flat between Christmas and New Year. Maybe some Christmas cheer is in order for a couple of days so, cracker jokes, here we come…..feel free to groan!


What did Cinderella say when the chemist lost her photographs?
Someday my prints will come.

What did the reindeer say before launching into his comedy routine?
This will sleigh you.

Good King Wenceslas phoned Domino's for a pizza. The salesgirl asked him:- 'Do you want your usual?
Deep pan, crisp and even?'

Mike walks into a bar with a newt on his shoulder. The barmaid looks at the creature and asks the man what he calls it. 'Tiny', answers Mike. 'Why's that?' enquires the barmaid. 'Because he's my newt' concludes Mike.

Who hides in the bakery at Christmas?
A mince spy


Father, at this special time of the year when we remember that first Christmas day when Your dearly beloved Son came as a new-born baby, we pray that His love and His peace may be felt in the hearts and minds of many lost and hurting people, those who feel unloved and those who lack that vital peace with God. Amen.

Cx :-)

Amen to your prayer Cynthia.

How lovely to see snowdrops already Kandj. I noticed the hellebores in the garden are full of fat buds looking nearly ready to open. I love the very early spring flowers. They seem to bring so much hope and promise for the future and we could all do with that right now.

Good morning :-)

Snowdrops are always a welcome sight kandj. Today we have the snow though :-(


Today isThe Feast of the Holy Innocents, a Christian feast in remembrance of the massacre of young male children under 2 years of age in Bethlehem by King Herod the Great in his attempt to find and kill the infant Jesus


Righteous God,
your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ dwelt among us
and shared our grief and our pain.
We pray for the children of our world,
that they may grow up knowing love and security.

We pray for all children who suffer physical or mental abuse.
We pray for all communities in our world
who live with the memories of massacre and gross cruelty.

We pray for all who are corrupted by power
and who regard human life as cheap.
We pray for parents who have suffered the death of a child.
We pray for parents and guardians,
that they may be given grace to care for the children entrusted to them.

As we celebrate the coming of the Christ-child,
we rejoice in the fellowship of the Holy Innocents
and commit the children of this community,
our nation and our world to you,
our righteous God. Amen.

Cx :-)