General Chat

Good morning :-)


Lots of faith discussion going on elsewhere on this board......and some strongly held views. As someone I used to know would say..."'twas ever thus' :-D

Since the death of our vicar last year, our church school have really missed him with all his cheery banter and assemblies. Our new priest-in-charge goes in when he can, but he has 2 churches and 3 schools to care for, so he is rather stretched.

Our school is working towards a special church and school partnership award and I have offered to liaise between them both in an effort to help the situation and am looking forward to it very much. I've done a similar thing before elsewhere and it was a great experience.


Anyway.......our prayer for today:



Jesus, light of the world:
in the darkness of anxiety be the glimmer of peace;
in the darkness of sorrow be the glimmer of joy;
in the darkness of suffering be the glimmer of comfort;
in the darkness of rejection be the glimmer of welcome;
in the darkness of despair be the glimmer of hope.
So may the light that cannot be overcome
shine through the darkness,
shine through our lives,
shine in the world. Amen.

- Ruth Gee


Still remembering kandj and all who need our prayers. Cx :-)

Jesus shines everywhere in our lives, Cynthia. He shines when we are happy, when we are sad. When we are stressed, when we are calm. When we are busy, when we are relaxing. It is nice to say a quiet prayer on a crowded bus, or a crowded shopping mall. Others seldom hear, but God (YWHA) does. I love the idea that whne we breath in and out we continually say YWHA. Our last breath in this world will be YWHA, and nobody can escape that fact. They will call out to God in their last breath - and we hope they understand the reason for that long before their last mortal breath.

Now a couple more interesting (I hope) facts about Lady Huntingdon (1707-1791).

1. Bishop Ryle of Liverpool (1816-1900) described her as the "mainspring of the revival" ie more important than John Wesley, George Whitfield or Daniel Rowland.
2. Rev Henry Venn (1796-1873), Secretary of the Church Missionary Society, said she was "a star of the first magnitude in the firmament of the church."
3. George III said: "She is an honour to her sex and to the nation"
4. Charles Wesley junior (1757-1834), the composer and organist and son of hymnwriter Charles Wesley, worked as a tutor to George III's granddaughter Princes Charlotte of Wales (1796-1817). The old King confided: "Mr Wesley, it is my judgment that your uncle (John Wesley) and your father (Charles) and George Whitfield and Lady Huntingdon have done more to promote true religion in this country than all the dignified clergy put together. And those dignified clergy are so apt to despise their labours"

So hopefully a taster. Her life was truly remarkable and deserved all these plaudits and more.

Good morning :-)


I have to admit my ignorance John, and say that I have never heard of that inspiring woman Lady Huntingdon. I've heard of Bishop Ryle and the C.M. S. etc., but she has entirely passed me by. No doubt I will know a lot more about her soon though.... :-D


For today :


God's Boxes

I have in my hands two boxes
Which God gave me to hold.
He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black,
And all your joys in the gold."

I heeded His words, and in the two boxes
Both my joys and sorrows I stored,
But though the gold became heavier each day
The black was as light as before.

With curiosity, I opened the black -
I wanted to find out why,
And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole
Which my sorrows had fallen out by.

I showed the hole to God and mused aloud,
"I wonder where my sorrows could be."
He smiled a gentle smile and said,
"My child, they're all here with me."

I asked, "God, why give me the boxes,
Why the gold, and the black with the hole?"
"My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings,
The black is for you to let go."



Cx :-)

My black box felt a bit heavy this morning. Have no unblocked hole and am sound as a pound again. Many thanks, Cynthia. Lovely thought.

Don't need much encouragement to carry on boring everybody with the Countess of Huntingdon. Couldn't split todays thoughts into little bites so whole chunk of stuff, much of it background to history of Methodism.

Will leave it now for a few days now, and perhaps write a further 2 or 3 bits about this 18th century Deborah and "Queen of the Methodists" (Horace Walpole).

1. The Holy Club was formed at Christ Church, Oxford in 1729. A generation before (c1690) at Christ Church there had been a similar holy club that had been nick-named “Methodists” in derision. Undergraduates were fond of chanting “Meth-oh-dist, Meth-oh-dist” at members when they met them in the quad or in the street of Oxford.
This little group in 1720’s came under the same criticism, and a poem was circulated:
“By rule they eat, by rule they drink,
By rule do all things but think
Accuse the priests of loose behavior.
To get more in the laymen's favor.
Method alone must guide 'em all
When themselves "Methodists" they call”
2. They decided to change “The Holy Club” to “Methodist Society” and termed themselves as Methodists. Best way of dealing with inevitable teasing and name-calling, they felt.
3. One of Lady Huntingdon’s sisters, Lady Margaret Hastings (born 1699) had been converted through the ministry of Rev Benjamin Ingham, one of the members of the Holy Club at Oxford who now was happy to be called a “Methodist” preacher.
4. Most of these early Methodist ministers (about 40 of them by 1740 including the Wesleys) were Anglicans throughout their lives. They considered themselves to be an evangelical grouping to help the Church of England grow in faith, numbers and influence.
5. Lady Huntingdon was, by 1738, a respected member of the aristocracy, a mother of young ones, a keen churchwoman and living at Donington Park in Leicestershire. However, she was impressed by the enthusiasm of her sister Margaret, and decided to “cast herself fully upon Christ for life and for salvation” in that year of 1738 during a near fatal illness.
6. Her "circle" of aristocratic friends became deeply alarmed at her new Christian zeal. They implored her husband to deal with it. He sent for his old tutor at Oxford, Bishop Martin Benson of Gloucester (1689-1752). Bishop Benson was one of very many Bishops who were alarmed at the sudden popularity of Methodist preachers. Yet he listened patiently whilst Lady Selina gave her testimony. He realised she had been influenced by one of his protegees (George Whitefield). And he told her: “I wish to goodness I had never ordained George Whitefield” She replied: “My Lord, mark my words, when you are on your dying bed that will be one of the few ordinations you will reflect on with complacence (secure satisfaction with oneself).” Benson no doubt concluded their convivial meeting saying she should spend less of her time supporting Methodists and increase her support for local parish churches with her fabulous family wealth.
7. There is no doubt that this meeting had a profound effect on Martin Benson. He probably realised that there was a third person in that room at magnificent Donington Park – the Holy Spirit. And, 12 short years later in 1752, when Martin Benson was ill and dying, he wrote to his old protégée Rev George Whitefield and asked him to pray for his soul and sent Whitefield some money to help him with his ministry.
8. And Lady Selina’s husband, Theophilus Hastings (1696-1746), 9th Earl of Huntingdon, became equally “enthusiastic” about religion during the last 6 years of his life and attended services and events organised by these young Methodist preachers. They (Lord and Lady Huntingdon) also began to support financially the work of the Welsh speaking Methodists like Hywel Harries and the great American revivalist Rev Jonathan Edwards of Northampton, Massachusetts (1703-1758).
9. And by 1746 when Selina was widowed aged 39, the “Great Awakening” (Methodist Revival) was well underway. A movement that is said to have educated the working classes, re-engaged them with religion in Britain and avoided a bloody and disastrous civil war in the second half of the 18th century.

Good morning :-)


A very Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful dads and granddads we know and remembering those we have loved and lost a while. <3


Heavenly Father,

you entrusted your Son Jesus,

the child of Mary,

to the care of Joseph, an earthly father.

Bless all fathers

as they care for their families.

Give them strength and wisdom,

tenderness and patience;

support them in the work they have to do,

protecting those who look to them,

as we look to you for love and salvation,

through Jesus Christ our rock and defender.

Amen.


The Collect for today:

Almighty and everlasting God,
you have given us your servants grace,
by the confession of a true faith,
to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity
and in the power of the divine majesty to worship the Unity:
keep us steadfast in this faith
that we may evermore be defended from all adversities;
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.


Thinking of kandj and all those who need our prayers...

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


I thought I would use another prayer from the book 'I've Got to Talk to Someone God'.

God, please help me to build up my faith.
Let me understand that faith is not a blind acceptance,
but a certain and reasonable knowledge.

Not a gift bestowed upon favoured people, but a powerful conviction achieved through reasonable effort.

God, guide me to people who can encourage me in my faith.

Lead me to books that will enliven and enhance my faith.

Show me works both human and divine that prove that you do exist and love us.

Open my eyes to your many wonders.

Free my cluttered and limited mind from its confusions.

Release it, refresh it, widen it so that into it may flow an appreciation of your vast, shining, limitless intelligence.

Help me to practise my faith, for only through practice can it grow in me.

Oh, God, remind me to reach you and understand you, and renew my faith through prayer.

Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Yesterday I accepted an invitation to be shown round our church school. I have offered to liaise between both church and school as they move towards gaining an award.

The afternoon is recorded elsewhere on these boards but I thought I would share the school prayer with you on here.

It is a Church of England Primary School.



Let peace live here.
Let rooms be full of happiness.

Let love live here.
Love of one another,
Love of mankind,
Love of life itself,
And love of God.

And let us remember,

As many hands build a house,
So many hearts build a school.

Amen.


Continuing to think of kandj and all those who would like prayer. Cx :-)

I think very many people want to send their children to schools like you are so involved with. It has nothing much to do with religion. Most people can be Church of England when they want to be, I expect one or two who are vehemently non-Christian have accepted the role of a godparent and said solemn vows before God before slagging off the "God squad" down the pub.

I did it myself. That was one of a mountain of sins (falling short of God's standards) that I laid before Him when I pleaded to be allowed in as a member of the "Christian" Club.

My children don't do much (remember Ena Sharples saying that in Corry?) about religion. They attend C of E occasionally, sit at back and join in a bit. But not hotheaded "Glory, glory, glory" yet - banging away through town centres bashing tambourines. Not quite me either, but I do try and bash an imaginary tambourine as I walk through a shopping mall, breathing in and out YWHA (God).

But both my children look back on their primary school with great fondness. If it was the religion they remembered, I would be very upset because the headmistress only went through the motions imo. No it was for the discipline, the good teaching and the caring ethos. Though they had the occasional service in the village chiurch, and the place was packed each time with parents.

And it was a small and supportive school. They only had 80 children and parents had to be involved in helping and fundraising. And, as a parent, that is the nicest type of school to send your child to and there was always a massive waiting list. And children were polite, dressed smartly and there was very little shouting or swearing.

So many memories flood back in later life of our school days. I was singing our old school song (Gaudeamus Igatur) quietly yesterday, and the memories and nostalgia flooded back. One well-read passage of Scripture that resonates with me to this day is from the middle book of our Bibles (The Apocrypha) which we now seldom use in churches. Perhaps very suitable text for Genes Reunited. It is from Ecclesiasticus Chapter 44:

1 Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us.
2 The Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his great
power from the beginning.
3 Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for
their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and
declaring prophecies:
4 Leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their
knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and eloquent in
their instructions:
5 Such as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in
writing:
6 Rich men furnished with ability, living peaceably in their
habitations;
7 All these were honoured in their generations, and were the
glory of their times.
8 There be of them, that have left a name behind them, that
their praises might be reported.
9 And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished,
as though they had never been; and are become as though they
had never been born, and their children after them.
10 But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not
been forgotten.
11 With their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance,
and their children are within the covenant.
12 Their seed standeth fast, and their children for their sakes.
13 Their seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not
be blotted out.
14 Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for
evermore.
15 The people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation
will show forth their praise.

Good morning :-)


Between you and me John, I think you're spot on with your first paragraph. :-D


At it's last Ofted, the school gained an 'Outstanding' report and is amongst the top 8% in the country. Each year there are usually about three times the number of applications for the spaces available. Although church attendance is one of the criteria to gain entrance to the school, a certain percentage never darken the doors of the church again because the faith aspect isn't of interest to them. We are just used to people who say they are Church of England for their own ends, but we can't and wouldn't turn anyone away.

Anyway, having this subject to death elsewhere ;-) I will move on....

Our prayer for today :


Loving, living Lord,
in Jesus you come into this world in love,
light shining in our darkness.
So we dare to hope,
for in your love and light, hope, too, is born,
hope which is real,
for this world and all its people, for me.
So help me to live this day in hope,
your gift in Jesus, in whose name I pray.
Amen.

- James Booth


Remembering all those who have asked for prayer Cx :-)

Good morning...... :-)


This evening, I am going to a Thanksgiving/Dedication service at a local church as they have had a new roof put on the building - not an easy task in the present financial climate I knew the building was an old one, having been built in 1641, and was quite intrigued by its history.

It appears that the church has seen many battles over the years. The Roundheads and Cavaliers allegedly fought in and vandalised the church during the Civil War, pulling down the pulpit and then playing cards in the aisle. The first entry in the burial register is that of an 'Unknown Soldier beinge a stranger slaine Dec 9th 1642, buried December 11th.'

As the Civil War drew to a close the battle lines changed as the Presbyterians and Anglicans fought each other for the allegiance of the Chapel until it was finally decided for the Anglicans by a Duchy Court in 1697.

It seems that it was one of the first churches in the land to establish Sunday schools, which later became the nucleus for church day schools.

How wonderful to know that such a place with such a history, is still welcoming people with the message of the gospel.

I was thinking about how many times the Lord's Prayer had been uttered within those ancient walls........did a bit of googling and came across the version they would have been using when the church was built....

AD 1611 King James Version

Our father which art in heauen
hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdome come.
Thy will be done,in earth,
as it is in heauen.
Giue vs this day our daily bread.
And forgiue vs our debts,
as we forgiue our debters.
And lead vs not into temptation,
but deliuer vs from euill:
For thine is the kingdome,
and the power,and the glory,
for euer,Amen.


Tonight, over 370 years later, we will say those words in the version that we are used to. What a heritage!



Thinking of kandj and those who have asked for prayer. Cx


:-)

Good morning :-)

It was a good service last night.....the bishop was entertaining in his delivery of the thanksgiving and children from the 2 primary schools attached to the church gave excellent presentations. I caught up with a couple of old friends I hadn't seen in a while so, all in all, a pleasant time.


A thought for today:


Take nothing for granted,
for whenever you do
The “joy of enjoying”
is lessened for you…
For we rob our own lives
much more than we know
When we fail to respond
or in any way show
Our thanks for the blessings
that daily are ours…
The warmth of the sun,
the fragrance of flowers,
The beauty of twilight,
the freshness of dawn,
The coolness of dew
on a green velvet lawn,
The kind little deeds
so thoughtfully done,
The favours of friends
and the love that someone
Unselfishly gives us
in a myriad of ways,
Expecting no payment
and no words of praise…
Oh, great is our loss
when we no longer find
A thankful response
to things of this kind,
For the Joy of Enjoying
and the Fullness of Living
Are found in the heart
that is filled with
Thanksgiving.


Enjoy your day.....thinking of our missing friends :-)

We are not much for tradition on Genes chat, which I sometimes find quite odd. A friend of mine who was a semi-professional genealogist in Staffordshire was told by her mum to "spend more time with the living".

And these churches and chapels that are closing by the week are our heritage, our Britishness. You can see how important they are because, when the closure is announced, there are protests - some of them very heated and involving an Archbishop (we had one in a village called Maerdy a short time ago).

I am not much on tradition, but can touch a church wall, look at their collections donated over the years, the cushions lovingly embroidered, the flowers so imaginatively arranged. For no reason other than the love of God showered on communicants over many centuries.

And, although on balance I think we are a secular society and must accept that fairly secular schooling is the way forward, a tiny bit of me says - keep the RC and C of E schools, let the children prepare for their big days in the large churches and cathedrals. Warm and inviting village pubs with a log fire in winter and garden in summer, cricket on willow and cheering round the village green, magnificent churches built when we all were attached to Roman Catholicism, that have stood during the Reformation and the Civil War, musty old chapels built by the hands of their poor members. And all this superb tradition in London - opening Parliament, trooping the colour, hospitality for foreign heads of state.

I do secretly pray that all of this survives the ravages of secularism and averaging down in our day. One thing is very certain. No one can deprive us of our Christian faith. The more we are despised and attacked, and the more we are marginalised, the stronger we get. Amen :-)

Good morning :-)


I think I must be more of a romantic than you John.....I love old churches and will run my hands over the pews and doorways, thinking of the people who have passed through the doors over the years. The baptism, wedding and funeral parties who have smiled and wept as they walked down the aisle.....the prayers which have soaked into the very fabric of the place. I look at the names on the wall plaques and try to conjure up a picture of the people who had loved and worshipped here so long ago. Yes, I have quite an imagination :-)


A prayer for today:


May you experience God's
vast, infinite, indestructible, expansive love,
that has been yours all along.
May you discover this love is as wide as the sky,
and as small as the cracks in your heart
that no-one else knows about,
and may you know deep in your bones
that you are welcome, invited and loved. Amen.



Haven't seen Emma for ages- hope all is well with her. Cx :-)

Emma contributed to a thread I was on yesterday, so is still around. I like to think of myself as a bit of a romantic, as well, Cynthia. But also a bit hardened now by realism.

A lot of folk would like to see churches (however ancient and beautiful) flattened for high rise flats and Christians scattered. They feel that believing in a man (see OP) who was killed, then rose from death and taught his closest followers before ascending behind a cloud 40 long days later) is quite ridiculous in 21st century.

Only a handful of my community go to church or chapel now. 75k population in Rhondda, and I doubt many more than 1k go to about 30-40 places of worship (about 2%). Probably same on Genes. Out of 8m members claimed, probably only about 150,000 Genes members attend a place of worship regularly. And, in these days of "might is right", 7.85 million family historians, educated and reasonably sophisticated Genes members (active and lapsed but can still look in), is indeed a mighty force to not be supporting local Christian causes.

Despite that, a lot of people do still take an interest in what Jesus taught. Many of us use Old Testament words and expressions in every day speech. When we breathe in and out we mouthe YWHA (God) so that everyone knows God is in their every living breath. And, more importantly, God knows they are calling gently on his name constantly but perhaps subconsciously.

Even the most anti-Christian people tend to try to live by rules that closely resemble the 10 Old Testament commandments and the more important New Testament ones. A true Christian has love and no hate for any other person. That was what the life of Jesus taught us. He loved and loves everyone without any reservations whatsoever and, whilst we are to be salty Christians (he told us in his Sermon beginning Matt 5) and even angry at times like him, we are to love unreservedly like he did. :-)

Still reading this thread everyday Cynthia, been on
holidays and been very busy since we came home.

Our 17year old friend is still in a coma and would appreciate
a prayer for her from followers on this thread.
We continue to pray for her and also those in need of comfort.

Emma x

Emma

So sorry to hear your young friend is still so ill. I am keeping her in my thoughts, along with Kandj and her OH, and others in need of strength and healing at this time.

Vera

GG <3

Good morning :-)


So pleased to know you are okay Emma but sorry about your young friend. Her family must be so anxious and we will continue to remember both her and them in prayer.


I can understand your sentiments John, and I hate seeing closed churches but, as a matter of interest, I wonder if pubs are closing at a faster rate??


Despite the fact that there are some places of worship which lack numbers, there are many others which attract large congregations and are thriving. Some of it is possibly to do with the style of worship or ministry which a particular church has, but I do find it encouraging. All is not lost.


And so to the collect for today :

The Collect

O God, the strength of all those who put their trust in you,
mercifully accept our prayers and,
because through the weakness of our mortal nature
we can do no good thing without you,
grant us the help of your grace,
that in the keeping of your commandments
we may please you both in will and deed;
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.


Enjoy your Sunday........Cx :-)

Thank you Vera, Susan and Cynthia.

A difficult time indeed for her family and friends.

My thoughts and prayers with them and kandj and her OH. <3

Good morning... :-)

As the summer is with us, I am thinking of those who will be going on holiday either abroad or nearer home; for those who will be taking day trips during the coming weeks and for those who are unable to travel or leave their homes.


A Summer Blessing

May you walk with God
This summer
In whatever you do
Wherever you go

Walking with God means...
Walking with honesty
And with courage,
Walking with love
And respect
And concern for the feelings of others

May you talk to God
This summer
And every day and
In every situation

Talking with God means...
Praying words of praise
For the beauty of creation
Saying prayers of thanks
For friends and good times,
Asking God's help
In all your decisions
Expressing sorrow
When you have failed

May you talk with God
Every day.
Amen.

- Author unknown


Remembering kandj and her husband; Emma's young friend and anyone who needs prayer or support.


Cx :-)