General Chat

Good morning :-)


It was very moving to listen to the veterans at the VJ commemoration events yesterday. 'The Forgotten Fleet' must never be forgotten - the memory of their bravery will live on through the generations hopefully. ??

Jesus said, "Do not be afraid"

Do not be afraid, my soul, do not fear the dim.
Cast your cares before the Lord and leave them there with Him
For Jesus is your Anchor, your ever-faithful Light.
Though darkness now descends, Your God will guide you through this night.

Look to Your Redeemer, do not give fear a home.
Turn your problems into prayers before His mighty Throne!
For fear will only cripple you as cares and woes increase,
This fierce and ruthless enemy will rob you of your peace.

Yes, Jesus knows your trouble, He hears your desperate pleas
So look upon this threat and let it drive you to your knees.
Drive you to your knees in prayer! Kneel before His Throne!
This battle is already won by Christ and Christ alone.

So do not be afraid, my soul, you have all that you need.
Your Father has equipped you with the weapons to succeed!
Use the mighty Word of God and see the power there!
Then storm the realms of Heaven with the fervency of prayer!

Call upon His mighty name, appeal without restraint,
Your Father hears your prayers, for you are numbered with the saints.
We are more than conquerors! His love will never fade.
Through Christ, we are victorious, so do not be afraid!


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

While VE Day (Victory in Europe) marked the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, many thousands of Armed Forces personnel were still engaged in fighting in the Far East. Victory over Japan would come at a heavy price, and Victory over Japan Day (VJ Day) marks the day Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945, which ended the Second World War.

Fighting in the Asia-Pacific took place from Hawaii to North East India. Britain and the Commonwealth’s principal fighting force, the Fourteenth Army, was one of the most diverse in history – more than 40 languages were spoken, and all the world’s major religions represented.

The descendants of many of the Commonwealth veterans of that army are today part of multicultural communities around the world, a lasting legacy to the success and comradeship of those who fought in the Asia-Pacific.


God of the nations,
our refuge and our dwelling place,
we remember with thanksgiving
those whose service achieved Allied victory in the Pacific,
and hold before you all those who suffered
from the devastation and trauma of war.
As we pray for those who suffer the atrocities of war,
strengthen our resolve to pursue what makes for peace,
through the one in whom we are reconciled and made one,
even Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Do not be afraid:

In these days of concern, when the cost of living is rising and inflation is a constant topic of discussion, many are worried about how they will cope with meeting their bills, we offer this small prayer.

Lord, please give me wisdom in managing my finances. Please help me to spend, save, and give wisely. Help me meet my needs and find stability. Guide me towards financial stability that aligns with Your purpose for my life. Let my financial choices bring me peace and security. Thank You for Your guidance. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Do not be afraid:

We often worry about the future. Hopefully, this little prayer will help.

Heavenly Father, I come to you feeling uncertain about the future. The unknown path ahead is intimidating, and I often worry about what might happen.

Please help me to let go of my need to control the future and remind me that your plans are better than mine.

Give me the courage to trust your timing and will. Replace my fears with peace. I surrender my worries to you, knowing that you will guide me. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Do not be afraid

When we feel out of control, we often worry. But how can we stop worrying? Most of the things we fear are never actually realised, and we can be grateful for that.

Worrying doesn’t help improve any situation. It signals to ourselves and others that we feel helpless. As Christians, we believe God is in control of everything. If we truly believe this, then we don't need to worry. We need to trust that God will take care of things according to His plan.

The Bible gives us guidance on how to stop worrying.

We can stop worrying by bringing our concerns to God. It’s okay to care about things and to share these concerns with God and others so we can pray. Keep praying.

If we have time to worry, we have time to pray.



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Yesterday’s Gospel reading reminded us of Jesus’ reassuring words……’Do not be afraid’. We were asked if we ever worried about anything……………and, yes, this was something we could all identify with.

It was also mentioned that worrying can take over our lives, and sadly, some people find it difficult to cope with life.

We live in turbulent times; suicide rates are rising, and young men, especially, are facing problems they find difficult to deal with. But there is help out there, and those in need of help need to be made aware of this.

Lord God, in difficult times, we reach out to you. Many are feeling hopeless, and we pray for those who work in suicide prevention. Please give them wisdom and compassion as they help others in crisis. Guide them in their efforts to save lives and bring light to the sadness around us. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Collect (special prayer) for today:

Almighty Lord and everlasting God,
we beseech you to direct, sanctify and govern
both our hearts and bodies
in the ways of your laws
and the works of your commandments;
that through your most mighty protection, both here and ever,
we may be preserved in body and soul;
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen


Today, we will hear Jesus telling his disciples not to be afraid, but to be alert, because they do not know when the Son of Man will return.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Today is a special day within the Anglican church as they celebrate the life and witness of Mary Sumner.

Mary, wife of an Anglican clergyman, founded the Mothers' Union in 1876. She very much wanted to support her husband in his work, and bringing women together seemed an ideal opportunity. It took time and effort, but she succeeded. Today, the MU remains alive and active, with over 4 million members worldwide supporting women, families and communities.

Quite a woman!


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Summer Blessing for Families

May we make our homes places of relaxation,
joy, love, peace and safety.
May we be generous and considerate,
not thinking only about ourselves,
but helping others enjoy the blessings of the summertime.
Lord God, Creator of all things,
guide our steps and strengthen our hearts
during these months of summer and vacation days.
Grant us refreshment of mind and body.
May we constantly strive to make a meaningful difference
in the lives of our loved ones and in the world around us
as we enjoy the warm days of summertime.
Amen


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Many days in the Church of England calendar commemorate individuals who have achieved some form of distinction within the Christian faith. They may be a saint or simply an ordinary person whose life has made a difference in this world.
,
Today, John Mason Neale is commemorated, and it’s probably not a name known to many, but he still has an influence on us today.
John, born in 1816 – 1866, was a very well-educated and clever man and was ordained to the priesthood in 1842. He spent much time trying to improve social conditions in his parish, but he was also a prolific hymn writer. For example, most churchgoers will be familiar with these hymns:


Good King Wenceslas
O come, O come Emmanuel
Good Christian men rejoice
All glory, laud and honour
All people that on earth do dwell
Christ is made the sure foundation…………..amongst many, many others.

Some people are just so gifted, aren’t they? :-D


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


I totally agree on the Lord's Prayer, Vera - we are often in danger of 'dumbing things down' and losing the essential message. <3

Our Father,
We come to You with open hearts, wanting to let go of greed. Please guide us with Your wisdom and help us find contentment. Teach us to value generosity by sharing our blessings and to appreciate the true gifts of love and kindness. Amen.


Cx :-)

I don't seem to have posted for 3 or 4 weeks. Where does the time go? So, going back a while:-

I'm probably more of a Martha than a Mary and I always think poor Martha gets a bad press. The best person is probably a combination of the two with some of us needing to become a bit more like Mary and a few needing to cultivate a bit more of Martha's ways.

The questions children ask reminded me vividly of being at a dinner table with some of our family and some of my new daughter-in-law's family. We didn't know them well. There was plenty of general conversation when, in a quiet moment, my then 11 year old granddaughter suddenly said "Nanny, do you believe in God?". You could have heard a pin drop! I answered as honestly but as briefly as I could and then everyone suddenly started talking at once. It's not an incident I will forget in a hurry. Children do pick their moments!

The translations of the Lord's Prayer were interesting. Usually I am in favour of making things more accessible but I think there is a danger here of turning something special into something ordinary. I think I'll stick with the traditional "Our Father".

Gwyn, thank you for the link to the knitted Bible. I had never heard of it but I think it's wonderful.

Thank you as always, Cynthia, for your efforts keeping the thread going.

Hello all

Gwyn, I'd never heard of The Knitted Bible, thank you for the link, I knit and crochet and join in two groups and I'm really very impressed by the display.

Cynthia, our Sunday sermon was also based around the Parable of the Foolish Rich Man.

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or with compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
(2 Corinthians 9:7).

Good morning :-)

The knitted bible idea was appreciated. Thanks Gwyn. <3


It seems a farmer had some fields
That gave him some terrific yields;
Made him rich as he could be
Known throughout the whole country

“There’s so much grain I’ve got to store
Barns won’t hold it anymore;
Stores are just too small and few
I’ll tear them down and build anew”

“This time I’ll be both smart and wise
I will make them oversize;
Once I’ve built them up to snuff
Then I think ‘twill be enough”

“When I have cared for all my wealth
I’ll sit back; enjoy myself;
I’ll eat and drink; it will be fun
To contemplate the work I’ve done”

“Just look at all the wealth I’ve stored
Gold and grain; a hefty hoard;
It’s mine, all earned by my own hand
From the produce of my land”

But then God spoke, “You fool, you see
Your soul is now required of thee;
What good the wealth that you laid by
When life is over and you die”

“Your whole life was a selfish plan
You never shared with God or man;
You laid no treasure up with God
So now you leave this mortal sod”

“What good the treasure you have stored
When none is given to the Lord?
You would have gotten all you needed
If you the Kingdom first had heeded”

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Hi Gwyn and thank you for the link - it's amazing! I have printed the picture to show our avid knitters what can be done. Very grateful. <3


From yesterday - the Parable of the Foolish Rich Man.

Who would like more money? Probably most people would own up to that. Some folk will even go to criminal lengths to get as much money as they can. Others will turn to gambling in the hope of winning more…..and more and more. It's about greed.

It’s helpful to have money, but it isn’t the be-all and end-all of life; it really isn’t. Being wealthy is not a sin. Money is not evil. However, allowing money and possessions to be your god is evil. If we are honest, we have all been guilty of this sin at some point in our lives.

We can’t take it with us – that’s a fact. Jesus teaches that it’s much more important to build up our faith rather than our bank balance. Something to think about, maybe?

Cx :-)

Thank you Cynthia for an interesting week looking at alternative translations of the Lord's Prayer.

This afternoon, daughters and I visited a church near Canterbury to see the Knitted Bible, which was on loan before travelling back up north again.
... So many hours of dedicated knitting and quite a few spent setting up each story in church too.
It's origins are explained here.
https://www.stgeorgesurc.co.uk/the-knitted-bible/

Good morning :-)

The Collect (special prayer for today)
Lord of all power and might,
the author and giver of all good things:
graft in our hearts the love of your name,
increase in us true religion,
nourish us with all goodness,
and of your great mercy keep us in the same;
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


Today, we hear the story of the rich fool.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Lord’s prayer in its current traditional form is well-known and well-loved. Taught to children who are brought up in the Christian faith, it is a prayer for life that is remembered by those who suffer from dementia or other illnesses. It is often said at the bedside of those who are dying. It is a prayer which has brought comfort to many over the years. We remember this prayer with love…..and gratitude. ??


The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever.
Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

A primary school version of the Lord's Prayer today.......

Our Father in heaven, you are awesome!
Show us who you are and how you want us to be.
Make earth more like heaven.
Please give us what we need to keep going each day.
Help us when we are wrong and clean us up on the inside.
Help us to let other people off and move on.
Keep us from bad stuff.
You’re in charge!
You’re strong and powerful and always there.
Forever! Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

A slightly more complex translation of the Lord's Prayer today.....

Most scholars agree that the language Jesus is most likely to have spoken to his disciples is Aramaic, although Hebrew and Greek were also commonly spoken where Jesus lived and preached, and it is likely he also could speak these languages.

The Lord’s Prayer, from the original Aramaic Translation by Neil Douglas-Klotz in Prayers of the Cosmos.

O Birther! Father- Mother of the Cosmos,
Focus your light within us - make it useful. Create your reign of unity now
Through our fiery hearts and willing hands
Help us love beyond our ideals and sprout acts of compassion for all creatures.
Animate the earth within us: we then feel the Wisdom underneath supporting all.
Untangle the knots within
so that we can mend our hearts' simple ties to each other. Don't let surface things delude us,
But free us from what holds us back from our true purpose.
Out of you, the astonishing fire,
Returning light and sound to the cosmos.
Amen.

Cx :-)