General Chat

Good morning :-)

Another of the hymns we sang on Sunday was ‘Immortal, Invisible God only wise’. This is a hymn which has been popular hymn since it was first written by Walter C. Smith.

Walter was born at Aberdeen in 1824, and educated at the Grammar School and University of that City. He was ordained as Pastor of the Scottish Church in Chad well Street, Islington, London, in 1850. After serving in several places, he became, in 1876, Minister of the Free High Church, Edinburgh.

He was a prolific poet, hymnwriter and novelist. This particular hymn is celebrated for its ‘theological depth, poetic elegance, and enduring influence.’ In other words, it’s a really good hymn to sing!!


Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Hi Tabitha, good to see you again after a long while! :-) Nearly right with my birthday, it was last Friday, but who's counting? :-D

Celebrating the Holy Trinity.

Another of the hymns we sang on Sunday was ‘Majesty’. This hymn was written by a contemporary writer………….

Jack W. Hayford (1934-2023)
Jack was an American Pentecostal minister, author, songwriter, and broadcaster best known as the founding pastor of The Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California, and writer of the worship anthem Majesty.

Author of over 100 books and 600 hymns, he served as president of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel and founded The King’s University. His ministry emphasised Spirit-led worship, biblical teaching, and pastoral mentorship.

Majesty, worship his majesty;
Unto Jesus be all glory, honour, and praise.
Majesty, kingdom authority,
Flow from his throne unto his own, his anthem raise.
So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus.
Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus, the King.
Majesty, worship his majesty,
Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all kings.

So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus.
Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus, the King.
Majesty, worship his majesty,
Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all kings.
Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all kings

Cx :-)

Happy birthday Cynthia, hope i got the day right.

Hope everyone is well, we have had a bit of a year of things, so only looked in to keep an eye on you all.

Now in theory the summer is here and we should all feel better.

So lovely to read your prayers and interesting items, keep it up.

Take care

Good morning :-)

Yesterday was Trinity Sunday – the time when we focus on the Holy Trinity. There are certain hymns which, over many years, have been very popular to sing at this time.

Yesterday, we sang ‘Holy, Holy. Holy, Lord God Almighty’. This lovely, and very popular hymn was written by Reginald Heber

Reginald Heber was born in 1783 into a wealthy, educated family. He was a bright youth, translating a Latin classic into English verse by the time he was seven, entering Oxford at 17, and winning two awards for his poetry during his time there. A

fter his graduation, he became rector of his father's church in the village of Hodnet near Shrewsbury in the west of England, where he remained for 16 years. He was appointed Bishop of Calcutta in 1823 and worked tirelessly for three years until the weather and travel took their toll on his health, and he died of a stroke at the age of 43. Most of his 57 hymns are still in use today.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Today is Trinity Sunday - the day when we remember the Holy Trinity - the 3 in 1 - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The Collect (special prayer 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

In the Gospel reading, Jesus reminds us that He is with us....always........to the end of the age.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Come Lord Jesus,
rest on me . . .
bring Your Spirit here
and be with me.

Lean upon my heart,
and breathe with me
attach to my soul
and merge with me.

Join to my spirit,
and unite with me
link to my life
and connect with me.

Fasten to my mind,
and bind with me
tie into my thoughts
and converse with me.

Come Lord Jesus,
rest on me . . .
bring Your Spirit here
and dwell in me!


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Holy Spirit is mentioned a lot both in the bible and by Christians in general. It’s not the easiest concept to understand, but some of the various symbols used to depict it may be helpful.

Dove – Represents peace, purity, and the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus at His baptism, making it one of the most familiar symbols.

Flame or Fire – Symbolises the Holy Spirit’s power, warmth, and guidance, as seen during Pentecost when the Spirit came as tongues of fire.

Wind – Represents the invisible yet powerful presence of the Holy Spirit, reminding kids that God’s Spirit is always around, even if we cannot see it.

Water – Symbolises cleansing, life, and baptism, showing how the Holy Spirit renews and refreshes us.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phones?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we used it to receive messages?
What if we treated it like we couldn’t live without it?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it as we travelled?
What if we used it in case of an emergency?
What if we upgraded to include 24/7 tech service from the Holy Spirit?
This is something to make you go…hmmm…where is my Bible?
Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phones, we don’t ever have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill!

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

A professor used a large mayonnaise jar to teach a lesson about priorities in life. He filled the jar with rocks, then pebbles, and finally sand, each time asking the class if it was full. They agreed it was full after each step.

He told them that the rocks represented the most important things in life (family, health), the pebbles were less critical things (job, house), and the sand was the small stuff. He explained that if we focus on the small stuff first, we won’t have room for what really matters.

He then poured water into the jar. Water represents the grace of God or the Holy Spirit that renews us. Even with all our efforts and hard work, we still have an element to add, the spiritual aspect. Let’s not forget this and give God and His Spirit a chance to renew and revive us

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Whilst to some, it may seem ostentatious and unnecessary, there is something splendid about seeing senior clergy in their regalia, especially at state occasions.

Pentecost brings to mind the mitres worn by bishops – this distinctive ceremonial headwear is a visible sign of their episcopal dignity and teaching authority. The pointed shape of the mitre recalls the tongues of fire that descended upon the apostles at Pentecost, whilst the two peaks of the mitre symbolise the Old Testament and New Testament, representing the bishop’s responsibility to teach and guard both.

The mitre has a long history in Christian liturgy, dating back to medieval times. It is often seen in cathedrals, tombs, and church art.

While its use is now optional and subject to debate, it continues to represent the historical, spiritual, and ceremonial significance of bishops within the Anglican tradition.

Next time you see a bishop on tv, don’t think ‘silly hat’, think ‘Ah, Pentecost and the Holy Spirit’.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Lovely to hear from you Vera. I am so sorry that things have been rather difficult over the last few weeks, and I do hope that this better weather will lift everyone's spirits. The verse you quoted is from a lovely hymn and I like it too. <3


On the Day of Pentecost, there was a great deal of noise as people spoke in their own languages. Imagine being in a room with a large number of people from different countries all saying the Lord's Prayer!


Our Father, which art in heaven,
Geheiligt werde dein Name
Que ton rêgne vienne
Ske din vilje
Som I himlen således ogs å på jorden:
Give us this day our daily bread
Und vergib uns unsere Schuld
Comme nous pardonnons aussi à ceux qui nous offenses
Og led os ikke ind I fristelse men fri os fra det onde
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever. Amen


Cx :-)

It’s a while since I posted but I am looking in every day. Thank you for all your interesting posts Cynthia. Some have really resonated with me. We have had a difficult 2 or 3 months - the death and funeral of a dear friend, car out of action for a while, OH having a bad infection which put him in hospital for a few days and recovering at home for another couple of weeks, and just as he got over that he managed to fall from a step ladder. Your prayers on the lines of “Thank you for getting us to Friday” meant a great deal and made me realise that we’re still functioning and still have a lot to be grateful for.

My old school hymn which I sang at the beginning and end of every term for 7 years seems appropriate for today.

Gracious spirit, Holy Ghost
Taught by Thee, we covet most
Of Thy gifts at Pentecost
Holy, heavenly love.

Good morning :-)

Today is Pentecost Sunday when we celebrate the arrival of the Holy Spirit.


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,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Why I Smile
by Kate Slaughter McKinney

I smile because the world is fair;
Because the sky is blue.
Because I find, no matter where
I go, a friend that’s true.

I smile because the earth is green,
The sun so near and bright,
Because the days that o’er us lean
Are full of warmth and light.

I smile as past the yards I go,
Though strange and new the place,
The violets seem my step to know,
And look up in my face.

I smile to hear the robin’s note.
He comes so newly dressed,
A love song throbbing in his throat,
A rose pinned on his breast.

And so the truth I’ll not disown,
Because the spring is nigh;
My heart has somewhat better grown,
And I forget to sigh.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of this new day and the week that has passed. As I step into this Friday, fill my heart with peace, my mind with clarity,and my spirit with joy.
Guide my words and actions so they bring kindness and light to others. Protect me from harm, strengthen me in challenges,
and remind me to be grateful for every blessing, big or small.
May this day be fruitful, and may I end it with a heart full of praise.
Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Heavenly Father,

I thank You for bringing me into this Thursday morning. I am grateful for Your mercy, protection, and guidance throughout this week. Thank You for every lesson, provision, and answered prayer. Help me carry a heart of gratitude today, even in challenges. May my words and actions reflect appreciation for Your faithfulness and love in my life. Amen.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Amen to your morning prayer Cynthia.

Heavenly Father
Lead me to look for the positive in all people
and in all situations this day.
May I help bring light to those in darkness
and encouragement to those who feel sad.
May I show as much care for others as
I would like them to show towards me.
Amen.

Happy Wednesday blessings everyone.

Good morning :-)


"Heavenly Father, as I begin this Wednesday, I seek Your guidance and wisdom. Renew my spirit, give me strength to face the day, and help me reflect Your love in all I do. May Your presence guide my decisions and actions today. Amen".


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of this new day. As I step into this Tuesday, fill my heart with peace, my mind with clarity, and my spirit with joy. Guide my words and actions so they reflect kindness and love. Help me face challenges with courage, embrace opportunities with gratitude, and trust in Your perfect plan.
Bless my family, friends, and all those I meet today. May this day be filled with purpose, hope, and Your unfailing presence.
Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Heavenly Father, as I embark on a new week, I ask for wisdom in every decision I make. May Your Spirit guide my thoughts, plans, and actions so I may walk in the path of righteousness. Help me discern right from wrong and be a light in every environment I step into. Give me clarity when I’m confused and peace when I must wait. I surrender this week into Your hands. Amen.


Cx :-)