General Chat

Good morning :-)

AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
Make the world a better place.

It takes money to keep church doors open, and we are grateful to the capable people who ensure that finances are in good order. They make sure the bills are paid and that donations are spent wisely. These dedicated individuals spend time counting and banking the collections from all services and events.

Organising fundraising events requires significant time and effort. Many people contribute by baking, knitting, sewing, and using their creative talents to help raise funds.

Additionally, churches need to ensure that events are effectively communicated within the community through posters, leaflets, and various media platforms, such as Facebook!

Thank you to all who do this work within their church!


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Without people like you kandj, the church would be much the poorer <3

AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
Make the world a better place!

YOUTH TEAM AND ORGANISATIONS

These folk are those who feel called to work with our young people. This includes youth organisations and clubs. Working with children is high priority, and the church has to be very conscious of all the safeguarding that is required these days and which must be fulfilled to the highest standard.

Most youth activities take place in the evenings, and many of the volunteers are in full-time work, so we are grateful to them for their commitment in helping nurture our young people for the future.

Thank you to the people on these teams.


Cx :-)

Hello all

Cynthia, I've just read yesterdays post, and I am one of the few who happily do the meet and greet on Sunday mornings, clean the church, provide cups of tea/coffee and cake (I provide) then wash up and take the dishcloth and tea towels home to wash and bring back to church for another day.
It's a privilege to do these duties, I love them.

Sleep well everyone.

kandj x

Good afternoon (one of those days) :-)


AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE’
make the world a better place


Welcoming people into the church is an essential part of church life, and each church will have volunteers who ensure the church is as clean and tidy as possible. These are the people who will dust, vacuum, clean brasses, and tidy up after events. If the church is fortunate to have a good kitchen, some will make sure that refreshments are served when appropriate, that washing up is done, the kitchen is left in good order, and tea towels are taken home to be washed and ironed.

We are grateful to the people who take up these duties.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
Make the world a better place!

Many people do not realise how much work and time it takes to keep a church open and running smoothly. It really doesn’t ‘just happen’.
sheet
All churches have willing volunteers who give of their time and expertise to make sure that the church doors are open to the community.

There may be a regular rota of people who will be on duty to welcome you into church and make sure you have a service sheet and a hymn book. Some have volunteered to help with reading the bible on Sunday mornings. Some are willing to take the offertory plate round during the service.

We thank God for these willing volunteers.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Good morning everyone……..

Collect (special prayer) for today:
Almighty God,
you have made us for yourself,
and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you:
pour your love into our hearts and draw us to yourself,
and so bring us at last to your heavenly city
where we shall see you face to face;
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 Jesus healing 10 lepers, but only one returned to thank him.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Oops! I missed yesterday. Sorry. :(

FAITH

Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream

Few modern figures show the power of faith as clearly as Martin Luther King Jr.
His vision for justice and equality wasn’t just political—it was
rooted in his Christian faith. Martin Luther King believed that nonviolence and love were stronger than hatred and oppression.

He faced threats, imprisonment, and constant danger, yet he kept going because he believed his cause was anchored in God’s truth.
His “I Have a Dream” speech wasn’t just a call for social change; it was a statement of faith—that a better future was possible if people lived out the values of justice, mercy, and love.

He knew the risks, but he also knew his life wasn’t his own.
His legacy proves that when faith fuels a vision, it has the power to change not just one life, but the course of history.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

FAITH
As a new Christian, Chuck Colson voluntarily pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in 1974 and served seven months in Alabama’s Maxwell Prison for his part in the Watergate scandal.

In his bestselling memoir, Born Again, Chuck wrote, “I found myself increasingly drawn to the idea that God had put me in prison for a purpose and that I should do something for those I had left behind.”
Colson emerged from prison with a new mission: mobilising the Christian church for ministry with the incarcerated.

In 1976, he founded Prison Fellowship, which is now the nation’s largest Christian nonprofit equipping the Church to serve currently and formerly incarcerated people and their families, and to advocate for justice and human dignity both inside and outside prison. In recognition of his work among prisoners, Colson received the prestigious Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion in 1993.

Chuck Colson died in 2012. His legacy continues, however, in the work of Prison Fellowship and in the lives of the many people his ministry has touched.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Waves to Vera and kandj :-D <3

FAITH

The Courageous Stand of Rosa Parks

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery bus and changed the course of history.
“In the end, God used a simple bus ride to accomplish more than we could have ever dreamed,” she later stated.

She was devoted to her faith, carrying her Bible with her. It was her faith in God that gave her the courage to stand up to segregation on that fateful day in December 1955. “I instantly felt God give me the strength to endure whatever would happen next,” she recounted. “God’s peace flooded my soul, and my fear melted away. All people were equal in the eyes of God, and I was going to live like a free person.”

Cx :-)

Good to see you back kandj. You are right, nothing is simple these days. I always have to smile when all the extra complications are introduced as being "for your convenience".

Last week's postings about love were as interesting and enjoyable as ever Cynthia. They really meant something to me. When I was at grammar school 1 Corinthians 13 was read in Assembly on the first and last day of every term. By the end of my 7 years there that reading was engraved on my heart. A school motto was Amor Vincit Omnia (Love Conquers All) and the ethos of the school was built around love and charity.

The posts about Faith are equally interesting. While Anne Frank's story is well known I hadn't heard of Brian Birdwell. What an inspiration he must be to others.

Hello all

I'm finally back after weeks of having to sort out my annual subs! Why is nothing straightforward or simple anymore???

We had a lovely Harvest Festival service in our village church last Sunday. Very different to how I can remember it was many years ago. We dug up potatoes/carrots/cabbages fresh from our gardens and took them around to the OAPs back then.
Now we bring along packed or tin food items which are handed over to the Food Bank and distributed to many villagers who really need this extra support.

However, the hymns were very familiar......

We Plough the Fields and Scatter, it really wouldn't be a Harvest Festival Service without this old hymn.

kandji

Good morning :-)


FAITH

Brian Birdwell was severely injured in the 9/11 attack when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into his workplace, resulting in 60% of his body being burned. In his pain, he contemplated ending his life, reflecting on Jesus' sacrifice. After nearly 40 reconstructive surgeries, he survived and later ran for the Texas State Senate.

A Christian, Brian credits his faith for his recovery, and works with Face the Fire, a nonprofit organisation supporting burn survivors and wounded service members. He believes that his faith has played a significant role in both his life and his career.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Faith can greatly inspire individuals and communities. It helps lift spirits and build resilience during difficult times. Throughout history, many stories of faith have changed lives, providing strength and hope.
One powerful example is Anne Frank. Her diary shows the resilience of the human spirit during the Holocaust. While hiding, she wrote about her hopes and fears, holding onto her belief in humanity and the desire for freedom. Despite her tragic fate, Anne's faith in goodness still inspires people to stand against injustice today.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Looks as though I missed yesterday, apologies!

LOVE IS
………….. GOD “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


LOVE IS......

This hymn, once very popular at weddings, is a heartfelt prayer for God’s love to fill our hearts and transform our lives. Charles Wesley’s words invite Christians to seek a love that surpasses all others, a divine love that guides and sustains them.

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of Heav'n to Earth come down,
Fix in us thy humble dwelling,
All thy faithful mercies crown;
Jesus, thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love thou art;
Visit us with thy salvation,
Enter ev'ry trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
Into ev'ry troubled breast;
Let us all in thee inherit,
Let us find thy promised rest;
Take away our love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty to deliver;
Let us all thy grace receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve thee as thy host above,
Pray, and praise thee without ceasing,
Glory in thy perfect love.

Finish, then, thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in thee;
Changed from glory into glory
Till in Heav'n we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise!

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

LOVE IS
………… bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things
This reminds us that love can handle life’s challenges. It means love can support those we care about through tough times. Instead of giving up when things get hard, we lean on our love for one another.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

LOVE IS
…………… not envious or boastful
This reminds us refuse any impulse to be jealous or resentful of another person’s blessings, achievements, or well-being.
Boastfulness refers to the act of showing off one's achievements or possessions, which is contrary to the humble and selfless nature of love.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

LOVE IS
………….. not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
This reminds us to tolerate and overlook shortcomings in others and to learn how to disagree without being disagreeable. We are to respect others’ opinions, and we do not have to be right all the time.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Yesterday, we heard the story of the rich man and Lazarus.


The story of the rich man and Lazarus serves as a poignant reminder that we are called to love one another – despite all differences. But what is love? The bible has much to tell us.

LOVE IS
………… patient and kind it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way.

This reminds us what true love looks like. God calls us to love with patience, kindness, and compassion, reflecting God’s heart in daily life.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Collect (special prayer) for today:

God, who in generous mercy sent the Holy Spirit
upon your Church in the burning fire of your love:
grant that your people may be fervent
in the fellowship of the gospel
that, always abiding in you,
they may be found steadfast in faith and active in service;
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 today’s Gospel, we hear the story of the rich man and Lazarus.

Cx :-)