General Chat

Good morning :-)


Of course, when we are expecting to welcome people into our home or church, we tend to find jobs which need doing -.maybe a bit of painting or a door which keeps sticking.

Churches are always grateful for those folk who are ‘handy’ and who are willing to use a paintbrush, mend a fuse or help to deal with all those plumbing, electrical and building jobs which crop up from time to time. When it is something major, we have to bring in the professionals but, for everyday maintenance, we thank God for those who are willing to share their expertise to help out.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

One of the ways in which we welcome people both into our homes and into church, is by offering a cup of tea or coffee. There is a trend at the moment, for some churches to be run as a ‘café church’ where the service takes place in an informal setting resembling a cafeteria.

Most cathedrals now offer some sort of refreshment, and our cathedral is way ahead with an excellent bistro offering all types of good food.

Enjoying refreshments together is a great way of getting to know each other better and to build each other up. We thank God for those folk whose ministry is to put the kettle on!

“For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.”


Cx :-)

Hello all,

I also think greeting newcomers into church is really important. I'm a part of our church Meet and Greet Team and I love to welcome people each week.

I hope Tabitha and Gwen are well, it seems like a while since we have heard from them.

Vera, I hope that you and your hubby are on the mend. Look after one another and take care.

Heavenly Father
Thank you for our home, for good food to eat and for a place to sleep. Help us to rest well and feel refreshed to face a new day. In Jesus' name.
Amen.

Good morning :-)

When we welcome people into church, one of the things which attracts attention is the music. This can swing either way from the traditional to the modern. Organ or worship band? To each, their own and opinions must be respected.

Choirs have taken part in church services since earliest times and still feature large in Church of England worship. We saw and heard some wonderful choir singing during the late Queen’s funeral and then during the Coronation of King Charles.

Why do choirs wear robes? This is to show unity and to identify as a group. It also helps keep members focused on the music rather than their appearance. Wearing robes eliminates any difference between people of all ages in worship.

Before our choir enter the body of the church, they pray together, along the lines of…..

Bless, O lord we thy servants who minister in this place. Grant that what we sing with our lips, we may believe in our hearts, and what we believe in our hearts, we may show forth in our lives. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

A church building is where believers come together to worship God. These buildings can be used for many different purposes, but they should always be respected as an oasis of calm and peace in today’s busy world. It’s so lovely to welcome people into God’s house and to welcome them into a church which is loved and cared for. We thank God for those who volunteer to help to keep our churches clean and tidy.

We love the place, O God,
wherein Thine honour dwells;
the joy of Thine abode
all earthly joy excels.

2 It is the house of prayer,
wherein Thy servants meet;
and Thou, O Lord, art there,
Thy chosen flock to greet.

3 We love the Word of life,
the Word that tells of peace,
of comfort in the strife
and joys that never cease.

4 We love to sing below
of mercies freely given;
but O we long to know
the triumph song of heaven!

5 Lord Jesus, give us grace,
on earth to love Thee more,
in heaven to see Thy face,
and with Thy saints adore.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


At our church, we are reviewing lots of things and one of these is how we welcome people. Hopefully, we newcomers feel at home.

Lord, our God, source of all life,
you reveal yourself in the depths of our being
drawing us to share in your life and love.
Bless each of us as we respond to your Spirit’s
invitation to open wide the doors to Christ.

Make the doors of our hearts,
our homes and communities
wide enough to receive
all who need human love and fellowship,
narrow enough to shut out all envy,
prejudice and pride.

Let us hasten to welcome the stranger,
and so welcome your Son.
We make this prayer in his name,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Collect (special prayer) for today:
O God, the protector of all who trust in you,
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy:
increase and multiply upon us your mercy;
that with you as our ruler and guide
we may so pass through things temporal
that we lose not our hold on things eternal;
grant this, heavenly Father,
for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us to welcome everyone.

Cx :-)

Good evening :-)

Made it!

Our emotions
To end, we think of one of the most complex and complicated of emotions – Love

Love can always conquer
Whatever discord brings
and love can also cover
a multitude of things.

Don’t you underestimate
what love can ever do,
for love is God eternal
and His love can renew.

What is cold and lifeless,
now lost all hope and died,
for love can breathe new meaning
and give it back new life.

Please don’t give up on love
when it seems that all is lost,
for there is always hope
if we’re prepared to pay the cost.

For love is always worth it
no matter how much the price,
for love will be much stronger
when we trust in Jesus Christ.

So let God have full reign,
let Him live within your heart
then you will know true love,
for this He will impart.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Ist July today..... where did June go to??

Today is Canada Day... so I hope all our Canadian friends on GR are enjoying their special day.

Cynthia, yesterday's poem reminded me of scripture reading in Matthew chapter 6 v 26.

Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap
they gather nothing into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Vera, I hope you're feeling better? I often have a hymn tune that goes round and around in my head.
It's usually the last hymn from Sunday's service or I might wake up with a random tune that stays with me for hours and hours.. . . . . very odd.

Have a good weekend everyone.

Good morning :-)

Thank you Vera, I appreciate your kind words. The other day, my daughter couldn't get the theme tune for Last of the Summer Wine out of her head. She has no idea why. Quite funny really :-D

Our emotions - anxiety

Small Bird
I saw a small bird in the smoke bush
Eating some insects for lunch.
Not a trace of anxiety, worry, or care,
Just taking its time for a munch.

Knowing nothing of God or Creation
Knowing nothing of promise divine
This contented bird feeds
And gets all it needs in good time.

So why am I anxious and worried?
Why do I so easily fret?
When I know all about God’s resources,
His promises claim to expect?

Praise God for his patience with people
Praise God for his patience with me
My faith and my trust seem so shaky,
Governed too much by uncertainty.

Thank you, small bird in the smoke bush,
Your example you set just by living
Not an hour, not a minute of worry,
Enjoying each moment receiving.


Cx :-)

Hallo Cynthia, Kandj and all

I too hope everyone is as well and as happy as they can be. Amen to your prayer Kandj.

It's another interesting theme this week Cynthia. I can't imagine how you think of so many different topics but I am so pleased you keep this thread going for us all.

I've had the hymn "The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, is Ended" going round and round my brain all day. I seemed to wake up with it in my head this morning and it's been there ever since. I do quite like that hymn but 14 hours of it whirring round my brain is quite enough ;-)

Hello all

I hope all who read this thread are feeling as good as they can be. It's hard to think that we are almost through June already. Each day passes so quickly.

Heavenly Father
Give me strength when I am weak, love when I feel alone, courage when I am afraid, wisdom when I feel foolish, hope when I feel rejected and peace when I am anxious, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Sweet dreams to all.

Good morning :-)

Our emotions - Anger

I told God I was angry.
I thought He'd be surprised.
I thought I'd kept hostility
quite cleverly disguised.

I told the Lord I hate Him
I told Him that I hurt.
I told Him that He isn't fair,
He's treated me like dirt.

I told God I was angry
but I'm the one surprised.
"What I've known all along," He said,
"you've finally realized."

"At last you have admitted
what's really in your heart.
Dishonesty, not anger,
was keeping us apart.

Even when you hate Me
I don't stop loving you.
Before you can receive that love
you must confess what's true.

In telling me the anger
you genuinely feel,
it loses power over you,
permitting you to heal."

I told God I was sorry
and He's forgiven me.
The truth that I was angry
has finally set me free.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Our emotions - Fear
"I Will Not Fear"

The Lord is on my side,
I will not fear;
Above the surging tide,
His voice I hear;
He shelters me from every foe,
He guards my steps where'er I go,
And so I trust Him, for I know--
That He is near.

His arm of love enfolds me
When I call;
In kindness He upholds me,
Lest I fall.

His mercy shines upon my way,
His grace renews my strength each day,
And so my heart shall ever say:
"He is my all."

~By Albert Simpson Reitz


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2rO0LhSWJ0


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Our emotions


Father,
Please help me to rest in your happiness,
To allow a smile to linger on my lips,
To dwell within a wonderful memory,
To walk back through sunlit places.

Please help me to awake with hope,
To engage with life in all its variety,
To take in the beauty of others joys,
To touch the souls of those I meet with thankfulness.

Please help me to sing with faith,
To carry the truth close in my heart always,
To rejoice at new life and
To have peace as I age.

Please help me to indulge in love
To breathe in the sweetness of intimacy,
To taste the kindness of friendship,
To feel the warmth of embrace.

Please help me not to miss
A single drop of heaven, T
To catch each moment
And drink in the great joy of life. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Collect (special prayer) for today:

Almighty God,
you have broken the tyranny of sin
and have sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts
whereby we call you Father:
give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service,
that we and all creation may be brought
to the glorious liberty of the children of God;
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.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

So many tragic deaths recently - the Titan Sub and the boat which capsized with so many lives lost. :-(


When it comes to Christian motivation, nothing is more fundamental than love.

Love is what gets us started and keeps us going. At all times and in all ways love is our foremost and guiding principle. It is the basis of our existence. For the love of God we live and breathe. Without love for God, everything we do is meaningless, like clanging a cymbal.

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, chapter three, he states:
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

What an example to follow.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Another thought provoking week of postings, thank you Cynthia.

Vera, I hope you're feeling a little better today.

Such dreadful news about the Titan sub. I'm so very sorry for the loss of lives, my thoughts and my prayers go out to the family and friends of all who have tragically died.

Good morning :-)

The Motivation of Paul the Apostle

Paul was one motivated man and there is so much we can learn from him. It’s hard to imagine anyone more motivated than this super-apostle.

He travelled farther than even the most battle-hardened CEO. His network of connections was immense, stretching across the entire Mediterranean and beyond.

He was more published than William Shakespeare, Agatha Christie and JK Rowling combined.

He spent his entire life building up the business he cherished.
Statesmen sought his guidance, mega-church leaders clamoured for his advice, and kings feared his disapproval.

He was so dedicated to his job he paid the ultimate price to see his business succeed. And he did it all for the sake of love.

If only we could be as motivated as Paul.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Motivation – how can we be motivated for Christ?

A good way of feeling motivated is by being with other believers – in church services, groups or meetings. We are given a sense of belonging and being part of the Body of Christ. If we are given a role, no matter how humble, we feel we belong. Other members may have ideas which motivate us into action, or we may have ideas to motivate others.

Fellowship and working together keep us active and useful. As within our own families, everyone needs a job within the family of the church – we need to be equipped to be motivated to share the good news of Jesus.

Cx :-)