General Chat

Good morning :-)


During Lent....

MEDITATE: Psalm 118:25-26 “ LORD, save us! LORD, grant us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you”

PRAY: Lord, help me to dive into this season of Lent with intentionality and purpose. I want to know you better, love you more fully, and accept your grace more readily. Draw me closer to you, day by day.

REFLECT: How do you want to develop your Christian life this Lent? Praying more? Reading the bible more? Helping others more?

Cx :-)

Hello all

Forty days and forty nights
You were fasting in the wild;
Forty days and forty nights
Tempted, and yet undefiled.

Sending Happy Wednesday wishes to all on this holy Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.

Good morning :-)

Each year, Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. It is a 40-day season (not counting Sundays). It represents Christ’s time of temptation in the wilderness, where he fasted and where Satan tempted him.

Ash Wednesday is to help us focus, along with other things, on being sorry for past things and admitting to them. We are encouraged to concentrate more on prayer and to reflect on our lives as Christians.

Throughout Lent, we will have a short bible passage to think about, a prayer and something to reflect on during the day.

For today:
1 Peter 5:6 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time”.

PRAY: Lord, I am not my own. I am a sinner and I have fallen short of your glory, yet you became a man to die on the cross in my place. Thank you for loving me that much, Jesus! In this season, may I be crucified with Christ so I can truly live.

REFLECT: How much am I going along with the ways of the world? What would it look like to follow the way of Jesus instead?

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

kandji, not a clue what is going on around us - I don't think anyone knows what they are doing. I know my RC priest friend is all organised - they join with the local methodist and Anglican in his area.


Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day?

No matter what we call it, the day remains the same. The day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.

The date of Pancake Day changes from year to year because it is always 47 days before Easter – which this year falls on Sunday 9 April.

Lent, particularly when it was adhered to more widely and strictly, marked a time to eat simpler food, and give up things like sweet, rich and dairy ingredients.

With the bleak prospect of 40 days of discipline looming, it was perhaps inevitable that Shrove Tuesday would become an occasion to gorge oneself and cram in as much frivolity as possible. Enjoy your pancakes!

Cx :-)

Hello all

Vera, I hope you don't curse me. I often come away from church singing the last hymn on my way home in the car and quite often the tune stays in my head for hours afterwards.

Cynthia, no mention of a Lent Course just yet as we are still without a vicar who retired last March.

Last Sunday we had a Prison Chaplain officiating at our service. His sermon was so interesting that I could have listened to him for hours.

Prayerful support for those who are grieving today.

Good morning :-)

Amen to that Vera - there are far too many lonely people in this world. <3


And so to Lent……..almost

The Lent season is a 6-week time of sombre reflection and remembrance.
• It’s not all about giving up chocolate and biscuits
• It’s not all about ‘fasting’ on certain days.
• It’s about repentance and thinking more about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

The Lent season provides an opportunity for each of us to strengthen spiritual discipline – maybe by doing some bible reading or daily study – setting aside a special time of prayer or even going to church more frequently.
Let’s see where this Lent takes us.

Cx :-)

I looked on the thread yesterday evening and saw kandj had posted a verse of How Deep the Father’s Love. The tune popped straight into my head and won’t pop out again.. It’s still going round and round my brain. I am not sure whether to bless or curse you kandj ;-)

I thought it might be a Graham Kendrick piece but, having checked, it was by Stuart Townend. I do like a lot of the modern worship songs from both tthese gentlemen.

Yesterday was a friend’s birthday and a group of 12 ladies had a restaurant lunch of starter and main course and then all came back to my house where I provided desserts and coffee/tea. It was a wonderful day with so much laughter and joy that I went to bed feeling very blessed. So my thoughts today are particularly with anyone who is lonely and sad <3

Good morning :-)

Thank you for that kandj - it was a new one on me. Very thoughtful words indeed.


Collect (special prayer) for today:
Almighty Father,
whose Son was revealed in majesty
before he suffered death upon the cross:
give us grace to perceive his glory,
that we may be strengthened to suffer with him
and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Today’s Gospel tells the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus

Cx :-)

Hello all

That's a well known verse from the bible and read out by a friend at our wedding service.

How Deep The Father's Love For Us.

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.

Sending a gentle hug to those who need one today.

Good morning :-)

What is love? As ever, the bible has the answer


1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13:13 - So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Love that hymn and yes, I did sing along Cynthia.

So your diamond wedding anniversary Vera?
that's really exciting and definitely worthy of celebrating so many happy years being together.

Last August would have been our 60th too. Sadly we only made our 56th but I have lovely memories to look back upon and tried not to feel too sad.

Please do come back and share your plans Vera.

Good morning :-)



What is love?

This hymn has been a popular choice for weddings for several generations. Prince William had it at his wedding as, possibly, some of us may have had. It was written by Charles Wesley (1707-1788). This hymn has certainly stood the test of time!


Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven, 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 every trembling heart.

Come, almighty to deliver,
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return, and never,
nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts 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 heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.

(and yes, you sang it didn’t you?)

https://youtu.be/uQ-x5SxzD-4

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


It always pays to check spelling I've found Vera! I've had several hilarious mishaps myself. Approaching your Diamond Anniversary? That is so wonderful. Do let us know when it is. Today's poem is quite apt for you! <3


The Gift of Lasting Love
by: Helen Steiner Rice

Love is much more than
a tender caress
and more than bright hours
of gay happiness,
For a lasting love is
made up of sharing
both hours that are 'joyous'
and also 'despairing'.

It's made up of patience
and deep understanding
and never of selfish
and stubborn demanding,
It's made up of climbing
and steep hills together
and facing with courage
life's stormiest weather

And nothing on earth
or in heaven can part
a love that has grown
to be part of the heart,
And just like the sun
and the stars and the sea,
this love will go on
through eternity.
For true love lives on
when earthly things die,
for its part of the Spirit
that soars to the sky.

Cx :-)

My goodness, the responses from some of those children are amazing. Out of the mouths of babes.........

Corinthians 13 was our school reading and was read during assembly on the first and last day of every term. I heard it twice a term for 7 years so it is a biblical passage that means a great deal to me. We also had a school motto which was Amor Vincit Omnia (love conquers all). Love of every kind was a recurring theme at school.

Yesterday I failed as usual to receive a card, chocs or flowers from OH (sigh) but we are approaching our Diamond anniversary and 60 years of providing love, care and support for me and our children is worth more than all the red roses in the world.

As I was about to post I noticed my iPad didn’t like Vincit Omnia and had changed it to Vince’s Omani :-S

Good morning :-)


A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8-year-olds: "What does love mean?"

The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined.
“When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth." Billy - age 4

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." Terri - age 4

"Love is when my mummy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK." Danny - age 7

"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mummy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss." Emily - age 8

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate." Nikka - age 6

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." (what an image!) Karen - age 7


Corinthians 13:13 - So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


.............and a Happy St. Valentine's Day......... ????
Moving away from chocolates, flowers and romantic cards.....

10 random facts about St. Valentine:

1. He was a 3rd-century Roman clergyman - either a priest or bishop.

2. He had the power of healing – he healed a young girl of her blindness.

3. He was beheaded for performing secret marriages for young Christian soldiers.

4. “From Your Valentine” originates from a letter he wrote on the day of his execution.

5. His skull is on display in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosemedin, Rome.

6. A “small vessel tinged” with St. Valentine’s blood was taken to Whitefriar Street
Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland. It is still a place of pilgrimage, especially for those seeking love.

7. He is the patron saint of epilepsy, beekeepers, plague, fainting and travelling.

8. There are actually many St. Valentines. The saint we celebrate on Valentine’s Day is officially known as St. Valentine of Rome, to differentiate him from the other St. Valentines.

9. Valentine’s Day may have been an invention by Chaucer. No solid evidence exists of the romantic celebrations on 14th February prior to Chaucer’s ‘Parlement of Foules’, written in 1375.

10. Although the Roman Catholic Church continues to recognize St. Valentine as a saint of the church, he was removed from the General Roman Calendar in 1969 because of the lack of reliable information about him.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Be prepared! Tomorrow is St. Valentine’s Day. Cards and gifts will be bought, lovers will dine out and, usually, at extortionate prices!!

There are generally songs about love floating around in the Top Ten (who remembers ‘All you need is Love’)?

Love is a funny old thing and is the subject of countless songs, films, books, plays and pieces of art.

Falling in love affects our body chemistry. It promotes the release of hormones, ones which make us feel good. Love stimulates the part of our brain associated with pleasure, but love is much deeper than good feelings and Christians believe that God is the source of love. 1 John, says ‘God is love’ and ‘love, comes from God’.

Father, help us to be more loving towards each other. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


It's dreadful news.........I can't believe the death toll keeps rising so much. There is always the age-old question of why did God allow this? We really don't know apart from the fact that they are mentioned many times in the bible. There is climate change (our responsibility) and the building of better infrastructure (our responsibility) and it is wonderful to see how rescuers and volunteers selflessly work to rescue those who are trapped. There is still so much goodness in the world <3

The Collect (special prayer) for today:

Almighty God, you have created the heavens and the earth and made us in your own image: teach us to discern your hand in all your works and your likeness in all your children; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns supreme over all things, now and for ever. Amen.

Cx :-)

Mine too kandj. I am finding it hard to get my head round it. More people have now died in this earthquake than the entire population of the town where I live, and the numbers injured and homeless are almost beyond belief. The aid workers and volunteers must be at the point of exhaustion.

How do you answer someone who asks why God lets such things happen?

My thoughts and prayers are with them all <3

Hello all

My thoughts and prayers are with the people in Turkey and Syria coping with the devastation caused by the earthquakes, and for the voluntary workers too.