General Chat

Have just noticed your Vicar has died, Cynthia. What terrible news! Thanks for all you have written about him, and am sure many of us feel we knew the gentleman well.

It will be devastating for his family, for you and the congregation. Thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Edit. Many thanks, kandj :-)

Daily life is never neat or painless, but with a faith we have meaning, mystery and special encounters that shape our relationships, ideas and hopes for each day.
On my kitchen notice board I have these words:

Life is a gift, that is why it is called The Present!

With events that surround us, we know that life is fragile and precious.
Thank you Cynthia for continuing to post each morning Your words are a great encouragement and a wonderful start to each new day.

Welcome back John, you have been missed.

Sorry I have been off line for a few days. Will have a good read through this thread tonight as I have really missed the thoughts of Cynthia and all of you. :-)

Joy, those thoughts are simply wonderful as kandj says, and are very fitting and comforting. Thank you. <3 <3


For today.........


The better you know God, the better you feel,
For to learn more about Him and discover He's real
can wholly, completely and miraculously change,
reshape, remake and then rearrange
your mixed-up, miserable and unhappy life
adrift on the sea of sin-sickened strife.

But when you once know this man of goodwill,
He will calm your life and say "peace be still".
So open your heart's door and let Christ come in
and He'll give you new life and free you from sin.
And there is no joy that can ever compare,
With the joy of knowing you're in God's care.



Hope everyone has a good day.......Cx :-)

Joy, wonderful words, very profound, thought provoking and beautiful. Thank you.

I have fought the good fight,
I have finished the course,
I have kept the faith.
Say not in grief that I am no more,
but in thankfulness that I once was.


Say not in grief 'he is no more' but in thankfulness that he was.


God gives opportunities for us to love but not forever.
God takes opportunities away after a while.
So don't hesitate or delay or curse the darkness while remaining mired in sadness and hopelessness, because God gives; and God takes away.
Blessed be the name of the LORD.
But why bless the LORD when God takes away?
Because if the opportunities were always there, we would wait until the time was just right and never make the leap, and more of life would slip away.
So God gives and God takes; Blessed be God's name.


Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.



<3

<3 <3 <3 <3

Amen to that too.

Amen.

Emma :-) <3

Good morning and thank you my friends..... <3


I know the Diocesan authorities will help to keep things covered for a while, but our churchwardens are both in full employment and both hold very responsible jobs. This is why we folk from the pews, must rally round and support them as much as we possibly can.

Here we are in a new week........so a prayer for today.... :-)


CELTIC MORNING PRAYER: GIVE YOURSELF TO GOD


Our Father,

Lord, come I this day to you!

I am not a great gift to offer you, it is my coming that is my gift.

For who among us holds within themselves any worthy offering to the God who owns the universe?

To come to you while the entire world moves away from you, is our only gift of worth.

And so I come this day: ignore me or use me, save me or spend me.

Use me or set me by, I am yours.

Amen.




Cx :-)

Cynthia you have my prayerful support and no doubt many others who pop in and have been helped and encouraged for so long by all your postings.

I do hope that your Area Dean will be on hand to help your church wardens keep the services covered by other local Clergy (often retired), and be near to encourage PCC and congregation at such a difficult time.

Your vicar will indeed be greatly missed not only by members of the congregation but by people like yourself who have lost a special friend so suddenly... a huge shock!

I have only just spotted this Cynthia. What a shock for you all I know how loved he was as vicar and friend. Testing times ahead as you find a new vicar and hard times for whoever replaces him as he was so well loved.

Certainly was Ann - that's why I was feeling dismal and trying to cheer myself up by annoying Fans the other day.

just been reading back - what a shock for you all, how devastating, not only for his family of course, but for the community as a whole <3 <3

It all went very well considering the circumstances. Apparently, the Bishop and the Archdeacon had attended the 9 am service - not officiating in any way, simply in the pews with everyone else.

Large congregations, as was to be expected and a very long queue to sign the book of remembrance. There were, of course, some tears but, on the whole, everyone rallied round and are beginning to think of how to keep things going for the future.

It's strange for us as he usually visited us on a Sunday evening...... :-(


Ah well......... Cx :-)

Good morning my friends. :-)


A prayer for today......


BE GLAD

Be glad that your life has been full and complete,
Be glad that you’ve tasted the bitter and sweet.
Be glad that you’ve walked in sunshine and rain,
Be glad that you’ve felt both pleasure and pain.
Be glad that you’ve had such a full, happy life,
Be glad for your joy as well as your strife.
Be glad that you’ve walked with courage each day,
Be glad you’ve had strength for each step of the way.
Be glad for the comfort that you’ve found in prayer,
Be glad for God’s blessings, His love, and His care.


~ Helen Steiner Rice


Today is going to be difficult..........your prayers would be appreciated. Cx :-)

So very, very true Dermot......my vicar would have probably put that in the parish magazine. I may put it in myself - when it's decided who is going to be the editor :-(

NEW School prayer: (Copied from a recent American E-Mail).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now I sit me down in school

Where praying is against the rule.

For this great nation under God

Finds mention of Him very odd.

If scripture now the class recites,

It violates the Bill of Rights.

And anytime my head I bow

Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,

That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.

The law is specific, the law is precise.

Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall

Might offend someone with no faith at all..

In silence alone we must meditate,

God's name is prohibited by the Province.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,

And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.

They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.

To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,

And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.

It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,

We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,

Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.

But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,

No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,

When chaos reigns the school's a mess.

So, Lord, this silent plea I make:

Should I be shot; My soul please take!

Amen.

'Be of good cheer about death and know this as a truth -
that no evil can happen to a good man, either in life or
after death.'

Socrates

Emma <3

Cynthia, may I share these words which have brought me comfort, strength and reassurance very many times when I have struggled with life's trauma's. I hope they might help you and others who are facing troubled times.

ISAIAH 41 v 13

I, the Lord your God hold your right hand
It is I who say to you...........fear not.
I will help you.

Thinking about you and your sorrow and praying for you today.