General Chat

Good morning all poppers-inners :-)


We went to lunch at church yesterday - the lunch team had decided that they should carry on as usual because it is what the vicar would have wanted.

There was sadness and tears but, there was also fun and laughter and I felt that was right - you could never be miserable for long when he was around - and we have so much to be thankful for in learning from him.


Things to Be Thankful For

The good, green earth beneath our feet,
The air we breathe, the food we eat,
Some work to do, a goal to win,
A hidden longing deep within
That spurs us on to bigger things
And helps us meet what each day brings -
All these things and many more
Are things we should be thankful for …
And most of all, our thankful prayers
Should rise to God because He cares.



Hope everyone has a good day Cx :-)

Of course you may share them kandj and thank you very much. Very apt words indeed.


Cx :-)

Back again Cynthia as I feel these words are appropriate right now and would like to share them if I may:-

THE CLOCK OF LIFE

The clock of life is wound but once
And no man has the power
To tell just when the hands will stop
At late or early hour.

To lose one's wealth is sad indeed
To lose one's health is more
To lose one's soul is such a loss
That no man can restore.

The Present only is our own
So Live, Love, toil with a will
Place no faith in "Tomorrow"
For the clock may then be still.

Robert H.Smith
1932-1982

All very true words Cynthia but a sudden unexpected death makes us all realize we are not immortal. We who have a faith are blessed to find comfort and strength at times such as these. Take care, sending a warm and gentle hug your way today.

Good morning friends, I have been very grateful for all the kind and caring comments posted on here regarding the sudden and unexpected death of my vicar.

It's at times like this, that I am grateful that I belong to a community of faith. Whilst we are shocked and saddened, and when the mist clears, we know that death does not have the final victory and that our dear friend is at peace with the Lord whom he served so faithfully. We have hope in the Resurrection promise.

I thought the following would be apt for today:



EMBRACE THE MOMENT


I may never see tomorrow
there's no written guarantee,
and things that happened
yesterday, belong to history.

I cannot predict the future,
I cannot change the past,
I have just the present moment
I must treat it as my last.

I must use this moment wisely,
for it soon will pass away,
it will be lost forever,
as part of yesterday.

I must exercise compassion,
help the fallen to their feet,
Be a friend unto the friendless
make an empty life complete.

The unkind things I do today
may never be undone
and friendships that I fail to win
may nevermore be won.

I may not have another chance
on bended knee to pray
and I thank God with a humble heart
for giving me this day.

- unknown.


Cx :-)

Oh Cynthia....... how very sad that your lovely friend and vicar has died. A huge shock for his wife, daughter and the parishioners. Sincere condolences to you all.

Oh Persie, that was him all right. We were on the same wavelength for humour and, even last night, we were ribbing each other all of the time. We used to make others laugh at our caustic comments. I'm so glad you corresponded....... :-)

Thinking of you Cyns,

He was a lovely man.. I shall keep my e-mails to and from him.. when we first corresponded he sent me this:

" I understand you are a friend of Cynthia - strange I didn't realise she had any friends!!!1
Deepest sympathy, i suppose someone has to be her friend - you will get your reward in heaven !!!"

He had a good sense of humour and can tell how well he was liked.

My condolences to his family..

Love Persie <3

Thank you again everyone.


The church has been open for private prayer this evening. I took OH down and then went on to do a promised home visit for a baptism family. I had to do it, otherwise I would have felt I was letting him down.

I went back to church and it seems that between 80-90 people had been in a short space of time. His daughter was also there which was nice.

One of the churchwardens had tastefully set up a memorial to him at the front of church - vestments, books, lilies, a picture of him and votive candles. Very moving but people were moving around at the back in a sense of total disbelief.

As one of the Friday lunch club workers hugged me, he told me that lunches would go ahead tomorrow because it's what the vicar would have wanted.

We are going to have to work harder as a team to help fulfill his vision for our church.


Cx :-)

Dear Cynthia

Hello

I am so very sorry to hear of the passing of your vicar.

From your posts, he seemed a very decent human being and so young as well.


My caring thoughts are with his family and friends at this shocking time for them all.


Take very gentle care
Sincere wishes
Elizabeth, EOS
xx

C

I am so very sorry to hear the news of the death of your Vicar.

I know that you were very good friends .............. and that he was an excellent vicar for the parish.

May he rest in peace


S
xxx
<3 <3 <3 <3

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
(Matthew I think)

Dear Cynthia

I was so sorry to hear this. What a sad loss to his family, friends and parishioners. I pray his wife and family are granted the strength they need right now. My thoughts are with them and you.

Vera

Thank you. All of you. Your words are kind and comforting.


It is going to be extremely hard for his family, friends and parishioners to understand the full extent of how this will affect them.


His wife will have to find a new home.


The church will have to have a new leader.


The parish, churchgoers or not, will need a new pastor.


He will never be replaced as a husband, father, son, and friend to so many.


We live by faith. We die by faith. I am so glad he has not suffered as he was very likely to have done, given his chronic kidney condition.


Cx :-)

Cynthia - so sad to hear about your news, my thoughts are with you as you come to terms with losing someone who was just not your vicar but someone who was also a very dear friend of yours - my condolences go out to his wife, family, friends, and all those whose hearts he touched <3

"In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am."

John 14:2-3

Very sorry to hear this, Cynthia. Thoughts with you and all affected by that sad news.

Cynthia,

I am so sorry to hear this sad news.

My deepest sympathy for the loss of your friend
and my thoughts and prayers for his wife, family
and friends.

Emma <3

So sorry to hear this Cynthia...my condolences to you and all..... <3

Dear Cynthia,

What a dreadful shock. I am so sorry. I know your Vicar made a huge impact on the lives of your entire congregation, and will be so missed.

God has a plan for us all, even though it's sometimes difficult for us to understand.

My condolences to his family and friends.

Rubyx

No words Cynthia ......just <3