General Chat

Thank you John for your geography explanations I had no idea there were two Rhondda valley's, I can't remember ever coming across this info before.

LK, I have had Be Thou My Vision in my head and singing to myself while gardening this afternoon, coincidence or what? Beautiful words/amazing hymn.

BananaNaNa I looked at the links for Cynthia and AnnC and several others which passed on an hour in no time at all........ wonderful music and scenery.... thank you.

Cynthia your chosen prayer for today was new to me and I found myself nodding in agreement with each verse. Thank you.

Oh Ann.......what are you like??? How have you managed to do that...??


Thank you BananaNaNa - that was lovely - I remember Kenneth McKellar. :-)



Yes, today was busy but, despite the fact that the church was full, there wasn't too much hassle or noise. We were pulling the Vicar's leg about his 'panda' eyes - he is now known as Amanda the Panda!!!


This afternoon, I donned my wellies and went to the local agricultural show with my daughter. It was good to see so many families enjoying themselves in the sunshine. I bumped into the local RC priest who a good friend of ours - he had just bought a wooden walking stick which was reminiscent of a Bishop's crook! He has a brilliant sense of humour and we had a laugh about him having 'delusions of grandeur' :-D


Hope everyone else has had a good day........:-)

unfortunatey I've lost sound off my computer :-(

Some evenings I turn TV off plug headphones in and spend an evening listening to youtube videos like these

http://goo.gl/9a8DtE

http://goo.gl/Oa3Jkp

http://goo.gl/Vkq2Kg

And I am not Welsh

Do a youtube search for

"beer and hymns" and "sacramento central church"

some good hymns

For Ann

http://goo.gl/S7F7je

For Cyn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ofci-jNU9cA

Emma. I love Scottish one. The one where you shout at the end of the line. Very stirring. And the Irish one. And the Marseillaise. And, of course, the one I blub to is Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.

Best part of the rugby :-) :-)

Attended two very different services today. First sermon was about Paul landing at Miletus on his last trip and saying farewell to Ephesian elders. (Acts 20). Never fails to bring a tear.

Second was our Minister preaching on Luke 20 verse 14. We had a reading from Luke Chapter 20 and Isaiah Chapter 5 and I was very glad I did not have to preach on Luke 20 verse 14. But it was a masterful exposition and have really been fed today. And we had communion, so triply fed :-) :-) :-) Quadruply fed if I include lovely thoughts of Cynthia, and BananaNaNa and kandj. And thanks to Emma and of course AnnC :-) :-)

I agree Ann..and it brings a tear to my eye
every time.
Hymns, songs, National Anthems all move me to tears.

Emma

"Bread of Heaven", sung at my husband's funeral by Pendyrus Choir - also sung at rugby matches!!!

Myfanwy, my favourite, sung at my son's wedding by Pendyrus nearly a year after Lawrence died - a very emotional day, but then music is very emotional

There are a lot of deaths in Egypt currently, and a lot of Christians will be involved in that.

Someone on another thread has said that we Christians only seem to pray for the 2bn Christians in this world, and ignore the other 5bn plus who belong to other religions or none. Incidentally, I get the 2bn from the fact trhat the Roman Catholic Church claims it has 1.2bn worldwide who are adherents and the various other parts of Christianity cannot be that far behind.

When I lead Prayers of Intercession, I always stick to an order:
1. Those in authority. Queen, Prime Minister etc
2. People suffering in world . Egypt, Syria, Iraq. Often I concentrate on children in this intercession.
3. Church. Starting with church everywhere, and bringing it down to local church
4. Those who are sick and bereaved. Very often not regular churchgoers, but friends and neighbours.
5. Lords Prayer (sung or spoken)

I have never been in churches when they only pray for Christians. Are there such places?

Thank you all for sharing.

John thank you so beautiful and I never get
fed up listening to it.

Emma :-)

that's beautiful Cyns. <3

Good morning and thank you all....it's lovely to see everyone who pops in....

Welsh voices are amazing and yes, they can give me goosebumps too.

Although the first line of the hymn mentioned by BananaNaNa is vaguely familiar, I can't say I know it. I was soon able to hum a tune to it though..... :-)


LK, that is such a lovely, lovely hymn.... :-)



A prayer for today...


I Am A Christian

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not shouting, “I’ve been saved!”
I’m whispering, “I get lost sometimes
That’s why I chose this way”

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I don’t speak with human pride
I’m confessing that I stumble -
needing God to be my guide.

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not trying to be strong
I’m professing that I’m weak
and pray for strength to carry on.

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not bragging of success
I’m admitting that I’ve failed
and cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I don’t think I know it all
I submit to my confusion
asking humbly to be taught.

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I’m not claiming to be perfect
My flaws are far too visible
but God believes I’m worth it.

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I still feel the sting of pain
I have my share of heartache
which is why I seek God’s name.

When I say, “I am a Christian”
I do not wish to judge
I have no authority
I only know I’m loved.

- Carol Wimmer



Now I must get on. We have three baptisms in the main service today.... :-0


Our Vicar is back from holiday and, because he has recently had a cataract operation, it is obvious that he kept his sunglasses on whilst away. He looks like a panda!!


He had a funeral on Friday and two weddings yesterday - I hope he explained his appearance to them!!


Cx

My contribution for today.
I love the simplicity of sound.

Be Thou My Vision.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EYYbwEqDlg

I know that hymn is called Cwm Rhondda (Rhondda Valley). But we have two Rhondda Valleys - big and small. Cwm Rhondda Fawr and Cwm Rhondda Fach. And two world class Male Voice Choirs.

AnnCardiff's late husband Lawrence performed with the Pendyrus, which is based in Tylorstown in the Rhondda Fach (small Rhondda). Could not find Myfanwy recorded by them on you tube. But how about this link from Treorchy in the Rhondda Fawr next door?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FFaxOv3nnU

Cynthia, this hymn was one sung at our wedding and we still love it as much ever.

Thank you John, all your info is interesting and the link made for very good reading too

I agree Emma, listening to a Welsh male voice choir is just awesome whatever they sing. I find it very emotional and usually have the goosebumps!

A little while ago Cyn mentioned the baptism service. The church I attended in my youth always sang this hymn during the service and I have always liked it

By cool Siloam’s shady rill
How fair the lily grows!
How sweet the breath, beneath the hill,
Of Sharon’s dewy rose!

Lo! such the child whose early feet
The paths of peace have trod,
Whose secret heart, with influence sweet,
Is upward drawn to God.

By cool Siloam’s shady rill
The lily must decay;
The rose that blooms beneath the hill
Must shortly fade away.

And soon, too soon, the wintry hour
Of man’s maturer age
Will shake the soul with sorrow’s power
And stormy passion’s rage.

O Thou Whose infant feet were found
Within Thy Father’s shrine,
Whose years with changeless virtue crowned,
Were all alike divine.

Dependent on Thy bounteous breath,
We seek Thy grace alone,
In childhood, manhood, age, and death
To keep us still Thine own.

By Reginald Heber

One of my favourite things I like to listen
to is a male voice choir and more so if Welsh..

I am getting a lesson here with who wrote the hymns
and am enjoying hearing about them.

Another beautiful one Cynthia thank you and you too
John.

I love to hear Myvanwy I know it's a song but the first
time I heard a Welsh male voice choir they were singing that
so beautiful.

Emma :-)

http://johnesimpson.com/blog/2012/02/midweek-music-break-pendyrus-male-choir-cwm-rhonnda/

Cynthia. One of the great hymns. Really it was a hymn of revival. Born in the Great Awakening of 18th century and re-born in the 1904 revival.

Rev William Williams was from a farm called Pantycelyn - hence his name was always "Williams Pantycelyn". (Pronunciation - pant followed by an uh sound, then kellin)

His first line was Arglwydd, arwain drwy'r anialwch - Lord, lead me through the wilderness,

First verse continues

"Me, a pilgrim of poor appearance,
I don't have strength or life in me,
Like lying in the grave:
Omnipotent, Omnipotent
Is the one who brings me to the shore."

The wilderness, I believe, was Wales in 1760-1762 at the absolute height of Methodist revival. Pantycelyn saw many who loved the Lord. But he saw many who had not yet received the most precious gift, that pearl without price. And it saddened him as he rode round on horseback that he was such a useless pilgrim of Christ.

And it was the 1904 revival that brought hymn back into prominence. It was translated into English as there were so many chapelgoers who spoke English as their first language in the coal mining areas of South Wales.

First tune "Rhondda" had a connection with Capel Rhondda (half way between Porth and Pontypridd). It has a plaque on front of chapel (near Rhondda Heritage Museum with its huge chimney). Note to self - must stop and read plaque one day. I think it became "Cwm Rhondda" a couple of years later and has been a favourite ever since :-) :-)