General Chat

Good morning :-)


The Collect (special prayer) for today : The Sunday after Ascension

O God the King of glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
we beseech you, leave us not comfortless,
but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us
and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Gospel reading for today : John 17. 6–19
Jesus prays for His disciples.



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Lord God,
Your Son Jesus has now ascended into heaven to be with you.

He has send us into the world to preach the good news of your kingdom.
Help us to fulfil this calling wherever we go and whenever we can.

Fill our hearts with your love
that all we may speak to will hear your word through us
and so be drawn to you, Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Dermot, I do believe that we have the box set of BT somewhere! :-D


As a reminder that yesterday was Ascension Day......... you may sing to your heart's content if you know the tune!! :)


Lord, enthroned in heav'nly splendour,
first-begotten from the dead,
You alone, our strong Defender,
Lifting up Your people's head.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Jesus, true and living Bread!

Paschal Lamb! Your off'ring finished
once for all when You were slain,
in its fullness undiminished
shall forevermore remain.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Cleansing souls from ev'ry stain.

Life-imparting heav'nly Manna,
stricken Rock, with streaming side,
heav'n and earth with loud hosanna
worship You, the Lamb who died.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Ris'n, ascended, glorified!

Cx :-)

'How much kinder is God to us than we are willing to be to ourselves'.

(Anthony Trollope - Barchester Towers.)

Hello all

Ongoing prayerful support for Tabitha.

"He was lifted up and a cloud took him out
of their sight." Acts 1 v 9.

HAPPY ASCENSION DAY everyone.

Good morning :-)

Good luck with the job hunting Tabitha.......you can do it!! <3



Today is Ascension Day – an important day in the life of the church. We are still in the period of Easter which lasts for 50 days. The final 10 days begin today, when we celebrate Jesus’ ascension into heaven. Churches around the country mark the day with services – sometimes outside or on the roof of their church. Finally, at the end of the 50 days, we celebrate Pentecost (sometimes called Whitsun) when Jesus' disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit.


“Easter is incomplete.
Pentecost is impeded,
And the Second Coming is impossible
Without the Ascension.”

Risen Jesus,
Help us to begin living eternal life today.
Help us to know
Your presence with us now,
Even as we anticipate the joy of heaven.
Teach us to live this life
In a way that draws us into eternal life with you. Amen.


Cx :-)

Hello all

Good luck Tabitha... here's hoping that you will have a better response to your 2nd interview. I also have a similar ongoing situation within my own family.

A dry sunny day today after lots of rain and cold winds..... I feel blessed.... and I've been weeding for a little while today. Still much more to do yet!

I admit to being apprehensive and anxious after such a long time of being isolated. I won't be going out and about in a hurry.

Take care everyone. Keep safe X

Thank you all for your kind words, thoughts and prayers.

Still waiting on one of the jobs - the other one had 54 people apply for 11 places and its only for 4 months work - still never mind - I will keep looking.

Hope all are keeping well and looking forward to Monday and the chance to meet up with people and family again.

Take care all

Good morning :-)


Rogation Days - especially devoted to asking for God’s blessing on agriculture and industry.


With our eyes and hearts focused on those who raise crops and work in industries, we cannot help but remember those who live in the shadow of poverty as they produce food and goods for others.

In lands rich in natural resources, people too often wonder about their next meal and worry that their children will have little more than they. We remember those who have lost the land they have loved and now wander in cities where they are often seen as strangers rather than neighbours in need.

Mindful that all the earth is yours and all who live in it, O God, embrace with tender heart and hands those who suffer so others may be fed and live. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Hi Vera, yes both of the tunes are very familiar and I also like the John Rutter setting, but prefer to listen to it rather than sing it I think. Bit of both maybe. x

Rogation Days - especially devoted to asking for God’s blessing on agriculture and industry.

Lord, we pray today for those who work in the factories and industries that produce so much we need to live and thrive. Hour upon hour, day upon day, their lives are committed to transform the gifts of the land into the goods that meet our every need. We are grateful for their hard work, their creative minds, their tireless spirits and their deep commitment to serve others as you have served them. Amen.


Cx :-)

Thank you for last week's Top of the Pops psalm list Cynthia. I expect we all guessed correctly what No 1 and No 2 would be but one or two of the others were a surprise. When I was young psalm 23 was usually sung to the tune Crimond but at our school we always sung it to Brother James' Air.

Amen to your prayer today.

Good morning :-)

Yesterday was known as Rogation Sunday which leads into the Rogation Days.

Rogation Days are the three days preceding Ascension Day, especially devoted to asking for God’s blessing on agriculture and industry. In some areas, Churches will often mark the Rogation days with a “Rogation procession,” where the vicar, choir and congregation process outdoors and say prayers over the fields and farms.



Father God, we give you thanks for those who work on the earth you have created; farmers and gardeners, who till the soil, plant the seed, tend the crops, and harvest so others may eat. We give you thanks for those who work long hours to fill our tables with the gifts of your hand. Remind us that every good and perfect gift comes from you and we thank you. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Collect (special prayer) for today:

God our redeemer,
you have delivered us from the power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of your Son:
grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life,
so by his continual presence in us he may raise us
to eternal joy;
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 :-)

Hello all

Yesterday's psalm took me way back to school days very many years ago.I know psalm 121 off by heart.

Psalm 23 has to be the most recognised one ever.

An interesting weeks postings. Thank you Cynthia.

Good morning :-)



I don’t think there are any prizes for guessing the most popular Psalm……now a hymn, sung at countless 'life' events, especially funerals. A hymn which has been set to several tunes.....and was the popular signature tune for The Vicar of Dibley.

Psalm 23
A psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

I think this one will be familiar to you kandj :-D



Countdown of (possibly) the most popular psalms.

Coming in at No. 2 - and this is definitely popular!

Psalm 121


Assurance of God’s Protection A Song of Ascents.

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.

Cx :-)

Hello all

I don't remember reading this psalm. Thank you.

I hope all is going as planned for Tabitha and her mother in law's funeral arrangements. Wondering how both job interviews went for Tabitha too.

Happy Thursday blessings for one and all today.

Good morning :-)



Countdown of (possibly) the most popular psalms.

Coming in at No. 3.

Psalm 138

Of David.
1 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
before the “gods” I will sing your praise.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,
for you have so exalted your solemn decree
that it surpasses your fame.
3 When I called, you answered me;
you greatly emboldened me.

4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord,
when they hear what you have decreed.
5 May they sing of the ways of the Lord,
for the glory of the Lord is great.

6 Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;
though lofty, he sees them from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life.
You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
with your right hand you save me.
8 The Lord will vindicate me;
your love, Lord, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands




Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The countdown on (possibly) the most popular psalms.....

No. 4

Psalm 62
Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
How long will you assault me?
Would all of you throw me down—
this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
Surely they intend to topple me
from my lofty place;
they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.
Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honour depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
together they are only a breath.
Do not trust in extortion
or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
do not set your heart on them.
One thing God has spoken,
two things I have heard:
“Power belongs to you, God,
and with you, Lord, is unfailing love”;
and, “You reward everyone
according to what they have done.”

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Looking at the 6 most popular psalms - in reverse order!

No. 5

Psalm 46 - you can see the basis for several of our much loved hymns in this psalm.


God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields[d] with fire.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.


Cx :-)