General Chat

Good morning :-)

And now for something different!! :-D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HgNSB6XafM&pp=ygUndGhlIGdydW1weSBvd2wgYW5kIHRoZSBqb3kgb2YgY2hyaXN0bWFz


Enjoy.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

I have to admit to not having watched the news for a few days, and so, I am horrified to search and find out about this attack. May God bless those who were killed and injured, and may their families know His comfort. A dreadful thing to happen.


On the island of Mauke, located in the continent of Oceania, the local community prepares for the birth of Jesus with an Advent visiting tradition known as Rangokere. During Rangokere, large baskets of food are shared between the two main villages on the island. These baskets are offered to everyone, regardless of their faith.

The celebration also includes singing and dancing, allowing the entire community to experience friendship and joy together. The people of Mauke understand the importance of sharing with everyone. Who can we share friendship and joy with this week?

Cx :-)

Hello all

Thank you Cynthia for explaining the advent candle colours and adding such interesting little tales afterwards.

My thoughts and prayers are for all the people who lost their lives during the Jewish Hanukkah festival celebrations on Bondi Beach in Australia recently.

Good morning :-)


The Lantern in the Window

Snow blanketed the village, and Miriam stood at her window, watching the flakes fall. This Advent felt different—her husband was away at sea, and the silence in the house weighed heavily on her. She lit a single candle in a lantern her grandmother had given her, hoping the light would carry a message to him: Come home safe.

As she added a candle each week, the warm glow began to draw in her neighbours, who found comfort in its light. One evening, Mrs. Calloway brought over a jar of plum jam, saying the lantern made her feel lighter. On the final Sunday before Christmas, with the snow stopped and the sky clear, Miriam lit all four candles.

As she stood by the window, she spotted a familiar figure walking up the lane. Her husband had returned, saying he had seen her light from afar. In that moment, Miriam understood that the joy of Advent is found not only in waiting but in the light we share as we do so.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Yesterday, the pink candle in the Advent wreath was lit. Having a pink candle moves us away from the solemnity of the purple, just for this week. There is a tradition where some priests wear pink vestments, and yesterday was also known as Gaudete Sunday, which is the Latin word for ‘Rejoice’.

This is known as the Joy candle and also as the Shepherd candle. We are encouraged to rejoice, just like the shepherds did, at the birth of Jesus. The angel called it "great joy" for "all people." The birth of Jesus wasn't good news just for a select few. This joy is available to everyone who receives Christ.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The third Sunday of Advent.

From today's Gospel.

While in prison, John the Baptist sends his followers to ask Jesus if he is the Messiah. Jesus replies by mentioning his miracles: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are healed, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised. He tells John that those who are not offended by him are blessed. This highlights the fulfilment of prophecy and encourages faith during tough times.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Oh my, it's such a busy week and weekend at church thta I don't know if I am coming or going!!!

It is hard to be a peacemaker if we are angry and aggressive. Gentleness is a tool that helps to build peace because gentleness makes people feel safe and loved. Today, through the words of this prayer, let’s ask God to help us be gentle.

Loving Father,
In the Bible, we read how your Son, Jesus, called himself ‘gentle in heart’.
Help me to be gentle, too.
Help me to use gentle actions like your Son,
So that others know that I care.
Help me to use gentle words like your Son,
Even when defending what is right and true.
Lord, some think that gentleness is weak.
Help me to remember the courage of your Son,
Who was not afraid to be gentle and not afraid to speak out.
We make this prayer through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Snow fell in soft, unhurried flakes, blanketing the small village in quiet. Inside the old stone church, candles flickered along the windowsills, their warm glow spilling into the night.

Mara sat alone in the back pew, her heart heavy with the year’s troubles. She had come not for the service, but for the silence. As she stared at the nativity scene, she noticed a small boy placing a paper dove beside the manger.

“It’s for peace,” he whispered when he saw her watching. “Mum says if we give peace a place, it will grow.”
Something in his words settled deep within her. She reached into her coat pocket, pulled out a folded note, and wrote a single word: forgiveness. She placed it beside the dove.

When she stepped back outside, the snow seemed softer, the night less cold. The world hadn’t changed—but something in her had. And that was enough to begin.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

In the second week of Advent we are reflecting on the importance of peace. There are lots of beautiful carols that help us to think about the peace that Jesus brought into the world. One famous carol is Silent Night.

This carol is so peaceful that, on Christmas Eve 1914, it even stopped soldiers fighting. As the night drew in, a German soldier in the trenches began to sing Silent Night, then an English soldier joined him. Before long, their fellow soldiers joined the singing too. The peace stretched miles down the trench line and in some places lasted for days.

Lord, bring us peace.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The candy cane is typically white with red stripes. The white colour symbolises the purity and sinlessness of Jesus, reflecting the belief that He was without sin. The red stripes represent the blood that Jesus shed for humanity, reminding us of His sacrifice on the cross for our sins.

Look at the candy cane, what do you see?
Stripes that are red like the blood shed for me
White is for my Saviour, who is sinless and pure
J is for Jesus, my Lord, that is sure
Turn it around and a staff you will see
Jesus, my shepherd, was born for me.

Cx

Good morning :-)

Jesus came into our world to show us how to build His kingdom of peace. Sadly, there are many countries in the world today that are not at peace. Let us keep these countries in our hearts as we pray this little prayer.

Loving God and Father of all,
Hear our prayer for peace in our world.
Protect all children living through war,
Help them to stay safe and feel loved.
Strengthen all adults hurt by war,
Help them to forgive and to heal.
Guide all leaders who work to end war,
Help them to stay hopeful and wise.
Loving God, your Son, Jesus, showed us how to be peacemakers.
Help us to follow his example,
And live in peace as your global family. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Apologies once more - life is a touch frenetic! :-D


Today is the 2nd Sunday in Advent, and in the Gospel, we hear about John the Baptist teaching about repentance.

John the Baptist fulfils prophecies from Isaiah and Malachi, which talk about a messenger preparing the way for the Lord. This highlights his role as the last prophet of the Old Covenant and shows the ongoing plan for salvation. John the Baptist is a model for Christians during Advent. His simple lifestyle and dedication to his mission encourage believers to focus on spiritual matters instead of getting caught up in material preparations.

Cx :-)

Good afternoon :-)


Like the people in the Bible in the days of old,
We know the Son of God is coming,
as the prophets have foretold.
Mighty God,
Wonderful Counsellor,
Emmanuel his name.
And the world will tell forever of his fame.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

You're very welcome Vera <3


A True Advent Story of Hope

In 1943, during the Second World War, a young mother in England named Margaret lived in constant fear for her husband, a soldier stationed abroad. That Advent, she lit the first candle of their family wreath alone with her two children. She prayed one simple line each night:

“Lord Jesus, come into our darkness with Your hope.”

One evening, just before Christmas Eve, a letter arrived—weeks late due to the chaos of the war. Inside was a note from her husband telling her he was alive and safe after surviving an attack in which most of his unit had fallen.
He wrote:
“I don’t know how I survived. But I felt carried. As if someone was praying for me.”

That year, Margaret said she understood Advent for the first time:

Cx :-)

I feel I have learnt quite a lot in the last two or three weeks. Of course I knew that persecution of Christians takes place in many countries but some of your figures and stories really shocked me and made me think. I had never heard of Christ Pantocrator so that's something new for me as well.

Thank you Cynthia for all your posts that keep this thread going.

Good evening :-D

According to legend, a young Mexican girl named Pepita was sad that she had no gift for the baby Jesus. She gathered a bouquet of weeds, which miraculously transformed into the bright red flowers when she placed them at the Nativity. Name: Because of this legend, they became known in Mexico as "Flores de Noche Buena," or "Flowers of the Holy Night".

The star-shaped pattern of the poinsettia's leaves is said to symbolise the Star of Bethlehem that guided the wise men. Blood of Christ: The vibrant red colour of the leaves represents the blood of Christ. Purity of Jesus: The white leaves are sometimes said to represent the purity of Jesus.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Advent Hope

A little door, a simple square,
A secret waiting to be found.
Each day we turn, a gift we share,
With hopeful hearts and silent sound.
The world is hushed, we watch and wait,
For signs of love, and peace on Earth.
We count the days, we seal our fate,
To celebrate our Saviour's birth.
He comes to us in humble guise,
A precious gift, a light so true.
He opens up our sleeping eyes,
To a new world, a morning new.
So let us wait with joyful hearts,
And look for hope in all we see.
For in His coming, all things start,
With love for you, and love for me.



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Today is Advent Sunday

The Collect (special prayer) for today:
Almighty God,
give us grace to cast away the works of darkness
and to put on the armour of light,
now in the time of this mortal life,
in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility;
that on the last day,
when he shall come again in his glorious majesty
to judge the living and the dead,
we may rise to the life immortal;
through him who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

In the Gospel reading, we are warned to be prepared as the Son Man will be coming at any time.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Looking for articles relating to Christ the King, you come across an unusual phrase – ‘Christ Pantocrator’. Apparently, this means ‘Almighty’ or ‘Ruler of All’ and is significantly used in iconography, symbolising His divine authority and power.

The earliest known surviving depiction of Christ Pantocrator is kept in St. Catherine's Monastery in Egypt, and it is regarded by historians and scholars among the most important and recognisable works in the study of Byzantine art as well as Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christianity.

It is easily googled! :-)


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Oops. Missed a day. Sorry. xx

A few facts about The Feast of Christ the King.
This festival is only 100 years old and was instituted in 1925 by Pope Pius XI.

The feast of Christ the King was a response to the rise of secularisation, atheism, and communism.

Although it was created by a pope about 100 years ago, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, and Presbyterians celebrate the feast.
Some Anglicans refer to Sunday's Feast of Christ the King as “Stir-up Sunday.” Why?

First, the Anglican collect (special prayer for the day) begins with the words, “Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people…”

Second, some old pudding recipes require the pudding to sit for several weeks before being cooked. Christ the King Sunday became a day that people traditionally began preparing pudding for Christians, which includes “stirring it up.”

Cx :-)