General Chat

Good morning :-)


This may help those who are questioning life…..

Trust Me
I sat on the beach and gazed at the sky,
looking for answers to my questions: "Why?"
Why did the Father create you and me,
the sun and the stars and the deep blue sea?
Why are there mountains, and valleys below?
These are some things I would like to know.
Why is there hatred, violence and greed—
they're works of the devil—they are, indeed.

Why can't we gather as one in accord—
one happy family with God as our Lord?
Why is there sorrow, such pain and disease?
I ask You, dear Lord—God, answer me please.
I sat for a while to wait on the Lord.
He heard my questions—the ones I implored.
And then with much love, great patience and grace,
God whispered gently with words I embraced.

"My child, I love you, and your strong will.
I love all the world—just trust Me—be still.
You don't understand—it's not time to know.
Someday I'll tell you, but first you must grow.
With every season you'll learn more and more—
learn all you can with no fear to explore.
Now, reach for My hand and I'll lead the way—
follow My footsteps, take heed and obey.
I'll answer your questions when timing is right.
For now, you must trust Me, each day and night."

-Kristine Stanton

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


I think what I like about her poems Vera, is the way they flow......sometimes, poems can be a bit erratic but hers seem sort of steady - if you get what I mean :-D


For those mourning the death of a loved one, remember.......

Love Lives On

Those we love remain with us
for love itself lives on,
and cherished memories never fade
because a loved one’s gone.
Those we love can never be
more than a thought apart,
far as long as there is memory,
they’ll live on in the heart.


Cx :-)

I think I have said before that I am not a huge fan of Helen Steiner Rice's verse but I rather like that poem. Thank you, Cynthia, for posting it.

Good morning :-)


This rather lovely poem may encourage someone..........

We cannot all be famous
or be listed in "WHO'S WHO,"
But every person great or small
has important work to do,
For seldom do we realize
the importance of small deeds
Or to what degree of greatness
unnoticed kindness leads.

For it's not the big celebrity
in a world of fame and praise,
But it's doing unpretentiously
in undistinguished ways
The work that God assigned to us,
unimportant as it seems,
That makes our task outstanding
and brings reality to dreams.

So do not sit and idly wish
for wider, new dimensions
Where you can put in practice
your many "GOOD INTENTIONS"
But at the spot God placed you
begin at once to do
Little things to brighten up
the lives surrounding you,

For if everybody brightened up
the spot in which they're standing
By being more considerate
and a little less demanding,
This dark old world would very soon
eclipse the "Evening Star"
If everybody BRIGHTENED UP
THE CORNER WHERE THEY ARE!
~ Helen Steiner Rice ~

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Collect (special prayer) for today:

Almighty God,
who called your Church to bear witness
that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself:
help us to proclaim the good news of your love,
that all who hear it may be drawn to you;
through him who was lifted up on the cross,
and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen


In the Gospel reading for today, Jesus tells us 'take up your cross and follow me'.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


What a lovely story Vera, and what a caring and thoughtful little girl. Her parents must be so proud of her - she has set a shining example of how to think of others bless her. <3


Volunteers
Flower arrangers, youth workers, choir members……..the list of these wonderful people doesn’t seem to end. We give thanks for each and every one of them – for their time and talents, for their willingness and generosity of spirit. Thank you, good Lord.

Cx :-)

Where would we be without volunteers? I live near a centre where a number of organisations hold meetings: a fortnightly lunch club for the elderly, clubs for people who have had a stroke or have Parkinsons etc. The bulk of the work necessary to keep these going is done by volunteers. Bless them all.

I'd like to share with you an act of volunteering and charitable giving that concerns a child of my acquaintance. When she first started school at the age of 4 she heard about the Little Princess Trust who provide real hair wigs for children who have lost their hair for whatever reason. Young as she was she volunteered to grow her hair to give to a child in need. She also learnt that it costs £700 to provide each wig. She is now 7 years old and has kept her promise to grow her hair and has also said she would like to raise £700 for the cause. This week her waist length hair has been cut to ear level to be made into a wig and by nearly 50 people giving what they could afford she has raised nearly £800. I think it's amazing that such a young girl could understand someone else's need and keep a promise made when she was only 4 years old. Children can often show us adults the way.

Good morning :-)

Volunteers

Blessed are the tea makers! In most organisations, the people who come to the rescue of others are those who provide tea and other refreshments.

Whether it’s decorating the church for an event, or at the end of a service, there they are, with their steaming mugs of tea or coffee ready to welcome and refresh anyone in need of a pick-me-up.

This very humble task reminds us of Jesus ….. “ and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.’

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Grateful for our volunteers

One of the most important volunteer roles in church life is looking after the finances. It’s not as simple as just counting the money after a service, there is so much more involved such as paperwork and banking. Gift Aid is a big help in bringing in extra funds, so a volunteer has to take responsibility for that.

Each Church of England church is expected to pay towards the central organisation of the church and, for my church, that amounts to almost £50,000 per year. We rely on volunteers to take an interest in fundraising. We also rely on volunteers to take the collection plates round each Sunday. Thank God for our volunteers.

Giving is our response to the love of God. Only as Christians can we fully appreciate this, because it’s in the nature of being Christian. We need to think about thanking God for that generosity to us; His love for us, and for the fact that however ‘busy’ we are, and disobedient, He’s always there.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Volunteers

Of course, a church needs other volunteers apart from those who keep it clean. Take those who look after the things needed for services – the Server.

Serving at the altar is a privilege and forms part of an act of worship in which all can take part. Under the general direction of the clergy, the Server undertakes the overall preparation of set services, making sure that the bread and wine, the candles, and the necessary books are all in place. It may be that he orders the wafers and the wine and generally keeps an eye on things on behalf of the clergy.

Many churches also have junior servers who help with various things such as carrying candles. This is a great way for youngsters to learn more about the faith.

Lord, we so appreciate our volunteers grant each and every one of them a sense of belonging, an awareness of God's love, and an enlarged vision for loving our neighbours. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

That's an interesting point Vera and I know just what you mean. Over the years this has happened to me too and I have come to the conclusion that if the church is well-used and cared for, with a happy and active congregation, then the walls 'absorb' that feeling of being loved. On the other hand, if there is a dwindling congregation and, maybe, a lot of tension with the life of the church, then the building feels cold and unloved. Maybe my fantasy, but that's how I see it.


Over the last few weeks, our church has been reaching out for more volunteers to help with the many jobs that need to be done in church life. The result has been encouraging thankfully.

Last week, we had the funeral of our BB captain and the church was packed out but, before the funeral could take place, we had to make sure that the building was clean and tidy. Our volunteers spent a long time ensuring that the brass was polished, the pews dusted and the carpets vacuumed.

On the day, a posse of church members welcomed the visitors and ensured that everyone had a service sheet or hymn book. People stayed behind to tidy up afterwards.

Without these volunteers, the church would be a poorer place. We are more than grateful to these wonderful people.

Everlasting God, strengthen and sustain all those who volunteer in our churches;
that with patience and understanding they may love and care for your people;
and grant that together they may follow Jesus Christ,
offering to you their gifts and talents;
through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Cx :-)

That’s an interesting poem Cynthia. We like to go into different churches and I find it strange that, even if we are the only people in there, some churches feel welcoming and “comfortable “ while others can seem quite cold and forbidding. I wonder why that is?

Good morning :-)

Within The Gates
- David W. Foley


I love to step inside a church,
To rest, and think, and pray;
The quiet, calm, and holy place
Can drive all cares away.

I feel that from these simple walls
There breathes a moving sound
Of sacred music, murmured prayers,
Caught in the endless round

Of bygone worship, from the store
The swinging seasons bring —
Gay Christmas pageant, Lenten tears,
And the sweet hallowing

Of all that makes our human life:
Birth, and the union blest
Of couples at the altar wed,
And loved ones laid to rest.

Into my soul this harmony
Has poured, and now is still;
The Lord's own benediction falls
Upon me, as I kneel.

Once more, with lifted head, I go
Out in the jarring mart,
The spring of gladness in my step,
God's peace about my heart.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Collect (special prayer for today)

Almighty and everlasting God,
you are always more ready to hear than we to pray
and to give more than either we desire or deserve:
pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid
and giving us those good things
which we are not worthy to ask
but through the merits and mediation
of 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

The Gospel reading for today tells us about Jesus asking His disciples who they thought he was.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


The most Inspirational woman in the Bible.

Mary – Mother of Jesus

The story of Mary is found in the book of Luke where she is described as ‘favoured’ and ‘blessed’.

What qualified Mary to be the mother of Jesus? The simple answer is: the quality of her spiritual life. Mary lived her life in such a way that she was always in God’s presence. Everything she did or said, wherever she was, Mary was always very aware of the presence of God.

For Mary, God wasn’t a grandfather who lived beyond the starry sky. Mary knew that God was with her. All. The. Time.

God was for her a close friend with whom she had a deeply personal relationship. God was with her because she desired his daily company in her life and did everything she could in her humanness to entertain His presence with her.

Mary knew how to practice the presence of God.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Inspirational women in the Bible.

Priscilla is mentioned exactly six times in the New Testament. Just six times. And, although limited in detail, those six mentions tell the story of a woman who used her gifts and resources to influence the spread and nurturing of the early church.

Priscilla was a businesswoman who, with her husband Aquila, owned leatherwork/tent-making shops in several places. Priscilla and Aquila were also good friends of and ministry partners with Paul who also made tents. When Paul met the couple in Corinth, they were already believers.

Priscilla used her gifts of hospitality, hosting house churches in her home and using her gifts of knowing God’s truth to clarify the Gospel message. She used the fruits of her business acumen and welcomed Paul into the heart of her leather-works shop, providing him a platform to teach and to preach. And she used her gift of friendship to encourage the greatest evangelist who ever lived.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Interesting women in the Bible

Deborah is one of the most influential women of the Bible. She is known for her wisdom and courage and is the only woman of the Old Testament who is known for her own faith and action, not because of her relationship to her husband or another man.

As a prophet, Judge Deborah was said to hear God's voice and share God’s Word with others. As a priestess, she did not offer sacrifices, as the men did, but she did lead worship services and preach.

Deborah was an uncommon leader because she was a woman. God called her to a prominent position as a prophetess and judge at a time in history when He commonly appointed men to those positions.

We pray for the women clergy of today.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Interesting women in the Bible

Hannah is one of the best examples of prayerful women in the Bible. She is one of the two wives of Elkanah. The problem was she had no son. Peninnah, the other wife of Elkanah, would torment Hannah and make her life miserable but Hannah never lost hope.

Every time she went to the sanctuary of GOD she could expect to be taunted - this reduced her to tears and she had no appetite. Her husband was worried about her as he loved her greatly.

One time she slipped into the sanctuary where the priest Eli was on duty. She prayed to God to give her a son and made a vow that any son would be given back to God for a life of service to Him.

Eli could see how fervently Hannah was praying and said, “Go in peace and may the God of Israel give you what you have asked of Him.”

Before the year was out, Hannah had conceived and given birth to a son. She named him Samuel, explaining, “I asked God for him.” Samuel grew to be one of the greatest prophets in Israel.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Interesting women in the bible


Mary Mother of Mark - The Hostess (Acts 12:1-17)

Mary was a really common name in the times of Jesus, and this Mary is sometimes skipped over when we talk about the ‘Marys’ in the life of the early church. This particular Mary was the mother of John who was also called ‘Mark’.

Peter had been arrested and the church needed a place to gather for prayer. Mary offered her home and let people bring their fears and hopes with them. They prayed and God sent an angel who led Peter out of prison, and he went to Mary’s house. The church continued to grow.

Not everyone is called to lead through teaching, but anyone can lead by opening their homes to others.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Yesterday's Gospel reading was about a mother who had great faith.
There are many amazing stories about mothers in the bible.

Sarah: The Mother Who Waited

Sarah was married to Abraham but she was not able to conceive a child and this upset them both. Abraham asked God “What will you give me Lord since you have not given me an heir?” God tells him to look at the stars in the sky, for that would be the number of his descendants.

Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years before the promise was fulfilled and Sarah bore a son, Isaac. She said “’God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.’ And she added, ‘Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.’”

Can you imagine waiting that long for a blessing? Sarah tried to believe the promise, but she had doubts until it finally happened. Then she laughed with joy at what the LORD had done. Isaac would go on to continue the legacy of his father Abraham.

Cx :-)