General Chat

Good morning........... :-)

My vicar has just had a cataract operation done. The following day, I sent him an email asking how he was doing.

The reply I got?

ROUGH - in large letters!!! He is feeling much better now...... :-D


Today is the first day of Summer.......and so,


A Summer Blessing
(by Author Unknown)

May you walk with God
This summer
In whatever you do
Wherever you go


Walking with God means...
Walking with honesty
And with courage,
Walking with love
And respect
And concern for the feelings of others.


May you talk to God
This summer
And every day and
In every situation


Talking with God means...
Praying words of praise
For the beauty of creation
Saying prayers of thanks
For friends and good times,
Asking God's help
In all your decisions
Expressing sorrow
When you have failed.

May you talk with God
Every day Amen.



Cx :-)

Have just opened an email from said Vicar.

In tiny, weeny print it says.....

Good morning. Feeling much better today and eyesight is improving. Do you need to borrow glasses to read this?



Doh! :-D

Many thanks for the Summer blessing prayer, Cynthia.

Your Vicar is brilliant. What a good relationship you must have for him to write like he does. And so funny. :-D

My little offering for this morning is another verse from a hymn by Mrs Alexander (1818-1893):

Jesus calls us! Over the tumult
Of our life's wild restless sea.
Day by day his clear voice soundeth,
Saying: "Christian, follow me".

Your vicar does make me smile Cynthia
and what better way to start the day.

Emma :-)

Edit......And he told them a parable to the
effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
Luke 18:1

Good morning..............thank you for the reminder about not losing heart Emma :-)


There are some, for whom not losing heart, must have been very difficult.......I think especially of the saints of old.....

I arise today,

Through the strength of heaven:

Light of the sun, radiance of the moon.

Splendor of fire, speed of lightning,

Swiftness of wind, depth of sea,

Stability of earth and firmness of rock.


I arise today,

Through God’s strength to pilot me:

God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me,

God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me,

God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me,

God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me.

From the snares of devils, from temptation of vices,

From everyone who shall wish me ill,

Afar and near, alone and in a multitude.


- St. Patrick



Enjoy your day............Cx :-)

There is a pilgrimage to Llanwonno today. How I wished I could have gone and reported back on a couple of hundred Valleys folk assembling in that lovely, romantic and remote spot between Pontypridd, Mountain Ash and Ferndale.

But this week is a 6 day working week for me with only tomorrow off. Been a really hot and hard week and was so looking to a day of rest and relaxation. Never mind.

I feel very fortunate that I am still able to work at a hard job that few young people seem to want to do. And am well and fairly fit at almost 67.

But most of all I am grateful that God looks after me every step I take. He notices when I have been good and when I have been bad. And I feel good when I am good in his eyes (not often) and I feel bad when I have been bad in his eyes. A Christian therefore is happy when his or her God is happy, sad when God is sad, and knows exactly what to ask forgiveness for.

And I am really happiest when Cynthia posts each day nice and early. And I love the prayers and notes of Emma and everyone :-) :-) :-)

Good morning....... :-)


It's a very wet start to the week here but, nevertheless, many of us have a lot to be grateful for.........

As our vicar is off sick after his cataract operation, we are having a lady vicar this morning. She used to be curate at our church so we all know her.

I found another gem by Helen Steiner Rice


~ This is My Prayer ~

Bless me, heavenly Father,
forgive my erring ways,
Grant me strength to serve Thee,
put purpose in my days.

Give me understanding,
enough to make me kind,
So I may judge all people
with my heart and not my mind.

And teach me to be patient
in everything I do,
Content to trust Your Wisdom
and to follow after You.


And help me when I falter,
and hear me when I pray,
And receive me in Thy Kingdom
to dwell with Thee some day.


Cx :-)

A lovely start to the day. And a lovely start to a new week, Cynthia. A day to charge up spiritual batteries. I am feeling more at one with Helen Steiner Rice each time I read one of her well-crafted poems.

Not sure we have ever had the Lords Prayer on this thread in over 6 months since it started.

This is how St Matthew recorded the words of Jesus to his followers during his keynote sermon from the mount:

"“This, then, is how you should pray:

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’

(New International Version of Bible)

I believe the end of the prayer that we are familiar with was added later.

Just think, as we say it today, that we are saying with Jesus "our Father". My father. Your Father. Our Father. :-) :-)

I am also enjoying the work of Helen Steiner Rice,
Thank you Cynthia :-)

Emma

You're welcome Emma............sorry no tales of the vicar today...... :-(

Had a Sunday off today from being a PM. So it was nice to attend my own chapel.
About 20 of us, service was led excellently by a lady who is one of our members - what is called an Own Arrangement. She is really excellent, typically Rhondda and preached from Samuel when King David was selected. David's heart was right with God. Not to judge anybody by what they say or by how they look - but to try and see inside their heart.

Two of them had been to Llanwonno pilgrimage yesterday, Very very windy up there, and little church (Church in Wales) was full and they all had a wonderful time.

It would have been 100th birthday celebrations for lady over in Bargoed area yesterday. Not heard how that went, but I am sure it was a lovely day for everybody - and especially birthday girl. It is great to see someone born June 1913 who is still so lively and well :-D :-D Our God is indeed good :-) :-)

The physical advantages of faith are few but we are assured that the spiritual & eternal advantages are infinite.

Still, us Catholics miss out a lot on this lovely planet for not having ladies on the altar or pulpit - except for flower arranging, etc plus dishing out coffee & cakes afterwards in the parlour, to revive our drooping spirit.

A great pity - but I suppose we all have to carry some load or other through life. They say that God has no favourites - just as well maybe.

Anyway, I might phone & have a word with Pope Frankie tomorrow about these old & faded traditions.

Amen!

Do let us know what he has to say Dermot.......tell him that you are all missing out!! :-D


We have a rota for altar servers and there are 4 ladies on it if I remember rightly. Two of them are young women - one has a purple streak in her hair, and we never know what colour the other one is going to be sporting!!!


We seem to have quite a lot of female clergy locally when I come to think about it. The lady we had this morning is an ex-Headteacher and boy, do you know it ....she certainly doesn't need a mike and sailed through the announcing of about 6 lots of banns with no problems at all. :-D


Yes, we women are certainly useful to have around....... ;-)

Good morning, and how about some smiles to counteract some of the frowns ...


I have been browsing through some Celtic blessings, and these caught my eye :-



An old Wedding Blessing

May those who love us, love us.
And those who don't love us,
May God turn their hearts;
And if He doesn't turn their hearts,
May He turn their ankles,
So we will know them by their limping.



Lang may your lum reek. (Long may your chimney smoke.)
Scottish Blessing




If God sends you down a stony path,
may he give you strong shoes.





and finally, I'm sure many of you will remember this verse set to music.



Bless this house, o Lord, we pray.
Make it safe by night and day.
Bless these walls so firm and stout,
Keeping want and trouble out.
Bless the roof and chimney tall,
Let thy peace lie over all.
Bless the doors that they may prove
Ever open to joy and love.
Bless the windows shining bright,
Letting in God's heavenly light.
Bless the hearth a-blazing there,
With smoke ascending like a prayer.
Bless the people here within...
Keep them pure and free from sin.
Bless us all, that one day, we
May be fit, O lord, to dwell with Thee.

Helen Mary, 1927 (set to music by May Brahe)


These blessings and more, can be found at : http://www.faithandworship.com/Celtic_Blessings_and_Prayers.htm#ixzz2X7JCbsIu


Stay happy..... Cx :-)

Once again thank you Cynthia and
lang may your lum reek. :-)

Emma x

Hope not Emma - it's been blocked off :-D :-D :-D :-D

LOL.....well prosper with whatever keeps you warm :-D ;-)

What shocking news to come home to this evening - Sandie has passed away. We must remember her family in our prayers, and her friends (particularly those who are members of Genes chat).

I saw that John - very sad indeed. I have seen Sandie around on the boards for a long time - she will be sadly missed.


When this sort of thing happens, it always brings to mind a prayer written by a friend from long ago and which is published and widely used......


We remember, Lord, the slenderness of the thread
which separates life from death,
and the suddenness with which it can be broken.

Help us also to remember that on both sides of that division
we are surrounded by your love.
Persuade our hearts that when our dear ones die
neither we nor they are parted from you.

In you may we find peace,
and in you be united with them in the body of Christ,
who has burst the bonds of death and is alive for evermore,
our Saviour and theirs for ever and ever.

- Dick Williams.

:-) :-)