General Chat

Good morning :-)

Everyone needs to be cheered up occasionally - even when things are grim. God gave us the gift of laughter - we need to use it sometimes! ??

There’s always room for laughter in church

According to children………..
Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards.
Jesus went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the aluminium.

Moses was the most wicked man in the Bible. He broke all 10 commandments at the same time.

The Egyptians were all drowned in the dessert.

Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the 10 amendments.

The 5th commandment is to humour thy father and mother.

One of the opossums was St. Matthew, who was, by profession, a taximan.

Lord, thank you for the ability to smile, laugh and find fun in things. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Everyone needs to be cheered up occasionally - even when things are grim. God gave us the gift of laughter - we need to use it sometimes! ??

There’s always room for laughter in church

According to children………..
Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards.
Jesus went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the aluminium.

Moses was the most wicked man in the Bible. He broke all 10 commandments at the same time.

The Egyptians were all drowned in the dessert.

Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the 10 amendments.

The 5th commandment is to humour thy father and mother.

One of the opossums was St. Matthew, who was, by profession, a taximan.

Lord, thank you for the ability to smile, laugh and find fun in things. Amen.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Cynthia, sadly we live in very troubled times.

Vera, I don't recall ever coming across the John Donne Batter My Heart poem, but it's beautiful.

Cooler with black clouds today but no rain at all.

Good morning :-)


What a way to begin a new week! We pray for peace in our troubled world.

There is a well-known passage from St. Matthew

You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places All these are the beginning of birth pains.

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Especially for Vera.......with thanks. A new one for me <3


Batter my Heart (Holy Sonnet 14)
John Donne

Batter my heart, three-person'd God, for you
As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like an usurp'd town to another due,
Labour to admit you, but oh, to no end;
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captiv'd, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly I love you, and would be lov'd fain,
But am betroth'd unto your enemy;
Divorce me, untie or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.

Cx :-)

Oh dear I was part way through a post when it disappeared into the ether, never to be seen again and I don't have time now to redo it all. I was thanking Cynthia for the week's posts and saying something about George Herbert. I said how today's poem made me think of John Donne's "Batter my heart, three-person'd God".

Sorry I am running late so can't expnd further. Stay cool in this hot weather.

Good morning :-)


A touch of the classics.........
Devotional Poem: “Trinitie Sunday” by George Herbert who was born in 1593 and died in 1633. He was a famous poet, priest, theologian and orator.

Lord, who hast form’d me out of mud,
And hast redeem’d me through thy bloud,
And sanctifi’d me to do good;
Purge all my sinnes done heretofore:
For I confesse my heavie score,
And I will strive to sinne no more.
Enrich my heart, mouth, hands in me,
With faith, with hope, with charitie;
That I may runne, rise, rest with thee.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

THE HOLY TRINITY

Sumbols : Three-leaf clover.

These were also popularly used to depict the Holy Trinity. Since this symbol was originally attributed to St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, it eventually became one of the most well-known interpretations of the Trinity.

Aside from the fact that St. Patrick was often portrayed in paintings holding a three-leafed clover, this symbol also perfectly captures the unity between the distinct persons in the Trinity.


Dear Lord, we come before You with open hearts, seeking to deepen our relationship with You, our Heavenly Father.
Help us to draw closer in prayer, to listen intently to Your voice, and to embrace Your love and guidance.
May our faith grow stronger each day, and may we reflect Your light in our lives.
In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning, it was hard work getting on here today!! :-
THE HOLY TRINITY

The Trefoil Triangle is another symbol that perfectly represents the three divine persons in the Holy Trinity. It was popularly used in architecture and various artworks during the Middle Ages.
While it bears some similarity to other symbols because of its three distinct corners, the symbols inside it make it stand out from the rest.
It usually contains a hand, a fish, and a dove, with each of them representing a Person in the Trinity – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, respectively.

Holy Trinity, teach us how to deepen our connection with You. May our prayers be a bridge that brings us closer to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen,

Cx :-)

Good morning, it was hard work getting on here today!! :-
THE HOLY TRINITY

The Trefoil Triangle is another symbol that perfectly represents the three divine persons in the Holy Trinity. It was popularly used in architecture and various artworks during the Middle Ages.
While it bears some similarity to other symbols because of its three distinct corners, the symbols inside it make it stand out from the rest.
It usually contains a hand, a fish, and a dove, with each of them representing a Person in the Trinity – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, respectively.

Holy Trinity, teach us how to deepen our connection with You. May our prayers be a bridge that brings us closer to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen,

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


SYMBOLS OF THE TRINITY

The Trinity Shield was another symbol that depicts how each person of the Trinity is distinct but is in essence, the same God.
Originally used as a teaching tool by early Church leaders, this symbol explains that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all part of a single God, but that they are three distinct beings that together complete God.

Glory be to the Father,
Who by His almighty power and love created me,
making me in the image and likeness of God.

Glory be to the Son,
Who by His Precious Blood delivered me from hell,
and opened for me the gates of heaven.

Glory be to the Holy Spirit,
Who has sanctified me in the sacrament of Baptism,
and continues to sanctify me
by the graces I receive daily from His bounty.

Glory be to the Three adorable Persons of the Holy Trinity,
now and forever.

Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


So what IS The Holy Trinity?

The Holy Trinity is a central and mysterious concept in Christianity, representing the unity of three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It has been important since the beginnings of Christianity, and various symbols have been created to represent and celebrate this idea.

Over time, various symbols have been used to try to help us understand this

The Triangle

The triangle is one of the earliest symbols of the Trinity. Its three equal sides represent the three persons in one God. The connections between the sides reflect the eternal nature of the Trinity, while the stability of the triangle symbolises God.


Father, You sent your Word to bring us truth and your Spirit to make us holy. Through them, we come to know the mystery of your life. Help us to worship you, one God in three persons. You reveal yourself in the depths of our being by proclaiming and living our faith in you. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever.

Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


TODAY IS TRINITY SUNDAY

Trinity Sunday is a day to reflect on the mystery of the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This important belief in Christianity can be hard to understand, as it describes how God is one and yet three. The Trinity helps us express what we know about God, even if we can't fully grasp it. God is the Creator of the universe, became human in Jesus, and lives in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


For the Spirit of Peace
that calms our mind
and stills our life,
we give you thanks.

For the Spirit of Love
that touches hearts
and reaches out,
we give you thanks.

For the Spirit of Joy
that lifts our soul
and gives us faith
we give you thanks.

For the Spirit of Power,
that gift of grace
for this your church,
we give you thanks.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

What a tragedy in India, so many lives lost in the air crash. We hold in our prayers the victims and their families at this time. <3


Before the Spirit came, you were just words on a page,
Black on white and yellowed with age.
Simply a story of long ago,
Of a man who had so much love to show;
Who healed the sick and cured the lame;
Took our guilt and bore our shame.
It sounded so good, but it just couldn’t last.
It was not for today but locked in the past.
Until the Spirit came.

Now the Spirit has come, you are here at my side,
Larger than life and ready to guide;
Making real to me all that you said
And doing through me the things that I read.
I am the glove that your hand has filled;
I am the cup into which you have spilled
All the love and the power which you promised would come,
Right now in the present and for everyone.
Since the Spirit came.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Everyone loved Bill for his kindness and vibrant spirit. He always had the right words to say and was a trusted friend. So, when the news of his promotion that would take him far away broke, it was a hard blow to all. While they were happy for his achievement, the thought of losing his encouraging presence was a difficult one. Bill’s unique friendship was irreplaceable, and they knew things wouldn’t be the same without him. Though they might communicate through letters, calls, or emails, it wouldn’t compare to sharing moments with him in person. They all wished he could stay, but they understood it was not possible.

Have you ever known someone like Bill who profoundly impacted your life? If so, you can relate to how the disciples felt about Jesus. He was so important to them that when he left, they felt lost and wished he could stay forever.

And then the Spirit came.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


PENTECOST
Unless the eye catch fire,
The God will not be seen.

Unless the ear catch fire
The God will not be heard.

Unless the tongue catch fire
The God will not be named.

Unless the heart catch fire,
The God will not be loved.

Unless the mind catch fire,
The God will not be known.

- William Blake (1757-1827)

May your holy spirit
burn through us,
and call us
to tell even those who aren’t ready to listen
that the world can’t wait.
Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

WHAT IS PENTECOST ALL ABOUT?

Pentecost marks a significant new beginning in God's plan to save the world. Christians believe that anyone can experience everything Jesus was, said, and did because of the Holy Spirit, who comes to fill those who seek him. It's crucial to recognize that the Holy Spirit is a person, not just an impersonal force. Essentially, it's Jesus returning to support his disciples, helping them in his mission to rescue the world.


May your urgent spirit send us out,
and demand our courage;
may we set forth the stories of truth
in the face of the story of power.
May world leaders listen to us.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


What is Pentecost all about?

Pentecost means '50'.

Pentecost Sunday is one of movable feasts in the Church calendar. This is because it depends on the date of Easter. In the Church calendar, it falls seven Sundays or 50 days after Easter Sunday.
Pentecost commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit on Jesus’s disciples. This happened just after his Ascension at the Feast of Pentecost.


It's traditionally celebrated as Whitsun.
The word Pentecost has become more common in the UK, but traditionally the Church celebrated it as Whitsun – 'White Sunday'. It's believed that this is because it was a day for baptisms, and those being baptised would wear white.


Ever-present, ever-loving God,
May your gentle spirit surprise us,
shatter our complacency
and wake us
from our dreams.
We know the time is now.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Thank you Vera <3



TODAY WE CELEBRATE PENTECOST – the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost is a Christian festival commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit, observed 50 days after Easter. The name comes from the Greek word for "fiftieth." It's also known as Whitsun but doesn't always match the UK Whitsun Bank Holiday.

Pentecost is seen as the birthday of the Christian church and the beginning of its mission to the world.

It is also Walking Day for our church, when there is a parade with banners and bands around the area. A long-held tradition which is under threat, but we fight on!! :-D

Cx :-)