General Chat

Hello all

Another cold icy morning and not many folk in church this morning. Hopefully it will get a little warmer soon and our numbers will increase.

Take care and stay safe everyone.

Good morning :-)


EPIPHANY

We tend to concentrate on the arrival of the Three Kings in this season of Epiphany but, in fact, the season also covers Jesus’ baptism and His first miracle at Cana where He turned water into wine. These were all manifestations of Jesus – where He was revealed to mankind.

The visit of the Magi revealed Jesus to the Gentiles.
The Holy Spirit descended at His baptism, and God declared Jesus’ identity as God’s son.
The first miracle at the Wedding in Cana revealed Jesus’ divinity over nature.

God disclosed himself to mankind through the person of Jesus. He made himself known so we might know him.

Tomorrow, church congregations will hear about the Baptism of Jesus.

Cx :)

Good morning :-)

My word, it's cold!! :-(


EPIPHANY
Chalking of doors - still done today.

This picks up Old Testament traditions of marking the doorposts of the house with biblical texts (Deuteronomy 6:9), the theme of the Holy Family welcoming visitors to their home to visit the Christ-child, and a reminder of the importance of hospitality throughout the Scriptures. Because Epiphany occurs at the start of the year, it also offers a chance to pray for God’s blessing at the start of the new year.

The letters and numbers that people chalk on their doors pick up the new year, the Epiphany story, and the prayer for blessing in a simple formula, written like this 20 + C + M + B + 25. The 20 and 25 are the beginning and end of the year’s date. The middle three letters represent the traditional names of the three Wise Men - Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. They also represent the initials of the Latin phrase “Christus mansionem benedicat” – “Christ bless the house.”

Together they represent our prayer at the start of the year that our homes, too, may be places blessed by the love and light of Christ.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

We pray for all those affected by the dreadful fires in California - for the people and for the emergency services as they struggle to put out the flames. A dreadful situation.

EPIPHANY

Anyone for a slice of cake?

In France, Epiphany used to be a day of celebration of banquets and celebration. Since the French are now attempting to recover from the excess eating and celebrations of Christmas and New Year, currently there is less feasting. However, eating the Kings’ Cake, called Galette des Rois is still common. It is a puff pastry cake stuffed with almond and sugar paste. Inserted in the Kings’ Cake is a small porcelain bean or figurine. The person who finds the bean typically wears a gold paper crown.

The tradition of eating a King's Cake dates back to the Middle Ages. On Epiphany, a large collection was taken at church. The parishioners in charge of the collection received a galette to be divided into equal portions. Eventually, the tradition spread and each household shared a cake to share with all family members and servants. The first slice was reserved for the first poor who would knock at the door. This slice was known as the “Good Lord’s slice.”

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


EPIPHANY
Reindeer food is one thing - but camel food?!

In Peru, La Bajada de Los Reyes officially ends Christmas. In some households, it is the day to take down the pesebre, or Christmas nativity scene. A clever tradition has it that each piece of the scene must be replaced by money: this pays for the pesebre and the celebratory food and drink for next year’s festivities. Lima itself is known as the City of Kings because it was founded on “Three Kings’ Day” in 1535.

Many Peruvian children write to the Three Kings instead of Santa Claus. On January 5th, the children write down their desired gifts, and families leave grass and water outside their front doors to provide for the hungry camels that the kings will be riding. This is also the night when children may leave their shoes outside the door expecting to find presents inside them in the morning.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Imagine the scene............temperatures much lower than ours, icy water ahead of you, and in you plunge! Really? Maybe not for everyone!

But in Bulgaria.................
Thousands of Orthodox Christian worshippers on Monday braved the freezing winter weather to plunge into icy waters as they observed centuries-old Epiphany traditions.

Young men plunged into rivers and lakes across the Balkan country, which is primarily Orthodox, to retrieve crucifixes tossed by priests in ceremonies commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ.
It is believed that the person who retrieves the wooden cross will be freed from evil spirits and will be healthy throughout the year. After the cross is fished out, the priest sprinkles believers with water using a bunch of basil.

Now that is something else!

Cx :-)

Hello all

I still have arc candles and pretty stars shining in both front windows but these will come down tonight and be put away and brought out again in December for Christmas 2025.
Epiphany is a very special date in our church calendar.

The snow has almost cleared but it's bitterly cold, stay safe and keep warm everyone.

Good morning :-)


No church for me yesterday either kandj - it's not the same is it? :-(


We are now in the season of Epiphany, and many know it as the day marking 12 days after Christmas and the time to take down the Christmas tree and decorations, it is also remembered as the time that the Three Kings visited Jesus. This visit showed how God’s gift of the Good News is for everyone. Epiphany is a great way to bring Christmas to a close and to help us keep Jesus as our focus.

Father God, the star that led the Magi to the stable announced to the world that its Saviour was born. Today we live in a world that is still covered by darkness, and still needing to make that journey to the stable door. May our lives reflect your light day by day, as we seek to serve where you have placed us. That we might be the means through which others can encounter Jesus Christ. Amen

Cx :-)

Hello all

Heavy snowfall overnight so I didn't risk going to church this morning, but listened to the radio 4 service and then watched Songs of Praise on tv, certainly not what I would choose, but needs must.

Keep warm, stay well and keep safe everyone x

Good morning :-)

Today, we celebrate the Epiphany, also known as King's Day—the day when the Wise Men visited the young Jesus and acknowledged Him as King.

The Collect (special prayer) for today:
O God,
who by the leading of a star
manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth:
mercifully grant that we,
who know you now by faith,
may at last behold your glory face to face;
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

Thank you Cynthia, your words have really spoken to me today.

Mega cold but dry, take care and stay safe all.

Good morning :-)

New Year Resolution thoughts – Be a peacemaker.

It is so easy to get worked up about things; world politics, community politics, people who wrong us, family drama, church drama, etc. But resolve to be the one who brings peace. Don’t spread the rumours, don’t listen to the stories, don’t join the clique. Be the one who initiates peace and unity.

“Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”
Amen

Cx :-)

Hello all

Amen to your prayer today Cynthia.

I'm very happy and feel privileged to "Meet and Greet" newcomers coming into church on Sunday mornings and I feel really blessed to have the love and support of my church family.

Take care everyone, stay safe and keep warm during this mega cold/icy spell. x

Good morning :-)

New Year Resolution thoughts – going to church.

“You don’t have to go to church to be a Christian” and “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian” - are old quotes and only partially true.

Going to church isn’t just about meeting people and sitting and listening to the sermon for an hour, then going home. It’s about connecting with people, sharing the word of God and living it for the rest of the week.

Church should be about meeting to pray together, learn together and yes, have fun together. It’s pretty impossible to be a Christian on your own because that isn’t what Jesus wants.

If you haven’t been to church at all – give it a go. If you haven’t been for a while, come on back. If you only go infrequently, try going more often.

God, we pray for those who visit our church for the first time. May they feel Your presence and see Your love in us. Help us to be hospitable and welcoming to all who come through our doors. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Another Resolution thought : Pray more often.

Sometimes, we risk filling our brains with so much noise that we crowd out the space for quiet reflection and prayer.
We can pray as we work, play, rest, and drive (as long as we keep our eyes open!). Instead of talking to ourselves, we can talk to God. Instead of fretting about a situation, we can talk to God. Really, the possibilities are endless!

Heavenly Father, help me to be consistent in my prayer life. Grant me the discipline to come before You daily, seeking Your guidance, wisdom, and peace. May my commitment to prayer grow stronger with each passing day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning and a very happy New Year to you all. <3

Okay, so here we are in a brand new year – what will we do about it? Go on a diet? Stop drinking/smoking or whatever? Be nicer to people?

As Christians or people trying to be Christians, one of the best things we can do is to read our bibles more often. So much to work on but even just reading a chapter a day, is better than not getting into God’s word at all!

Dear Father, help me trust in You with all my heart this year. Teach me not to rely on my understanding but to seek Your wisdom in everything I do. Guide me through the uncertainties ahead and help me remain steadfast in faith, knowing You hold my future. Amen

Cx :-)

Hello all

Wishing everyone a Happy and a Healthy 2025 x

New Year resolutions? At the start of every year I resolve to be a bit more patient, a bit less grumpy and just a generally kinder person. At the end of each year my report probably says “Could do better. Must try harder”. So I guess my resolution this year is to keep trying to be the person I should be.

I wish Cynthia, kandj and everyone else who looks in every blessing for the New Year. <3

Good morning :-)

New Year’s Eve………and 2025 is nearly with us.

So, what about those New Year's Resolutions?

The start of a new year always brings the urge to review the past year and plan for the year ahead. Many people focus on things like health, wealth, and growth, but if we truly want a change, it should start with our spiritual lives.

The Bible has lots of advice on how to live a good and meaningful life, including a few resolutions that could make a real difference in our walk with the Lord this year.
By making our relationship with God the most important thing we can do, we set the foundation for growth in every other area of life.

Let 2025 be the year we focus on aligning our hearts with His will and seeking His guidance in all we do.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

We are moving steadily towards a brand New Year. 2025 is almost upon us. How come? It doesn’t seem 2 minutes since there was all the fuss about the new millennium and some people being so scared that they took to the hills, literally! And yet, here we are………a quarter of a century later. It’s the time when some people start planning New Year Resolutions – which last a day at best.

We could consider making new resolutions, though….as Christians. There are quite a few suggestions we could try. Do you have any ideas? If so, please share them on here.

Lord, as we approach a brand new year, help us to consider how we may serve you better in our lives and in our church. Amen.

Cx :-)