General Chat

Hello all

Thank you Cynthia for another interesting weekly postings. A couple of names which were familiar and others that were all new to me, but interesting.

I love this beautiful hymn and may well be singing it now for the rest of the day.

Another very hot one again, so take care and keep up with the fluids everyone.

Good morning :-)

Missionaries come in all shapes and sizes......they come as us!

I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save
I, who made the stars of night
I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart

I, the Lord of snow and rain
I have borne my people's pain
I have wept for love of them
They turn away
I will break their hearts of stone
Give them hearts for love alone
Who will speak my word to them
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart


I, the Lord of wind and flame
I will tend the poor and lame
I will set a feast for them
My hand will save
Finest bread I will provide
'Til their hearts be satisfied
I will give my life to them
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Missionaries come in all shapes and sizes and from all walks of life.

In 1955, a young Dutch missionary went to a Communist youth congress in Poland, at that time a part of the Soviet bloc. But he wasn’t a communist: he was a Christian. His suitcase contained his Bible, a change of clothes and hundreds of tracts entitled The Way of Salvation, which he intended to give away.

The trip was to change his life. Behind the Iron Curtain, he discovered churches desperately in need of Bibles, support and prayer. Above all, he found a group of Christians who felt isolated and alone and who thought the rest of the world had forgotten them. That young man became known as Brother Andrew. And his trip changed the world.

In subsequent years, he travelled many times behind the Iron Curtain, courageously putting his life on the line to smuggle Bibles at the height of the Cold War. His work spanned many decades and geographic locations.

As the work grew, he was joined by others and began smuggling Bibles to believers in Communist countries. Today, Brother Andrew’s small Dutch mission has become an international ministry working in more than 60 nations to strengthen the Persecuted Church.

Brother Andrew died in 2022. God’s Smuggler is his autobiography.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

~~~~~ waving to Vera :-D

Missionaries come in all shapes and sizes and from all walks of life.

The son of Christian missionaries, Eric Liddell was born in China in 1902 and died there 43 years later in a Japanese internment camp. In between, he played for Scotland at rugby, won Olympic gold for Britain and inspired Chariots of Fire, the Oscar-winning film about his athletic exploits many years later.

A supremely talented sportsman, Liddell played seven times for Scotland's international rugby team between 1921 and 1923. However, training and competing at an elite level in two sports was too much, so he chose to focus on athletics, where he had established himself as one of the country's top runners. He was selected for the British squad for the 1924 Paris Olympics, where he was among the favourites to win in his strongest event, the 100m sprint.

However, when the timetable for the Games was released, the 100m heats were scheduled for a Sunday, and Eric Liddell dropped a stunning revelation. Sunday was the Lord's Day – Sundays were special, and there was nothing in this world that could persuade him to run on that day.

After his spectacular early success, he spent the rest of his life working as a missionary, even when it meant putting himself in danger. He died without ever meeting his youngest daughter. It was an extraordinary life, marked by faith, tragedy and courage. A story well worth reading.


Cx :-)

Good morning

It was good to be reminded of Mary Slessor. I knew the name but could not remember anything about her. I think I must have heard about her at school and that is definitely in the dim and distant past. She was a very brave lady.

I did know about Carlo Acutis as there have been lots of articles about him in newspapers and magazines over the last couple of years. He was a remarkable boy with an amazing maturity for one so young.

I hope you all have a peaceful day.

Good morning :-)


Spreading the Good News
It isn’t only adults who can share the Gospel of Christ. Carlo Acutis, a British-born teenager who died of leukaemia at 15 in 2006, is set to be recognised as the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint. Known as “God’s Influencer,” he used his computer skills to promote Roman Catholic teachings online.

Born in London in 1991, Acutis moved to Milan with his Italian parents. He showed an interest in the faith from a toddler, despite his parents being non-practising. He regularly attended daily mass and showed compassion by supporting classmates through tough times and helping the homeless.

Self-taught in coding, Acutis created a website documenting miracles and assisted local Catholic organisations. "Carlo was the light answer to the dark side of the web," his mother said, emphasising how his story showcases the positive use of the internet.

He became ill just as he was considering becoming a priest. He said, “I’m happy to die because I’ve lived my life without wasting even a minute of it doing things that wouldn’t have pleased God.”

Since his death, he has inspired many modern youths globally. Several miracles of healing have been attributed to this young man, and his body is on view at a church in the small town of Assisi in Italy.

Cx :-)

Hello all

I remember reading about the dedication of Mary Slessor very many years ago, one very brave lady and an inspiration to us all.

Another hot day so take care everyone in this heat.

Good morning :-)


Those disciples whom Jesus sent out were, in fact, the first missionaries. Over the years, many people have given their lives to spread the good news of the Gospel of Christ.

Mary Slessor was a hard-working Scottish mill girl and an unorthodox Sunday School teacher, who, inspired by David Livingstone, became a missionary in Calabar, Nigeria, an area where no European had set foot before. Despite several bouts of illness and constant danger, she lived with the tribes, learned their language and traditions, earning their respect and putting an end to some barbaric practices, such as the killing of twins.
She adopted many Nigerian children (particularly twins) who had been left to die.

When Southern Nigeria became a British Protectorate, she became the first ever female Magistrate in the British Empire and a skilful diplomatic emissary.

Mary died in 1915, aged 67, with great mourning amongst the tribes to whom she had dedicated her whole life.

We thank God for the life and witness of Mary Slessor.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


An interesting bible reading yesterday –

Jesus picked seventy-two of His followers and sent them out two by two. Their task was to tell people about God. He told them that there were so many who hadn’t heard the good news and that more were needed to pass the message on. So, He wanted them to pray to God to send more people to help.

Jesus also warned them that it might not be easy - they would be like lambs among wolves, which means they would be vulnerable and need to be careful. He told them not to take any money, bags, or even shoes because He wanted them to trust that God would provide for them through the people they met.

That must have taken some courage! Can you imagine setting out on that sort of journey without money, shoes or luggage?

Today, we need to continue to pray for more people to help to spread the good news of the gospel. Can we do that?

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Collect (special prayer for today)
God our saviour,
look on this wounded world
in pity and in power;
hold us fast to your promises of peace
won for us by your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

In the readings for today we are encouraged to bear one another's burdens and we hear our Jesus sent out 72 disciples to spread the good news.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Dear Lord, as we embrace the stillness of this Saturday morning, we come before You in gratitude. Grant us the wisdom to reflect on the week behind and the week ahead. Help us learn from our experiences and grow in Your grace. May this day be filled with Your presence, guiding our thoughts and actions.

We pray for clarity and insight, that we may walk in the light of Your Word. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing us to the end of another week. We are grateful for your love and guidance throughout these days. As we enter the weekend, we ask for your continued presence and protection. May we find rest and refreshment in your peace, and may our actions reflect your love and grace. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Last Sunday, the Lay Reader drew our attention to one of the windows in church, one depicting St. Peter and St. Paul. Apart from the attractiveness of the stained glass, it’s also interesting to see who has donated these windows to our church.

That particular window had been given by a lady in memory of her late husband in 1993. He had been a prisoner of war but had made it home safely. The inscription reads …”Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will not walk in darkness”.

Both St, Peter and St. Paul were absolutely fundamental in forming the early church.

Father, your Son called men and women to leave the past behind
them and to follow him as his disciples in the way of the cross. Look with mercy upon those whom he calls today, marks with the cross and makes his disciples within the Church. Amen.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

St. Peter

Impulsive master of misunderstanding
You comfort me with all your big mistakes;
Jumping the ship before you make the landing,
Placing the bet before you know the stakes.
I love the way you step out without knowing,
The way you sometimes speak before you think,
The way your broken faith is always growing,
The way he holds you even when you sink.
Born to a world that always tried to shame you,
Your shaky ego vulnerable to shame,
I love the way that Jesus chose to name you,
Before you knew how to deserve that name.
And in the end your Saviour let you prove
That each denial is undone by love.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

St. Peter. What a character!

The name Peter is used 179 times in the bible.

He was said to be rash, hasty and short-tempered.

After the Resurrection, when Jesus had shown himself to the Apostles, what did Peter do? He went fishing!

He was twice rescued from prison by an angel.

It is said that he was not educated and needed to learn Greek, as it was an important language in those days. It took him a long time to learn, but he eventually managed it and was given more responsibilities.

After his stirring speech at Pentecost, about how many persons were immediately baptised? 3,000!

Peter was crucified in Rome by Emperor Nero, who accused Christians of starting a fire in Rome in the year AD64. He ordered the crucifixion of all Christians. Peter wanted to be crucified upside down, as he did not feel worthy to be crucified in the same way as Jesus. It is said that the crucifixion took place where the Vatican is located, hence the name of the church, St. Peter’s Basilica.

There is so much to learn from this man.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Rock Upon Which the Church Stands

Sturdy and steadfast as the rock he’s named,
Peter, the cornerstone, by faith untamed.
Against the winds of doubt, he stands resolute,
His belief, his strength, none can refute.
In the heart of Rome, amid the roar of the crowd,
His voice rings clear, strong and loud.
On this rock, he lays the Church’s foundation,
Spreading the Gospel to every nation.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


This is the day when we remember and give thanks for the man who had such a major influence on the Christian faith.
Peter – One of Jesus’ closest friends
Peter – a fisherman
Peter - who disowned Christ
Peter - who escaped from prison
Peter - who was given the keys to the kingdom
Peter - who was crucified upside down because he didn’t consider himself worthy enough to die the same way as Jesus.


What a man. What an example we are given to follow.

The Collect
O Almighty God, who by thy Son Jesus Christ didst give to thy Apostle Saint Peter many excellent gifts, and commandedst him earnestly to feed thy flock: Make, we beseech thee, all Bishops and Pastors diligently to preach thy holy Word, and the people obediently to follow the same, that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

This year has certainly flown kandj. I guess that Christmas decorations will be appearing before too long!!! :-0


To ponder.

For Christians, pondering means to think deeply about the Bible, reflect on God's nature, and consider the meaning of His commands. It helps believers grow spiritually and live in a way that pleases God. By pondering, they can understand themselves better, align their wishes with God's plans, and make wise, loving choices.

Lord, help us to ponder more on your word so that our lives will be pleasing to you. Amen.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Many thanks Cynthia, I've read through the funny bible verses and had a laugh.

Proverbs 17:22 "Laughter is like taking a good medicine." Everyday you need to take your medicine and find something that makes you laugh.

It has been a quick week and June is almost over. Have a good weekend everyone.

Good morning :-)

To Ponder. Ponder on some of these bible verses.

More funny quotes from the Bible can bring a smile to our faces and remind us that laughter is a gift from God. The quotes are taken from different versions of the bible

Song of Solomon 7:4
Thy neck is as a tower of ivory; thine eyes like the fishpools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bathrabbim: thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus.
(How romantic……not!)

Proverbs 27:15
A nagging wife is like water going drip-drip-drip on a rainy day. Whoever can control her can control the wind. He can even pick up olive oil with his right hand.
(What’s a nagging wife?)

Proverbs 21:9
Better to live on the corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife.
(Another one?)

2 Kings 9:20
The watchman exclaimed, “The messenger has met them, but he isn’t returning either! It must be Jehu son of Nimshi, for he’s driving like a madman.”
(There’s still a lot of that about!)

Genesis 22:20-21
And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she also hath borne children unto thy brother Nahor: Uz his first-born, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram,
(Some baptismal names are interesting, but Uz and Buz?)

Smile, God loves you. :-D

Cx :-)