General Chat

Certainly the death of a young(ish) and apparently healthy man at age of 58 stuns us all. My dear brother collapsed at same age on his way out to his social club. And we have recently been shocked by sudden death of Sandie on these boards.

The words of Joy were very apt. Remind me of when my son was no more than a baby and in a ward in Guy's Hospital where the children had little expectation of being alive in a few month's time. He eventually made a full recovery, which I am sure was the answer to prayer. But I don't think many in that Guy's ward would have recovered.

Yet it was a place of hope. And I remember a handwritten sign on the notice board. "God lends us children, they do not belong to us, they belong to Him. And even a few moments with them is precious and we should thank God.

I look back now over quite a long life and never feel sad about the friends and family who have gone - just happy I knew them. And continually look forward to family and friends in the future. Just as my mother in law (96) looks forward to increasing her 7 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren and meeting the latest one (born last week) :-) :-)

Good morning everyone....... :-) It has taken me almost 15 minutes to get on here today...... :-( I think my computer and internet were having a lie-in :-)


Thank you for those wonderful words Joy and Susan and, I agree with kandj, it's good to be able to share and support on this thread. <3


A prayer for today - one which has been used over centuries...




Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow;
the same everlasting Father who cares for you today
will take care of you tomorrow and every day.
Either He will shield you from suffering,
or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace, then.
Put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations, and say continually:
"The Lord is my strength and my shield.
My heart has trusted in Him and I am helped.
He is not only with me but in me, and I in Him."

- St. Francis de Sales



Hope everyone has a good day Cx :-)

Susan it is a long time since I have read those words, so thank you for the reminder.

Joy, it's nice to share and support one another on this Christian thread, thanks a lot.

Thank you; you're welcome.

Lovely Susan with :-) thank you.

Hi to all....I just wanted to share this well known verse. I expect you have all read it before but I do like it so. :-)

I said a prayer for you today
And know God must have heard
I felt the answer in my heart
Although he spoke not a word.

I didn't ask for wealth or fame
(I knew you wouldn't mind)
I asked for priceless treasures rare
Of a more lasting kind.

I prayed that He'd be near to you
At the start of each new day
To grant you health and blessings fair
And friends to share your way.

I asked for happiness for you
In all things great and small
But that you'd know His loving care
I prayed for most of all.

Have just noticed your Vicar has died, Cynthia. What terrible news! Thanks for all you have written about him, and am sure many of us feel we knew the gentleman well.

It will be devastating for his family, for you and the congregation. Thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Edit. Many thanks, kandj :-)

Daily life is never neat or painless, but with a faith we have meaning, mystery and special encounters that shape our relationships, ideas and hopes for each day.
On my kitchen notice board I have these words:

Life is a gift, that is why it is called The Present!

With events that surround us, we know that life is fragile and precious.
Thank you Cynthia for continuing to post each morning Your words are a great encouragement and a wonderful start to each new day.

Welcome back John, you have been missed.

Sorry I have been off line for a few days. Will have a good read through this thread tonight as I have really missed the thoughts of Cynthia and all of you. :-)

Joy, those thoughts are simply wonderful as kandj says, and are very fitting and comforting. Thank you. <3 <3


For today.........


The better you know God, the better you feel,
For to learn more about Him and discover He's real
can wholly, completely and miraculously change,
reshape, remake and then rearrange
your mixed-up, miserable and unhappy life
adrift on the sea of sin-sickened strife.

But when you once know this man of goodwill,
He will calm your life and say "peace be still".
So open your heart's door and let Christ come in
and He'll give you new life and free you from sin.
And there is no joy that can ever compare,
With the joy of knowing you're in God's care.



Hope everyone has a good day.......Cx :-)

Joy, wonderful words, very profound, thought provoking and beautiful. Thank you.

I have fought the good fight,
I have finished the course,
I have kept the faith.
Say not in grief that I am no more,
but in thankfulness that I once was.


Say not in grief 'he is no more' but in thankfulness that he was.


God gives opportunities for us to love but not forever.
God takes opportunities away after a while.
So don't hesitate or delay or curse the darkness while remaining mired in sadness and hopelessness, because God gives; and God takes away.
Blessed be the name of the LORD.
But why bless the LORD when God takes away?
Because if the opportunities were always there, we would wait until the time was just right and never make the leap, and more of life would slip away.
So God gives and God takes; Blessed be God's name.


Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word.



<3

<3 <3 <3 <3

Amen to that too.

Amen.

Emma :-) <3

Good morning and thank you my friends..... <3


I know the Diocesan authorities will help to keep things covered for a while, but our churchwardens are both in full employment and both hold very responsible jobs. This is why we folk from the pews, must rally round and support them as much as we possibly can.

Here we are in a new week........so a prayer for today.... :-)


CELTIC MORNING PRAYER: GIVE YOURSELF TO GOD


Our Father,

Lord, come I this day to you!

I am not a great gift to offer you, it is my coming that is my gift.

For who among us holds within themselves any worthy offering to the God who owns the universe?

To come to you while the entire world moves away from you, is our only gift of worth.

And so I come this day: ignore me or use me, save me or spend me.

Use me or set me by, I am yours.

Amen.




Cx :-)

Cynthia you have my prayerful support and no doubt many others who pop in and have been helped and encouraged for so long by all your postings.

I do hope that your Area Dean will be on hand to help your church wardens keep the services covered by other local Clergy (often retired), and be near to encourage PCC and congregation at such a difficult time.

Your vicar will indeed be greatly missed not only by members of the congregation but by people like yourself who have lost a special friend so suddenly... a huge shock!

I have only just spotted this Cynthia. What a shock for you all I know how loved he was as vicar and friend. Testing times ahead as you find a new vicar and hard times for whoever replaces him as he was so well loved.

Certainly was Ann - that's why I was feeling dismal and trying to cheer myself up by annoying Fans the other day.

just been reading back - what a shock for you all, how devastating, not only for his family of course, but for the community as a whole <3 <3