General Chat

Good morning all poppers-inners.... :-D



Our prayer for today.....


A Brand New Start


God sometimes brings us to a place
where answers can't be found...
Where we cannot see tomorrow,
for confusion all around.

Yet deep inside we realize
that all things work for good...
Even times when we've been wounded
and we feel misunderstood.

Don't dwell on the injustice
and stay focused on God's heart...
Find forgiveness and go on,
you can make a brand new start.


- Jill Lemming.




Now back to carpet cleaning! :-)

You gotta be joking kandj!!!! I am exzzzzzzzausted! Did two for daughter and upstairs for us. Hope to tackle downstairs tomorrow..........zzzzzzzzzzz :-\



When I was very young, I can remember ladies in the choir who would strut in like peacocks, showing off their finery. I much prefer the choir to wear cassocks so that there is no 'rivalry' or off putting sights...... :-D


Edit. wrong spelling......tuts!

Lovely words once again by Helen Steiner Rice, thank you Cynthia.

Any chance that you could come to Yorkshire and clean our carpets (long overdue but I'm lacking in energy!).

What a lovely thought to start the day, Cynthia. As I get older, the days seem to get longer and you can achieve so much more than when you were young. You look ahead and you have perhaps ten years left, twenty, perhaps less, perhaps more. But even an hour can be so much. And remember how old and experienced in life a 7 year old was when we were 6 :-) :-)

This fashion thing in church is interesting. When I used to go to my conservatiove chapel in Northants, every lady would wear a hat, no make up. I remember the shock of then moving to a big chapel in a town and sitting behind a lady with fine clothes and - horror of horrors - lippie!!!!!!! She seemed out of place. A very nice person though who attended fairly frequently and was always well suited and decorated on other days than Sunday..

John Wesley during his unsuccesful early ministry in America once preached on painted sepulchres. Beautiful outside, but full of all filth and depravity within ;-) Next week not a sign of fashion or make up or even perfume. And no one stayed away. :-)

Thank you Cynthia....lovely words <3

Emma :-)

Very sad indeed kandj. There is, indeed, no charge for a baptism service (or there shouldn't be!).

Fashion seems to be very important and we see some weird and wonderful outfits as young girls totter into church on 4" heels and wearing, what appears to be, a wide belt :-D


I'm carpet cleaning for most of the day, but hear are some thoughts to help people on their way.......



Time is not measured
by the years that you live
But by the deeds that you do
and the joy that you give.

And each day as it comes
brings a chance to each one
To love to the fullest,
leaving nothing undone.

That would brighten the life
or lighten the load
Of some weary traveller
lost on life's road.

So what does it matter
how long we may live
If as long as we live
we unselfishly give.



- Helen Steiner Rice.



Cx :-)

Thank you for sharing the psalm John, interesting to read this one.

Baptisms in our village church seem to have become fashion statements amongst the relatives rather than the meaningful service it used to be. I have even heard parents say that they can't afford to have babies christened ???, there is never a charge for this service but they are obviously talking about the cost of outfits and the "party" afterwards. Each to their own, but rather sad in my humble opinion.

I hope they had a meaningful time too John.........it was packed to standing room only.... :-0


The main service passed off very peacefully - even when the creche came through. I helped someone who has twin grandchildren to take one of them up for a blessing. Gorgeous little ones about 8 months old..... :-D


One of the things we do at baptism which are held outside of the main service, is to sing a chorus and include the names of the children who are being baptised. We ask one of the parents to stand up and show the child to the congregation as their name is sung..... It goes down a treat. I :-D :-D


Thank you for the psalm. Some of them are very beautiful. :-)

Hope you all have a lovely day today. I often think there must be so much water sloshing around in your font, Cynthia, that the Vicar and helpers would do better to wear swimming costumes :-) I do pray that parents, godparents and supporting family and church congregation have a really lovely and meaningful time.

I would like to share something I read this morning. It is Psalm 43

Give judgement for me, O God
Take up my cause against an ungodly people
Deliver me from deceitful and wicked men.

For you are God my refuge. Why have you turned me away?
Why must I go like a mourner because the enemy oppresses me?

O send out your light and your truth and let them lead me
Let them guide me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.

Then I shall go to the altar of God
To God my joy and my delight.
And to the harp I shall sing your praises, O God my God.

Why are you so full of heaviness, my soul?
And why so unquiet within me?

O put your trust in God.
For I will praise him yet
Who is my deliverer and my God

I agree kandj, little things DO mean a lot........... :-)



A Celtic blessing for today..



I arise today

Through a mighty strength:

God's power to guide me,

God's might to uphold me,

God's eyes to watch over me;

God's ear to hear me,

God's word to give me speech,

God's hand to guard me,

God's way to lie before me,

God's shield to shelter me,

God's host to secure me.




As our vicar is still away, we have another vicar standing in his place today. He is willing to take on today's baptisms.........brave man! :-D


Cx :-)

Thank you Cynthia.
I sent this prayer to my friend last week and she telephoned to say how the words and my thoughtfulness had helped her through a bad day.
Little things do indeed mean a lot!

Thanks everyone.....it's lovely to read all the comments and to hear about your memories. :-)

When I got married, instead of the Bridal March, I entered the church to the congregation singing "Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Everytime we sing it now, it brings wonderful memories flooding back. :-)


Our prayer for today.....


I Said A Prayer For You Today

I said a prayer for you today
And know God must have heard.
I felt the answer in my heart
Although He spoke no word!

I didn't ask for wealth or fame
(I knew you wouldn't mind).
I asked him to send treasures
Of a far more lasting kind!

I asked that He be near you
At the start of each new day;
To grant you health and blessings
And friends to share your way!

I asked for happiness for you
In all things great and small.
But it was for His loving care
I prayed the most of all!


- Frank J. Zamboni




Enjoy your day. Cx :-)

Praise my Soul the King of Heaven and Guide Me Oh Thou Great Redeemer....... both hymns are still amongst our favourites and so lovely to recall even now.

As one of the poppers-in, I'd like to say thank you Cynthia and other posters for your daily thoughts.

At my wedding 50 years ago we had "Now Thank We All Our God" and "Lead Us Heavenly Father Lead Us". I remember choosing them as the words seemed quite appropriate but I now think "Now Thank We All Our God" can sound a bit dreary.

I must ask OH if he remembers what hymns we had but I think I know what his answer will be.

I have just watched "Love Divine" sung in Wells Cathedral. Another hymn nearby mentioned Samuel Sebastian Wesley as author - he was son of Charles (1707-1788).

That reminded me that there were 3 Wesley brothers. John (1703-1791) is most famous. Then hymnwriter Charles (1707-1788). But they had an older brother Samuel born 1691.

Samuel Wesley was educated at Westminster School before entering Christ Church, Oxford in 1711 where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1715 and a M.A. in 1718. He was ordained and became head usher at Westminster School for 20 years from 1713 to 1733). After that he was master of Blundell's School, Tiverton, where he died after a short illness on 6 November 1739. He is buried in the Tiverton churchyard, aged 49.

Samuel Wesley married Ursula Berry (died c1742), daughter of the Reverend John Berry, vicar of Walton, Norfolk. They had six children, four of whom died in infancy. Only a daughter survived them. (note his parents Rev Samuel and Susanah Wesley had 19 children, and only 3 boys and 6 girls survived infancy).

Samuel Wesley was described as a high church Tory. He died a few months after his brothers began their Methodist mission that was to so invigorate the Church of England and all other denominations. He wrote a few hymns that still appear in hymnbooks today.

Have just had to check, Cynthia. I thought we had "Perfect Submission" and "Fight the Good Fight". ;-)

But apparently we did have "Love Divine". Married in Church of England in Wales (think that is full title of Church in Wales) in a little village above Holywell (Brynford) :-D :-D

Beautiful hymn with beautiful words - written by a man who had a long and happy marriage to a Welsh girl Sally Gwynne from Breconshire. And you need some good singers for that seventh line :-) :-)

Interesting if anyone can remember a hymn at their wedding. Some very good memories. Wish mine was - forget names of my children now like my father used to mix me and my brother up.

Good morning and, as we are in the 'wedding season' for many couples, I wonder how many of you had this hymn at your wedding? :-)


Charles Wesley's inspiring..............Love Divine...


Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit,
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its Beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return and never,
Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.

Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAJbMcQRfy0


Cx :-)

I remember that hymn well John.......we don't often sing it though....... :-(

14 babies!!! And all those parents. You must be so tired this morning, Cynthia. :-) How lovely that some wanted to look more closely at the words in the Service Book.

Thankyou for lovely thoughts this morning.

My little offering is from a blind American evangelist, Fanny Crosby. From her hymn/song Blessed Assurance. When you consider she was blind for almost all her 95 year life, I think words are quite remarkable and very spiritual:

Perfect submission, perfect delight
Visions of rapture burst on my sight.
Angels descending, bring from above,
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love:
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long

Amen.

Hello Everyone.

A hectic time last night with the families of the 14 babies who are to be baptised during August. Some of the 'team' were missing, so a lot of responsibility fell onto my shoulders but, I coped......and the others were brilliant as they pattered around making drinks for everyone and helping me with the presentation :-D

Two of the families - who were connected - were late in arriving, so I took them to one side after the others had gone and went through things with them that way. They were very attentive and wanted to take the service book home to look at in more depth.


Anyway, we have a new day ahead of us........



The Mystery of Life

We walk in a world that is strange and unknown
And in the midst of the crowd we still feel alone,
We question our purpose, our part and our place
In this vast land of mystery suspended in space,

We probe and explore and try hard to explain
The tumult of thoughts that our minds entertain…
But all of our probings and complex explanations
Of man’s inner feelings and fears and frustrations...

Still leave us engulfed in the “mystery of life”
With all of its struggles and suffering and strife,
Unable to fathom what tomorrow will bring –
But there is one truth to which we can cling,

For while life’s a mystery we can’t understand
The “great giver of life” is holding our hand
And safe in His care there is no need for seeing
For “in Him we live and move and have our being.”


- Helen Steiner Rice.


Cx :-)