Visiting Wales

Our half-term week has been hectic but nevertheless relaxing! Steven left as soon as he was ready, Friday at lunch time. I left at 5pm for Talbot Green, a tiny place near the Rhonda Valley. I was doing fine until my phone died so no more satnav! I missed the sign for Talbot Green and I kept on going on Ely Valley Road even though I thought it could not be that far!
It was getting dark  and in the end, I stopped and asked for directions to a couple of youngsters outside a corner shop. One of them answered but  talked so fast that all I could understand was the fire station (I did go past a fire station) I asked him politely to repeat and again no luck. I knocked on the door of the corner shop and they told me I had to go back to Llantrisant so it was 10 pm when I arrived at the tiny campsite by Llanharry Road! Steven and Pauline were worried.
The last three days went so fast: we had great fun seeing each other again, catching up with each other news, enjoying a great bbq every day.

Horses by the farm

First day bbq

Second day bbq

Too many pickpockets!

Eiffel Tower suffers shutdown over pickpockets - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32844573

The name of Jesus

Thanks to my friend Amrita who posted this quote today. 
How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer's ear!
It soothes his sorrows,
Heals his wounds,
and drives away his fear.
Have you experienced the peace of Jesus yet? Why don't you watch the Gospel of John, click here.
Blessings. N.

Mission dedication service

Monday's speaker was Revd Philip Swan, Director of World Mission in the Diocese of Lichfield.
I will just share the key points of his message!
We are so preoccupied with our little corner that we forget our brothers and sisters in Christ in the rest of the world.  

The Christ we share.










Be surprised to what God has installed for us! God is so much bigger than we can imagine. 
•The Son is…the firstborn over all creation…..

• He is before all things, and in him all things hold together……

•Through him to reconcile to himself all things…..

‘It takes a whole world to know the whole Christ’. Max Warren, former leader of the Church Mission Society.

We need each other’s vision to correct, enlarge and focus our own; only together are we complete in Christ.
Andrew Walls

One question:  what is the average age of a typical Anglican worldwide? 
Answer 31

Posted 28 November                               The Average Anglican  ...is black, female, under 30, has 3 children, lives  on 2 dollars a day, walks 3km for water, is related  to someone with HIV/AIDS, and is evangelical... As an Anglican in England I found this a  fascinating comment on the development  of Anglicanism. Has anyone any comments? Thank you, Audrey  We have dicocesan links throughout the world, first our link with Mecklenburg within the new context of the Northern Church of Germany, then other links further away, Matlosane, South Africa, West Malaysia, Kuching and Singapore in South East Asia and Qu’Appelle, Canada. These partnerships can help us to engage in fresh ways with: •Discipleship •Mission •Worship •Prayer •Justice

 

Mosul is empty;
Basrah is empty;
Baghdad is empty…

We are now facing the extinction of Christianity as a religion and as a culture from Mesopotamia.
The Chaldean Archbishop  of Erbil,
The Rt Revd Bashar Warda
10th February 2015

The Prayer of Thanksgiving

 Is the Father with us?
 He is.
 Is Christ among us?
 He is.
 Is the Spirit here?
 He is.
 This is our God.
 Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Wholesome food!

Ingredients
1-2 TBSP olive oil
1 medium red onion, chopped
2 TBSP finely minced fresh ginger root
3 big carrots, peeled and cubed
1 big potato, peeled and cubed
3 cups stock (plus more water if needed)
fresh coriander
salt, to taste
freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

In a pan, add olive oil and onions and cook on medium to high heat until translucent.
Add ginger and cook for 30 seconds.
Add carrots and sweet potato and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring.
Add stock (and more water if needed to cover the veggies) and bring to a boil. Once it’s boiling, lower heat, season with salt, pepper and simmer until carrots and potato are tender. Add coriander and wait for a few minutes.
Turn off heat and allow soup to partially cool, then add it to the blender and puree it.

Source, thanks for Chris where I found this recipe and adapted it and thanks to my friend Celia who encouraged me in the first place! 

Result of the election 2015

One picture says it all...

Queen lights first beacon to commemorate VE day

Credit: ITV News

The Queen has lit the first of 200 beacons to light up the night sky to mark the 70th anniversary of VE Day.

Thursday quotes!

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
― Corrie ten Boom

"Only God can fully satisfy the hungry heart of man."
- Hugh Black

“My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.”
― Abraham Lincoln

Everyone who believes in God at all believes that he knows what you and I are going to do tomorrow. ~ C. S. Lewis

“The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.”
― Søren Kierkegaard

“God transforms us one area at a time.”
― Judah Smith

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.”
― Erma Bombeck

Prayers

The Miraculous Draft of Fishes. Acts of the Apostles.

In peace let us pray.
Be still for the power of the Lord is moving in this place.
Risen Lord as we prepare to receive Holy Communion, we remember with humble thanks the sacrifice you made for us.

We pray for the Queen and the Royal family and especially this morning, we pray for the little girl born to the Duke and the Duchess of Cambridge.

We pray for those affected by the earthquake in Nepal, especially those who have been injured, the homeless and all those who mourn the loss of loved ones, the orphans and the hungry. Lord of tenderness and mercy we ask you to relieve the burden of trauma, worry and pain from the victims of Nepal. We pray that they will find courage to rebuild their lives and their communities.

In our prayers, we remember the work of the aid agencies and volunteers working to help the people of Nepal. Lord of comfort and compassion, bless with humility those who work to relieve the pain and suffering of those affected in the Nepal earthquake, help them to deliver the basics of life and where there is despair let them bring hope.

Almighty God, Shepherd of the sheep, defender of the defenceless, we ask for your blessing on Elisa newly baptised into your Church Family. Hold her in your arms and bless her, shine your light on her path and let her always know her loving presence. Lord we ask you for your blessing on her parents, grandparents and God parents. May they always be ready to listen and to comfrot, to laught, to pray and encourage and to praise and throught their love for Elisa, may they receive your loving kindness.

Finally, we pray for ourselves, for our own discipleship, and in the presence of Almighty God, we take a few moments of silence to talk to him now...

As we work through the tapestry of life, we pull together the threads of our journey - the rich colours of success and shades of sorrow, the stitches of friendship and the design of our destiny. Almighty God, creator of all things, as we weeave through your pattern, let your light shine before us to show us the way; let your hand carry us in times of trouble or doubt and let your love embrace us, helping us to do our best to the glory of your name.

Merciful Lord accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus-Christ. Amen.

Wayne
Sandon Church, Mid-trent churches.

Have a peaceful Saturday!

Last night I went for a short run to the next village, Stowe-by-Chartley but however I got distracted by what I saw, beautiful nature, birds, pretty cottages, tidy gorgeous gardens. So it took me a whole hour instead of half an hour. Mind you, I am not fit either so I had to alternate run and walk!