Christian Prayer Thread. Back to school and into Autumn

[Dutchoma]

As we were nearly at 1000 posts and TUO is both very busy and away today, I thought I might have a go at setting up a new thread.
I have looked back over nearly four months of prayers, of sharing, of support, of gladness and sadness and so much more. I think there are about 50 different people on the thread, some are there from beginning to end, some come in, are here for a few days and then don’t post any more.
Both are valuable, all are welcome, we share with you in anxiety and depression, in worry for others, but also in prayers answered, wonderful healing, good exam results and so much more.
But we also realise that life moves on, that the prayer thread was helpful for a while and is not so relevant now. Never be afraid to come back, we all need prayer and support.

So, like TUO I shall pick out a few names for the new thread, but leave behind some that have not posted for a while, hoping that they will come back and update us.
Specially thinking of: Anjelica27; I know how much this thread has helped you. Bsshbosh and wondering how she is now.

Whoagirrrrl, after her operation. Dizzydaffodil, Pandora37 and PeterSpots .

There are so many more names to remember: Alittleroom, Bluetinkerbell, DontstepontheMomeraths, Howtoapproachthis and several more.

And then the ones that are quite recent like:
ALittleFaith, Amberlight; BlackEyedSusan, Dontbesilly; EdithSimcox; FaithLoveandHope, Kaykat, Lightnessofbeing; MadHairDay; PositiveAttitude; QuestionofFaith; QuietIsland2; SESthebrave; TUO; Weegiemum; ZipadiSoozi

And if I have omitted any one, be assured that God never forgets and holds you fast in His love and mercy.

So is this dd homework for which you've got to take them both to the library? It's not really very fair of the school to move the goal posts. Do you know why they have done it? Can you ask for an extension so that it is done on the date that it would have had to be handed over?

I have asked but as I only found out when I collected them at 4.30 I have not had a response from school as there was nobody there and no-one answering the phone and no-one answering email. we therefore have to spend the weekend attempting to finish it or hoping that she does not get punished and gets an extension. an extension til tuesday is not going to help as she has a club on a monday night.

Oh Bes that sounds very harsh to bring the date forward. I really hope that someone in the school can appreciate your situation and work with you. It's not as if you don't have a perfectly good reason to find the new deadline impossible to meet and you are doing everything possible to support your dc, on your own and with their individual needs.

Do you know anyone else in school who would also struggle with the deadline, as you could negotiate together with school.

Praying for you to achieve everything you need to this weekend and that it's not too upsetting for your dc or too disruptive to their routines etc.

We are putting the tree up today and dh is doing the outside lights. It's blowing a gale here so dh might have to do that tomorrow. Let's see. Dh is mildly competitive with the lights. One neighbour replicates Vegas and the other has subtle lights and dh aims for more lights than the subtle neighbours but way less than Vegas man....

Pa, how are things with your dad. Is he coming to terms with the nursing home situation and how are you all coping too. Praying that it's getting a little bit better.

Tuo, have you recovered from your flight and your travel sickness?

Have a good weekend everyone.

BES that does seem very unfair of the school. I can't imagine many parents would be happy with that. I always find the homework element of school a bit of a drag. I know it's important but it's finding the time to get it done amid the myriad of other things going on in the house. In your case you've additional things to factor in so homework needs to be carefully planned.

Our Christmas tree goes up tonight too dont along with the welcome candle bridge in the window. We've had our angel mobiles up since last week. I think they are my favourite Christmas decoration and are both peaceful and symbolising peace and goodwill too.

Rather than posting a prayer may I post my two favourite Christmas music pieces - I'd love if any of you could suggest Christmas music that you particularly like. After all hymns are really sung prayers.

Philip Stopford 'Lully Lulla Lullay' - Coventry carol (On youtube performed in Belfast)
Morten Lauridsen 'O Magnum Mysterium' (on youtube performed on Carols from Kings)

BES that seems unreasonable. I would send a note in on Monday saying you had been planning out the work to the original deadline, it won't be possible to complete it all for the changed date, and so you would like them to confirm that an extension to the original deadline will be acceptable. Put it like that as if it's perfectly reasonable to assume they will agree - which it is.

Envious of people putting up trees and decs today. I felt better yesterday but was then retching (nothing much to bring up, sorry TMI late last night and today. Still in bed and miserable that it is taking so long for this to go away.

scousequeen you poor thing. How many days have you been sick now? Did you get to talk to your Doctor? I think if you are still worried you might ring your pharmacist to get reassurance. Mine was able to tell me that I was on the mend even though it was slow.

BTW I had food poisoning with a fever and aches and pains. It took almost a week to recover and I was worried that I might need antibiotics. The Pharmacist was able to reassure me and tell me when to go to the doctor if I was not better. Keep an eye on yourself scousequeen and phone your doctor again if you aren't happy with your progress.

and it is useful to tell the receptionist that the pharmacist told you to go to the gp...

Scousequeen keep drinking, little bits at a time and regularly as you don't want to be dehydrated. Echoing Quiets advice regarding the pharmacy too. Really hoping that you get better soon, it sounds exhausting and a really nasty bug.

It's lights day today. My window lights didn't work this year so I bought another set, they are lovely and three times the length of the old set. Then factor in the house lights dh is putting up and we should be finished.

Aside, does anyone else find the hustle and bustle of the retail side of Xmas to be stressful. I am often stressed and pressured by the TV and radio constantly reminding me of the fact it's retail Xmas. I love the quiet time to reflect on the true meaning of Xmas and I think that is lost in retail Xmas. I feel panicked sometimes at it all. Get crackers, buy a turkey, write cards, get everyones presents wrapped up in time for Mil to take to great aunt so and so......
Its not the true meaning of Xmas and that makes me sad. Or am I going a bit mad?.....Anyone else feel like me? Oh and the rush to get the house immaculate and pristine too, everyone is so focused on that. My ironing pile won't be reduced in time for Xmas, and does it really matter? It's about new hope and new birth for all surely?

Dont, absolutely. I have cut out so much since Bob died, I only wrote five cards last year and have not sent any. I have one present for each of the children and grandchildren and if I have time I will make a little father Christmas for them too. Just because I like to.

I am very careful at church what I get into as well. I know that is not retail Christmas, but there is a lot going on. And I'm standing back from it all and then opt in.

The little red booklet that we have all been given from church is a great help in concentrating the mind. Because I think that's what needs doing: positively concentrating on what advent is about: longing, hoping, turning away from the world and the retail (so you are on the right track there) and welcoming the light of the world.
The booklet has been produced by Tyndale Press and there is a website www.HolyBibleMosaic.com, but I have not looked at it.
It is easier for me as I am on my own and silence is not hard to find, much more difficult for you with all your responsibilities and the worry about your dad as well

I feel much the same way dont and dutchoma. I avoid buying much in December so that I can push the retail side away a bit. My family lives on the other side of the world and many of my close friends don't live in the UK so I have to post presents in November. By the time December hits I've bought the few bits or pieces that I need and I switch off from retail. The only thing we need now is a Turkey (and crackers - thanks dont I'd forgotten). I know Advent is the beginning of the church year but I always feel a lot of peace at Easter.
We've been careful with planning ahead in terms of the limited socialising that we do and left plenty of time just to be a family together.

thanks Dutchoma - I've looked up the booklet and it looks like a lovely Advent introduction/meditation

dontbe sorry I've taken so long to reply. I can't do bank at my local hospital as they don't accept newly qualified midwives on bank, you have to have done the preceptorship year first. But I've been offered two jobs now, I live an hour and a half from the one I've chosen so it's not too far, but I will move there. It's a bigger and busier unit so that's pretty scary but a more diverse population so should be interesting. One of the things I'm weirdly excited about is there is a fairly large Orthodox Jewish population nearby, I've seen quite a few of the men dressed in the traditional clothing in the hospital when I've been there. I've never looked after anybody Jewish before, never mind a really conservative religion like that. So it should be pretty interesting, I always like learning about other religions.

Hope everyone's well and getting on okay.

Oh and I hear you on the retail Christmas, I've got a couple of birthdays in December too in my family and they're children so that just adds to the present buying. I'm always amazed at the amount of stress people get under when they don't even celebrate it for religious reasons. Even if they do, it's not worth getting in such a state over. I understand it's a huge family event for most people but it makes me feel sad when I see the pressure put on people (normally women) to have the "perfect" Christmas.

Personally, in terms of religious significance I prefer Easter. And that's not just because of the chocolate, although that does help.

don't do turkey. overpriced and not as tasty as chicken. we get a value magic mumsnet chicken. which feeds five for three or four days. obviously we do not eat a lot of meat but have lots and lots of veggies.

christmas will be a sucess if no-one dies and no-one ends up in hospital. (including on new years eve) we have a very low bar since mil died at christmas, mum was in a home the same year very ill, then in hospital the next year with a vomitting child preventing me visiting, and in hospital on new years eve last year. (just when I thought we had got away with it)

ps can someone let the little man with a pnuematic drill out of my right sinus.... (waiting for the paracetamol to kick in in about 15 minutes)

got to sort out dd's costume. it may not be possible to do. need to email her homework to school. she need to add some pictures.

Hello all.

I have survived a bit of a nightmare week (back from foreign parts on Tuesday, very busy at work on Wednesday and Thursday and had to write a talk for a conference on Friday and Saturday... it was all a bit much!) and am feeling a lot better now that is all behind me and intend to be back here more regularly, trying to post a prayer a day for (what's left of) Advent.

Really sympathise with those trying to push back against retail Christmas a bit. In my (extended) family it's literally all about the presents and it's very hard not to do that. My mum is currently texting on a daily basis about it. Because I've been so busy, I've done nothing yet, and I know I'm frustrating her as much as she is winding me up. I just keep it as under control as I can and try to focus on what it's really about in my own head, even if I can't avoid all the other stuff everywhere else.

BES prayers for you and DD and for a calmer week ahead.

Don't continuing to hold your family and especially your dad in prayers.

scousequeen - a belated welcome to the thread, and prayers for a swift recovery.

PA continuing to pray for your parents and for your DD3 and her DH.

MHD - how's your health? Prayers for a healthy Christmas.

Pandora - congratulations on the job, prayers for it, and the move, to go smoothly for you.

Oma, lovely Oma... prayers for you too. For peace and happiness.

Also remembering those who haven't posted recently: Kaykat and Anjelica and Edith and others.

This is a beautiful prayer for Advent from Christian Aid

God of the waiting,
give us courage to wait with those in the most broken
places of the world,
and with all those who struggle to be bearers of hope
there.

We pray with those who wait for wars to stop, for
violence to cease.

God of the waiting, turn conflict into peace.
And we pray for those who have given up on the
coming of hope,
because they feel they wait in vain
at checkpoints, at borders, for jobs, for food,
and for all those whose lives are crushed under the
structures and systems of injustice.

God of the waiting, wait with your world.
Turn anger into reconciliation,
and our lack of hope into courage,
so that our waiting may be over
and all the things of darkness shall be no more. Amen

the homework is not finished and the costume is not finished. we are in trouble.

on the plus side the paracetamol dulled the pnuematic drill quite a bit.

Thank you for the lovely prayers Tuo.

I have a work colleague who I know to see, if you know what I mean. She blogs and she seems to be a lovely lady. I know her husband has had a long term illness but it seems now that the doctors can do no more. He is on a lot of morphine. As well as this our work place is mad right now with everyone being under a lot of stress, worries about job security etc. She is providing such support to him while under acute stress from all angles. Would you all say a prayer for her and him this Christmas. I am thinking of her a lot. Thanks x.

Certainly praying for your work colleague, QuietIsland. This is the time two years ago when I was at the same stage with my darling Bob and I did not have a 'mad' job to cope with as well. I'm praying that she will have the support she needs (I did from the hospice) and a bit of leeway from the job. I pray for you (and everybody else) as well that nothing will disturb that peace that the world cannot give, but which comes from the hope of the world, our Saviour Jesus Christ

Thank you Dutchoma - I didn't realise that your lovely Bob was so ill at this time of year.

Your kind prayers are very much appreciated by me because I was just saying to dh that what is happening in the world was really beginning to get to me and I was feeling low.

My work colleague is trying to organise hospice care because they might be able to control the pain better. He might be able to come home again once they have the pain under control. They are a late marriage - they met in their younger days and then went their separate ways only to find each other many, many years later. He was diagnosed and they married. I wish they had more time.

Yes, we weren't coping any more at home and asked if he could go into the hospice for Christmas and the New Year. He died after being there for 17 days. It is perfectly possible that your colleague's husband can come out again after a break and re-adjustment of his medication, there may even be hospice at home, we saw it all in operation at our hospice. Whatever time they've got left, the hospice will maximise the experience and there will be an amazing amount of love sloshing around.

Yes, Dutchoma they do fantastic work. x

fecking thing bit me...

ahh I shall have the last laugh and eat the bugger.

What..??

salmon. bloody great big one. with sharp teeth. sharp enough to cut my finger. I buy one when they are on offer (£4 per kilo) and chop it up into meal sized portions. I have more or less run out of the last one and had prayed that there would be an offer on somewhere... and there was. works out at something like a £1 per meal as we only have a small portion each.