Christian Coffee House - Prayer/Chat thread. No rubbish church coffee allowed.

[Madhairday]

With the latest prayer thread coming to an end, we thought we would create a new thread for prayer and general chat too - we had chat threads running for years alongside prayer threads, and we thought it would be great to combine them. I try and collate some of the prayer requests from the last thread in the next few days. In the meantime, dive in! Lurkers/newbies - you are welcome to post. Feel free to start any chat subject about Christianity, church, worship etc, and do share any prayer needs.
Would love to hear from those who were on previous threads and haven't been around for a while, too. Come and let us know how you are.

Praying for all who are suffering from this virus in various stages: Claire, Rose, Jill. And of course for your friend’s son MHD.
The clocks going forward completely foxed me. Has never happened before.

Praying, MHD.

So thankful to hear that Kayaking and Zen's teacher friend are recovering.

The psalms are wonderful, aren't they? A long time ago, someone advised me to memorise them, so that if I ever get to the stage of not being able to read the Bible, I would have them there. Sounds like a good CV project (though I'm not sure how much my rapidly ageing memory will retain any more! ) Funny how psalm 23 sticks easily isn't it?

Lovely to have the sunshine back today. My daffodils are dancing happily.

@Madhairday praying for your friend's son

Thank you.

Praise GOD. I have had a shopping delivery from someone at church. Fresh veg ahoy! They were able to get most of the list, but best of all, got the favourite fruit and veg!

So glad to hear you're improving Kayak and that ZenNudist's teacher friend is doing better!

Praying for MHD friend's son and anyone else affected by this virus on the thread.

Loving all the helpful and calming verses and psalms

Hey BES glad you are feeling cheered. Praying again for kayaking, MHD and your friend with covid. And to all the other requests put out on this thread. Im sorry its so hard to keep them front of mind. I pray generally and hope the message gets through! So many people to pray for right now.

I am trying to join in with the Walsingham shrine rededication of the UK to the dowry of Mary. A novena for the coronavirus begins today which is going to run and run until the virus is beaten. I am adding it to my daily prayers (I worry I will forget a day of a novena, so have had to set an alarm). I might do 9 days then see how I get on.

www.walsingham.org.uk/2020/03/20/novena-after-the-rededication/

You’ve just reminded me I only managed one day of the novena for the rededication. I really am rubbish at them. Perhaps I’ll try setting an alarm too.

Will keep your DS’s friend in my prayers MHD.

Ran into Father outside work today, which has made my day. Really missing that support network at the moment.

Can I recommend the lectio 365 app to everyone - I find it so calming and centering at the moment, it only takes a few minutes and it really is helpful.
www.24-7prayer.com/dailydevotional

I am still having licc’s Days of fruitfulness coming in. day 30 out of 40, when that is finished this will come in very handy.

I enjoyed that. Thank you. I must have downloaded it already (recommended here?). Very relaxing and thought provoking... and challenging!

Now how to remember to do it more often. Im already watching a short mass posted by our priest and praying the novena. Maybe swap out mass for devotional. Its much more calming.

madhairday how is your friend's son now?

Hearing of so many people who are ill now.

How are you Kayaking?

Thanks for asking Kayaking. It's good news, he's out of the coma and doing well, we are so thrilled. Thank you for praying. How are you feeling?

Yes hearing of so many cases now, including a man from my church :( lots of unconfirmed ones too.

I'm really, really struggling with a lot of the threads here on Mumsnet at the moment about how we should just let this rip through the nation because it only affects the vulnerable. I seriously cannot believe some of the things I have read, about how we don't matter, how our lives are less worthful. I am feeling shocked and angry tonight :(

Feeling grateful today as the local food bank dropped me off a parcel. I needed one a couple of weeks ago, didn't realise we would get more than one! Full of waitrose food (I'm an Aldi/Morrisons girl) and some posh soap.
I feel a bit guilty as we don't really need one this time, but the man told me to keep it so I did.

Hello. I'm a regular lurked on the Christian and other threads but only an occasional poster under a previous name.
I would really appreciate prayer for my elderly father who has developed "symptoms", which on top of his mental decline and confusion are really worrying.

PamDW that's too bad about your father, will pray.

madhairday that's good he's out of the coma. Yes it's outrageous that 'vulnerable' people could be seem as expendable - really shocking. I haven't seen many threads like that though.

I'm feeling a lot better but am very fatigued now.

MHD do you have the Coronavirus topic hidden? I did this last week and MN has got a lot better since I did it.

This virus seems to have brought out the very best in some people and the very worst of others.

It sneaks into the middle of threads, kayaking. I know people are trying to ‘other’ and make themselves feel better, but if your in an at risk group it doesn’t help at all.

I'm popping back in to say hi. As a vicar I'm trying to work out how to do church differently with a congregation who are mostly not tech literate and my own limited resources. I am so tired. Today I uploaded my first YouTube video and I'm so proud of myself.

So tea and virtual hobnobs all round....

mostlydrinkstea Well done on your YouTube upload! don't be afraid to direct them to other resources too. I've heard the Clarion Trust is good.

Yes absolutely. It isn't my skill set at all so I'm pointing to other places that do it better.

Well done mostlydrinkstea! If you need a hand with anything tech give me a shout :)

Rafa, thank you. You're right, people drop it in the middle of a thread. I've been left feeling utterly rubbish. I probably won't hide the topic but decided to only go on the graphs thread as somehow it helps me stay calm, don't ask me why, and also they are very calm on there with no horrible trolling and value judging, apart from the odd plopped. I'm staying away from most of the rest for now though as it was affecting my mental health too much, which is taking a bit of a battering because of the knowledge that when this gets worse doctors will have to make the hideous decision not to even treat people on the shielded list like me. I got in a bit of a panic but worship really, really helped.

PamDW I pray your father stays well

Well done and thank you to those who have had to get to grips with Tech in order to keep us connected. I know my own Vicar said she was glad to have a teen at home to help!

Evening all.

Had lovely news that I might qualify for priority slots for my dad, who has severe dementia, and relies on my weekly visit for his food shop - but I am 100 miles away. This is a real answer to prayer as initially we were told that he doesn't qualify - dementia is not on the list for extreme vulnerability!

Wonderful news about your friend's son MHD. That's even better!

Did anyone see the picture on FB of the baby, in a beautiful christening robe, being christened today, by a vicar, in her own home, at a safe social distance. He used a water pistol!!! (I didn't forward that one to my baptist friends, who already struggle with infant baptism!) However, everyone looked v happy in the photo. . . .

I saw that NVGU!😂
Great news about priority slots for your dad. I've not been offered any despite being on the shielded list and registering on the gov site as asked, but stayed up til midnight last night and managed to just about grab a Tesco slot for 25th April.

How is everyone doing?

It's going to be strange doing holy week out of church, isn't it. I mean, I've done that so many times myself but it will be so odd that we can't gather on Easter Sunday. But we do have a full online programme for the week and we have stations of the cross and all sorts.

A prayer for Palm Sunday

May you who are living under shadows
Find hope in this man on a donkey
May you lift your hands and your heads
As he passes by, the humble king
May you shout out your hosannas
And sing out your praises
As you soak in the unknown mystery of the greatest love
As you catch glimpses of dazzling light beyond the borders of the dark times we are in
May you find moments of joy
And sparks of delight
In this day made of palm branches
May you lay your coat by the wayside
And bow your head
As he takes you by the hand
And leads you forward into hope.

Amen