Positive Thoughts & Images

Knitted Rainbow for Hope
Instructions to knit your own knitted rainbow for hope.
If you would like to knit some and hang them on the hedge at church for people to take home, please do so.
If you are passing and wish to take a rainbow, we simply ask that you only take 1 per family, thank you.
Knitted Rainbow for Hope.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [176.0 KB]

Thanks to Trevor for sharing this uplifting version of 'The Blessing' sung by Churches around the UK.

 

Prayers for a nation under Covid lockdown
A prayer resource to help guide prayers
Prayers for a nation under Covid lockdow[...]
Adobe Acrobat document [100.6 KB]

Thanks to Trevor and Jane for forwarding on an article found on the internet, shared by a church they have contact with in Sheffield. 

 

We’ve started a new thing in our house today. Every time we wish we:   could do something;  go somewhere;  visit a new place;  treat ourselves;  see someone;  invite someone to visit us;  etc. We are going to write it down on a post it note and put it into a jar. Then, when all this is over, it will be our bucket list of things to do and we will work through the jar and be more grateful than ever for the lovely things in our lives. Until then we will enjoy watching the jar fill up with things to look forward to.

Thanks to Trevor and Jane for sending on some suggestions for things to do everyday to help with our well-being in isolation:

 

        Shower

        Medication

        Drink water

        Clean one thing / space

        Tend something growing / living

        Be mindfully present to…

                     A sound or song

                     A sensory feeling

                     Something you see

                     A spiritual practice

      Reach out to a human outside your home

      Do one thing to get your heart rate up

      Do one thing you’ll be glad you did later

      Do one thing just because you want to

      Get in at least one good laugh

 

All wise things to do, especially the last one

Thanks to Trevor for sharing this from a book he has finally been able find time to sit and read called called “Peace in the Storm” by E Alan Roberts. He's shared this as it gives him hope that one day this nightmare will be over.

 

Peace in the Storm

 

Master, the storm clouds are gathering.

The birds are flocking for safety.

The waves are building and ready to crash

against the dark rocks and the shore.

 

Master, the storm is now starting.

The birds have forsaken the sky.

The waves are boisterous and roaring

against the perimeters of home.

 

Master, the storm is now raging.

Each bird is nestled and secure.

These waves can’t be worse or more dangerous

against the outward defences.

 

Master, the storm is not decreasing.

The birds continue to huddle in safety.

The waves are still bashing and crashing

against the foreboding scene.

 

Master, the storm has subsided.

The birds are now singing,

no longer afraid of the wind.

The waves are no longer dangerous

nor testing the weakness of faith.

 

Master, now comes the reminder

that You were there bearing

Your constant vigil

and all the time holding

Your precious possession.

 

E Alan Roberts

A poem from Tearfund, written for Easter Saturday by Graeme McMeekin.

 

Between Friday and Sunday, is Saturday,

Between death and resurrection, is mourning,

Between uncertainty and certainty, is faith,

Between pain and celebration, is hope,

Between loneliness and community, is love.

 

Lord, for those in the midst of uncertainty, pain and loneliness, grant them faith, hope and love.

 

For Such a Time as this 2020 - Nick Fawcett
A collection of prayers written and distributed for free by Nick Fawcett - https://nickfawcett.uk
Visit his website for further inspirational information and prayer.
For Such a Time as This 2020 - Nick Fawc[...]
Adobe Acrobat document [215.0 KB]

Thanks to Albert for sharing his glorious Plum tree in blossom. 

 

"Thank God for all the signs of spring!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you to Jayne for sharing this poem entitled ‘And People Stayed At Home’ by Victorian Poet Kathleen O’Meara 1869

 

And people stayed at home, and read books and listened and rested and exercised,

And made art and played and learned new ways of being,

And stopped and listened deeper,
Someone meditated, someone prayed, someone danced, someone met their shadow and people began to think differently,
And people healed and in the absence of people who lived in ignorant ways, dangerous, meaningless and heartless, even the earth began to heal,
And when the danger ended and people found each other grieved for the dead people and they made new choices and dreamed of new visions,
And created new ways of life and healed the earth completely, just as they were healed themselves.

Thank you to Jane for sharing the below poem written by a Franciscan friar who posted it on his facebook page on 13th March 20.

 

Lockdown

Yes there is fear.
Yes there is isolation.
Yes there is panic buying.
Yes there is sickness.
Yes there is even death.
But,
They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise
You can hear the birds again.
They say that after just a few weeks of quiet
The sky is no longer thick with fumes
But blue and grey and clear.
They say that in the streets of Assisi
People are singing to each other
across the empty squares,
keeping their windows open
so that those who are alone
may hear the sounds of family around them.
They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland
Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.
Today a young woman I know
is busy spreading fliers with her number
through the neighbourhood
So that the elders may have someone to call on.
Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples
are preparing to welcome
and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary
All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting
All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way
All over the world people are waking up to a new reality
To how big we really are.
To how little control we really have.
To what really matters.
To Love.
So we pray and we remember that
Yes there is fear.
But there does not have to be hate.
Yes there is isolation.
But there does not have to be loneliness.
Yes there is panic buying.
But there does not have to be meanness.
Yes there is sickness.
But there does not have to be disease of the soul
Yes there is even death.
But there can always be a rebirth of love.
Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.
Today, breathe.
Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic
The birds are singing again
The sky is clearing,
Spring is coming,
And we are always encompassed by Love.
Open the windows of your soul
And though you may not be able
to touch across the empty square,
Sing.

~Brother Richard Hendrick, O.F.M. Cap. (Capuchin Franciscan friar)

Thank you to Amanda for todays positive thought...

 

I am thankful that I have my family by my side. 

I am thankful that my son and daughter in law appear to have recovered from this virus. 

I am thankful I have food in my cupboards. 

I am thankful I have toilet paper ? 

I am thankful that I have the medicines that me and my family need. 

I am thankful my extended family are safe and well. 

I am thankful for this beautiful weather. 

I am thankful that I have a garden. 

I am thankful that those in my family who work are employed and are still able to work. 

I am thankful that none of my family are self employed! 

I am thankful that my lovely sister, who is finding this self isolation very difficult as she is on her own, gets up each morning safe and well. 

I am thankful that I am still alive. 

I AM THANKFUL FULL STOP!

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Padgate Methodist Church Centre: Padgate Lane: Padgate: Warrington WA1 3DU