GRIEF IS THE PRICE

 

"Grief is the price we pay for love." 

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II

From article by Ntai Norman Mampane, "Queen Mother remembered as unifier, transformer of Tisane people." Sowetan 25 February 2022. Page 23

With thanks to Sowetan

DO THE BEST YOU KNOW

 

"Do the best you know until you know better. When you know better, do better."

Maya Angelou

HOPE - LUCILLA ANDREWS

"Hope is a candle that cannot burn out because it is lit by the Hand of God."

Lucilla Andrews, 1964

BELL OF HOPE

 

The Silverchalice of love

      brims over and a drop

            tinkles over the brim to shudder

                 a tinkling bell of hope on

                       the tabletop of my life.

The Cup is my Lord

       - the chalice is love -

            - and the movement of the drop is

                    our love together -

                         for all centuries

                             for all time.

The body will die

       crumble to ashes and dust

The voice will go and

           melt into silence

The gifts, the talents

          will no longer earthly endure

       But our spirits, Lord

             will dance for ever and ever

                  No death can touch us

                       No bitterness twist us

                           No hatred distort us

                                No lies part us.

You are mine

     and I am yours.

How to explain this wondrous love

How to explain this mightyburst of bliss

      that flows between us?

No words are needed to express it, says the Lord.

     Just be.

         Just feel.

             Just trust.

                 Just love.

                     Just be faithful.

                         Just unite.

And the drop gathers momentum, and

      falling over the edge of the tabletop

         dies in a splash of shattering on the floor

And lies shimmering with thousands of crystalrainbowprisms

            shining with new life

                 in the beauty and love of

                    The Mighty Son

Catherine Nicolette Whittle

TRADITIONAL PRAYER

 

Almighty God,

we thank you for the gift of Your Holy Word.

May it be a lantern to our feet,

a light to our paths,

and a strength to our lives.

Take us and use us

to love and serve all humankind

in the power of the Holy Spirit

and in the Name of Your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord.

Author unknown

Paraphrased from "A book of Prayers", Edited by C.P. Taylor. Flame Tree Publishing: United Kingdom. 2010

THE FOUR EVANGELISTS

 

Matthew plays the role of the whole human race; Mark roars like the loud voice of a lion through the wilderness; Luke holds the office of the priesthood with the face of an ox; Flying like an eagle, John reaches for the stars with his word Hoc Matthaeus agens hominem generaliter implet; Marcus ut alta fremit uox per deserta leonis; Iura sacerdotii Lucas tenet ore iuuenci; More uolans aquilae uerbo petit astra Iohannes. Coelius Sedulius

DO NOT ARGUE

 

2 Timothy 2:23-24

"But keep away from foolish and ignorant arguments, you know that they end up in quarrels. As the Lord's servant, you must not quarrel."