Thought for the week ahead - from Julian of Norwich

The Lord wishes it that our prayer and our trust be large!

We must know unreservedly 

that our Lord is the ground from which our prayer grows.

This is a gift given in love.

God wants us to understand 

that we are more truly in heaven than on earth…

We are of God.

That is what we are…

God did not have to begin to love us ~~~~

because from the beginning we have always been known and loved…

Gratitude appreciates who we really are.

Our thanking is to enjoy God!’

Thanks to be to God - and Bless This House

Thanks Be to God

Willow Goldfinch

Thanks be to God for roses red,

For homes and hearths and daily bread

For all the worlds thy hands have wrought--

Thanks be to God.

Thanks be to God for surf on seas,

For trilling finches, flowering trees,

For freshness that cannot be bought--

Thanks be to God.

Thanks be to God for prophet-truth,

For hands that work for right and ruth,

For every healing act and thought,

Thanks be to God.

Thanks be to God who guides our days

From loss to Love, from pain to praise

For Thee, the Gift of gifts unsought--

Thanks be to God!

--Sr. Faith Bowman (Stanza 1 Anonymous)

To be sung to the music of "Thanks Be to God" by Stanley Dickson

(May Hannah Dickson Brahe 

is an iconic Australian composer

 well known for her composition, Bless this House.

  Miss Eagle grew up in Bowen, North Queensland,

and remembers the story John Chamberlain,

conductor and energiser of the Bowen Choral Society,

used to tell about his wife Mary.

Mary used to be involved in a lot of musical activities

for troops and others in World War II.

Her repertoire used to regularly include Bless This House.

John used to say Mary was known as

Mary "Bless This House" Chamberlain.  ...smile...with fondest memories...

PS: Miss Eagle was the youngest member, 

at age 12 years, of the Bowen Choral Society.)

From: Vegetarian Friends