Christmas Eve

Tuesday 24th December 2019

The devout dog (who always attends Midnight Mass) and the patient organist both waiting after the service to get home to bed! 

Santa Claus drove so quickly past the Rectory that he didn't throw me any chocolate this year.
 

Almost Christmas

Monday 23rd December 2019



     A lot of driving around (past this puddle in a farmer's field) to arrange various things, such as giving readings to the farmers' children ready for tomorrow's Christingle service at Bellingham. 
     Today was Thorneyburn's Carol Service with the theme this difficult year being The Christmas Message bringing light into the darkness.  A good turnout: with a population of fewer  than 300, there was an attendance of 135.

Peculiar activities

Saturday 21st December

Preparations for carol services included trying to take a photograph of a bell before printing an order of service

Christmas Tree Festival

Wednesday 11th December 2019

Carol singers from Bellingham Middle School arrive at St Cuthbert's during the Christmas Tree Festival

Festive Falstone

Advent Sunday 1st December 2019
began with normal church services.  Then...

...the singing begins in Falstone's Jubilee Park after I have lit the first candle on the Advent wreath  --  just near the bus shelter which has been turned into Santa Claus's grotto!

Santa's local helpers:

And now, back to Bellingham for formal Evensong.

St Andrew's day

Saturday 30th November 2019

This is the kind of terrain which seemed bleak and forbidding to me when I came as a stranger to see the area where I might be appointed to minister as Team Rector.  Now, after 13 years to the day, this is a familiar part of my home landscape.  St Andrew's Day is an ideal time to begin a new phase in ministry.  When Andrew heard that Jesus was nearby, the first thing he did was to go and get his brother so that he could also meet Jesus.  That brother became St Peter.  We hope that all Christians will work to draw people in to know God's love for them.  That's our task, starting afresh on the first day of the Church's year  which is tomorrow, Advent Sunday.

Frost stops the car

Tuesday 19th November 2019

Sun catching bronze and silver leaves in the frost prompted me to stop the car for a photograph.  A kind driver also stopped to see if I needed help  --  and the sun disappeared before I took the picture!