The aftermath...

Sunday 10th June 2018

The aftermath of Messy Church

To help us think about the Holy Spirit being active but invisible, like the wind, we blew up balloons and fixed prayers of thanksgiving to them:

We also blew bubbles to represent our prayers floating to God and assembled windchimes which depend for their music on the unseen wind (which one little girl likened to the "breath of God"):

The wind instruments accompanying "The Spirit lives to set us free" had to be heard to be believed.



More planning

Friday 8th June 2018

From Thorneyburn churchyard

Greenhaugh School had a first briefing on the remarkable history of St Aidan's Thorneyburn in preparation for their contribution to the bicentenary exhibition.  (Imagine being sent as Rector to this location after life as a naval chaplain in the Napoleonic wars.)

Thorneyburn bicentenary

Tuesday 5th June 2018

Spot the builder!
I found him putting the final touches to repairs (in time for this summer's celebration of the 200th anniversary of St Aidan's Thorneyburn) when I called for a baptism register after taking an assembly at Greenhaugh First School.

Sunday worship; Monday admin.

Monday 4th June 2018

Horse chestnut tree in flower: a brief interval away from the computer and writing desk

Northumberland County Show

Monday 28th May 2018

The first phase of judging Suffolks  I was delighted to find that the judge chose the winner that I favoured:

Sorry about the unflattering picture: my photography didn't come up to my judgement!

One more picture just to be photogenic:

 

The first lull since Easter

Trinity Sunday 27th May 2018

How better to signal a new phase of life than with a picture of apple blossom on one of the trees planted at the Rectory a few years ago?

Maundy Thursday

Thursday 29th March 2018

Continuing the story of Holy Week with the children's felt figures representing Jesus' Last supper with his disciples.
I attended the diocesan morning service in the Cathedral (which involved setting out at 8.40 to drive to Hexham where I caught a train to Newcastle and arriving home again at about 2.30) and was then quite pressed to be ready for the evening Maundy Thursday Communion service followed after 45 minutes' meditation by Compline sung to plainchant.