Haymaking

Monday 30th June 2014

Early evening in the hayfield

A smug sheep lurking in the hayfield

St Peter's Day

29th June 2014
     St Peter's Church, Falstone celebrated their Patronal Festival with a Family Eucharist in which the children enacted scenes from St Peter's life as in the Biblical episodes depicted in the windows:


Simon Peter (warming his hands at the fire) denies on the night of Jesus's trial that he knows Jesus [as in left hand window]



Peter kneels before Jesus after the resurrection to receive his commission to feed the lambs and tend the sheep of Christ's flock [as in the middle window]

Peter in prison chained and guarded.   But the angel leads him to
freedom [as in the right window].



Domestic tasks

Friday 27th June 2014

The romantic entrance to Robson and Cowan (whose motto is "If we don't sell it, you don't need it") where I went to buy a new iron and ironing board, socks and horse feed.

A bit incompetent

Thursday 26th June 2014

This is what the table should look like when I take Holy Communion to somebody at home.  Today I visited two homes and had forgotten to take the candles  --  as I noticed after setting out the candlesticks.  Candles aren't essential but it's a pity to miss out something that helps to create a special atmosphere for what can be a profound experience of the presence of divine love in the midst of everyday surroundings.
The evening meeting of Deanery Synod also made us think about special places when the Archdeacon came to address with us the question of what makes a church building effective.
 

Day off

Tuesday 24th June 2014

Apricots ready for jam making

and a rare day off gave me time to do it.

 

Waiting

Monday 23rd June 2014

Mother and midwife preparing for the foal
[photograph by Charlotte Mitchell]

Births, marriages and the rest of life

Sunday 22nd June 2014

Mid-summer weather for a happy baptism at Thorneyburn
following the Parish Communion at Bellingham
and preceding an afternoon meeting with a wedding couple

Out and about again

Thursday 19th June 2014

Enjoying the journey from Thorneyburn for a baptism visit...

...going by one of the less busy routes.

Church in use for an hour a day?

Trinity Sunday 15th June 2014

In the quiet of the evening the church is poised for whatever comes next.

After the 9.30 Parish Communion service this morning there was a quick turnaround to prepare for a hundred worshippers to attend the Brown Rigg School Reunion Songs of Praise.  A good number of them stayed for drinks and nibbles which brought us to lunchtime on a celebratory note.   Everything was reorganised in time for the 3 o'clock "STARS" for the under-5's and their families who sit on a carpet in the chancel and end their service with juice and biscuits.  When I come to say Evening Prayer on my own before locking the church for the night, it's very peaceful with a sense of the many varied people who have shared in worshipping during the day.  Nothing visible remains but there's a readiness to welcome the many people who will come in  their own time throughout tomorrow.

Wark's "Monday Men"

Saturday 14th June 2014

The weekly volunteers tidy the village: a gang of scarecrows!

Back home

Friday 13th June 2014

The Rectory at Bellingham,
scene of catching up on e-mails and other messages!

Diocesan Clergy Conference in Edinburgh

Thursday 12th June 2014

Arthur's Seat from my window this morning, the last day of the conference called by the Bishop for his clergy

We have enjoyed the grounds of Pollock Halls during our stay, as we have considered the theme of "God's hospitality".

St Cuthbert's Corsenside

Sunday 8th June 2014

Musicians before the Family Eucharist  --  in a spot where they could make use of the natural light in a church without electricity

St Aidan's Club enjoy God's creation

Friday 6th June 2014

Hay meadow in full flower
[More pictures on Events page]

Preparations

Friday 6th June 2014

Preparing to display the Lindisfarne Gospels facsimile at St Cuthbert's Corsenside