Sunday doesn't go according to plan

Sunday 31st August 2014

From the road between Otterburn and Bellingham
a little way from where I stopped to see if I could help at the scene of a motorbike crash.  The congregation at Elsdon forgave me for starting the service a quarter of a hour late.  (I was already cutting it fine having called at St Cuthbert's Bellingham and Corsenside to deliver publicity about the St Cuthbert's Festival walk next Saturday.)  After Elsdon I called at Otterburn for a counter-signature on a cheque for printer ink (urgently ordered for said publicity amongst other things).  In the afternoon I visited two families to arrange funerals.  In the evening things returned to "normal".

Bellingham Show day

Saturday 30th August 2014

Part of the display on the Church stand.
Her name is now Amazing Grace (to be called Gracie)
after we received 120 suggestions.
[For more pictures of the Bellingham Show, see Events page.]

Hoping for better weather tomorrow

Friday 29th August 2014

The view from the Church stand as a lot of people work through the showers to get ready for the Bellingham Show

Countdown to the Bellingham Show

Wednesday 27th August 2014

The first marquee goes up on the Showfield

St Bartholomew's Fair at Elsdon

Monday 25th August 2014

"And that's the dog that nobody wanted"
commented the judge who had just given Zebedee second prize in the Rescue Dog class.  He is seen here with the ordinand who has been on placement here for the last four weeks and who has been described informally as a "trainee vicar".

The traditional 24th August Church Fair has been successfully expanded and involved about fifty volunteers from amongst the parishioners of Elsdon (about a third of the whole population).

Ready for anything

Tuesday 19th August 2014

The foal is becoming confident and independent.  "Ready for anything" could be the name of a Grand National winner; but it doesn't have an obvious nickname to go with it.  She will be named at the Bellingham Show at the Church stand on Saturday 30th August.  Please come up with some good ideas!

Varied day but some things don't change

Monday 18th August 2014

"I won't wear it but I don't mind playing with it."
Apart from visiting the field to feed Molly, I had a meeting of the clergy of the deanery and went on a baptism visit amongst other activities.

Weddings!

Saturday 16th August 2014

Some of the musicians at St Cuthbert's Corsenside
(playing at my third wedding in eight days)



Commemoration of First World War

Sunday 3rd August 2014

Waiting for the start of the Drumhead Service on Otterburn Ranges at the site of the WW1 training trenches
[More photographs by Keith Maddison on WW1 page]

Deanery Confirmation

Sunday 27th July 2014

St Mungo's church was once the parish church for the ancient parish of Simonburn which stretched right up to the border with Scotland.  (Bellingham and Falstone became parishes later.)  So it was very suitable to have the Confirmation of candidates from several parishes of the Deanery, five teenagers and two adults.
Get in touch with me if you would like to explore what it means to be a Christian!

Four generations at baptism

Sunday 20th July 2014

The ancient church of St Cuthbert, Bellingham, was the setting for the baptism of a baby who was brought by her mother and accompanied by her grandmother and great-grandmother  --  all of whom were also christened here.  After the service we looked them all up in the baptism register.