Advent begins

Sunday 30th November 2014

Only one red candle was lit in church this morning.  It will be two for the second Sunday of Advent, three for the third, four on the fourth Sunday and then the white one on Christmas Day.  (Traditionally, white and gold are the Church's main colours for celebration, especially for festivals of Jesus Christ.)

Foal update

Tuesday 25th November 2014




Showing off at five months

My day was less rushed than sometimes with decent intervals between meetings (including one with representatives from the other Churches in Bellingham and one with the trustees of a charity in Corsenside).

A quirky Sunday afternoon

before having tea!

 Sunday 23rd November 2014

Trying out the stairlift at the Rectory

Mist

Sunday 16th November 2014

Courteous cattle move off the road in the mist
(which totally hides the valley and forest beyond)

Kielder "Winter Wonderland" begins

Friday 14th November 2014

It's been rain or mist and drizzle rather than snow, ice and frost; but the Kielder Winter Wonderland began in the early evening with forest trees lit up and the arrival of elves and Father Christmas, followed by carols accompanied by members of the Ellington Colliery Band and a hundred people making "Christingles" in a marquee.  I explained the symbolism of the "Christ-light" before giving a final blessing.

Armistice Day

Tuesday 11th November 2014

 

 

 

A quiet landscape as we remember the day that the guns fell silent

Remembrance Sunday

9th November 2014

 

Poppies made by St Aidan's after-school Club adorn the church pulpit which was carved as "A thank offering to God for those men of this parish who returned in safety from the Great War".

At today's Remembrance Service we re-dedicated the War memorials removed from Greystead Old Church (formerly St Luke's) and hear stories of some of the local men commemorated there and whose descendants attended the service.

By request

Mother and daughter (aged four months)  for those of you asking for a progress report.

Remembering

Tuesday 4th November 2014

 

 

There are many and varied preparations going on in connection with Remembrance Sunday: above are the War Memorials from Greystead Old Church (formerly St Luke's) waiting to be fixed in their new position in St Aidan's Thorneyburn at 6 o'clock on Sunday evening when they will be re-dedicated.

     Meanwhile, I met two soldiers in Otterburn churchyard who were synchronising their watches with the church clock before our carefully timed two minutes' silence at St John's during the Sunday morning Remembrance Service.

     The children of St Aidan's Club made poppies amongst other after-school activities at Greenhaugh.

Christmas is on the way

Monday 3rd November 2014

 

I'm preparing for Remembrance Sunday

whilst, hovering above Kielder Forest, a helicopter extracts selected Christmas trees

A fine autumn morning

Saturday 1st November 2014

Hitching a lift from a friendly farmer
but remembering a friend who has just broken her back whilst shepherding on a quad bike.