What do you think of...?

Monday 19th January 2015

     I was impressed by the answers when I asked Greenhaugh 8-year-olds "What do you think of when I say Church?"
     "Family and friends", "A peaceful place where you can be happy and sad", "Jesus",  "Somewhere that you can rely on", "Being truthful".
     I had been asked to go into school to talk to their class about the special services that we do in church.  So I thought that I should start by asking them what "Church" meant to them.  We had a deeper discussion than I was expecting and which lasted for 45 minutes instead of 30 before I could extract myself from the questioning.  I look forward to the next visit!

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Sunday 18th January 2015

On the way back down to Bellingham from Woodburn, having reminded both congregations of the importance of working together with other Christians to spread divine love in the world.  (We should never dismiss or belittle any groupings of people and surely we must start by being united as Christians in following the principles that Christ shows us.)

January from my window

14th January 2015

After Morning Prayer, stable duties and breakfast
the sun eventually rises above the hill (9.00 a.m.)
Now to Newcastle for a meeting with Area Deans...
...and no snow in Newcastle when we met the Prime Minister's clergy appointments secretary.  I managed some hospital visiting on the way home.

A new bishop for this area?

Sunday 11th January 2015

On the way from North Tyne to Redesdale to take the 9.00 a.m. service in Horsley church   ---   in the Diocese of "Newcastle".

We hope that whoever becomes our new bishop will be at home in these surroundings as much as in the city.  Bishop Frank came to Bellingham in the afternoon to hold a service including prayers for  the world, this country and the finding of a new bishop.  (I was pleased that on a wild and wintery day 22 people turned out.)

Epiphany

Tuesday 6th January 2014

Funeral, telephone, sermon...

Monday 5th January 2015

Molly is home, looking a bit dazed after the weaning of her foal...
and I'm a bit dazed after sorting out the stable and paddock, getting to Morning Prayer late, making the final preparations for the funeral at Falstone (and getting to that in good time), trying to sort out the telephone for the Team Vicar designate, attempting to write my Epiphany sermon for tomorrow between answering the phone, making a delivery in West Woodburn and going to Otterburn for a counter-signature on a cheque.  There were a few other things; in other words not an unusual day.

An energetic start to the New Year

Saturday 3rd January 2015

Independent Star lives up to her name.

Back to routine

Friday 2nd January 2015

An unremarkable field above Wark
during a remarkable break in the rain. 
(For this relief much thanks!)

When I was a child, I was supposed to finish writing my Christmas thank-you letters by 1st January.  Now the first day of the quarter means completing marriage returns to send to the Registrar.  I had to fill in the forms for the nine churches of North Tyne and Redesdale and also (during the "interregnum" since the retirement of the last incumbent) forms for the churches at Humshaugh, Simonburn and Wark.