Advent begins

Sunday 29th November 2015

The first candle of Advent is lit at St Aidan's where sixteen intrepid parishioners made their way through wild evening weather in the wilds of Thorneyburn for the Blessing of the Advent wreath and prayers for all the troubled places and people of the world, that the light of Christ's love may shine in the darkness bringing hope and peace.  (In the morning we had almost been washed away at Bellingham and blown away at Horsley.)

The clouds clear

Tuesday 24th November 2015

The pace hots up

Friday 20th November 2015

After a visit to Newcastle  yesterday evening for the Law Society's Annual Dinner, I was off up the North Tyne today to see "Father Christmas" arrive from the "North Pole"  --  in a conveyance drawn by real reindeer.  (The reindeer in the picture below is a carved one in the marquee.)

At the beginning of the Kielder Winter Wonderland, we were invited to show a hundred children with their families how to make Christingles.  A Moravian tradition, the "Christingle" (meaning Christ-light) was introduced to England by the Church of England's Children's Society which supports young people through all kinds of troubles.  The Christingle is made of an orange to represent the world, sultanas or sweets on cocktail sticks to represent the fruits of the earth in their four seasons, a central candle for the Light of Christ and a ribbon around the whole to show the love of God embracing the world.

     Then back down the valley to a school Curry Evening.

Messy Church

Sunday 15th November 2015

In the morning services at Bellingham and Falstone we prayed for the people of Paris.  "Messy Church" in the afternoon heard the story of the angels' visits to Mary and Joseph announcing the future birth of Jesus.  So we made tree decorations linked to the theme, starting with angels and adding in stars, bells and abstract creations.  (You'll have to wait for the Christmas Tree Festival in December to admire dozens of them on display.)

A break in the rain

Tuesday 10th November 2015

     After taking a school assembly I made a quick visit to Indie to see how she and her big friend were faring in the mud.   Then on to a meeting about other work with children in the deanery, an afternoon writing my contribution for the benefice magazine and an evening Parochial Church Council.