The weekend completed

Sunday 30th July 2017

Wedding flowers at St Cuthbert's Corsenside
All Sunday services for this parish  take place in this, the Summer Church, in August.

For me, Sunday was 9.30 at St Cuthbert's Bellingham followed by an 11 o'clock baptism in the Family Service at St Peter's Falstone, lunch with the congregation at Kielder, tea with The Friends of St Cuthbert's Bellingham and an evening of tidying up!

Three one-offs

Saturday 28th July 2017

     This is the middle of the three.  Yesterday it was a funeral at Elsdon, a once-in-a-lifetime event as we send a faithful friend on his way, wishing him "God speed".

     Sunday will be a baptism at Falstone, also something that is irreversible and can only happen once.

     Tomorrow is a marriage "till death us do part" at Corsenside, the church without lighting, heating, organ  --  or certain other facilities which I borrow from another church and deliver today.

Nearly the end of term

Thursday 13th July 2017

A school sports afternoon followed by the summer fair. 
Everyone seemed to enjoy it, with the possible exception of some of the parents taking part in the grown-up tug-o-war when the rope snapped.

The turn of the sheep

Wednesday 12th July 2017

After a few pictures of nervy horses and dominant cattle, it time to enjoy the sight of casual sheep (behind the rainbow of the windscreen, I being stationary of course).

Out in the wilds again

Monday 10th July 2017

A good firm track for today's baptism visit which I managed just about on time after a meeting twenty miles down the valley to plan a meditation/reflection space in school.

Traditional and Messy

Sunday 9th July 2017

Craft activities in St Peter's for Falstone's Messy Church followed  formal Sung Eucharist in St Cuthbert's Bellingham

[photographs by Jill Swaile]

"Making waves" at St Peter's as we told the stories of St Peter sinking underwater until Jesus rescued him and of Jesus stilling the storm on the Sea of Galilee. 

We prayed for all people who work at sea and for the ministry of the Church's Mission to Seafarers, caring for people working away from home in dangerous conditions.

     These afternoon activities were followed by traditional Evensong at St Aidan's Thorneyburn.

I won't do this again

Saturday 8th July 2017

I set out to visit the house in the middle of this picture so that we could make some arrangements for the baptism of their youngest child.  Unfortunately I have only been there before by horse, riding along the ridge from another farm; and I didn't realise how deeply rutted was the track that I chose to take me up the hill.  The car grounded half way up and I had to walk the rest of the way, luckily remembering to take the baptism papers with me.  After our chat, I got the farmer to drive down in a larger vehicle and tow me free so that I could reverse the rest of the way back to the road.
     The rest of the day was spent in the rectory preparing for Sunday services.

A wet birthday

Tuesday 4th July 2017

Light rain (for Indie's third birthday) on the fell at 7.30 worsened as the day went on.  It was a wet drive for a meeting in Newcastle and it was raining hard when the fire alarm went off during a lunchtime meeting at Bellingham School and everyone gathered for the roll call outside.

Pristine!

Sunday 2nd July 2017

After the normal morning services at Bellingham and Falstone, St Cuthbert's Bellingham celebrated the completion of six years of restoration work on the building with a re-dedication service in the late afternoon  --  and an hour of chatting over refreshments.

     In the evening I made a visit to arrange a funeral.  Quite a long day, starting work at about 7.30 a.m. with final morning service preparations and finishing at about 10.00 p.m. with taking the dog out to lock the church.