On the sixth day of Christmas

Saturday 29th December 2018

The "six geese a-laying" are in a slight muddle in the winter sun.

And now it's here!

Monday 24th December 2018

The arrival of "Santa Claus" driving past the Rectory is the sign that Christmas Eve has arrived and I must head straight out to church for the Christingle Service

One week to Christmas

Tuesday 18th December 2018

The churches' "Open the Book" team tell the story of the first Christmas in Kielder First School

Ripples in the sky

Monday 10th December 2018

After visiting in various parishes, I noticed that the tide had gone out leaving ripples in the sand...oh no: sky!

Sunday here and there

Sunday 9th December 2018

After rain and wind, the noonday sun comes out on my way from Elsdon to Bellingham.  Next stop: Thorneyburn.

Christmas Tree Festival

Wednesday 5th December 2018

To coincide with Bellingham late-night shopping, the Co-op organise a Christmas Tree Festival in St Cuthbert's Church

Very varied exhibits!

On the road

4th December 2018

The sun rises over Kielder Water on a frosty morning as I drive up the valley for an "Open the Book" 9 o'clock school assembly telling the story of Moses in the bulrushes.    

Then back down nearly twenty miles to Bellingham for their assembly at 10.20 a.m.: another "Open the Book" but this time the team act out Abraham and Sarah's welcoming the strangers who bring them surprising news and a lot of laughter!  By the time I've met my 11 o'clock, 2.30 and 4 o'clock appointments I've driven well over a hundred miles  in beautiful if freezing surroundings.      

    

The day begins spiritually and ends prosaically

Monday 3rd December 2018

The Advent ring with its first candle lit to represent the light of divine love revealed in the world through the coming of Jesus.  This moves around from school to school.  Today it was at Bellingham Middle School where we thought about how we can share that love by acts of kindness during Advent.
     On to an appointment with another priest to discuss various concerns of parish life.  Not deep discussion but a useful conversation about practicalities.
     An afternoon of administration, necessary but uninspiring, followed by an evening meeting with the treasurers of the deanery  --  which doesn't feel central to our work but which is essential to support the work which the Church is here to do...which brings us back to our calling to help people to share God's love in the world.

Advent Sunday

Sunday 2nd December 2018

Yesterday's wedding was followed by today's Confirmation when I took two of my candidates (who had missed our local service owing to mumps) down to Hexham Abbey to be confirmed there by the Bishop of Newcastle.