Peculiar activities

Saturday 21st December

Preparations for carol services included trying to take a photograph of a bell before printing an order of service

Christmas Tree Festival

Wednesday 11th December 2019

Carol singers from Bellingham Middle School arrive at St Cuthbert's during the Christmas Tree Festival

Festive Falstone

Advent Sunday 1st December 2019
began with normal church services.  Then...

...the singing begins in Falstone's Jubilee Park after I have lit the first candle on the Advent wreath  --  just near the bus shelter which has been turned into Santa Claus's grotto!

Santa's local helpers:

And now, back to Bellingham for formal Evensong.

St Andrew's day

Saturday 30th November 2019

This is the kind of terrain which seemed bleak and forbidding to me when I came as a stranger to see the area where I might be appointed to minister as Team Rector.  Now, after 13 years to the day, this is a familiar part of my home landscape.  St Andrew's Day is an ideal time to begin a new phase in ministry.  When Andrew heard that Jesus was nearby, the first thing he did was to go and get his brother so that he could also meet Jesus.  That brother became St Peter.  We hope that all Christians will work to draw people in to know God's love for them.  That's our task, starting afresh on the first day of the Church's year  which is tomorrow, Advent Sunday.

Frost stops the car

Tuesday 19th November 2019

Sun catching bronze and silver leaves in the frost prompted me to stop the car for a photograph.  A kind driver also stopped to see if I needed help  --  and the sun disappeared before I took the picture!

Natural spotlight

Monday 18th November 2019

Only at this time of year does the rising sun come through an east window at Bellingham and shine straight on to this banner of an angel made by a local school teacher.  (One of the pleasures of saying 8 o'clock Morning Prayer in church!)

Prayer Space in the Middle School

Friday 8th November 2019

 In the season of Remembrance pupils could choose to do any (or all or none) of the activities on offer in the Prayer Space.  Here are three of a dozen possibilities on the themes of remembrance, loss, change, thankfulness and hope.

Artistic autumn

Monday 4th November 2019

From my vantage point saying Morning Prayer in church, I loved the way the flower arranger had picked up the colours of the tapestry in the altar frontal.

All Hallows' Eve

Thursday 31st October

The Eve of All Saints' Day was a good time to bury ashes for the first time in the newly established Memorial Garden in St Peter's Churchyard at Falstone.

Autumn in Redesdale

Sunday 27th October 2019

"What is this life if full of care//we have no time to stand and stare?"  And I did have time to enjoy the view after the 9 o'clock Holy Communion at Horsley before driving on to Thorneyburn for the next service.

Magazine deadline

Tuesday 15th October

It seems a pity to spend a beautiful autumn day indoors working out church service rotas for the coming month and dealing with other administrative matters.  So I managed to get out to enjoy the tree "cathedral" before writing the Rector's Letter and the rest of my  monthly contribution to the parish magazine.

Morning in the churchyard

Friday 11th October 2019

A calm morning walk around St Aidan's Thorneyburn before...

...children arrive walking from Greenhaugh School for...

...a different kind of Harvest service.

Traditional and unconventional

Sunday 4th October 2019

Ready for Harvest Thanksgiving with the baker's Harvest Loaf on the altar at Bellingham

Symbols of harvest and donations for the Food Bank in Falstone Village Hall...

...with harvest hymns followed by a shared lunch

The first of the Harvest stories

Friday 4th October 2019

 The unproductive fruit tree was given a second chance and bore plenty of fruit the next year: Jesus' story for Bellingham toddlers.

4th October is St Francis' Day.  So the Middle School's slant on Harvest started with a reference to Francis, who regarded all creatures as his brothers and sister, preaching to the birds and showing his great reverence for the natural world.

Inspecting the new ford

Wednesday 2nd October 2019

No access to the River Rede by this route today  --  and not much chance of testing the stepping stones with the water three feet higher than usual.

Michaelmas

Sunday 29th September 2019

 

Michaelmas daisies and an angel banner mark Michaelmas Day falling on a Sunday this year with church services celebrating St Michael and All Angels.

Macmillan Coffee Morning

Friday 27th September 2019

Everywhere there were Coffee Mornings being run in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.  I went to two schools for their (rich cakes) Coffee/Tea sessions and won this fruit basket at the Bellingham Library event!

School visit

Tuesday 24th September 2019
  

Children at home in St Cuthbert's church

Regular activities

Monday 23rd September 2019

Two men and one dog moving the last few sheep of the day whilst I drive around looking after a different kind of flock.

Corsenside Show

Saturday 21st September 2019

I did manage to visit the Corsenside Show and put in a couple of entries  --  photographs, not leeks  --  but then had to return to sermon writing before the St Matthew's Day Communion service at Bellingham at 6 o'clock.

St Cuthbert's Festival weekend

Saturday 8th September 2019

The middle of the weekend: lunch in St Cuthbert's Corsenside after walking from St Cuthbert's Elsdon

We have just come from the buildings across the river.  It's a long detour to reach Corsenside.  Next year there will be a ford with stepping stones to cut off a few miles!!

But we're still happy as we continue the last eight miles towards St Cuthbert's Bellingham...

...and refreshments provided by the Northumbrian Pantry

 



...

Bellingham Show

Saturday 31st August 2019

Rain during setting up on Friday meant all vehicles were towed onto the field on Saturday.

  I avoided the traffic jam by bringing final equipment in the wheelbarrow:

Gusting wind stopped us from opening the side of the Church tent:

 ...but we still provided free rest and refreshment for all comers:

 ...and took it in turns to go out and see the Show:

Told off by my friend Downunder

Wednesday 28th August 2019

This weather...

 ...was followed by this weather and...

 this walk was interrupted by the river North Tyne.

Things happen

27th August 2019

Births, marriages, deaths, floods, heatwaves, and at the end of the day there's no time or energy left for writing a blog!

American Independence Day

Thursday 4th July 2019

The flag is flying at St Cuthbert's Bellingham in honour of our friends at another Bellingham:

St Paul's Bellingham, Washington DC.

     After Morning Prayer I finished funeral preparations, hosted a meeting of local clergy and then went off to conduct the funeral at Otterburn.

St Thomas's Day

Wednesday 3rd July 2019

The disciple known sometimes as "Doubting Thomas" was actually a man of courage and integrity.  When he saw the truth about Jesus for himself, he was convinced and was willing to risk anything, acting with the courage of his convictions.

Perfect June weather

Friday 7th June 2019

Just outside Simonburn before a meeting there with other local clergy and the Bishop

The Living Church grows

Saturday 1st June 2019

We could see from the trampled grass that a good number of people had visited the Living Church since we planted it in early April.

A small group gathered today to prepare for Whitsun, praying "Thy Kingdom come" and adding stones to the "prayer cairn"  --  as anyone is welcome to do at any visit.

The pace hots up

Friday 24th May 2019

Too busy to sit on the bench!