Spring still comes

Monday 30th March 2020

Spring comes to the Rectory glebe even if nobody else does!

Poised between winter and spring

Sunday 29th March 2020

Trees still leafless in the spring sunshine:
a good symbol of current life,  and even of earthly life in general.

Remember all the acts of kindness which bring hope, as we did during our local live-streamed morning worship.
For this morning's prayers see separate page: Thought for the Day.

Food Bank donations

Saturday 28th March 2020

This is the solution we have come up with since churches have to be shut in accordance with Government instructions during the pandemic --  and St Cuthbert's is a major collection point in Bellingham.  (The plastic bin was bought to be used as a bran tub for the church's Family Fair a few years ago and has never been used for anything else!)

New life

Thursday 26th March 2020

     The first of this year's lambs appeared about a week ago in these chilly northern hills, a hopeful sign of the season to come.  For most of the population self-isolating during the pandemic, it's good to remember farmers bringing life to the landscape.  
     Meanwhile, the clergy are in an odd category of key workers ("religious staff") who have certain essential duties out and about but otherwise conduct a great deal of work from home on the phone and the computer (like so many others). 

Feast of the Annunciation

Wednesday 25th March 2020

Sitting in the south transept the other day, I realised that this could be called "The Chapel of the Annunciation" celebrating the Angel's announcing  to Mary that she would give birth to Jesus.  In the traditional  Collect for the Annunciation we pray "that as we have known the incarnation of thy Son Jesus Christ by the message of an angel, so by his cross and passion we may be brought unto the glory of his resurrection".  And here on the left of the arch we see a colourful representation of angel, whilst to the right of the arch are a reminder of Jesus' suffering and death on the cross and of his resurrection in the light burning to show his risen presence.

Self-isolating

Tuesday 24th March 2020

The wild rabbit in the plant pot is observing social distancing
whilst the Rector in the study fields phone calls and e-mails.

Remarkable Mothering Sunday

Sunday 22nd March 2020

Set up ready for the live-streaming of the morning service (with two of us present in my study and 29 Zooming in online) with the screen showing that I'm first listening to the service from Lambeth Palace with the Archbishop of Canterbury also confined at home.

Meanwhile we had left flowers outside all our churches as gifts for Mothering Sunday.  One church made extra posies part way through the day as 25 people in the village appreciated the offer.

A local cafe, closed to diners, delivered the Sunday roast to doorsteps throughout the middle of the day.
     The first day of self-isolation has been energising as people have risen to the occasion with kindness and ingenuity.  It remains to be seen how we feel after twelve weeks of it; but as we face our frailty and powerlessness, it is salutory to recognise that we humans cannot control everything.  All we can do is to trust in God's love and act in accordance with that love.

A heap of sheep

Saturday 14th March 2020

Sheep building themselves up for lambing