Monday 27th April 2020 |
| After the concentration of live-streaming worship from my study, I had furniture to move back into its place as well as sorting papers and creating some domestic order. Outside the kingcups were flowering on the Rectory glebe. |
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| It's supposed to be "daily exercise" during national lockdown, but I only manage to fit in a walk on my day off. So, today, up the hill to look back down on Bellingham -- rather out of breath as it seems steeper on foot than on a horse! |
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| The rose hedge beginning to come into leaf as I do the day-off chores like hanging out the washing and notice that the bird bath needs water. |
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| Unable to leave self-isolation to go to our church buildings, a congregation of about sixty people tuned in online for a service streamed from the Rectory study, with the music provided by the organist from his house and a Bible reading from a third home.
After the Lenten austerity of no flowers in church (even when the church was open), we brought in daffodils to mark the joy of Easter. We lit the new Paschal Candles (one for each of our closed churches) to remind us of the Christian hope -- as we live in the light of the Resurrection, confident that Christ's rising shows that love is stronger than death -- and giving thanks for God's love demonstrated by the selfless acts of kindness and dedication shown by so many people during this pandemic.
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The picture was taken two days ago on my only walk for the last three weeks. I know this route, but it raises the question as to where we are going in life.
Today was a serious day of prayer as Christians remember the three hours during which Jesus of Nazareth suffered death by the Roman method of execution by hanging on a cross (a historical fact). I offered an hour online from noon till 1 o'clock of readings, reflections and music; then joined in the further two hours conducted by other people.
Tomorrow...?
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| The River North Tyne with the sallow willow in flower at the bottom of the Rectory glebe field, and only a few hundred yards away the bell turret of the parish church from which we are excluded by lockdown regulations during the pandemic. |
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| It felt ironic that my first outing since lockdown began was in spring weather to conduct a graveside burial service. |
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| The funeral directors bring the coffin past the church. Social distancing keeps them well behind me (the officiating priest) and far ahead of the few family members allowed to be present. |
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| About 45 people joined in worship online for Palm Sunday. When we are free from lockdown, you can collect a palm cross (blessed this morning) from the local church once it is open again. We hope that next year we can hold the procession with donkey and palm (willow) branches from Kielder Waterside to the Living (willow) Church which had been planned for this year. |
