We anglicans are, on the whole, a well mannered lot. We know when to say ‘please’ and thank you’ and, mostly, we’re polite to people. For people of my generation and older, there has always been a particular expectation that women are well behaved – an ill-mannered woman is a particular disgrace. Men and boys…
Paul and Seamus were married today. We all give them heartfelt congratulations! They’re a lovely couple who have both been through an awful lot. Today, as they were married, everything seemed to come into focus. And deswite Paula saying ‘I Seamus’ it all went really well. Well done to you both – Mr and Mrs…
We’ve continued to have a great time at holiday club – we’ve now moved on to Rolad Dahl animals – Fantastic Mr Fox and Esio Trot amnogst others. As well as this we’ve played loads of fun games and eaten large quantities of food. For the church members who plan and run holiday club this…
This evening we pray with the people of Barcelona and all tourists who were caught up in the attack. Please light candles in your homes this evening (don’t forget to blow them out before you go to bed!) and pray for the epace of the world. Candles focus our minds on God’s light which has…
This week, and part of next, we’re running our Holiday Club. As well as having a lot of fun our participating children receive breakfast, lunch and a snack at 11. THis time we have 45 children participating. On Monday we did some mindfulness, painted some stones and made some ‘thankyou flowers’. Yesterday and today the…
This week our Gospel reading was the storm at Sea, as told by St. Matthew, and our activities were all water and boat based. At our Sorry Station we paused to think about times when we’ve failed or forgotten to trust in God, or when we’ve put our confidence in the wrong things. The activity…
St. Oswald Oswald, son of the Northumbrian King Ethelfrith, fled to Scotland in 616 when Edwin seized his father’s kingdom. Oswald travelled to Iona and became a Christian there. When Edwin died in 633, Oswald and his family returned to Northumbria. Determined to regain his kingdom, Oswald assembled an army at Heavenfield near Hexham,…
The Coffin of St. Cuthbert is to go on show at Durham Cathedral. When it opened around 100 years ago was found also to contain the head of St. Oswald. The Coffin is regarded as the most important pre-Norman wooden object to survive in England. Read more about St Cuthbert’s Coffin here: https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jul/28/st-cuthberts-coffin-durham-cathedral…
A big THANKYOU to Canon Michael and Mrs Carol Ratcliffe who have arranged for our Messy Sermon Group to have their own processional cross. They bought it from the shop at Southwell Minster (Nottingham) an persuaded a neighbour to add the carrying pole. Here is Autumn, carrying the cross at Sunday’s all All Age Worship…
Today was Audrey Baxendale’s funeral. It was a busy service as people gathered to pay their respects. But Audrey had specifically requested the presence of one particular guest at her funeral – Shadow, her daughter’s beautiful and very large black German Shepherd. He looked magnificent wearing a specially created floral colar for the occasion. Needless…