Unusual Request

Tuesday, 14th March 2023

I love writing for my blog so am always on the look out for something interesting to write. I find that I get ideas in the middle of the night but by the time I get up in the morning, the ideas have melted away. I do have a pen and paper on my bedside table but getting up to jotter down my thoughts would mean that I will not be able to get back to sleep.

Anyway, as I was thinking about what to write today, I got reminded of a story that the Mhinisteir told me not very long ago. A parishioner who was in his late 80s had come to speak to him after a Sunday service. This parishioner had a specific request. During the course of that particular week, this individual was going above the speed limit on a certain road and he thinks that he was caught by the speed camera. His request was for the Mhinisteir to pray that he WILL NOT get a speeding ticket for his misdemenour!!!!

I don’t know how you will interpret his request but I burst out laughing!

End of Year?

Friday, 3rd March 2023

It is only the third day of March but to me it feels like we are nearing the end of the year. Why? I have absolutely no idea. My mind is tired and that is how I usually feel towards the end of each year.

Maybe it is the Mhinisteir’s super busy schedule that is causing this effect on me. Anyway, whatever it is, I hope it goes away soon because I am getting my months mixed up!

Champing

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Tuesday, 14th of February 2023

Have you heard of Champing? Champing simply means camping inside a church for a small fee. The Church Of England is all for it. No surprises there! Apparently, it will boost the church’s finances. I am definitely not for it for this simple reason. – The church is a sacred place not a playground!

Last Week At The General Synod…

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Monday, 13th of February 2023

I think most people in the United Kingdom and beyond would have by now known that the General Synod of the Church of England met last week thanks to the unusual interest shown by the media . For this reason, I am sure that most people will know that a very important decision was made in the General Synod.

I know of people who belong to both camps and so will refrain from commenting on the decision made on Thursday.

However, I will comment on a few observations that I made while following the Synod online.

1. It appeared that those in the Synod were more concerned about the presence of the media than anything else as there were countless reminders to those attending to be mindful of one’s conduct. They seemed to be totally oblivious to the presence of the Almighty! Maybe God is an optional extra in the Church of England as commented by Sir Humpy Appleby in the British sitcom, Yes Prime Minister.
2. I was so irritated by both the Archbishops frippery.
3. The Bishops who were meant to answer questions were clearly out of their depths. One might even ask if they have any theological education.

God help us!

Christmas 2022

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Friday the 23rd of December 2022

It feels like Christmas this year has just crept up upon us. Christmas in the vicarage is always low key but this year I didn’t even feel the excitement when I bought and wrapped the presents for the Mhinisteir’s colleagues. Gift wrapping is my forte and so I usually enjoy it but this year I was just going through the motion.

How can I in good faith wish everyone a Merry Christmas when the world is in turmoil? Everyday we are bombarded with bad news. Here in the United Kingdom, many are on strike, which have resulted in services being halted while people are struggling with the rising cost of living.

Just like most people I too have worries and have moments of fear when thinking of the future. However, thanks to the baby born in a manger all those many years ago that I have hope. Every Sunday in Church the vicar says Great is the mystery of faith to which we the congregation will respond Christ has died, Christ is risen. Christ will come again and because of this very reason I can wish everyone in all sincerity a MERRY CHRISTMAS.

I will be back in the new year!

❤

Media Tosh

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Thursday the 22nd of December 2022

For the last few weeks the media have had a field day concerning Christianity. “Christianity has become the minority religion in the UK” screamed newspaper headlines. Really? I could feel a sense of glee in the voices of the radio presenters when they went on and on about this specific subject matter!

My understand of Christianity is that the Church will never be in decline because there is the Church Militant and the Church Triumphant. The Church Militant refers to the Christians on earth while the Church Triumphant refers to the Christians who have been translated like the late Queen.

Good Manners

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Since the start of the FIFA World Cup 2022, The good people of Japan have been in the news for all the right reasons. They have gained a reputation for cleaning up the stadium after every match that they attend even if their national team didnt play. I have always been fascinated by the Japanese and their culture so am not at all surprised by their actions.

This is very different to the Mhinisteir’s experience in church one Sunday. He was displeased with the behaviour of the baptismal party that were present in church that particular Sunday. He said that they continued talking loudly to one another even after the service had started until he had to intervene and remind them that they were in a place of worship. How sad that in the modern world so many are lacking good manners but well done to Japan for reminding us what it means.

Who Doesn’t Like Shortbread??!!!

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The Mhinisteir doesn’t like shortbread! I don’t think I know of anybody else who doesn’t like shortbread. I used to make them in abundance and it was only much later that I realised that he actually doesn’t like them – I ended up giving them away. These days I only make them when I want to give them away as food gifts.

Last Christmas, an elderly parishioner gifted the Mhinisteir with a box of Paterson’s Scottish Shortbread. Needless to say that it has been sitting in the cupboard until two days ago. Another parishioner had given me some cooking apples two Sundays ago and so I decided to make apple crumble with the cooking apples and the shortbread. Surprisingly, the Mhinisteir thought that it was the best apple crumble ever!

A Very Different Day Off

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The Mhinisteir had a very different day off this week. He stopped work completely and spent the day watching the World Cup football matches. He actually relaxed. This rarely happens. I wish this would be how every day off will be like.

There was someone at the door but he totally ignored them! I couldn’t believe my eyes! EVERYONE knows when his day off is and in case of emergency there are measures in place – I feel that I need to clarify this in case you think that it was very uncaring of the Mhinisteir to ignore whoever was at the door.

We were camping out in the bedroom as that is where the television has been stationed. It is a very good idea because if we hang around downstairs someone is bound to see us through the windows even if we have the curtains shut – they must have a bionic eye!

Who Will Remember?

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Sunday was Remembrance Sunday – a day where we remember the war dead. There is usually an act of remembrance at the local war memorial after the Sunday service. There is also an act of remembrance on Armistice day (11th November) in our villages. The Mhinisteir is often very busy on these two days as he has to rush between villages and church services. Every year, I participate in the act of remembrance and every year I have the same question. Where are the younger generation? The images that people see on their television screens and newspapers are very different to what I see in our villages. There is hardly anybody below the age of 60 and every year the number of people attending these acts of remembrance is getting smaller and smaller. It is not that there are no young families or young couples in our villages but we don’t see them at these events. What is going to happen when these older folk pass away?