St John's and Kiltermon

Natural  Butterfly Wings Before going on a walk make the butterfly wings with a piece of card covered in either double-sided sticky tape, Pritt Stick or PVA glue, plus some string to tie them on.   Set out and collected fallen flowers, petals seed heads and foliage whatever you find, to stick onto the wings. These could easily be a pair of woodland fairy wings too. Whatever your imagination desire You could easily adapt the design to be a nature superhero cape, or whatever your imagination desires. As you can see, we cut out our wing shape from one big piece of cardboard and then we covered one side of it in double-sided sticky tape. We made a few holes which we threaded our string through and tied over each shoulder to fit comfortably. Superhero Cape. Using cardboard or several layers of wrapping paper glued together, fold it in half, draw out your shape and cut out your cape. ...

 Poem by Beverley Weir I love to travel far and wide, to oceans and to desert sands, To mighty waterfalls and hills in different and exotic lands. I often seek out forest trails, or prairies where the bison run, And always, it is plain to see what the Creator’s hand has done. But stroll along the Whinny Lane in spring, when primroses and violets grow. Lean on the bridge at Killyban and listen to the stream below. When blackbirds sing at evening’s edge and bluebells carpet Blessingburn, Here, on the doorstep, you can see the thousand wonders He has done. When roses bloom and summer fills Kiltermon’s fields with meadowsweet, The spreading chestnuts at Broomhill have sleepy Friesians at their feet. While droning bees and dragonflies and swallows fill the balmy air, Just pause a moment to reflect, and sense the great Creator there. Soon Murley mountain’s slopes give way to purple heather, scented pine, And rosehips in the Gortmore hedges gliste...

Life With Frayed Edges   These days set apart don’t lend themselves to perfection. Hair needs cut.  Grocery items that cannot be found. Poor Wi-fi connection in the middle of an important call. There were great plans of course. The garden, this summer at least, would be a vision of colour. Gates would be painted.  Cupboards would be tidied. That craft project finished.  Odds and ends completed. But it hasn’t turned out quite like that.  Yes, there are moments of great beauty and joy.  Time with family is precious.  The garden is beautiful, but might suit wildlife better this year. And life’s frayed edges are not so easy to stitch back into place. I’ve noticed a greater honesty at the present.  And a deeper kindness. Are we becoming more thoughtful, and patient as well? Perhaps it’s harder to maintain a façade in these days. Who is there to pretend for? Phone calls and video links aren’t always...

Jesus appeared to His disciples  by the Sea of Galilee 'Wherefore I pray and beseech you,  as many as are here present,  to accompany me with a pure heart,  and humble voice,  unto the throne of the heavenly grace...' Some Gifts Are Perfectly Timed ... The watercolour above was an unexpected gift.  The artist, is a parishioner*, and has the lovely habit of the right word at the right time.  And sometimes the right picture too. It came by post, during the days set apart.  Whether rightly or not, I had anxiously opened it outside, disposed of the envelope, and set about reading the words inside.  It was several days before I lifted it again, looked more carefully, and realised that it was an original water-colouring, that there was a little ichthus* painted on the side of His boat, and the whole  scene was referring me to Galilee. Of course I was delighted by the card,  and the sentiment...

Jonah 3:10 & Chapter 4 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. 2  He prayed to the Lord , ‘Isn’t this what I said, Lord , when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. 3  Now, Lord , take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.’ 4  But the Lord replied,  ‘Is it right for you to be angry?’ Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6  Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the p...

A Divided Heart 'All will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of things will be well.' Long tailed Tit, taken by Julie Packham  The statue of Julian of Norwich  on the West Front of  Norwich Cathedral ,  made by the sculptor David Holgate in 2014 Which picture interests you most? Either?  Or neither? This week I've been noticing my divided heart. I've been sitting outside to read and prepare a sermon on Jonah, for today's recording and this blog.  But my heart and mind aren't settled.  I'm distracted by the glorious sunshine.  I'm distracted by the birdsong; the wren that appears, the pair of nesting Blue Tits, two Mapies squawking, four large Crows,  a Dunnock, one Swallow, two Chaffinch, endless bees, a hornet, and then...one, no two Goldfinch appear on the metal wire fence in the field. And sit, and stay, as if to pose for a moment, and then are gone.  ...