Icon of community

 

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Based on the Rublev icon painted in 1410, this altar frontal is both a depiction of the three Angels receiving the kind-hearted hospitality of Abraham and Sarah in the Hebrew Scriptures and a representation of the community of the trinity in the New Testament. At heart it speaks of the wonder of welcome and life in community with each other and all that is sacred.

We will carry our friends at Holy Trinity in our hearts as we journey through this next year.

The gift of rain

 

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Much of of the last few days has been spent avoiding getting soaked. The Thunder and lightening have been spectacular, particularly from our Selsey caravan. The clear night when we stood with cricked necks watching for meteorites gave way to yet another day of bouncing, flooding water and a slow journey from the south back to East Lothian. The abundant water reminded me of this monkey we saw on the Isle of Wight, licking the dripping cage for a drink.

We have only been away from our home for just over two weeks yet we both found ourselves feeling a little homesick as we came over Soutra and saw Edinburgh and the Lothians laid out before us. It feels good to be ‘home’ if only for a short while.

A weekend in Gifford, where Clare will judge the children’s competitions in the local Flower Show, and chance to see our church friends again in Haddington on Sunday, will be followed by a journey to the Isle of Lismore.

The island is one of our favourite places. As soon as we set out by ferry from Port Appin we start to feel the tension dropping away. The lush vegetation, wonderful walks and constantly changing light as we look right up Loch Linnhe from our friend’s kitchen, makes it a truly special place.

A little cultural history

 

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We spent an hour or so on HMS Victory, a second attempt, as the last time we were in Portsmouth it was closed due to storm damage in the dock.

We were particularly taken by the miles of rope on board, the wide patched floor boards, the sick bay with its bottles and potions, the captains wheel and the realisation of how difficult life would have been for those on board this fighting vessel.