An evening of good conversation, food, wine, candlelight and this view. Peace.

 

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 welcome of God in the community of Holy Trinity, Haddington.

 

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.

 

Journeying gently moves you out of chronos time and into a place of being and openness to the present moment.

That feels sacred and a gift.

Day trip to the Isle of Wight.

Some of the younger residents of Quarr Abbey in silent contemplation.

Yesterday, a friend sent us information about the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the Taize Community by Brother Roger. The thousands who had gathered to celebrate in the vast Church of the Reconciliation on this small burgundian hill in France marked the celebration by song, silence and the sharing of bread and wine.

We are so thankful that our long journeying will take us back to Taize early next summer. It is a place where the body, mind and soul find good and simple nourishment and where we feel at home.

St Andrews at Upleathem, lying between Saltburn and Guisborough, is one of the oldest and tiniest church buildings in the country.  A sacred space of golden sandstone but without a worshipping community. We stopped to explore it on our way to a Festival of Food.

Earlier today, we experienced the welcome of the people of St Mark’s in Marske-in-Cleveland and the wonder of being strangers yet family within a community of faith.