The hedgerows are teeming with life, most of it edible, we have so far (apart from the tree load of apples which our garden supplies) blackberries – loads, hedge garlic (still prolific) raspberry leaves for tea, haws for Haw-sin sauce and a few other bits and pieces. In a few weeks the elderberries will be ready, the damsons up the lanes will start to turn and it will be all hands to the preserving pan, if only the apples would stop falling long enough for us to pick some to put away!! The wheat is in, but not processed quite yet, it will have to be milled soon, ready for the beginning of October and the coming of the inevitable Harvest Thanksgivings. The Cat has started complaining about the weather, but it’s not quite time for the log burner, which reminds me to call the log man and have...
Read more »

on reluctantance

This began as a journal while I was at St. Michael’s Theological College in Cardiff.

It was mainly written for those who were following my progress, and for me to whine and moan without (much) recrimination.

That time is now over!! A random entry from my time at St. Mike’s appears on the front page, or if you are feeling really bored you can read through that archive!!

So… this is me…

Stuart lives in Wales, is married with two children and was very much a reluctant ordinand!
Now an ordained Priest in the Church in Wales and a member of the Iona Community sharing their rule of Daily prayer and Bible reading, Accounting to fellow members for use of time and money, Meeting regularly with other members locally and Action for Peace and Justice. He is still reluctant to be defined by the traditional structures and doctrines of the church, not to mention cucumber sandwiches and twee garden parties.
Stuart says, “I simply don’t believe that God can be defined by or confined to any particular idea of church. When I read the gospel stories about Jesus I see a man who treated everyone with love, a man who was moved by compassion for those around him. He was entirely human, got angry, loved, was hurt, upset, laughed, was a friend and companion. Jesus was a man who broke down barriers between the establishment and those who needed its help the most. I find it quite ironic that a church, which professes faith in such a life, should so often put up barriers between Jesus and ordinary folk.”

Random College Entry

Having our Tea

There’s something religious in the way we sit At the tea table, a tidy family of three. You, my love, slicing the bread and butter and she, The red-cheeked tot a smear of blackberry jam, and me. Apart from the marvelous doting Of a world’s interchange with each other… there’s tea. Stupid, they say, to think of the thing as an ordinance. And yet all the elements are found to change in our hands. Because we sit and share them with each other There’s a miracle. There’s a binding of unmerited graces By the cheese, and through the apples and the milk A new creation of life is established, a true presence. And talking to each other, breaking words over food Is somehow different from customary chatting. I know perfectly well that the generations must, Of necessity, have performed this petty action. And surely their pattern has long since burrowed As part of our consciousness. The too, back beyond the epochs Is depending, turning back to the fountainhead, And listening on the connecting wires to a Voice That is at the same time food – he expresses Himself here from the beginning. All would acknowledge That the food itself is [...]

September

writing on…

People and Places

on reluctantance

Random College Entry

recent posts

Umeed on Justgiving