August

August is the month for dusting off the jam pan. So far the apples have started landing regularly on the lawn. Rather than waste these early fruits they have been transformed into ‘Spiced Apple Jelly’ with just a hint of the old favourite – Chilli! Without a greenhouse at the moment the chillies are slow and few, but the next project, since there are apples a plenty on the tree, is an apple press, it seems the best way to construct one is with a bottle jack and some stout timber, both of which are lying around in the shed! Whether cider is attempted or not rather depends on the juice – it might get drunk too quickly!
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Yr ochr arall

Looking from Neston across to Wales, Holywell was easily picked out due to the water tower on the tops, I thought to myself, I’d hate to live over here with that great view, always seeing it but not being there, but then, I always look to Liverpool from Wales, not longing to be there, but comforted somehow, seeing the two Cathedrals, that it is still there! I guess those who live on this side might think the same, at least you can always see the hills from here, (weather permitting of course!) it’s good to get a different perspective...
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Hardy perennials

Away for a few days learning to be a new incumbent, we arrived for lunch greeted by the ‘hardy perennials’ a group of ladies of no specific age taking root in the dining room, as we prepare to work, ‘the tempest’ begins and we are overrun by sailors, beasts and maidens. Is this a vision of a new incumbancy?
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mis-guidance

Thank-you John and Diana for a little mis-guidance on how to walk around the parish without missing things of interest. I think i’ll start by letting someone set the start point and someone else the end point, we’ll have to see what we find in between…
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Christ in stranger

You will need to see the previous entry on Woodfest to set this in context. I referred to the ‘Mushroom Man’ in the context of Luke 7: 11-17 to speak about thresholds, Jesus at the threshold of the town, the Widow at the threshold of life and death with her son. Jesus touches the edge of the bier and steps into the world of the mourners. I reflected on the way in which the Mushroom Man always allows people closer to his work, to touch and feel, smell and experience the wood, get involved in his world. He invites...
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Woodfest

Woodfest again at St. Asaph, don’t miss it! Or try to remember next year… There seem to be a number of different types of people exhibiting or competing. Most working in their field and making a living the way most of us do, wood things being a profitable sideline. There are the commercial firms whose machined products look out of place next to the hand crafted ones. There are also the minority of excellent craftsmen and women making their living solely from their craft, these are the ones one admires the most. Often the craft comes first, financial gain...
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God of the Gap

You might be forgiven for thinking I was about to launch into something regarding a certain clothes store which had undertaken an alternative advertising programme. Well you’ll be forgiven, and gladly, wrong! As far as I know the afore mentioned clothing outlet is not claiming any particular condescension by some deity or other. God of the Gap relates to the Trinity, the season into which we are about to launch ourselves for a full 22 weeks, that’s twenty-two. Liturgically described by one as ‘boring green’, the other seasons being full of fun and frolics of course! The phrase God...
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Random College Entry

Why Reluctant?
A few people have been asking ‘why reluctant?’ I guess it must be time for a few answers!! Because: I don’t actually really enjoy church! I find much more ‘of God’ in the beauty of nature, in a face, a smile, music, sculpture, in a pint of beer in a pub with a good friend. I simply don’t believe God is confined to a church (people or building) which fundamentally a large proportion the church does and I will be expected to be leading worship of God in such buildings with such people. Because: When I read the gospel stories about Jesus I see a man who treated everyone with love. A man who was entirely human, angry, loving, hurt, upset, laughing, a friend, a companion. Those who profess that to be a Christian you must believe specific doctrinal statements about this man before you can call yourself a follower of him or ‘a Christian’ are I believe falling into the trap of judging others. They turn Jesus the ‘man for others’ into an Idol. They raise him high up on the cross and bow to him forgetting his life before the cross with the commoners and those prepared to [...]