We will remember them Dear friends, In a time when conflict appears daily in our news media, one can be forgiven for wondering why we remember earlier wars, when present day suffering elsewhere seems to demand all our attention, and pushes former horrors into the past. We do so, among other reasons, to remind ourselves that such failures of politics – whether…
Delete as Appropriate Dear friends Sometimes its hard when going through the affairs and effects of a loved one. Not just for the poignancy and emotion, but for simple practical reasons. What is to be remembered, and what forgotten, or laid aside? Old photographs tell a story, but they speak someone else’s language, and you only know a proportion of the words.…
God’s brown bin. Dear friends, Autumn is usually a very busy time. Everything is in full swing in the working world, in the voluntary sector and with social events. There are meetings, projects, appraisals, reviews, articles, parties – and the DIY that you started in May is nowhere near finished. Teachers and parents start to look weary and mentally tick off the…
Wholly War Dear friends, At the other end of the village two neighbours hate each other. One has grown a high hedge, and lives comfortably. He manages his resources and businesses well, and turns a good profit from his farm and small enterprises. The other neighbour has little money and his house is too small for his very large family, which he…
Harvest Joy Dear friends, Many thanks to all of you who supported our Harvest services last Sunday. At Checkendon, Steve and Frances Woolaway from Manor Farm, Peppard, returned with their produce stall supporting the Ways and Means Trust, and Robin Hart from the Woodhouse Farm Partnership, which farms at both Checkendon and Ipsden, shared some of the story of the farm over…
Harvest Hope Dear friends, Planting a seed is an act of faith. The miracle of soil, water, air, and light works a mystery, and as we tend the plant we share in the wonderful work of creation. And, in the same way that our horticultural skills are honed by repetition, and experience, so too our faith grows as we tend to it,…
Hey Alexa ! Dear friends Whether we like it or not, AI (“Artificial Intelligence”) is already all around us and here to stay. It is on your phone, making suggestions for the next word you might need as you type a text or message. It is on your computer, underneath the “voice to text” function that learns not only how you speak…
Our summer fades Dear friends, The record breaking blast of heat, which turned the outdoor chillies red, and kept the blackberries, courgettes and tomatoes in full production, is, to some relief, draining away. Harvest celebrations are on the horizon, and the change of season is properly here. Autumn will not be resisted. The fierce heat has shocked some trees into shedding their…
Built to last Dear friends, The ancient city at Caesarea – on the mediterranean coastline in Israel – is not only a scenic place to visit, with its Roman aqueduct, Crusader walls, and long sandy beach. It is famous for several historical reasons. One of these being that it was one of the first archaeological sites to confirm that Pontius Pilate was…
Moments of Wonder Dear friends, It could be the glory of a sunset, filling the horizon across warm seas, that compels you to stop, and for once just look. It could be the surprise of a new song, or piece of music, that invokes a tear, a memory, or reminds you of a special person. It could be something very small that…