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…
Congratulations Dear friends, It is a season for celebration. In a time when our news media delights to share nothing but bad news, there is yet much to rejoice in, and thank God for. For example, how about Nigel Dunstan and Alison Mitchell, who are getting married this coming Saturday at Checkendon Church? Or Geoff and Debi Hornsby who on Sunday celebrated…
A rolling stream Dear friends Many journeys are made in the course of our lives. Some we plan, carefully, methodically – tours, holidays, and the like. Some are part of the routine of our being – to our workplace, to the shops, to the garage or to a family member. Some journeys are made in hope, others in anticipation, expectation or even…
The earth shook Dear friends, …but it was not for the Lord’s return, rather the sound check for the PA system ahead of the CheckFest on Saturday. A small event this time last year, with one band, a bar and some food, grew to two bands, and more stalls, a larger bar and an almost exponential increase in the numbers attending, much…
Unsteady State Dear Friends The bubblings over of the inner tensions in Russian government should warn us not to assume that the war in Ukraine is something contained, or bounded. Our lives continue to be profoundly affected by the economic aftershocks of the conflict; fuel prices rises threw petrol on inflationary fires already started by the pandemic; hurried re-armament by western nations…
From the heavens Dear friends, Many congratulations to Rachel Carter and Edward Hildred, who became Mr and Mrs Hildred at Checkendon church on Saturday. A very cheerful service, with the bells ringing, and organ playing, and in wonderful serendipity, the Red Arrows flying overhead as we started, seemingly adding Checkendon at 1502hrs into their flight plan back from trooping the colour. Heaven…
Nil by mouth Dear friends, It has been an unusual week of “firsts” for me; some new experiences of pain, a night sat in A&E (while various tests were underway), anasthaesia, surgery, some different pain, and the strange gift of convalescense. Hats off to the staff at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, who treated me, and my appendix, with humanity and compassion. The…
Memorable Moments Dear friends Whether it was the sight of the massed parade on Buckingham Palace Lawn giving three cheers for the King, or the blind pianist Lucy capturing everyone’s heart at the Coronation Concert, there have been many hundreds of moments that will linger long in memory from the weekend just passed. Many thousands of people have spent many thousands of…
Long live the King! Dear friends, One of the questions of life we find ourselves asking is “how do we do this?” Especially, particularly, at the difficult times, when things are changing, when something new is happening. So it is with a “coronation”. Most of us have never experienced one of these before, and we are wondering what changes if any this…
The arms of mercy Dear friends, In the last week, as well as completing all the church legal business required for the annual meeting, there has been shock and sadness around the team at the news of the death of Heather Llewellyn, of Ipsden. Heather was a “mother to us all” not only in Ipsden, but as Lay Chair of the Team…