The Pike A younger version of myself grins out of a photo on a screensaver. I’m leaning in an attempt at nonchalance against a cairn of stones. Behind me in the near distance shattered rocks and scarcity of vegetation reveal that we are at some altitude. In the far distance, down below, a lake and a habitation, and further mountains and hills.…
Not far to the North…. Dear friends I am constantly impressed by how Iceland handles the fact it is living on top of a volcano. Or, rather, a whole heap of volcanoes. They have a vast web of detectors and instruments, measuring things like earthquakes, and crustal deformation. Satellites, lasers and many teams of scientists are keeping an eye on all 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…
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…
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…
All things new Dear friends, A very warm welcome to the Revd David Benskin and his family, who was licensed by Bishop Gavin at St Leonard’s last Thursday and conducted his first services as our new Team Vicar on Sunday. Very many thanks too are due to the churchwardens at Woodcote; Martin, Barbara, and now Sue, for their steering the ship during…