Last week and this week we are travelling through the beginning of the sermon on the mount, 4:23 – 7:29. Next week we fly forward by 12 chapters to the transfiguration. This is a section of Jesus’ teachings that sets the stage for his mission and ministry. This is the first of six specific subjects designed to address the theme that weaves through them all, seeking justice. Imagine a lovely peaceful afternoon, surround by a vast group of people who have come, curious of what this man Jesus has to say. A diverse group, shown in the different colours of the outfits of those gathered. It almost ..read more

Floating Garden by Motoi Yamamoto This week I’ve gone for something completely different. The work by Motoi Yamamoto are large installations created out of salt. Imagine, sitting for hours on the floor drawing, while keeping the vastness of what you want that image to look like in your head and replicate it on the floor. This takes a lot of patience and skill. His work come out letting go of loved ones, 「Salt」 –　Memory of life. Salt has always been deeply linked to people’s lives in the East and West. In Japan, it is an indispensable substance for customs such as funerals. https://www.motoi-w ..read more

Wedding at Cana by Hanna Varghese All creative work, be it the spoken word, the written word or the sung word, are essentials in praise and worship, meditation, education, inculturation and evangelism. This also includes art and pictures, which is universal seeing. — Hanna Varghese This week, like last week art work is expressing two parts of the story in one frame. The gathering of the wedding party at the top, with a table still full of food. The couples, presumably the bride and groom in the middle with their parents on either side – all of whom look adoringly into each other’s eyes. A tru ..read more

Matthew 4: 12-23 Jesus Calls His Disciples by He Qi For me, when I first saw this painting, it felt as though Cubism was colliding with Mayan stone carvings on walls, many of which would have been brightly painted like He Qi’s paintings. Even though much of his work is described as being a blend of Chinese folk customs and modern western art it is amazing what else you can see within them. If you look through some of his pieces long enough, you can see hints of Art Deco, cubism, abstract art and modernism. I’ve come across He Qi’s work before when I was looking for examples that could be used ..read more

The copy of this image was taken from the artist – Paul Werner, web page which can be found through the link below. https://paulwerner.exto.org/kunstwerk/328568_prev.html#.Y8AAlhXP1D8 This time of year, I am usually taking covenant services every Sunday, so I generally do not use the weekly lectionary readings. As I googled the reading for this week, I often like to see if there is any modern artwork, along with some of the more traditional pieces that bring new light into the text. When I came across this piece on the Lamb of God, I found it quite striking. The inspiration for this piece of ..read more

A Place of quiet A place of serenity A place of Peace Waves crash close by While seals bob in the sea A place to sit To pray To reflect and find rest in God ..read more

And spend some time at the beach ..read more

Last weekend I enjoyed the last of the courses I had booked on for my sabbatical. The bushcraft course I that was cancelled in March, was transferred to their summer session. Another great opportunity to meet new people, share our passions and learn new skills. To begin with I felt as though I was back in the brownies and guides – now that’s a very long time ago. We practiced fire making, looking at different techniques. Lunch was cooked over the campfire. We then went looking for some birch to make tent pegs, and a pot holder for over the fire. I had a lovely straight piece left with a prefe ..read more

I love this time of year when the undergrowth is growing wild out of control. Throughout the seasons I walk with Cagney and Lacey through Delamere Forest. They always find a new scent, or a new path to explore. Unlike the winter months, as the ground cover begins to grow the animal trails are easier to spot. This is the time of year to explore the paths less known. As the vegetation gets higher and higher, the lesser used trails begin to show themselves. It makes me wonder what wildlife is around us, just out of sight. Some of them do make use of the man made paths as well though. Sometimes ..read more

This weekend I should have been back at the woodland skills centre. The course I had booked on, I was the only one booked in. Fortunately, for me, someone had cancelled their place on the beginners course for basket weaving. They always book out quickly, so I took the opportunity while I had the chance. I didn’t quite expect to finish the basket in two days, surely it would take longer than that, especially when I only had the base completed at the end of Saturday. First we needed to decide what we were going to make. The choice was between a shoppers basket or firewood basket. I decided a s ..read more