Be Still, And Know That I Am

I just came across this painting by John William Waterhouse called "The Missal" depicting a young girl kneeling with her prayerbook.

JWW did a lot of stuff in both classical and Pre-Raphaelite style, perhaps his most well-known subject is The Lady of Shallot.

I love the detail of the girl's clothes, her peaceful pose kneeling at the prie-dieu, the lovely vase of lilies on the table behind her, and the open windows showing the orchard outside.

We have been incredibly busy lately, and some days it has been hard to find those precious quiet moments for prayer and reflection. But without them the days would be even more unmanageable.

This morning, at the end of playtime, we stood at 11am for our minute's silence - I was struck by how remarkably quiet and reverent the children were this year [even the tiniest ones]

Praying that in the ever accelerating headlong rush towards the festive season, you too are able to find a moment's peace.

Happy Birthday Beth!

This afternoon Bob and I popped round to see Beth, who is 90 today. She is a lovely lady, and her family are all involved in the life of our church. Beth is 36 years older than me, and I did not meet her till we moved here in 1995 - but we discovered we have quite a lot in common

We both grew up in Christian families

Our fathers were both Baptist ministers

But they were both pastors in Hartlepool in NE England when we were children

Beth and I both went to Elwick Road Junior Girls School

...but what is really amazing is that we had the same teacher! When Miss Nora Holdforth left College, she went to work at ERJGS - and Beth was in her first class [in the 1920s] . When we moved to Hartlepool [in the 1960s], I was in her last class before she retired!

Isn't that a remarkable coincidence?

Miss Holdforth made a tremendous impression on me. I can still remember Friday afternoons practising handwriting - we had to do copperplate, with curly butchers' hooks, and write out alliterative proverbs [Manners Maketh Man, All that Glisters Is Not Gold] and I remember her patience as we knitted dishcloths [badly!] and getting stars on our times-tables chart [all the way to 14 and 16, for the pounds and ounces. none of this metric 'stop at 10' modern stuff!]Beth has two daughters - both working in education, as are her two grandchildren in our church.

Miss Holdforth was a real inspiration to Beth and myself. I am glad Beth has had a lovely 90th birthday - she is an inspiration too!

Google Doodle!

Sarah [Another Bend in The Road]has alerted me to this!

Wonderful Stuff - don't you just love his numerals? Thanks, Sarah!

Count Your Blessings

When I count mine, Liz and Steph are up there at the top of the list - two lovely daughters of whom I am very proud. Prof Heinz Wolf once bemoaned the state of English education, and said "We have forgotten to raise children who are articulate, literate, numerate and manipulate" [not sure if that is an adjective, but I get his meaning, he certainly didn't mean manipulative!]

Well my two have all those qualities - and watching Sesame Street with them was certainly a good part of their education. Liz recently sent me this link - I like the Count, and she likes bats!

Keep Counting!

Decluttering Conundrum

Having a big pre-Christmas 2009 Tidy-Up [or perhaps its a Post-Holiday Tidy-Up...or even, horrors, a Post-Christmas 2008 Tidy Up...] Anyway, in the middle of a sheaf of papers, I found a sheet, printed in thirty two languages [including Slovak, Indonesian, Finnish and Thai] with this symbol.

It says  "This symbol indicates that this product may NOT be treated as household waste" and goes on to give dire warnings of the dangers to the environment if I put it in the wheelie bin. Only the problem is, I have absolutely no idea to what product this sheet of paper is referring!

The sheets of paper on either side didn't give a clue either - one is "How To Get A Beach Body Diet" from June 2006, and the other is a voucher for a free bottle of wine at a local restaurant [valid during September 2008] I didn't manage to get the beach body or the wine!

And presumably the sheet of paper can go in the 'paper recycling' bin, even though it is printed with the "don't bin it" symbol?

We Will Remember Them

Remembrance Sunday began with heavy rain - but mercifully that had stopped by the time we left for church. Lots of people at the Service, including a contingent of British Legion, the local Scout Troop and people from the Parish Council.

Bob had prepared outline maps of Iraq and Afghanistan, and we were invited to come and post prayers on these - people responded really well to this

Some of the prayers were very moving, especially when you considered the ages of those who had written them

We watched things on the big screen...

...and with immaculate timing on Bob's part, tuned in live to the BBC just before the Queen led the Nation's Act Of Remembrance from the Cenotaph.

As part of the service, Bob also spoke about those who work to positively promote peace and friendship and showed us the new video from the East African Playground Team [see here]

Then after the service we walked down to the Village War Memorial for a brief service there.

This picture shows people just starting to arrive - by 11.55 the whole area was packed. The Scouts and Guides were there too, and Tom our Rector led the service.

This year was especially poignant as we have had a new slate carved for the right hand side of the memorial. The front lists the WW1 deaths, and on the left those from WW2 - and now we also have this

[I hope the blank space below stays blank for a long time]

The Dunsmore family were with us, and Tom said the prayer of dedication. After the 'official' wreaths had been placed, there was opportunity for personal crosses to be planted in the grass

I read this Bible passage from Revelation in the morning service

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life."

There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain -  what a glorious hope!

Not Just In Bible Times

That was the title of a meeting I went to this week - reminding us that Leprosy is still prevalent in our world. Over 700 people are diagnosed every day. But there are now multi-drug therapies which can cure people in a relatively short time.

This lovely smiling lady is Pamela Levens, our local coordinator for the Leprosy Mission. She came to our church on Thursday night to talk about this wonderful organisation and the work it does throughout the world.

The shoes she is holding are made from recycled car tyres, fasten with Velcro and are carefully shaped to be comfortable footwear for those whose feet have been affected by this awful illness.

You can read all about the Mission and its work here. Our group collects used Postage Stamps to support this work, which Debbie faithfully trims before they are sent off.

There are some lovely Christmas gifts to buy from the website - Pamela did bring a selection of books and Christmas cards to sell.

We had a very interesting evening, and it was lovely to see photographs of people before and after treatment, and realise that the Leprosy Mission is really helping people to rebuild shattered lives, and offering practical support. Not just the drugs to make men, women and children better - but also retraining them to find new occupations so they can be self-supporting, and offering start-up loans so they can build up businesses to provide for themselves and their families.

So many of the staff of the Leprosy Mission could probably earn much more if they work in other branches of medicine or commerce, but they choose to serve God in this work.

One day in one of the villages there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus he fell down before him in prayer and said, "If you want to, you can cleanse me."

Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, "I want to. Be clean." Then and there his skin was smooth, the leprosy gone.

[Luke 5; 12-13 from The Message]

Pamela was an inspiring speaker - and I look forward to hearing her again next year, after she has been on another Field Trip - I am sure she will have even more lovely stories to tell us of lives changed through the grace of God and the work of these dedicated people.

Thanks Pamela!

Me, Myself, and I

I'm having a Small Rant here - when did people decide it made sense to use the term 'myself' in place of 'me'?

Is it supposed to sound more intelligent or something? Because I do not think it does.

I was speaking to someone about a problem in arranging to see her, because she had changed her working days so she only worked at the beginning of the week. "Yes" she replied "It is difficult to get an appointment with myself these days"

It made her sound almost schizophrenic.

And an interviewer on Radio 4 [it is dumbing down, I tell you!] has just asked someone "And what did yourself think about it?"

I have noticed it in report writing too - "The pupil spoke to myself about the incident..."

Is there something wrong with me ?

Brought to you today by the number 40

...and the letter S...

Happy 40th birthday to Sesame Street - which is, IMHO, one of the greatest children's TV programmes around. IN 1973, when it was still in its infancy in the USA, one of my Univ Profs spent a term in the States. He came back raving about this 'brilliant, educational, but fun, show for kids' - I agreed with him then, and I still do.

I love The Count [in fact he is the only Vampire for whom I have ever had any sort of fondness]

Jim Henson was such a gifted man, and he leaves a tremendous legacy.

I have such happy memories of watching the show with my children

Sunny day
Sweepin' the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet
Can you tell me how to get
How to get to Sesame Street...

Origami, anyone?

We took a service at a Care Home in the village this week, and Bob chose an extremely old hymn as the benediction. I remember this hymn from Sunday Morning Radio back in the late 1950's/early 60's when Sandy Macpherson brought us hymns from "The Chapel In The Valley". IAs I child, I always thought it was a beautiful little white clapboard structure, with a profusion wildflowers outside - until Dad shattered my mental picture with the information that it was just recorded in a BBC studio, with a group of musicians huddled round a microphone!

Anyway the third line of the hymn really confused me back then ...

God be with you till we meet again;

by his counsels guide, uphold you,

with his sheep securely fold you;

God be with you till we meet again

I thought that being 'folded with sheep' sounded like a ghastly form of human origami!

I think origami is a fascinating craft and am often amazed by the beautiful creations people produce. [I once had a boyfriend who could fold bus tickets into tiny camels!] The only things I can make are paper hats and boats, and "Oppenheimer Boxes"

The boxes are dead easy, and can be made with any old rectangle of paper [OK I know purists only fold perfect squares, but a square won't work for this one] I drive my family mad by making these with those random flyers which fall out of magazines !

Bob even managed to use them for a sermon illustration once.

A simple tutorial on folding them is here - have a go!

But continuing the folded paper theme, Ann brought her new 'scissor keeper' to sewing club.

The pattern for it is incredibly simple, made from just a folded sheet of A4 paper.

It is just the right size for a large pair of Fiskars scissors.

I rather fancy making one of these for myself sometime. And I'd love to try experimenting with A5 paper when I have a moment.

The paper is marked midway along the top, and in three equal sections down the side, like this...

 

 

Once I have got round to producing one for myself I shall post a full tutorial - but maybe you can work out what to do with just this diagram and the pictures.

It is sewn with two A4 pieces of fabric in complementary colours/prints.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here you can see the case alongside a folded pattern sheet.

Notice how the bottom point needs to be folded in and upwards for extra safe padding of the points!

 

Steph can make Star Boxes from memory.

[Instructions here]

I must try and make a few of these, they look pretty at Christmas time with sweets or nuts in.

 

God be with you till we meet again;

when life's perils thick confound you,

put his arms unfailing round you;

God be with you till we meet again.

Fantastic Fabrics

Last night at Sewing Group the girls worked really hard - some to finish their needlecases

and others were making Christmas gifts. Ann has taught them a variation on stitch-and-flip patchwork and they are producing makeup bags and spectacle cases. It is a very economical technique, using up the smallest strips of fabric.

"You will take pictures won't you?" they chorused. So I did!

At the end of our session, Bob arrived - and they all sang "Happy Birthday" to him. Then we had the Church Meeting - and that group sang to him as well. It is a sign of the times that he only received two birthday cards yesterday - but lots of greetings on Facebook.

As well as the Terry Pratchett book which I knew he wanted, I also found a great tie in another fantastic fabric.

The design is all electronic components.

What we cannot understand though, is why the background fabric has a little elephant design woven into it. Initially we thought it was stained then we realised the whole tie was covered with little pachyderms!

The main pattern is resistors, capacitors etc. There is great  potential for bad puns here, but my resistance is strong, so I shall switch subjects and avoid making any!

 

I got up ridiculously early this morning. I woke at 5.30am and suddenly remembered buying some puff pastry in Aldi [it's v. good and only 45p a pack] but I couldn't remember putting it away in the freezer. I figured that as the house has been very cold due to an extended power cut, it would be OK if I used it straightaway.

So I made a chicken and mushroom pie, a tarte tatin and a batch of apple turnovers - and also some chicken soup and bread rolls for today's lunch, as well as our breakfast porridge.

So that's six things prepared before breakfast! Which reminded me

`I can't believe that!' said Alice. `Can't you?' the Queen said in a pitying tone. `Try again: draw a long breath, and shut your eyes.' Alice laughed. `There's no use trying,' she said `one can't believe impossible things.' `I daresay you haven't had much practice,' said the Queen. `When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day.

Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast!'

At Last, Some Balloons Going Up!

This week we celebrate the Baptist Women's World Day Of Prayer. I found I had two 'official' BWA balloons left over from the World Congress in 2005  - so I blew them up and hung them in the Church Hall before the Ladies Fellowship meeting. I should probably post the picture the wrong way up so you can see it is two profiles against the Cross.

[Of course if I had been able to fill them with helium...]

Our theme was "Seeing God's Creation with New Eyes", and the order of service used Psalm 24 to focus our thoughts on the world and our attitude to it.

The four prayer stations reminded us of three 'negative' things which we have caused in our world which mar creation - and God's Grace in Jesus, offering hope and redemption

Refuse, drought, violence - Grace

 

[the poppies are two of the big red silk ones which will be on display next Sunday]

 

It was a good meeting, lots of people took part sharing in readings and prayers - and we remembered friends all round the world in our prayers.

I shall try not to do any more UP posts for a bit! I've spoken to both daughters on the phone in the past couple of days, they too have seen the film and greatly enjoyed it. Like me, Liz wept at the sad bit - and Steph displayed real one-UP-manship by saying she and Mark saw it in a Multiplex Cinema in BERLIN! That outclasses even the Leicester Highcross De Lux. Really looking forward to reading her next blogpost, about her recent German citybreak.

Now I have to go and organise a birthday present for Bob!

Still Going Up!

Floss asked on her blog recently how people mark Advent. When the girls were small, we hung up an Advent calendar with pockets and they received tiny gifts each day. My favourite cousin Gill has a birthday this month, and so I decided I would make her an Advent Box. As this is the time leading UP to Christmas, all the little gifts would have an UP theme. First I made a list of possible 'up' items.

THE "RUN-UP TO CHRISTMAS" IDEAS LIST

Blow up-balloon, Brew up-tea bag, Brush up - toothbrush, Bubble up-Foam bath, Chew up - gum, Clean up-eraser, Cover up - shower cap, Cuddle up - small soft toy, Cut up - nail scissors, Drink up - sachet of hot chocolate, Eat up – sweets, Fasten up- buttons, Frame up-picture frame, Freshen up-cleansing wipe, Hold up-fridge magnet, Light up- candle, Listen up-earplugs, Look up-glasses wipe, Make up- cosmetic sample, Mark up - bookmark, Measure up-tape measure, Peg up-clothespeg, Pin up-Safety pin, Play up - pocket game, Pucker up-lipstick, Roll up- tiny skittles game, Save up-coin, Sharpen up- pencil sharpener, Smarten up-comb, Soften up - handcream sachet, Stir up-teaspoon, Stick up-glue, Stitch up - mini sewing kit, Stretch up-elastic band, Strike up – matches , Sweeten up-sugar sachet, Tape up-Sellotape, Toss up- dice, Throw up - ball, Tie up-ribbon, Wake up - small coffee sachet, Wash up-Soap, Write up-pencil

The list had more than 24 items, because I wasn't sure I could find them all! Having found a full set, I printed out a list of 'clues'

Then I wrapped them

And put them in a pretty box, with instructions on the side

Gill is not on the Internet, so I am safe posting this idea as I know she won't see it! What is annoying is that I have just spotted a spelling mistake on the label [an extra 'i' in her name!] Oops! I've messed UP there!

This was very quick to put together and not at all expensive. You could easily adapt it for young children and think UP more ideas for the contents.

Isaiah 61

Frances has asked me to say a bit more about my preaching. I'm a 3rd generation woman preacher. My Mum and my Dad's Mum also occupied the pulpit now and then - although none was/is an 'ordained pastors'. Mum actually went to Bible College with Dad back in the 1940's as originally they thought they were going to be missionaries in China. But she ended up being a Pastor's Wife. She was good at it!

Like more many famous Baptists [eg Spurgeon] I was born in Essex. These 3 pictures are some of my favourite T-shirts - but I do usually dress smartly and relatively formally when in the pulpit.

 

And no, I do not possess one of those T-shirts for Lady Vicars I saw last year which says "Does My Bum Look Big In This Pulpit?" - nor the one for clergy wives which reads "I don't do scones"

Teaching is a passion for me, and especially Bible-teaching, so I love sharing my faith like this, but do not get as many opportunities as I would like. Usually I am a traditional English Baptist bible-based-3-point-sermon sort of girl - but in recent years have been exploring new ways to get the message across.

I find All Age Worship a real challenge - creating an hour of worship which engages everybody, and does not degenerate into just 'keeping the children entertained and singing lively songs with a Bible story thrown in somewhere' - I want to ensure that our worship is truly giving God our praise, and also hearing Him speak to us through His Word.

I do 're-use' old sermons if I am preaching somewhere different - but they have to be prepared and re-worked first, even if I stick with the original theme and teaching points. Quite often as I think and pray about the passage, I find new ways of sharing the old truths.

Last year I began developing first-person-narrative style sermons. Here is the first one I ever did, "Mary's Meditation" http://angalmond.blogspot.com/2009/01/mary-meditation.html Since then I have done one on Nathaniel, called "Under the Fig Tree"

I've not had any formal theological college training - just 50+ years of listening to two brilliant preachers - my Dad and my husband, and access to their extensive libraries of Bible commentaries.

My next preaching engagement is on November 29th, when I shall be going to Whitwick Baptist Church for the first time.

So now you know!