taken by surprise

The numbers of people who came to "Countrytastic" was more than I think anyone anticipated. Expecting around 1,000 for this first year there must have been about two and half times that number - and it seems that all of them wanted to do some of the activities we had arranged.
We, or rather they, ground barley into flour and made barley bread. They decorated eggs - about 400. They iced hot cross buns - another 400. They made haroset - working with children a recipe that is supposed to end up looking like mud has to be a winner. They made mince pies - the original shape of mince pies was manger shaped. They saw eggs hatching pout.
The day was exhausting, as one volunteer said, "I was waiting for lull, but they just kept coming."
The place was simply full with children. The day was part of the Year of Food and Farming and this was an excellent way to help make links with food and faith.




This photo isn't out of focus - it's blurred to protect the children's identity on the net! But you can still see how busy it was.

clergy clapping out????

Wednesday the local clergy chapter had a quiet day at Glasshampton Monastery. It probably says something about clergy work load that mid afternoon , most of us were have a snooze - or perhaps a "power nap".
That same issue of busyness was part of Bishop David's sermon at the Maundy Thursday Communion. There is a screen saver that says "Jesus is coming............ Look Busy!"
That's a mistake. Jesus is coming.... Look loved, look freed, look whole.
He's absolutely right of course, but easier said than done. Coming home from the quiet day, I discovered that one of the dogs had collapsed & needed a trip to the vet. Thursday after the Communion service I discovered that the flour mill I had arranged to pick up wasn't where it ought to have been & so there was a 100 mile round trip to collect it.
And now I'm arguing with a cold.

Perhaps if I were more organised

I would write this up more regularly! Since the last post activities included

• a meeting of Diocesan Synod. Believe it or not this was useful and enjoyable! We've inched closer to having a Diocesan environmental strategy. We're moving towards being a fairtrade diocese. This was Bishop John's first time at a Worcester Diocesan Synod and his presidential address outlined a vision for the church that resonated with me.
  
• the following day (morning) telling punters in the pew what had happened at synod and (evening) talking about farmers as those who care for the earth. They fulfill the mandate give to Adam in the Genesis 2 creation narrative
• a meeting trying to shape the way that European money is spent in Worcestershire
• a training session at the market for potential chaplaincy team members. Fascinating conversation with the auctioneer. What I hadn't realised is that when last year lamb and cattle prices had collapsed, prices for cull ewes (older sheep selling as mutton) had remained firmer. The reason being that cull ewes sell through halal slaughter houses. The supermarkets are not involved and there is genuine competition.
• held the Chaplaincy AGM
• been on a conference ab0out rural life and church. The item for concern is that we're talking about the same issues now as we were ten years ago - affordable housing, low paid agricultural jobs, withdrawal of services.... It makes you wonder what we've actually achieved in that period
• been to the market where people were actually quite cheerful!
• had a Sunday off from leading worship and went to the cathedral
  

Oh, and some silly beggar in an articulated lorry didn't read the weight restriction signs at the bottom of the road!

meanwhile back at the livestock market

prices are much better! Lamb at around 137p per kilo is nearly twice what it was before Christmas when things were really bad. Still much concern about the impact of TB and the Government's reluctance to grasp the nettle & allow a badger cull. Bluetongue movement restrictions still cause problems and worry about how that disease is likely to spread as the midges become more active.

engraved on His palms

Sunday was mothering Sunday. We gave out flowers as symbols of love, and we thought about God's promise
"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget, I will not forget you! I have engraved you on the palms of my hands" (Isaiah 49 15ff)
We drew pictures on our hands to remind us that we are written on God's hands

been on holiday

Got back in the early hours of Saturday morning after a weeks holiday on Sal, one of the Cape Verde islands.
Basically it's a lump of the Sahara desert that's dumped in the Atlantic. As a place for sunshine, beaches and crystal clear seas it can't be beaten. The approach to life is very laid back - where else would you find the local bank up and running even though the building had no roof?


Unfortunately it has become the latest place for property developers, so the land by the beaches has been bought up for hotels. The breeze blocks and broken glass is the site for the new Hylton.
There's been no meaningful rain for the last 7 years which has devastated what little food production there had been on the island. What makes no sense to me is that one development includes a golf course, to be irrigated by water from a desalination plant. Why is it that money can be found to irrigate a golf course, but not for growing vegetables?