Moving Memories

 Exactly nine years ago, on 26th January 2015, I posted this picture

It was the day the vans left Kirby Muxloe, after nearly twenty years, to take all our stuff to Dorset. Exactly one year later, a couple of the deacons arrived on the doorstep with a card, a box of chocs, and a small orchid in a pot.

"We don't make a big thing of The Minister's Anniversary" they said "but we wanted to say thank you for the past year, it has been good having you both here"

I did not like to say "I am no good with houseplants, my silk ones die" - so we simply thanked them for their kindness - and all the support they had given over the previous twelve months.

I asked Jenny for advice, and now I have three healthy orchid plants [the other two were gifts from Dorset schools where I made play costumes]

Yesterday evening, when I came in, I saw the Church Anniversary Orchid has some blossoms on it [and more buds getting ready to burst into bloom] Happy Eighth Birthday, beautiful flower!

It is a lovely reminder of my good friends back in Ferndown. But now we are happily settled in retirement at Cornerstones- we don't plan to move anywhere else. The flowers are a reminder of God's faithfulness, and of dear friends who continue to keep in touch.

We have so much to be grateful for.

Bags Of Fun For The Children

Five years ago, down in Ferndown, I was very busy preparing  teaching materials for use with the children on Sunday mornings at Church. Last month, at chapel here, we had a meeting of the Sunday Club Staff. What to do over the summer, when the 'regulars' may be away one holiday, and visiting children may appear? "We need some sort of ready prepared storybags, which we could use as and when necessary" said one friend "And they could be on a table at the back, so we don't have to go out to the back room" said another. [visiting children often wand to stay near parents, and our Safeguarding rules mean two adults must staff the group even if there is only one child present]

"I think I can help with that" I said, "let me make a phone call or two" So I rang Mim, the Youth Minister back at UCF. No, they have not used the storybags since the pandemic. They do Messy Church on Sunday Afternoons, so of course I could have the bags back. Friends coming to Norfolk on holiday kindly acted as Posties. Thank you all. I spent Monday morning sorting out the packets

I had quite forgotten just how much work had gone into them. Worksheets, story scripts and simple crafts for each Bible Story.  Plus carefully stitched little finger puppets, royal crowns, and other story props. And now we have enough resources to keep us going over the summer - plus materials for me to use at our Café Church in the Autumn. All this effort has not gone to waste

And in the autumn I shall have to start putting my mind to Holiday Club 2024 [which will be happening in the February Half Term] 

What's The 'Posh' For?

 ... said one of my girls once, when they came home from school and found the dining table set with candles and best cutlery. It is good to make the meal a little bit special. Especially when you are seeing friends for the first time in over a year...

Tim, Jane, Peter and Jenny have come up from Ferndown for a week's holiday in Norfolk.

We had a lovely evening together. In case you are wondering about our menu - Bob was up at the crack of dawn, to light his bbq, and cooked a delicious piece of brisket, very low and slow, with French bread and some salads...

• carrot, nigella seeds, sultana and coriander
• red and white cabbage coleslaw
• red onion, red pepper and tomato
• bulgur wheat salad [**recipe HERE ]

Dessert was "Deconstructed Eton Mess" - guests assembled their pud from three bowls, 

• whipped cream
• meringue pieces
• mixed berries [blue- rasp- and straw-]

[This is a useful way of enabling people to either indulge or reduce their intake of fruit/cream/sugar to their own satisfaction]

Jenny was pleased to see my orchids flourishing, Jane commented on my raised bed - and the men spent ages admiring the Lathe Palace. A good time was had by all, I think. I was delighted to be able to give them the Cornerstones Guided Tour. And these lovely people definitely deserved the 'Posh' treatment. They will be able to report back to old friends at UCF that we have settled very happily into retirement.

Lent Reflection #3 - Leaving Deliberately

First looking again, then learning graciously, now leaving deliberately 

What do I mean by that? It is all about my mindset around letting go of things. For all of my 66th year, when I wasn't adjusting to the lifestyle changes inflicted by the Pandemic, or running Grandma's Nursery for Rosie, I was working towards retirement and moving.

There was definitely a lot of letting go/leaving behind at that point

• letting go of church responsibilities. 
• letting go of superfluous furniture and 'homewares'. Lots of stuff as we went from 40 years in large Manses [plus holiday bungalow] to just Cornerstones.
• leaving behind many friends - yes some friendships last, but there is a difference between day-to-day contact and distanced relationships. 
• leaving behind resources which we have no storage room for, in our new life - and realistically no use for. My beloved Palm Tree and my knitting machine.

definition deliberate [verb] "to engage in long and careful consideration" 

definition deliberate [adj] "done consciously and intentionally

Much as I love Cornerstones, and life in Norfolk, in many ways laying down 40 years in ministry wasn't done lightly. I found the leaving UCF easier because we did it deliberately. Bob spent a really long time considering his different roles, and working out how to leave the church in a 'prepared' state. Nobody in a church/school/workplace/family wants to find themselves asking "How do we do this?" and find the answer is "We don't know, X always did it" or "That was Y's job, and we've got no idea where the key/contact number/password is"

None of our furniture ended up in a skip. The dining suite went to Manchester. We considered what we could sell, and the 'better' pieces went off to Facebook Marketplace. And then two young friends were allocated Married Quarters at the barracks- and really grateful for a bed, sofas, coffee table, bookcases etc [it was dead weird going to visit, and sit in their lounge surrounded by our stuff though!] I am so glad to be able to picture my stuff in their family home now. 

After a couple of months in Norfolk, I deliberately left some social media groups I was in. I explained that we had settled happily, miles from Dorset and it just wasn't appropriate for me to be part of the group anymore. People were kind, wishing us well - and many have sent the occasional private message since. 

My Palm Tree went to a Primary School, along with a set of Nativity Costumes.  And my knitting machine, unused since Kirby days, went to someone who wanted to take up the craft in her retirement. Leaving these once much-used, special items with people who would love and care for them and give them new purpose felt really positive.

I acknowledge that I have been blessed with the time to prepare for this huge change, many people have to get up and flee and leave everything. But these news pictures remind me I have too much stuff - I need to be passing it on to others. My newly widowed neighbour told me yesterday that her late husband's winter coats have all gone to Ukraine Relief on a lorry - I said he was a good, kind man who would be glad that they were blessing others, and not hanging unused in a wardrobe. She said that thought was helping her.

Minimalism is definitely a Work In Progress for me. I can't look at an item and make the keep/discard decision quickly. I want to be sure I am not ditching something which still has a purpose for somebody else- nor yet hanging on to things which hinder my progress. This is a spiritual issue as well as a practical and emotional one. As the Bible says in Hebrews ch 12

So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends 

A Post From 2019

  

Originally entitled "Such Happy Girls" 

Last Sunday, our church hosted a visit by the Zozulenka Choir from Ukraine. Nine delightful teenage students, who are touring the UK, singing and dancing, to raise money for Hope Now.

This charity supports their school and other projects in their country. They sang in Ukrainian and English. Their handmade costumes were amazing--such stunning embroidery. 
This old peasant woman with her huge papier-mache head was great fun! 

They spoke of their homes, their school - and the fighting. But their bright smiles, and strong faith shone through every word spoken, every note sung. Before their "Benediction Hymn" they sang "Bless the Lord, O My Soul" [very popular at UCF] and we all joined in. 

Their 2019 tour is almost over, but they promised to return in 2020. Do look out for them. Their music, poetry and dancing is SO professional, their story is moving, and the whole evening was an utter joy. 

The Pandemic meant that they did not come back in 2020. I wonder where they are now? God knows - and I pray that he will keep them safe and keep their faith strong. Lord, bring peace in our world. 

WDP UPDATE : if you are involved in organising a WDP service this Friday, please be aware that there is now an extra prayer about the Ukraine to be included in the service. (find it HERE) 

God Bless The Bride, God Save The Queen!

We went back to Ferndown on Saturday for the wedding of our friends Ruth and Rohan. The bride looked radiant in a simple gown which she had designed and her aunt had made for her. 

Her Dad Alan walked down the aisle with her. Groom Rohan was resplendent in his suit and grey topper. Bob was [as always on such occasions] dressed in his grey suit. It was slightly strange seeing him at the front of UCF again, taking the service. The 30 or so guests were distanced

Rohan is in the Army, and very patriotic- the invitations were printed with a Union Flag decoration, there was matching bunting round the room at the reception. We even sang God save the Queen!

Rowan is very fond of different teas, and  dreams of opening a Proper Tea Shop one day. So that was the theme of the reception - tiered stands with sandwiches, scones, cakes etc [thank you Pandora's Bakery, West Moors] and PB also provided the cake. Three different flavoured layers - and "naked" style frosting.

Kezzie asked what I'd be wearing. I wore a red floral print "Great Plains" dress, with a swirly skirt- and topped it with a fine red lacy bolero [I think thats called a waterfall front] Tights and heels felt strangely unfamiliar! Bob's tie co-ordinated with my outfit, which was good! [I sneaked in another guest, tucked in my bag - but his pictures will come later]

A Day To Say Thank You

 

I am not involved in any Thank You Day events. But I am truly grateful to so many people who have done so much to help during these difficult months

Yes, general thankyous to the NHS, and other key workers, to volunteer teams, to people who kept the wheels turning. To all those church workers who produced services on YouTube and Zoom, and teachers who gave fantastic online lessons. To Care Home staff, working under incredible conditions, with inadequate support - many of them actually left their families and moved in with the elderly residents. To couriers and delivery workers who got the goods to their destinations thoughtfully, cheerfully and carefully...the list is endless.

But my personal thank you especially

• to the friends who dropped off fresh milk and eggs and fruit, right at the beginning, before lockdown started, when Bob and I had to self-isolate because we had covid19
• to the amazing pair of paramedics who came out to us when Bob was very ill. 
• to the hospital staff who delivered George last year, and Jessica last month - we are so grateful these precious babies arrived safely
• to my daughters who kept in touch regularly, even though we were forced to be apart, sending random gifts to brighten our days, and photos of the grandchildren.
• to the people at United Church Ferndown who continue to work so hard to bless our community, and who were so generous and kind as we packed the van and moved to Norfolk [one day I'll give you proper hugs again!]
• to the bloggers whose posts have cheered me, amused me, challenged me, encouraged me, educated me...and made me laugh out loud [you know who you are] even though you too have been struggling to make sense of things.
• to Bob for putting up with me - and for managing without me last summer when I was at Grandma's Nursery School

Thank you one and all - for your generosity, your hard work, your endurance and your love. As you have blessed others, may you yourselves be blessed.

Seven Weeks!

Is it really that long since we left Ferndown? Cornerstones is slowly getting straight, and today we will actually go in person to the morning service at the chapel. We haven't done that for months. We already have such strong links with the people there, and the Pastor, Nick, came round and sat in the back garden for coffee and a chat with Bob. I do feel settled here, relaxed and happy.

But in the few weeks since we left Dorset, we have had so many messages about friends from the church going into hospital, there have been three bereavements, and a lot of sadness. It's hard not being able to be there to comfort friends, to give a hug, to pray with them [although we can pray for them, wherever we/they are] But I know that in God's time, these things shall pass...

Last Monday there was a heavy rainstorm, but the sun was still shining - I went to the front door, and could see this complete rainbow arching across the sky

Oh joy, that seekest me through pain
I cannot close my heart to thee
I trace the rainbow through the rain
And feel the promise is not vain, 
That morn shall tearless be.

Have His Carcase

For what feels like ages, in the weeks before we moved, I had the minimum number of garments to wear - rotating three tee shirts, a few bits of underwear, two pairs of trousers- and one smart dress to wear for recording Church Services! Then we got here, and I put some stuff on a clothes rail - and revelled in wearing different some tee shirts and a couple of prettier tops with leggings. 

But mostly clothes were spilling out of bags and generally the corner of the bedroom looked like the backroom at an Oxfam shop!

Its two years since we went to IKEA and selected the wardrobe we'd really like for this room. But we knew we needed to save up for it first. we said to the guy that we'd return in 2020 and finalise this order, and then spend the summer building it so it was ready for our retirement. But then the pandemic arrived.

In June I went into the store and asked about delivery, and the said "Come back in August" In August they told us that by October we could have the fittings [rails, shelves, drawers etc] but no carcases. [btw Have his Carcase is a great detective story by Dorothy L Sayers] That wasn't much help. Finally the week after we moved, we went into the Norwich store again. Muneeb, who said he had only been working in the store a couple of months, was determined to sort this out for us. He looked at our original specifications, and managed to get it all sorted, to arrive on May 11th. We were very impressed.[and grateful to UCF - their Farewell Gift helped with the costs]

The boxes arrived at 8am. Lots of boxes. Now there was one drawback- which we had known about for four years. The height of the wardrobe is 10millimetres higher than the bedroom ceiling [our previous next door neighbours had discovered this fact - and they had to make modifications] 

Bob is not a man to be put off by such issues though - and with his new Power Tools [also purchased with Farewell Gift] he set about trimming off those unwanted millimetres. We took ages over the building first section together- anxious to understand the instructions properly, anxious not trim too much, anxious to position in exactly the right place. The flatpack instructions had pictures of a cheerful couple assembling the furniture, and pointy fingers showing what not to do!

Two small parts had been damaged in transit- I rang customer services and these are being replaced ['I will send you a gift voucher as well, Mrs Almond, as an apology for your trouble' - said the nice guy. I had been on hold for 5 minutes, most amused that IKEA's 'on hold' music is Abba, singing "Mamma Mia!"]

By tea-time, Part 1 was almost complete - drawers at the bottom, and high hanging rail at the top, for Bob's shirts etc. Being very determined, Bob went back to work after his meal to get the doors on. We will work on the rest of the build today.

Did you know that 600 years ago, the King had a Royal Wardrobe?  It was actually a storehouse for all sorts of accoutrements - clothing, arms and armour, and other personal goods. And it wasn't a wooden box, but a large building. In 1351 it was located in Blackfriars, not far from the Tower. The parish church next door became known as St Andrews-by-the Wardrobe. Many famous people worshipped there over the years [included William Shakespeare, who lodged nearby]

During the time of the Commonwealth [and no King] many orphans were housed there. But Samuel Pepys noted in his diary that during the Restoration, the new Keeper of the Wardrobe evicted these poor children. In the Great Fire of London, the Wardrobe, and St Andrews burned down. Christoper Wren designed a new church, and that was damaged in the Blitz, but restored and rededicated in 1961

St Andrews-by-the-Wardrobe / St Robert-by-the-Wardrobe

 

Fresh Fields, Pastures New

Among the birthday/retirement/leaving cards was this one

An unusual picture, I thought, as I opened it. Two cows in a field?

But the message inside from two dear friends was both caring and challenging. "Hope you settle into your new field quickly" it read. And on the left hand side was this wise advice for Christians reaching the end of working life... 

AFTER WORK, we are still called to be 'salt and light'

BY BEING - enriching those around us and humbly helping people to see another way to live. 

BY SPEAKING - our voice of wisdom, love and compassion

BY SERVING - formally or informally, the community of family and surroundings we inhabit

RETIREMENT isn't a biblical concept!

Yes, M & P you are absolutely right. Thanks for the reminder. The days ahead will be very different, but we will still follow and serve the One who called us all those years ago. He has tasks for us to do - and we know He will guide us in this new pattern of life, and the next part of the adventure. 

[UCF services will continue - check out United Church Ferndown YouTube and in the playlists you will find all the Sunday services]

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

I shall so miss the generosity of the people here at United Church Ferndown. Early on Saturday, Lasantha drove round picking up bags of groceries from church members to take to Hope For Food  

Here's his car boot being unloaded- and there were more bags on the back seats too. 

Bob and I went down to church midmorning, where Steve and daughter Sharon were working in the kitchen.

Jill, Geoff and Nadia arrived to help pack and bag up dinners - and Bob and I passed them on to the distributors. All very covid safe, [ in one door, out the other] and very efficient. 

Over 40 lunches distributed to people who were on their own - unable to be with families on this holiday weekend. Some had received lunches at Christmas, others were new on the 'Home Alone' list.

Chicken breast, wrapped in bacon, with roast potatoes, cabbage, green beans and carrots- plus gravy. 

Followed by pie and cream. And each of our guests also had an Easter card and a chocolate egg with their delivery.

I am glad that the last 'in person' activity I shall be involved in at the church here is such a practical, loving project. It sums up so much of what the fellowship has been about - caring for other people in a generous and practical way.

We all worked very hard and it was remarkably efficient. The drivers waited patiently, on socially distanced chairs, to collect their insulated bags 

- then took them to the recipients like reliable Deliveroo Drivers! I know that these good people will go on loving and caring long after we've gone.

I love this shot of Bob surveying the tables of dessert boxes! I wonder what he was thinking? 

I hope your Easter weekend was as special as it could be, given the circumstances. I applaud everyone who has made special efforts to help others this past weekend. Thank you!

Easter Morning Prayer

 

Lord it has been so hard

In the past year we have witnessed suffering and death on a scale few of us have ever known before. We have seen people growing greedy and rich, profiting from this pandemic - whilst others have lost homes, livelihoods, loved ones- and their hopes and dreams have been shattered

We have seen the worst of humanity, and the best

Lies, excuses, selfishness – but also inspiration, encouragement and sacrifice

Despair – and hope

We remember that week two thousand years ago – when the disciples went from hearing joyful hallelujahs, to bitter cries of “Crucify him”, seeing cheering crowds, then watching the one they loved suffering and dying – feeling that everything was being taken away from them, the sky went dark – and they lost all hope.

Lord it was so hard for them too

But then it was Easter Sunday – and everything changed

Your Son rose again – and they knew that they had hope for evermore.

They knew that death was conquered, that sins were forgiven, that Jesus had brought love, and joy and peace beyond all human understanding. In the power of your Spirit, they went back into their world, to start building your kingdom

This Easter morning, give us faith and courage to live in the light of that resurrection, and to go back into our struggling, suffering world, speaking with your words of life and love. forgiveness and hope. Teach us what it means to be Easter people –

Help us to love you as Mary did

Worship you as Thomas did

Serve you as Peter did

And may our hearts burn within us, like the Emmaus disciples, and give us their energy to run back to share the good news with our friends and neighbours – that Jesus is alive, and there is hope.

We pray in the name of our risen Saviour- Amen

Easter Celebration from UCF HERE

A Service of Shadows

Since 2011 we have held a Tenebrae service on the evening of Maundy Thursday - a quiet reflection on the events at the end of Holy Week. 
This year, we have recorded it and it will be on YouTube tomorrow. You can share in it here

March Past

It is the last day of March. The year is already one quarter through - we've passed the equinox, and altered the clocks. On Monday I celebrated 13 years of blogging. In the next 12 days Bob and I shall celebrate Easter**, celebrate my 66th birthday, I'll become an Old Age Pensioner, he will conduct his final service at Ferndown on April 11th ...and then on the 12th, the Big Adventure of moving to Cornerstones and entering Retirement. 

It has been a very strange year. I remember vividly our journey back to Dorset after our Christmas trip to Norfolk at the end of 2019. Bob was driving and I was taking notes of our conversation. As we understood it then, preparation for retirement had four strands - 

1. seriously downsizing the contents of the Manse. Selling stuff, giving it away, recycling it.
2. working out what needs to happen at Cornerstones [eg new garage, new handbasin, patio door replacement, paint the lounge etc]
3. helping to equip UCF to operate without a minister in the gap till the next one comes - handing over jobs, leaving necessary information, and generally encourage the fellowship to continue doing all the good stuff in the church and the community.
4. plus planning in a three week stay in Manchester with Steph after the baby arrived, when Gary returned to work after his paternity leave.

How easily our plans can be thrown into the air - I went to Manchester in early March for Steph's Baby Shower. It was so good to see her, and her lovely MIL Andrea. And I came back on the [almost empty] train- which was very late into Euston. My original plan had been to walk to Waterloo - but timings meant I caught the tube instead - which was jam packed with commuters. And then there was my dry cough, and the anosmia, and the self-isolation- and Bob got ill...[I didn't say here just how ill he was]...but we recovered 

And all the plans were abandoned.

Church life shifted to Zoom and WhatsApp - no more services in the building, meetings in the Church Hall, or homegroups and pastoral visits in people's houses. Bob's study became a recording studio - and instead of play costumes I was making headbands to hold facemasks, and pyjamas for the teddybears. For the first time in forever, I wasn't planning Holiday Club Crafts.

George arrived and we met him online. It was all a bit emotional. #4 on our list had been abandoned. We finally got to Manchester in June, and sat in the garden with our new grandson. Then on to Norfolk to find a leaky boiler, and Rosie unsettled, missing Nursery, and no real contact with anyone other than her Mum and Dad. I spent the summer 'in a bubble' at Cornerstones, teaching Rosie, and enabling her parents to get their work done.

Item #1 on the retirement list was sorely neglected, and #2 was impossible. #3 was the only thing that really did get sorted- but in such a different way. Training people in preparing YouTube services, organising PA gear and cameras for future Livestream events. Setting up WhatsApp groups and PhoneBuddy teams. In 40 years, I have never been conscious of Bob working so hard, learning new skills in record time, under such strange and stressed conditions.

One year on and Steph's back at work, George is settling in well at Nursery, Rosie is loving school, and I thank the Lord that the family are thriving. What an unexpected twelve months...but we have got through it! 

Everyone has a different story to tell - so sad, some happy. We must not forget the lessons we have learned about kindness and caring, giving and sharing - I hope that now the evenings are lighter, and rules are gradually being relaxed, we can all work towards a brighter, safer, healthier year ahead.

**three special UCF services this weekend - look out for details.

Hosanna! Palm Sunday

 Our morning service from UCF, celebrating Palm Sunday, is here

Falling Down, Lifting Up

The link for today's UCF Service is here. The Bible passage is John 12; 20-27, and I'm doing the preaching [Bob thought I should do it one more time before we move. I've no idea when I will get to preach again!] 

For Mothers - And Children - Everywhere

Our Youth Minister, Miriam, has planned today's service, and the link it HERE

I am grateful to God for my mother, and my mother-in-law, both wonderful women who taught me so much. And for my daughters, now mothers themselves. We have been so blessed 

Many today are grieving. I pray for those who have lost their mothers, or children - and those who long to be mothers but are not. I pray for those who long to be with their families but covid19 separates them

My heart goes out especially this morning, to Sue, the mother of Sarah Everard, and to Gabriella, daughter of Nazanin Zagari Ratcliffe. 

Lord, comfort the Everard family in their grief - and strengthen the Ratcliffe family as they hope and pray for a true reunion.

Praise and Prayer

The weeks seem to be passing very quickly - we are already at the first Sunday in March. It was good to have so many people participate in the Day of Prayer with us on Friday [that service is still available] This morning's worship from UCF includes communion. The link is HERE - and we will be focusing on Ananias and his encounter with Paul in Damascus.

I Will Hold Your People In My Heart

 

Saturday was not our best day - we both had quite a reaction to the vaccine, at 10pm Friday night, feeling achey, and shivery. I had a bad headache and Bob was feverish. But we took Saturday slowly, and finished all the recording stuff for this morning's service from UCF. By teatime we were still tired, but generally feeling heaps better.

The link for morning worship is HERE 

I do love this hymn, written by the Catholic Hymnwriter Dan Schutt. I found these words on his website in a piece entitled "Finding Hope"

We live in difficult times. Every day it seems we hear news that eats away at our efforts to live in hope. I’m not talking about those immensely tragic things that break our hearts, but rather, the little things that one by one add up and become a dark grey cloud that obscures the light … Being hopeful is not just about nurturing a positive outlook on life. Rather, it has much to do about becoming aware of hand of God touching the world around us, especially in the little things, and trusting that God has a future prepared for us that is full of joy

Sing For Joy

The gifted UCF Worship Team have put together today's service. The link is HERE. You are very welcome to join us.