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Ray's Blog
Humour
The situation in my country is so unspeakable (don't talk about it) that a supper for veteran ministers resorted to the telling of jokes about golden oldie hymns from good Queen Victoria's era. Try singing these for starters:
I’m on the pil(l), I’m on the pil(l), I’m on the pilgrim way...
I...
Creation Season
The church of Jesus Christ throughout the world now celebrates Creation Season throughout September. Those in the northern hemisphere may focus on harvest; those in the southern hemisphere may focus on spring - but climate change campaigners everywhere may draw on rich resources. Creation Day opened the season on September 1.
This...
Aidan And Hilda Week
What a priceless group of disciples and mission leaders gathered at Holy Island's Open Gate Retreat House for Aidan and Hilda Week: five from USA, one each from Australia, Denmark, England, Norway and Scotland. We learned about one of the world's greatest cross-cultural missions, and about the Cloud of Witnesses...
The 'b' Word And The Wild Goose
What is the 'B' word? I vowed I would never mention Brexit in public. In UK and beyond it foments civil strife among friends and strangers alike - though now everyone is war weary.
Is the 'B' word Britain, which might break up, even though Scotland and its neighbours will still...
Celtic Summer School At Durham
Nine members of the Community of Aidan and Hilda were among the speakers at The Celtic Summer School held in Durham, attended by over a hundred people.
Ken McIntosh, from USA, first led an Open Gate retreat on ‘Fresh Water from an Ancient Well’. His new book is entitled Reading the...
Extended Family, Illness
Norway pastor Solve Hatlen brought eleven members of his extended family, including his wife and both their parents, accompanied by Jan and Erna Lokkeborg, to the Open Gate. They had walked St. Cuthbert's Way, and members of Kirk Yetholm church had cooked them a meal on the Sunday night after...
Scam, Peacocks And Valleys
I am the victim of an email scam. Many of you have received emails purporting to be from me and asking for your help. Please do two things: 1) Look carefully and you will see that the email is not in fact identical with mine. 2) Put it into scam...
God's Kiss And Mars Bars
Three of us went by car to Ian Davidson's funeral at Edinburgh's Morningside Church. A crowded church and robed choir saw Ian off. Six community members came from Yorkshire, Northumberland and Scotland. Some knew him when he was warden of Scargill House, others when he was chaplain of Edinburgh Fellowship...
White House Working Holiday
My sister Sally and I are having a working holiday at White House, Holy Island.
I have hacked and weeded three years' growth to create a mountain of weeds.
Each day we attend four services. Each day I have met up with an old friend who is staying on the island.
The Community...
Pilgrims From Thames To Forth Bridge
What a joy to celebrate Sally Steen's seventieth birthday with her family and friends from her Burmese charity work and The Community of Aidan and Hilda. We embarked at Westminster Pier on an Edwardian cruiser, saw London's sights accompanied by musicians and a delicious lunch. One guest got me a...
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