Ray's Blog
Scottish Independence And The Lindisfarne Gospels
Next year's referendum on Independence for Scotland brings campaigners' arguments into prominence. Holy Island lies within Berwick District Council. Berwick-Upon-Tweed has been in and out of Scotland and England fourteen times. The international Community of Aidan (a Scot) and Hilda (English) embraces people of diverse political opinions - so what...
A Celtic Ascension?
Pilgrims to Holy Island have had a feast of Ascension prayers and praises in church and chapel. Is there such a thing as a Celtic Ascension? Of course not, since Ascension belongs to the whole church and the whole world! However, those steeped in the Celtic awareness of the five senses might more...
A Celtic Cross Prayer
A correspopndent asked me if I knew of a Celtic Cross Prayer. To my surprise I could not find one, so I wrote this:
A Celtic Cross Prayer
The Cross upon you to free you from sin The Cross above you heaven to win. The Cross around you to make you complete The Cross...Anzac Day Retreat Makes History In Queensland
I sent greetings to the first Aidan and Hilda retreat to be held at The Green House, Buderim, Queensland. Heather Johnston writes:
At the Green House there is an Indigenous memorial garden. For the last three years
SAILS and Kabbarli have had an annual gathering where Indigenous people plant native plants...
Prayer, Bible And Nature Walks Flower In Wales
I visited churches in North Wales. Many chapels and churches are now relics, some possesssed by keyholders who forbid even their priest to enter without their permission. I listen to words of Aberdaron's late poet priest R.S.Thomas on the car CD: '..the tide laps at the Bible; the bell fetches no people to...
A Recipe
Geoff stayed at White House. I played squash with him when he was a Youth for Christ director. Since then he founded a Vineyard Church. This church does not spend money on a building for its Sunday worship (though it has a shop-front presence ) - it has invested money...
How Missional Churches Can Become Whole
Thursday. Dublin University Club. A trio brain storm about the future of the British Isles and Ireland and its churches. I circulate some embryo thoughts. We talk through 'The Council of the Isles', the Irish-UK Parliamentary Assemby, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, prophetic ways of God, people to network with....
Easter
Holy Island's two retreat houses and the churches have a more or less integrated programme for Holy Week. Northern Cross pilgrims walked through snow before arriving on Good Friday. Oyvind and Jens from Denmark made a film of his prayer workshops. Sven, leader of our Community in Norway sent this poem with...
Thursday In Holy Week
In order for there to be good beginnings there have to be good departings. On his last full day on earth Jesus gives love. He gives it exquisitely. In his tiredness he washes the tired feet of faithful friends. In his generosity he gives bread to his betrayer. In prophetic...
The Archbishop, The Mystics And The Archetypes
Carol returned from a visit to Southwark Cathedral and Betty arrived from a visit to Norwich Cathedral. In both places the new Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby had dished out candles to the public and asked them to pray. Carol told him The Community of Aidan and Hilda is praying...






