Loving God Thank you for caring about how our country is run, and that we have the right to vote for our politicians and government. But in the run-up to this general election there are so many policies to understand, and so many different points of view to consider – sometimes I wonder whether […]
What is Easter?
Posted on by James Woodward
He went through a company like a lamplighter – see the dull minds, one after another, begin to glow, to shed a beneficent light. He went through a company like a knifegrinder – see the dull minds scattering sparks of themselves, becoming razory, becoming useful. But the man’s life is now over. of […]
The End of the Party: The Rise and fall of New labour
Posted on by James Woodward
Here is the publishers blurb inviting and unsuspecting politics reader into buying this huge volume – Andrew Rawnsley’s bestselling and award-winning “Servants of the People” was acclaimed across all media as the most authoritative and entertaining account of New Labour and its first term in office. As one reviewer put it, ‘Rawnsley’s ability to unearth […]
Butternut squash and cumin soup with herb dressing
Posted on by James Woodward
Ingredients For the soup 300ml/10½fl oz chicken or vegetable stock ½ butternut squash, peeled, seeds removed, flesh chopped 1 tsp ground cumin 50ml/2fl oz double cream salt and freshly ground black pepper For the herb dressing 3 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley 1 tbsp chopped fresh chervil […]
Easter Morning
Posted on by James Woodward
a stone at dawn cold water in the basin these walls’ rough plaster imageless after the hammering of so much insistence on the need for naming after the travesties that passed as faces, grace: the unction of sheer nonexistence upwelling in this hyacinthine freshet of the unnamed the faceless Amy Clampitt
Easter Joy!
Posted on by James Woodward
In this reflection I share the surprise of joy I experienced within a moment of spiritual awareness at an Easter Vigil. This forms part of a conviction that Easter Christians always entertain the possibility of joy when being open to the new. It is Easter morning 1984. I have journeyed through part of Lent and […]
Holy Saturday
Posted on by James Woodward
Grant, Lord, that we who are baptized into the death of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ may continually put to death our evil desires and be buried with him; and that through the grave and gate of death we may pass to our joyful resurrection; through his merits, who died and was buried and […]
Maundy Thursday
Posted on by James Woodward
O Christ, in your presence we discover who we are. You wash our feet, and we learn how reluctant we are to serve one another and the world around us. We are so like your disciples, who looked to their own self-centered interests even as you prepared to give yourself for the sake of the […]
Wednesday in Holy Week
Posted on by James Woodward
John 13:21-35 21When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. 23Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. […]
Tuesday of Holy Week
Posted on by James Woodward
John 12:37-50 37Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: “Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 42Yet at the same time […]
Monday of Holy Week
Posted on by James Woodward
John 12:1-11 Jesus Anointed at Bethany 1Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3Then Mary took about a pintof pure nard, an […]
Palm Sunday
Posted on by James Woodward
Palm Sunday is the epitome of Lent: a day of great celebration, and a day of deep mourning. On this day, Jesus entered Jerusalem as its king while thousands rejoiced. Within a week, he would be dead, and his followers would be confused and scattered. For everyone who witnessed the events of that week 2000 […]
brilliant light
Posted on by James Woodward
happy are we who are free from attachment, feeders on rapture shall we be, like the gods of brilliant light. The Buddha, from the Dhammapada
Heaven and earth are linked…
Posted on by James Woodward
Out of the turbulence of the little tribal kingdoms of Celtic Wales and Brittany where life was precarious and short, where violence reigned, there comes the story of serenity and peace, speaking to us un poetic language of the possibility that here in this world of flesh and blood men can realize, if only […]
Blog Stats
Posted on by James Woodward
Perhaps statistics are not important but today my blog reached the 100 000 visitor mark….. Here are some other figures Total views: 100,285 Busiest day: 620 — Tuesday, March 23, 2010 Views today: 171 Totals Posts: 577 Categories: 30 So thanks to all my readers whoever and wherever you are!
In Praise of the train
Posted on by James Woodward
It has been quite a week! On the way back from friends in Oxfordshire on Thursday I had a tyre explode …. quite an unpleasant shock! I managed to move the car over into the emergency lane without hitting anything else! I had a close shave with danger but was glad to come out of […]
Accessing the spiritual?
Posted on by James Woodward
The tourist season has certainly started here and its worth pausing to consider the lure of these buildings: Painting and sculpture, music and drama, architecture and liturgy: all these involve arranging the physical world in ways that lead beyond the visible. This explains why abbey churches, like cathedrals, have always been places of artistic beauty, […]
Cuthbert
Posted on by James Woodward
Today the Church commemorates Cuthbert. Although tradition says that Cuthbert was the son of an Irish king, it is most likely that he was born in the vicinity of Melrose, in present day Scotland, of poor parents. Certainly we know that he tended sheep on the hills above the abbey when he was older. […]
Food!
Posted on by James Woodward
The way people handle food is a good barometer not only their inner world but also of their generosity to others. Such generous hospitality brings happiness not only to the guest but also to the host. Eating good food is a pleasure, but sharing good food with guests brings delight. Here we see that food […]
St Patrick
Posted on by James Woodward
St. Patrick’s Breastplate Prayer I bind unto myself today The strong name of the Trinity, By invocation of the same, The Three in One and One in Three. I bind this day to me for ever, By power of faith, Christ’s Incarnation; His baptism in the Jordan River; His death on cross for my salvation; […]