Those of you who are regular readers of this blogsite will know that such a long gap between blogs is unusual for me. As you might have guessed, an enormous amount has been happening in my life over the last four weeks that time and events have precluded me from writing and posting every day. Therefore, this post will have to suffice as a synopsis of events since 4th April. Richard C and I completed our seven day stint as stewards at Spring Harvest making some really good friends on the way. My team were excellent and we worked together really well throughout those long and tiring days. On our return to Wiltshire, I attended the Maundy Thursday service at Whiteparish with the usual washing of feet and sharing of bread and wine. On Good Friday I helped with the Children's workshop, read a reading at the Midday Service and played the part of Pilate at the Good Friday service at Pitton. On that day, Mum was taken into hospital in Grimsby with a suspected stroke. Subsequently we found this not to be the case but she is suffering from an inability to open her eyelids and is clearly very poorly. As I write this we are still waiting to hear from the doctors with a clear diagnosis and prognosis; but for the moment she must remain in hospital. I have been up to Grimsby for a couple of days to see her and sort some bit and pieces out and I am keeping in touch with her and neighbours and relatives daily. A round trip to Grimsby is 520 miles and takes 10 hours so it is difficult to get up there. Added to that, I continue with my training for licensed ministry and have duties to perform within our local church. For instance, last Sunday I preached at the Early morning Eucharist at Winterslow and then went to West Dean to lead the service and preach there. In the afternoon Sara and I gathered with members of our church and other churches in the village for a 2 hour faith walk covering about 4 miles in the pouring rain. The evening ended with the Annual Parochial Church Meeting and a discussion afterwards in the Lion's Head!
This period also saw the 100th anniversary of the sinking RMS Titanic on the 15th April 1912 and I left Minehead (Week 3 of Spring Harvest) to attend a special commemorative dinner hosted at The Lord Nelson on Saturday 14th April. I acted as Captain Smith (see picture above) giving each diner a persona from the tragedy and getting them into the mood. I said prayers and we observed a silence at the beginning and towards the end I read out a roll call of survivors. A really great evening enjoyed by all.
I am now desperately trying to complete my second portfolio before 4 May. I start my fourth and last module this year for my Oxford Brookes University Foundation Degree tomorrow evening near Devizes. Once I have completed this module and the "long thin one" I shall be halfway towards my licensing as a lay minister. I still wonder where my calling will lead me as I am not entirely convinced that it will remain within the Clarendon Team in the long term.
