This afternoon we visited the site of the baptism of Jesus where we were able to renew our baptism vows and (as you can see from the photo) some of us chose to get wet. Because the level of the river was so high, we weren't allowed nearer, but we could chose to stand under... Continue Reading →

This morning began at the lakeside again as we shared the story of the disciples encounter with the risen Jesus and the restoration of Peter after his denial. We wondered and pondered on the fact that Jesus accepts even our weak expressions of love and still commissions us. We moved on to Capernaum the town... Continue Reading →

Yesterday after we left the church of the multiplication we drove north to Banias Nature Reserve the site of Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus asked his disciples 'who do you say that I am?' We saw the spectacular Banias waterfall in full flow due to all the recent rain. But we were blessed by blue skies.... Continue Reading →

After a long but smooth journey, we arrived around 6.30pm in the Pilgerhaus, our hotel/retreat centre on the shores of Lake Galilee. Grateful but very tired after such a long journey, it was wonderful to be welcomed into beautiful rooms and to a delicious supper. Our first day was spent in Nazareth and in the... Continue Reading →

  Tomorrow I'll be returning to the Holy Land. I last went two years ago on a tour for people who might lead a pilgrimage. So it's very exciting to be going back again, this time with 44 other people from Coventry Diocese, many of whom have never been before. I'm sure there are as... Continue Reading →

Okay so this blog post will go some way to make up for the previous one! This year for Advent in church I constructed an advent calendar with just four windows: one for each Sunday of Advent. The front of the calendar was plain black - deliberately so. I wanted it to look as unadorned and... Continue Reading →

When you have defended yourself for a long time against discouragement, despair, disappointment and doubt you assume the defensive posture of someone who is only afraid of more of the above and certainly not hopeful of alternative experiences such as joy, peace, fun and hope. When you’ve battled through so much you can actually get... Continue Reading →

Farewell my Antipodean auntie, the youngest of my father's six siblings. You were born in India, the youngest child of Welsh missionaries, you married uncle Dennis to whom you were married for 60 years, in the UK and with him you emigrated to Australia. Your good Welsh name flipped pronunciation according to hemisphere, half of... Continue Reading →