craft stuff

One of the things I wanted to do during Sabbatical was to try put some activities that would help me put things in place to pause not only during Sabbatical but throughout ministry. As ministers we are encouraged to have a hobby...after 17 years I decided to find one. 

Today, I travelled to Bath to try my hand at weaving (it was unavoidably delayed during my Sabbatical). My mum (and her family) used to work in a mill so it was good to see a little bit of what she used to get up to. 

I had fun....and definitely was good at making me stop and switch off from work... I'm not sure when i might get to do it again, but definitely something I would like to do more off. 

(The loom I used) 

What i made in 4 hours! 

Something else I have done is glass making ... fused and soldering. The 1st 2 pictures are presents I made, the 3rd part of something I am making for myself. Again something I will do again (especially as both types are much nearer than bath) 

The final countdown

It's the last week of my Sabbatical and today I have finished the reading I wanted to do on Sabbath Theology. The 3 books have all been published since I wrote my dissertation on the same subject. They have helped me reflect on the subject more, including new thinking I would include in the dissertation if I was to write it today.

The main addition would be from Walter Brueggermann reflecting on the Sabbath commandment (the other two authors reference his book). Walter contrasts the creation story and commandment of rest, with the Israelites life before the Exodus..

Pharaoh was a demanding boss, who demanded more and more from the Israelite slaves. Productivity and his own intetests were the only important things and he was a selfish, anxious man who could not let go, unable to trust others. 

In contrast we read that God wasn't a workaholic...on the 7th day he rested, and enjoyed creation. God had complete confidence in the life giving capacity of creation.

In the commandments given to Moses, the  1st 3 could have been what Pharaoh said, but the other 6 make the difference and turns Pharoah's principleson their head; it's about rest and relationship, not productivity for everyone! It's about enjoying creation and our place in God's world. Rest isn't simply withdrawing though, its about building relationships wuth God and others and bringing justice and providing physical needs to others especially those most in need. 

All 3 books have given me lots to think about especially as I return to circuit next week, including how to make space and time to do things that energise and give me Sabbath Rest.. I've been challenged to consider digitally detox, not allowing myself to be 'permanently available' , set aside time to read and walk and there are many brilliant questions to continue to reflect questions in Nicola Slee's book, which will be important to reask myself in the next few weeks. 

I'm back at work officially on Tues (2nd July), but before that some space, a routine hospital appt. and a weekend in Leeds for Rachel Moss's ordination, where it will be a privilege to be her "supporting minister". Please do pray for her (and all those being ordained). 

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

We have been on holiday this week, with my dad, sister and brother in law to Woodhall Spa, a place we went to a lot as children. It was only a few days so didn't get much time to see lots of things but it was good to relive bits of my childhood and youth in Woodhall, Lincoln and Boston, as well as catching up with family and friends. 

Today we met my brother in Yorkshire to 'dad-tag' followed by visiting friends, who we haven't seen for  a long time, then a trip to Yorkshire Sculpture Park. 

It was brilliant to walk around looking at some of the Sculptures (we only did about half of the grounds) and have space to be (in God's creation) 

If I lived closer I would be tempted to buy a seasonal ticket so I could visit more often, as it certainly felt like Sabbath stuff. It's something I need to ensure I do in another way when I return to circuit work next month. 

Last time I went to YSP, I was struck by one exhibit, and I was today as well (See photos). It's called Diario by Mikayel Ohanjanyan and reflects the authors interest in human relationships. 

Blocks of marble are seemingly strangled by steel cables penetrating the surface of the skin to reveal glimpses of the interior. However, when you examine the blocks carefully you can see half visible inscriptions of the names of everyone he has met. 

In Isaiah 49, we are told that God says

"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me." 

There is something comforting about knowing that we are held in either God's (or other people's) hands ..we feel loved and valued. 

I'm left with some thoughts to reflect on which I hope you will find helpful as well. 

1) Who would you write on a block if you were the artist? Are there people you have lost touch with, and you want to reconnect with? Take some time to pray for those who you name and maybe take sometime to get back in touch. 

2) What about those who we don't know the name of? Those who are seen as a statistic rather than a person. There names are also engraved in God's hands... and need to feel love and valued too. Many of them have 'no voice' in society... can we speak out for them by challenging politicians and leaders to put them first. This is not a political broadcast, but a plea to take time to research what all the parties are promising and support those who (as the hymn says) 'speak out for those who have no voices' 

My next book

Being on retreat has given me space to read. I have finished the book called Sabbath Rest, which to be honest I found hard going but it was worth the effort as it was very good. I Also found and an article on the internet about Sabbath theology, by Edward Zinka, which although was quite patriarchal in language, gave me some things to reflect on. 

I have a couple of hours left at Hollanf House, so as well as lunch, just enough time to start the next book. It's one I've been looking forward to as lots of people tell me it's good. 

One of the things I want to make sure I do on return to circuit work is protect some time to read as it has been good. I've got a lot of books on the reading list, which I know will benefit me and my ministry, but I've never made reading them a priority. 

Time to retreat

I've arrived at Holland House retreat House for a 48 hour retreat. Even while on Sabbatical it's easy to get distracted by everyday stuff and so having missed coming here during Holy Week (they cancelled the retreat) I decided to book a few days here. Depending on the weather I'll do some walking, but mainly here to do some more reading and reflect. 

Photo is of the view into the garden from my bedroom...I'm sure there will be other photos to share later in the week. 

Work rest and play?

Are you now singing the jingle? 🤣

I haven't had a Mars bar this week but have worked (a little bit), rested and enjoyed (played!) during a week away from home. 

We spent 4 nights in Pembrokeshire with Andrew's family, but also caught up with my sister and brother in law,  who unbeknown to either of us, were staying about 20 mins away from where we were. 

We then moved to Somerset staying near Frome, visiting the White Horse Landmark, Warminster (which was lovely), Frome (we didn't like it as much), Axbridge (where it was lovely to catch up with minister friends) and Cheddar Gorge (my first visit). 

This morning we went to church at Axbridge to celebrate Pentecost) - although there were not many of us, it was a lovely service led by our friend Meg. 

Throughout the week we have walked, seen the sea, sat in Churches and enjoyed the scenery of Welsh and Somerset mountains and countryside. 

I've often wandered why it is that some scenes make me stop and wonder, not really being able to put it into words other than Wow or it brings me peace...but in the book I'm currently reading Mark Scarlata (Sabbath Rest) quotes Hans Urs Von Balthasar who talks of a relationship between God's beauty in creation and our own creative work, and in order to perceive God's beauty we must understand its 2 aspects- dorm (or shape) and splendour. 

Scarlata writes:

Imagine that you are standing at the top of a mountain as the sun is rising. You see the form of the landscape taking shape as the light breaks over the horizon. The mist rises, the trees begin to appear in ever greater detail as the distant peaks come out from the shadows. As the light strengthens so too does your perception of the scene as you take notice of different aspects of shape and colour. The splendour of nature's display causes you to pause as it captives you, turns your focus away from yourself,  and draws you outwards with the desire to connect to something greater. In witnessing this sublime moment you recognise the glory that fills creation. 

.......we might stand in awe and wonder of such beauty, or we might experience a profound sense of peace knowing that God cares so deeply for us. 

........ to experience God's beauty, doesn't mean we need to be standing on  the mountain tops ...(we can be drawn too or mesmerised by all sorts of God's creation) ...Whatever it is, the beauty we experience... turns us from ourselves and draws us into an experience of God's glory. We stop and for a moment in time we break from our normal lives to reflect on a deeper sense of truth that we witness in the world around us. 

So that's what I'm doing when I look as if I'm starting into space..... having a Sabbath moment. Maybe I need to do it more often. 

The smallest city!

As part of my 2 week holiday part of Sabbatical Andrew and I are spending time with family. Today we went to St David's for lunch and a wander round the cathedral. 

Usually I spend so much time in churches that visiting ones in holiday time is like a bus(wo)man's holiday and avoided . .but I've realised that having space has allowed me to enjoy and value sitting in church (whether St David's or for worship in the churches I've been too for worship) 

I felt peace as i walked into and through the Cathedral ..it really was a scared space allowing space for Sabbath moments. 

I did wonder though why it needed so many different chapels 🤣

Other photos will be available on Facebook profiles soon