To Dad

Creator of the universe, we thank you that Jesus said we could call you Father.
We praise your name and worship you with our lips and lives.
Thank you that your rule on earth begins with Jesus and those who chose to belong to you and we long for it to fill the whole earth.
Give us grace to live as willingly for you as the angels do.
We trust you for our needs each day.
Thank you for forgiving us through the sacrifice of Jesus and help us to be just as generous to other people.
Father, sometimes you allow hard things to happen to make sure it's you we're trusting and not our own cleverness. Help us to be true to you and not give way to satan's tricks.
For it's all about you, Father, about a world where you're the boss, and your strength sustains everything and you are the only one who deserves worship.
Always and always.
Definitely.

I wrote this as an exercise in making liturgy. It was good practise I think to try and rewrite the Lord's prayer, as it's so easy for it to trip off the tongue without thought or meaning.

I learned to recite it as a child. I don't remember a time when I didn't know it and it was probably the best thing my mother ever taught me even though at the time I didn't appreciate it and regarded it as a sprint to be accomplished before bed. All through my schooldays I recited it in morning assembly. Repetitive, pointless? It seemed so then but God had a mention every day of my young life.

What are the most valuable things that parents might teach today's' children? Which habits are the beneficial ones that store up treasure in the right place?

Travels in this green and pleasant land

 After Easter we went to North Shropshire to a place called Cloverley Hall for a conference.HoF is not keen on these Christian get-togethers but even he enjoyed this one the first time he went. We stayed in our caravan this time to encourage good sleeps, and the first photo the view from our window. We enjoyed the preaching and the worship, and then moved on for four nights near Northwich. The second photo is of our nearest village, Great Budworth. Unchanged, unruined by 1960s architecture.

One day we agreed to go our separate ways. HoF went to look at car salerooms (no accounting for taste) and I went to Arley Hall Gardens which I had pretty much to myself. It was lovely in spite of the late start to spring. In the afternoon we went to Dunham Massey, my first 'saving' of the National Trust year. Footsore after the first garden but well worth the visit. I love these silver birches and am working on a tree theme for my next painting.

Our last morning we went to another village recommended in a book on English churches. Lower Peover, pronounced 'Peever' and not what you were thinking.

And home to visitors. First Miss P and The Man, and then some cherished old friends for three days of eating and talking. We ate out every day, such a treat and saved kitchen time and missing out on the chatter. Fish and chips in the local hostelry on the last night.

Spring, maybe

 A weekend of outings and for the Saturday a really lovely day. A minibus trip was arranged; we're trying to get the community minibus more used which is an uphill struggler, but this one was a great example. Firstly we went to Kilpeck church, listed as the best example of a Norman church in England. It has all sorts of strange gargoyles and carvings which are very interesting but just how did it all fit with the then prevailing theology? Wish I knew.

 After a meal at Kilpeck Inn, we moved on to Monnow Arts Centre currently showing some of the Methodist art collection, on a theme of resurrection.  It also has a sculpture garden bathed then in springlike sunshine.

 On Sunday we went on a guided walk in Downton Gorge. Downton village that is, nothing to do with TV. In times past the owner of the castle arranged walks in the picturesque style along the banks of the river for his Victorian guests. These are only accessible now on rare occasions and this was our first opportunity, and probably our last judging, by the state of our feet when we got home.