a concert for ukraine

 

 

On Friday our church hosted a special, 'Concert for Ukraine'. Over a hundred people came to hear a fantastic night of music. A local lady from Ukraine spoke to us about her country and a family of Ukrainians, fresh to the village, were in attendance too.

In all the concert raised over £760 from ticket sales, donations and refreshments, all of which is going to the DEC Ukrainian appeal. 

Thank you so much to Lindsey who organised the concert, to Michael, Joe, Karen and John, her fellow musicians, to the ladies who baked cakes, to our fantastic hard-working refreshments team, to all those who came or donated and to The Revd. Rachel who closed our night fittingly in prayer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

chorus

 

 

I have fond memories of a walk through red-light Amsterdam streets with two young boys and their parents. And now I stand next to one of those boys again.

 

Don't worry, this is not a story of child abuse!  Michael's parents were two fantastic Christian missionaries from the church where my wife and I  asked Jesus into our lives.  We visited them and their family in Amsterdam over three decades ago when they were serving in a place called 'The Ark'.

 

And now Michael and I are here together again. It's the sound-check for a 'Concert for Ukraine' and he's one of the musicians who will be playing later in the evening. 

 

We start to chat and before long discover our historical links.  A chance encounter or a reminder of how God brings paths to cross? 

 

Michael's changed a lot since I lost saw him - bigger and facially hirsute - but some things, like his passion for music, remain the same.   I love times like these.

 

real gone

 

 

an early morning walk

in the early morning sun

in an early morning village

in an early morning world

 

and the sky is warm and high

and the grass has grown fast

and the sun is shining brightly

on a day that's green-cut cast

 

the field is cut

the hay is baled

and soon it goes from view

a memory as time flows past

of where the grass once grew.

 

 

 

 

   

a kitchen filled with love

 

 

Do you sometimes despair at the perpetual mess and clutter that is family life?  Despair not, for sometimes amongst that mess and clutter can be found something infinitely deeper and beautiful.

 

This is a kitchen filled with love.  A place where meals and conversation are shared, a place where drawings and craft and stories come to life, a place where a family comes together.

 

 

 

 

somewhere in an english church

  

somewhere in an english church

in silence

passing through

colours

and candles

and lights

and flowers

and pipes

 

somewhere in an english church

in silence

passing through

the black monks

and the high  

and the mighty

and the lowly

and the dead

 

 

somewhere in an english church