sermons

Two members of the congregation very kindly passed on a newspaper cutting with the results of a survey carried out by Durham University. The survey revealed -

99.6% of churchgoers looked forward to the sermon.

When asked about how long they wanted a sermon to last -

Catholics - 10 minutes

Anglicans - 10-20 minutes

Baptists - 1 hour 15 minutes

Where did they find the Baptists who gave that answer?

Youth Group weekend away

Just about to head off and visit the Youth Group on the first night of their weekend away. The venue is a Boys Brigade owned building in the small Hamlet of Glasshouses which is in the Nidd Valley just over 12 miles from Harrogate. The accommodation is basic but the young people love it. After doing an epilogue I will drive the 12 miles back to Harrogate to the warmth and comfort of my own bed ( having declined the kind offer of staying the night there).

Burns Night

Could not let today pass without a mention of Robert Burns and the remarkable fact that across the world at this time of year the man and his poetry will be celebrated.
Harrogate St Andrew's Society held its Burns Night on Saturday with all the traditional elements included.
Tonight I have been invited by the Guide Company attached to the church to join them for a kind of mini Burns Supper. But I will need to work for my haggis, neeps and tatties by reciting the Selkirk grace and also give the 'address to the haggis'( a shorter version though).
The faults and follies of Burns are well known. But in his young life he did write some remarkable poetry. Is there a better celebration of the worth of the ordinary person than 'A man's a man for a that'? Is there a better love song than 'My love is like a red red rose'? Is there a better expression of that call to battle than 'Scots wha hae wi' Wallace bled'?
Sir Walter Scott said of him - "Long life to thy fame and peace to thy soul, Robert Burns. When I want to express a sentiment which I feel strongly, I find the phrase in Shakespeare or thee...."

the end of a snowy week

A clear sign of the kind of weather we are having in Harrogate was the sight of a mother and son skiing along our street yesterday on the way to school. The only other time I remember seeing someone ski past our house was in Elland, West Yorkshire in the early 80's when we had at least two very snowy weekends there.

All my meetings have been cancelled this week. I have done a fair bit of 'telephone' visiting rather than try and get round on foot or by car.

Annette and I are just about to get wrapped up and walk into town for my slightly delayed birthday meal out.

Birthday snow

Snow fell steadily this morning on my birthday. Sadly I have not had time to enjoy it and no grandchildren nearby to enjoy it with. The weather will mean that this will be a much quieter week in terms of meetings. If I need the car I will need to clear the drive. The last time I remember snow like this was when we lived in West Yorkshire - more than 20 years ago.

New Year

More snow fell in Harrogate during Saturday evening and it meant there was a good covering this morning. It would have been better if the snow had fallen a day earlier and I could have enjoyed it with our grandchildren before they went back home after 4 nights with us. This morning I did miss my two human alarm clocks insisting that grampa should get up because it was breakfast time.

Despite the snow this morning there was a good congregation for the first Sunday of the New Year. As usual it included communion and a covenant prayer shared by all.
Morning service was followed by a delightful lunch with friends.
It will very much back to normal now, although the weather forecast suggests that more snow is on the way.

Santa's a Scotsman

I heard this song on Ken Bruce's Radio 2 show in the week before Christmas and it made me smile. But as I recall from my childhood, the Santas I met always had a Scottish accent.

"It's Christmas time in Scotland, and my kid said to me.....
Just one question Daddy , before I go to sleep....
How will Santa find me , so I said.. wherever he may roam,
Santa will find you because he's coming home

Don't You Know
Santa's A Scotsman
He's Loved Everywhere he goes
He moved form Glasgow to Lapland...following Rudolf's nose
Don't you know
Santa's A Scotsman... Come on make a fuss
Too many pies not enough exercise....of course he's one of us."

Annette and I are now looking forward to the family arriving today. I think I may teach my grandchildren the song and they can sing it with their Black Country accents.