Hello Faith Pals, Or should I call you ‘pilgrims?’ I have been reading about ancient cartographers-mapmakers-for some research I am doing. I love these medieval maps peppered with pictures of dragons, basilisks, griffins and sea monsters.  Many of these strange animals were depicted as a warning to travelers.  We might think these maps had the warning ‘here be dragons’ but that only happened on two globes- the rest of the time dragons were depicted in pictures. Some of these map makers were monks or priests-trying to make sense of God’s world.  Adam and Eve and the Garden of Paradise were of uttermost importance on these maps, before more scientific discoveries influenced geography a little differently. Maps.  Got me thinking about ‘faith maps.’  Some of us have read Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress (I did many years ago).  In the story Christian makes his way towards the Celestial City.  Over the years book covers have depicted the map in different ways, the most common being the path as a spiral-his outward journey going inwards, to the Celestial City.  That echoes our spiritual formation too, doesn’t it-we talk about going ‘inwards’ or ‘the inner journey’ towards God. ‘ What about the book itself?  The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World to That Which Is To Come (1678) is a Christian allegory, and one of the most significant work of religious/theological fiction in English literature.  It has been translated in more than 200 languages, and has never been out of print.  It is also cited as the fist novel to written in English. Bunyan began his work while in prison (imprisoned for holding church services outside the jurisdiction of the Church of England).  He was jailed on a number of occasions, and it was thought he began the work during his long period of confinement-1660-1672. The book is about the journey from the ‘City of Destruction’ (this world) to the Celestial City (Heaven).  The main character, Christian, is helped and hindered along the way.  Some of the characters include Evangelist, Obstinate, Pliable, Help, Mr Worldly Wiseman, Goodwill, The Interpreter (the Holy Spirit), Discretion, Charity, Hypocrisy, and Wanton. Places include the Slough of Despair, Wicket Gate (the entry point of the straight and narrow way to the Celestial City), Valley of Humiliation, House Beautiful, and the River of the Water of Life. There is also the Valley of the Shadow of Death. As he enters the fearful Valley of the Shadow of Death one evening, amid the gloom and terror, he hears the word of the 23rd Psalm, spoken by his friend Faithful: ‘Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.’ When he leaves the valley, the sun rises on a new day, a new beginning. This book has influenced many, including C.S Lewis, who wrote a book called The Pilgrim’s Regress, about his own journey from a religious childhood to a non-religious adulthood and then his rediscovery of God.  The book has influenced many: from Charles Dickens, to William Thackeray,  from Mark Twain to Alcott’s Little Women, from John Steinbeck to Enid Blyton (her book The Land of Far Beyond (1942) is a children’s version of The Pilgrim’s Progress), plus radio plays, musicals and video games. How would you draw your faith journey?  Would it be linear, in a straight line?  What would you plot on it?  Learning about Jesus from the stories your grandmother told you when you were young, sitting on her lap?  Attending Sunday School?  Experiences or crises that shook your faith, such as a death of a child, loss of employment, divorce, illness (so these may appear as piles of rocks on your path,  or a pit, or take you off the path for awhile).  Then the experiences that nourished you-birth of a child, marriage, a special holiday, the church family, baptism…how would you draw these?  As a fountain of water on-route, as a flowering bush?  So how would you draw your faith map?  Or how would you picture it in your mind?  Then bring all these experiences to God, these blessings that have molded and shaped you.  What characters would you name and thank? This is a copy of one of the maps of The Pilgrim’s Progress.  Some editions had it as a fold out map at the back of the book.  Here is another one, the circular movement of which I spoke earlier: Well, that seems to be enough!   I will close with the only hymn Bunyan wrote.  In some versions (I notice this on Songs of Praise), Hobgoblin nor foul fiend’,  has been sanitised, removed!  I am glad our hymn book, Together In Song, kept them in! 1 Who would  true valour see, let them come hither; those here will constant be, come wind, come weather. There’s no discouragement shall make them once relent each from a vowed intent to be a pilgrim. 2 Those who beset them round with dismal stories cannot the brave confound: their strength the more is. No lion can them fright, they’ll with a giant fight, but each will have a right to be a pilgrim. 3 Hobgoblin nor foul fiend can daunt their spirit: they know they at the end shall life inherit. Then fancies fly away; they’ll scorn what people say, and each work night and day to be a pilgrim. (John Bunyan) News: Shirley Edwards is slowly improving.  I told her that she was in our thoughts and prayers. Now to close with this very special youtube clip: https://www.youtube.com/embed/moBvLFbFdJ4?rel=0&autoplay=1 Thank you Margaret Knott.  This is truly beautiful.  The photography, the words of wisdom.  Truly moving. And a prompt for after watching the clip: what questions would YOU ask God in an interview?  You don’t need to wait to interview God because we can pray, right now, and put those questions to our Loving God. Blessings and love Barbara Virus-free. www.avg.com

Hello Faith Pals, No need to water your garden this week! A friend in another congregation sent me their newsletter which had a picture of Jesus at the Last Supper, during Covid 19.  Police were gathered around them, and the caption was along the lines of “I don’t care who your father is, this is an illegal gathering.” I went on-line to find it (their version was in a version which did not allow me to just copy and paste) but couldn’t find it, but found these instead: Then there was this one:  I thought, “That isn’t correct.”  It portrays the absence of Jesus.   Nowadays, Holy Communion is postponed, but we remember Jesus whenever we eat bread and whenever we take the cup (whatever the liquid-water/tea-it is IN THE REMEMBERING). Then I found this one: I thought: Yes!  Jesus is here, even if we are not. Jesus accompanies us through the tough times. I had been reading about the ocean, and sea monsters.  Apparently what we see, is not a strict photographic image.  At sea, elements such as balance/light/distance play a part in what we see.  In the past, sailors were inclined to ‘see’ things at sea (like sea monsters) because of balance/light/distance-and hypothermia, vitamin deficiencies, lack of sleep, anxiety and their own cultural stories and folklore.  So the brain would distort their perception of what they thought they saw in the rough seas, especially during storms. The ocean was (and still is) an untamed region. ‘Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar- the Lord of hosts is his name.'(Jeremiah 31:35). It made me think about out own times.  We are scared, we are fearful-BUT is that overpowering us, distorting our view of the beauty and wonder of God and  of God’s world?  Is our fear stopping us from living?  Yes, there are things we are not allowed to do-but there are many things we can still do!  In this edition of the Presbytery Newsbeat: http://www.ucappep.org  Rev Greg Crowe addresses that topic. Count your blessings. Another version of this hymn has ‘when you’re worried, and you can’t sleep, Count your blessings instead of sheep.’ Well, I had lots more to say, but I think that might be enough for you! I might just get into another sermon if I am not careful! I will leave you with a prayer that was in a Presbytery mailout: The She Oak Prayer Michael McGirr God of bad hair days We thank you for the she oak, perhaps the most untidy of all your trees. It looks like it just got out of bed, its branches and leaves all over the place. Yet its texture of greys and greens are the most subtle shades in the bush. Its thousands of tiny branches dance in hot winds and cold gales when the rest of us have sought shelter. Help us to be true to ourselves, to appreciate our unkempt beauty, to stand our ground in all seasons, not to disguise our mess, our confusion, our search for love which is wonderful in your eyes even when it is frustrating in our own. Amen. Michael McGirr’s Trees Without Masks Blessings and love, Barbara Hello Everyone, I forgot to say, that I included those cartoons not to make fun of a significant faith event, BUT to highlight it has got people (including the secular community) thinking about the impact covid-19 has on faith, and how we continue to worship, when in isolation.  If we had been worshipping in church, we could have projected one of those images on our screen and used it as a time of reflection: What does it mean to worship in lockdown? Is Jesus still here when we are not in the building? (or in the Upper Room, the place of the Last Supper) Where is Jesus? Where are we? Now you have questions to use when you look at those images again. Where is God?  Beside you. Perhaps in the cartoon with ‘cancelled’ there could have been another image, off to the side, of a hospital room, and Jesus there next to the bed, holding the hand of the covid-19 sufferer. NOW I will stop because THIS is getting to be a sermon! Blessings Barbara

Hello Faith Pals, Welcome to Friday, a day ready to be embraced, enjoyed, and lived through.  There will be no other day quite like today.  I know I have included this before, but it is worth repeating: Sunday is the Feast of St Francis.  The sermons and prayers reflect that theme.  Please pray your own prayers as well, remembering especially Alan and Fredrica, Rohini and Jaya, Shirley, Russell and Joan.  It is a shame that we won’t be in church, accompanied by our pets, but they can still join us to watch church services on-line (my cat Leaf does not like my singing!) It seems appropriate to include the story of St Francis and the wolf.  There are a number of different versions, but this one is well written: St. Francis and the Wolf  ‘Perhaps the most famous story of St. Francis is when he tamed the wolf that was terrorizing the people of Gubbio. While Francis was staying in that town he learned of a wolf so ravenous that it was not only killing and eating animals, but people, too. The people took up arms and went after it, but those who encountered the wolf perished at its sharp teeth. Villagers became afraid to leave the city walls. Francis had pity on the people and decided to go out and meet the wolf. He was desperately warned by the people, but he insisted that God would take care of him. A brave friar and several peasants accompanied Francis outside the city gate. But soon the peasants lost heart and said they would go no farther. Francis and his companion began to walk on. Suddenly the wolf, jaws agape, charged out of the woods at the couple. Francis made the Sign of the Cross toward it. The power of God caused the wolf to slow down and to close its mouth. Then Francis called out to the creature: “Come to me, Brother Wolf. In the name of Christ, I order you not to hurt anyone.” At that moment the wolf lowered its head and lay down at St. Francis’ feet, meek as a lamb.  St. Francis explained to the wolf that he had been terrorizing the people, killing not only animals, but humans who are made in the image of God. “Brother Wolf,” said Francis, “I want to make peace between you and the people of Gubbio. They will harm you no more and you must no longer harm them. All past crimes are to be forgiven.” The wolf showed its assent by moving its body and nodding its head. Then to the absolute surprise of the gathering crowd, Francis asked the wolf to make a pledge. As St. Francis extended his hand to receive the pledge, so the wolf extended its front paw and placed it into the saint’s hand. Then Francis commanded the wolf to follow him into town to make a peace pact with the townspeople. The wolf meekly followed St. Francis. By the time they got to the town square, everyone was there to witness the miracle. With the wolf at his side, Francis gave the town a sermon on the wondrous and fearful love of God, calling them to repent from all their sins. Then he offered the townspeople peace, on behalf of the wolf. The townspeople promised in a loud voice to feed the wolf. Then Francis asked the wolf if he would live in peace under those terms. He bowed his head and twisted his body in a way that convinced everyone he accepted the pact. Then once again the wolf placed its paw in Francis’ hand as a sign of the pact. From that day on the people kept the pact they had made. The wolf lived for two years among the townspeople, going from door to door for food. It hurt no one and no one hurt it. Even the dogs did not bark at it. When the wolf finally died of old age, the people of Gubbio were sad. The wolf’s peaceful ways had been a living reminder to them of the wonders, patience, virtues and holiness of St. Francis. It had been a living symbol of the power and providence of the living God. ‘ Source : Retold by Sharaon Callahan  http://www.whitewolfpack.com/2011/07/st-francis-and-wolf-myths-legends.html In other versions the legend states that the wolf only killed because it was hungry. In 1872, during renovations at the Church of St Francis of Peace, in Gubbio,  an old skeleton of a large wolf was discovered outside near the foundations.  The people of Gubbio decided to bury these remains inside the church.  Brother Wolf of Gubbio now rests in peace. As well as the service-sermon, I have included two other attachments.  These are from my time at Synod, when I worked on animal matters.  I wrote an animal breviary (though by Week 27 it had been changed to animal compendium, because my boss though ‘breviary’ was too confusing for people).  Anyway, I wasn’t sure what to include for extra reading, so thought I’d include the  writings about sloths and butterflies.  It was written to be a multi-faith resource, hence the inclusion of prayers from other faith traditions, and a prayer that all could, probably, pray. News: Alan’s psa has increased 3.5 points from his previous blood result.  His oncologist says he is not to worry about it, it should start to decrease by the time of the next round of chemotherapy (21st October).  Alan has been told that as long as he feels well, he need not be concerned.  Alan’s integrative medicine diet has made some difference to some of his results too, which is good news. Please keep them, and Adrian and Sherine and Elijah, in your prayers. Shirley : still in hospital, but I spoke to her niece just before, who thinks she may be discharged either today, or over the next day or two. Doug: he sends his regards. He is doing okay, but he is very tired. Joan and Russell

Hello Faith Pals, Hope you are looking forward to a warmer week!  Firstly, I was going to fill you in on Henry Morton Stanley, the person who is responsible for uttering: “Dr Livingstone, I presume.”  Well, he had  a role in bringing a strange creature to the attention of zoologists.   The creature was the okapi. The okapi, a shy, solitary, elusive animal that lives among dense cover, is one of the oldest and most distinctive mammals in the world.  The okapi is also known as the African Unicorn.  It has earned this name due to its scarcity (it came to be understood as being as rare or as scarce as a unicorn) and because the female has a knobbly bump in the corner of its head, and the male has horn-like protuberances, known as ossicones. This creature, which resembles a zebra, a donkey, and a giraffe, had been spoken about by central African tribes.  It had been brought to Europeans’ attention back in 1887, due to Henry Morton Stanley’s book about his travels.  When Stanley had been exploring the Congo, he had heard tribes tell of this creature, which Stanley transcribed as ‘atti’(but  the word the tribes used was ‘o’kapi’). Even when several skins were produced as evidence of the existence of this creature, Westerners viewed than as fakes.  Referring to it as an ‘African Unicorn’ tended to reinforce its mythical status. Its status from unknown changed in 1901 when Sir Harry Johnston, the British governor of Uganda, became fascinated by Stanley’s accounts of this animal. He had freed several Mbuti Pygmies of the Congo, caught by a showman, and they informed him of their knowledge of this creature. He also investigated other stories about the animal. Johnston received some skins, and two skulls of this supposed mythical creature, from grateful pygmies. Johnston sent parts of its hide to the British Museum. Then, after a live okapi was captured the creature was recognized as ‘real’ by scientists, and the mammal became known as the okapi (okapi johnstoni).  It is a remarkable creature, the only living relative of the giraffe, (in the family Giraffidae) is classified as a short-necked giraffe.  It is also known as the ‘forest giraffe.’ It shares the giraffe’s characteristic of having a long blue tongue, and its hind legs and rump are striped black and white, a little like a zebra’s marking. It also walks like a giraffe, stepping out with the same front and hind leg on each side, rather than moving alternate legs. It is endemic to the dense, lowland rainforests of the central and north eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.  Sadly, deforestation, poaching, and mining have all led to a decline in numbers. The okapi has its own World Day, observed on 18th of October.  I thought it was worth writing about, as we near the Feast of St Francis-World Animal Day next Sunday.  ” alt=”” class=”Apple-web-attachment” src=”blob:https://www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au/d8319437-726c-40b6-a002-4d5fb0dce804″ subtitle=”Downloading…” progress=”0.01″>   Now, here is a story passed on from a member of Heatherton-Dingley Uniting Church.  I read this story in a book several months ago, so it was quite uncanny to read it again. You many know it: Beautiful story…. makes you understand that things happen for a reason The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn , arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church, it was very run down and needed much work. They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve. They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc, and on December 18 were ahead of schedule and just about finished. On December 19 a terrible tempest – a driving rainstorm – hit the area and lasted for two days. On the 21st, the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked, causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high. The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor, and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service, headed home. On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity, so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful, handmade, ivory colored, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church. By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later. She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etc., to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area. Then he noticed the woman walking down the center aisle. Her face was like a sheet. “Pastor,” she asked, “where did you get that tablecloth?” The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials ‘EBG’ were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before, in Austria . The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten “The Tablecloth”. The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria When the Nazis came, she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. He was captured, sent to prison and she never saw

Hello Faith Pals, The blessing of rain.  When the roof doesn’t leak!  I know that Alan and Fredrica have moved into Quest for a few days because of plastering work on the ceilings.  After 3 attempts, our leaking roof is now fixed and I can enjoy, once again, the sound of rain on colourbond!  Reminds me of the story in the Gospels of the crippled man being lowered on his stretcher through the roof to be set in front of Jesus.  (Luke 5:19, Mark 2:4)  In Mark it says that they removed the roof and dug.  In Jesus’ day,  they were flat roofs, made of beams.  Mud clay (like today’s cement) with clay tiles in between the earth.  It was not an easy thing to make a hole in the roof-in Mark it says ‘they removed the roof…and dug…’ .  It was major demolition work, it took some effort to tear up the roof.  In Luke’s account it talks about removing the tiles, but in Mark-it is digging through!  Now, Jesus didn’t say, “Do you know you have destroyed a roof?” or “Haven’t you heard about using a door?” No, he saw their faith, and their lives were changed forever. I read two comments about this passage, which I thought worth sharing: ‘Do you have friends who would tear off a roof for you?’ Another one, equally challenging, is a statement for the church: ‘It’s never been done that way before.’ That is a thought to hold on to, as you prepare for the next phase of ministry.  Just because something hasn’t been done that way before, doesn’t mean it is not worth attempting, or embracing. Now, some of you have shared some of your favourite pieces of music.  I will compile a list WHEN I GET SOME MORE.  (did you get the hint?) Brenda send me this this morning.  Beautiful!  Brenda said it has been around for awhile. Well..so have most of us…it is still beautiful to watch! Andrea Bocelli, voice of an angel!  He was diagnosed with congenital glaucoma when he was just  5 months old, and became completely blind at age 12, following a soccer accident. Watch this clip and pray along with his rendition of The Lord’s Prayer: https://gloria.tv/?language=P9tZ8xVKoXVn4e3o1NykVavHR&post=e43KLmR1DsMm1DCTibL3zfaeF Now, other home work.  Favourite music (type, or songs) AND next Sunday is the Feast of St Francis/World Animal Day.  If we had been meeting in church we would have had some others joining us (with Church Council approval beforehand, of course!).  So…if you want to share a story/memory etc of a pet companion, or mention your favourite animals, please do so.  I have already had one response to this, but I would like more please. Last Tuesday (22nd) was World Rhinoceros Day.  I hope you celebrated!  I watched a program during the week, about the treasures of the British Library.  One of the treasures was a map drawn by David Livingstone, one of the most popular British heroes of the late 19th century. A name many of us have known from childhood! Not only was Livingstone a medical missionary and explorer, he was a passionate advocate of anti-slavery.  In 1866 he set out to find the source of the River Nile, but when nothing was heard from him, journalist Henry Morton Stanley  was commissioned in 1869 to find the explorer. Livingstone, it must be said, had an ulterior motive for seeking the Nile’s source.  Geographical accomplishments took second place to his passionate desire for ending the East African Arab-Swahili slave trade. He is reported to have said: “The Nile sources are valuable only as a means of opening my mouth with power among men. It is this power with which I hope to remedy an immense evil.” In fact, he never did find the source. Pushing through what is now Stanley was to finally encounter him in the town of Ujiji on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in 1871. Livingstone was  thin, ill and weak – and surrounded by a possibly unfriendly tribe. ‘As I advanced towards him,’ says  Stanley, ‘I noticed he was pale, looking wearied, had a grey beard, wore a bluish cap with a faded gold band round it, had on a red-sleeved waistcoat and a pair of grey tweed trousers. ‘I would have run to him, only I was a coward in the presence of such a mob, – would have embraced him, only he being an Englishman, I did not know how he would receive me; so I did what cowardice and false pride suggested was the best thing – walked deliberately to him, took off my hat and said: ‘Dr Livingstone, I presume?’ ‘Yes,’ said he, with a kind smile, lifting his cap slightly. I replace my hat on my head, and he puts on his cap, and we both grasp hands, and then I say aloud: ‘I thank God, Doctor, I have been permitted to see you.’ He answers: ‘I feel thankful that I am here to welcome you.’ The words became famous partly because of their humour: apart from Livingstone there was no white man around for hundreds of miles. (some of this was edited from https://www.onthisday.com/articles/dr-livingstone-i-presume) Now, I will mention more about Henry Morton Stanley on Monday!  I will keep you guessing. News: please continue to pray for our ill ones.  Alan will be having more blood tests and chemotherapy next week, so please keep Alan and Fredrica and family in your prayers. Fredrica’s hand is improving, but slowly.  They are both coping with the integrated diet!  Well done!  Rohini and Jaya need prayer as well.  John  is now home from hospital.  Please keep Russell and Joan  in your prayers too.  And  families with young children. Well, I think that is enough to read. I will close with a prayer that was in our Presbytery newsletter, submitted by Presbytery minister, Duncan Macleod: Prayer of DedicationEven our best intentionscan be stumbling blocks.Yet you can redeem evenour half-hearted attempts,our half-baked schemes,our well-meaning failures.Take our flawed faithand our incomplete

Hello Faith pals, I have included a video clip from Geoff Serpell, for those who can access it.  Some of you may have  seen it, but it is worth watching again. Made me think about war, and  good inventions that have been created due to war. Let’s look at some from World War 1: Tea bags:  Not invented during World War 1 (in 1908 in the United States), but a German company copied the idea in the war, and supplied troops with tea in cotton bags.  They called them ‘tea bombs.’ Wristwatches.  Although many say they were invented during World War 1, they were not (for example, Elizabeth 1 had a small clock she would strap to her arm) BUT their use took off dramatically, because a wrist watch kept both hands free in the heat of battle.  Distances were too great for signalling (and in plain view-far too risky) but artillery barrages had to be synchronized, so wrist watches became the answer. Zips: the US military, particularly the Navy, incorporated them into uniforms and boots.  After the war they were used in civilian clothing, and bags. Stainless steel. This one I love: vegetarian sausages!  NOT something invented by hippies in the 1970s!  Konrad Adenauer, mayor of Cologne had to work out a way to combat starvation in the city and region.  He added soy as the meatless ingredient.  It was dubbed the Friedenswurst, the ‘peace sausage.’ He was denied a patent in Germany (it was contrary to German regulations about the proper content of a sausage-it had to include meat) but Britain, Germany’s enemy at the time, granted the soy sausage a patent on June 26, 1918. To conclude with these amazing life changing/life giving inventions: Cosmetic/plastic surgery: During the height of World War I, a young British sailor named Walter Yeo was wounded horribly in the 1916 Battle of Jutland. His upper and lower eyelids were burned off. Nearly a year later, he found himself in a facial injury ward started by the father of modern plastic surgery, Harold Gillies.  A native of New Zealand, Gillies had come to Europe as part of the Royal Army Medical Corps. In 1917, he performed what is known as the world’s first plastic surgery, grafting a flap of skin over Yeo’s disfiguring wounds. Blood Banks: Doctors rarely performed blood transfusions prior to World War I. However, following the discovery of different blood types and the ability of refrigeration to extend shelf life, Captain Oswald Robertson, a U.S. Army doctor consulting with the British Army, established the first blood bank in 1917 on the Western Front. “The point was to have a blood supply as close to the front as possible for wounded patients,” Casey says. To facilitate storage, blood was kept on ice for up to 28 days and sodium citrate was added to prevent clotting. So…there you have it!  What good inventions will come out of this covid war? News: Jenny Longmuir had a birthday last Friday.  Happy birthday Jenny! John Wallace is back in hospital.  Hopefully home later in the week. ‘This is my comfort in my distress, that your promise gives me life.’ -Psalm 119:50    This prayer came through from Presbytery: Sapling Prayer Loving God, we thank you for the gift of new growth.For the people who never give up.For the ones who look after the sick.For those who insist that black lives matter.  For those who bring food to those who can’t leave home.They are all like saplings, small plants that point to a bigger future.We thank you for the call to new growth in our own lives,To new commitment, to fresh honesty, to deeper love.Be with us as we begin to branch out. Make us stronger.Amen.    by Michael McGirr, from Trees Without Masks: Simple Prayers in the Time of Virus Garrett Publishing Blessings and love, Barbara