Someone suggested that yesterday's picture might be the beginning of a "Tea Week", so here's the second in the series. There are quite a number of teapots in the cupboard so it may very well end up being a personal theme. The official 365Project theme is "Urban Decay" which hasn't grabbed my imagination yet.
The tea this morning was the most 'ordinary' of the gift selection - a single origin Ceylon tea - just right for a morning cuppa. And this china teapot with matching cup and saucer was found in a car boot sale.
Today was the first of two or three administration days before I move properly into holiday mode. A number of jobs need to be completed before I go off and I'm likely to be without the car for a day or two when the repair garage replaces a very expensive part. How many more bits will need to be exchanged before I have a totally new car?
It was good to have a quiet hour in the church at lunch time. There were a number of folk who came in who've not been before and a couple of them came for a chat as well as time to think and pray. One of the visitors was the teeniest wee three week old baby - she's a beauty!
A job that I find very relaxing is cleaning brass. So, I took a while with the Brasso and a duster and the Baptismal ewer and Alms dishes now have a fresh shine.
One dish has an embossed cross in the centre and the other a triquetra symbol of the Trinity.
The most simple form of this symbol is the interlocking lines shown on this drawing.
The triquetra may have had pagan origins but quickly became part of Christian art and is found commonly in the Book of Kells and on many Irish crosses. The three persons of the Trinity, equal in power and glory, are represented in the figure of one inseparable design. Sometimes the unity is further emphasised by the addition of a circle to focus on the eternal nature of the Godhead.
"The Lord loveth a cheerful giver" is inscribed around the edge of this Alms dish as a reminder of the importance of our attitude towards God when we offer any service including our financial contributions.
I love the brightness in Saint Nicholas'. This picture was taken without any flash on an ordinary dull-ish day and shows the amount of light that pours into the building.
This has moved a long way from "tea" but it is all part of the life of a rector ... cups of tea .... reflections in church ... and then spending the afternoon with form filling and other tasks ...
How can I repay the Lord
for all the benefits he has given to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call upon the name of the Lord.
I will fulfil my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.
Psalm 116 verses 12 - 14
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