Green Patches

Moving On - Growing Greenpatches

Green Patches is moving! I'll keep this blog up  - and will dip back into it from time to time; however, for up to date ecological, theological and definitely illogical meanderings and more besides,  you'll need to hop over to my new Growing Greenpatches blog. See you there...

 

Pop!

" ‘Whizz pop whizz pop pop pop poppety pop pop,’ faster and ever so much faster flew the pancakes. Thicker and thicker. Bigger and bigger. They came out flatways and edgeways. They shot high in the air and stuck to the ceiling. One sailed across the room and hit the Vicar in the waistcoat, where it may or may not have reminded him of the ironholders for the South Crashbania natives. Pop poppety, pop pop pop. It was like a machine gun but much more sploshy. The Professor struggled out of his pancake just in time for another one to drop over him. Two pancakes were on the clock, four were draped over the light. The Mayor was eating his way through a complete set of pancakes of varying sizes that had fallen in front of him. The four firemen put their helmets on and brandished their axes, but only succeeded in smashing two cups, one saucer and the sugar basin. Mrs Flittersnoop put her head gingerly out from under the table and was immediately gummed to the carpet by a three-foot pancake two inches thick that had just shot out.”
From The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm by Norman Hunter

 

 My favourite pancake-making scenario: A recycled recycled recycled blog for Shrove Tuesday.

 

Blog of The Week - Dave Walker's teapots

 Tea drinking is a serious business and should be undertaken with all due solemnity.  So with that in mind, who could resist Dave Walker's cartoon teapots! 

Lent approacheth

 

 - Bruce Munro's 'Light Shower' at Salisbury Cathedral, January 2011

 

 When Classic FM begins to slip  Gregorio Allegri's Miserere mei Deus  into their playlist, you know that Lent can't be far behind.  So continuing the theme of my last post, here's another Lenten themed recycled Greenpatch: my account of a Grand Day Out a year ago to see artist Bruce Munro's Light Shower and Water Tower's installations at Salisbury Cathedral.

Recycled Greenpatches - Psalm 51

 

From February 2008 - Psalm 51.

Music For A While

I had to smile when I got in from my weekly singing evening just now  and logged on here to  learn that another blogger,   Avila from Weeble's Wondering has been enjoying themselves Doh, re, mi ing.  A couple of years ago I wrote about starting singing classes and the huge boost  it's given to my self-esteem and confidence.  Even though I sang in the school choir for  years and often join in churchy stuff on high days and holidays, it's only when mid-life crisis struck that I finally plucked up the courage to begin singing in a smaller group and then  on my own. Tonight we warbled our way through 'You'll Never Walk Alone, ' ' You to Me Are Everything,' 'To Make You Feel My Love,' and 'All that Jazz!' Such fun! So, I'll never win prizes but so what!  I don't care. I'll just keep on sinni, I mean...singing!

 

 

 

Sustainable Smellies - the return

Update on the hair situation over on my Musings blog. Mr GP demonstrates commendable tact, given that it's Valentine's Day and all.

Blog of The Week - Lucy Mills on Life

Lucy ponders the inclusivity and exclusivity of social media, and suggests we pray for discernment to know when to use it and when to use our own hands and feet.

Do we save our comfort and companionship just for those who are easily reached on our devices? Do we neglect those who are not part of this happy digital ‘community’? So we never get round to – dare I say it – writing a letter or a card to someone who would deeply, desperately appreciate it in a world of 140 characters or less?

 - check out the rest of Lucy's post here.

 

I've touched on this topic myself  in the past.  Thanks  Lucy for reminding me of it.

 

In the beginning was the Word

 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

  There was a man sent from God whose name was John.  He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.  He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

  The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.  He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

 - John 1:1-14

 

Mike F of the Mercy Blog got there before me in reflecting on today's gospel. 

Jesus is the living Word, and all words are somehow almost sacramental as a result.

As I've written elsewhere this morning saw me shatteringly tired in church yet as so often in the past, this timeless prologue to John's gospel  shone out for me in the mists of lethargy and confusion.  Not so much  Did the Earth move for You? Shipoffools style, this time,  just the tinest of tremors, but none the less powerful for that.

It speaks of their timelessness and power that these verses are amongst the few I know almost by heart and have been for as long as I can remember.  Familiarity never breeds contempt.    Every time I hear them, another part of the brilliant, sparkling, paradoxically complex yet simple message of grace and hope that Christ brings falls into place for me.  

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it... 

 

Sustainable Smellies - the sequel

I'm not too sure about this smellie business, you know.  Gory details over on my Musings blog.