Norfolk Pilgrim

 On the eve of the feast of St. Andrew  an afternoon ramble through field and fen to visit the church of St. Peter, Belaugh. Perched high on a natural mound, looking south across marsh and river.  Did i imagine I had overheard a conversation between the two fishermen Peter and Andrew?  "Fishers of men! Some joke! Neither of us could have imagined where it would lead us!" Passing the boatyard on the way home, I think about Peter and Andrew's chippy friend. I imagine him keeping their fishing boats in good order!  Now, there's a metaphor for the Church he founded with his  "follow me" and "I will make you fishers of men - fishing boat.  Not a cruise ship, nor a battle ship, a fishing boat. Like Andrew and Peter we look towards the Chippy of Nazareth to keep the ship of the church in good order. Did I imagine the fishermen addressing me wondering, "How's the fishing been in recent weeks?"? 

 The Feast of Christ the King                                      Today's destination my parish church St. John the Baptist, Coltishall Christians have been gathering on this hill for 1000 years or more. Later in the day folk will be gathering here electronically  . That's alright if you like that sort of thing but it feels like a poor substitute to me.  I'd really like to get inside the building and consider the east window but entery is denied. Centre stage is Christ the King Among the saints who bend the knee in the right hand panel is St. Edmund the King whose martyrdom we celebrated last week.  As I renew my allegiance to Christ the King on this Stir up Sunday I ponder the cost of discipleship...........  and find myself thinking about Ditrich Bonhoffer.

 Sunday 15th November                                                 Today's pilgrimage destination?     The weather was foul, I did get out for a walk but decided to go to church on-line. The choice is endless. So churches  live streaming services! Actually, the world is my oyster. Why don't I go home?  I came to adult Christian faith in Colombo.  The Diocese has just celebrated its 175th Anniversary. I would have loved to join them for the service of thanksgiving. So I did!                                                 

Remembrance Sunday -                                                     All churches closed for public worship but ceremonies at War Memorials permitted. To-day's pilgrimage destinations chose themselves. We gathered at Horstead for two minutes silence at 11a.m.  On the other side of the crossroads is the "Recruiting Sergeant"!                                                                                                                     ...

In the normal course of things in the Coltishall Group of Parishes, All Saint's Sunday would be celebrated with  Holy Communion at All Saints, Horstead. Not so this year! Horstead Church has yet to open after #Lockdown 1.0.  So this year Horstead folk joined the saints across the River Bure at Coltishall for their 11 a.m. service. Hot footing it from Coltishall,  we arrived in Horstead churchyard by 12.15 p.m.. The church sits on a slight rise above the river as it has done for 1000 years or so. The rusting gates were given in memory of two saintly, pioneering Anglo-Catholic priests of the 19th Century,  Lincoln Wainwright and Gamber Lowe. "For all the saints who from their labours rest" there's have been a fair few buried in this churchyard over the years.  On this All Saints day with half a mind to All Souls, we were here to pay our respects to family and Church family members who now worship on another shore. Among them My in-laws, Bob and Kaye My very first...