QuartzDo you remember the canopy of Angels from Christmas last year? That was an example of a type of art known as an “Installation”. As a community art project it drew together ideas from a wide range of people, and worked in a relationship with the building it was hung in. The architecture and lighting […]
It makes me smile when I think that one of the things which early Christians in these isles are remembered for is illuminated manuscripts. The grin gets broader when I compare the ready appreciation of this art with the slowness with which “youthwork for adults” has been accepted in many worshiping communities. The Manga gospels […]
20/22/22 2pm Outside the Crichton chapel Peace We meet in Jesus name. Whether you consider yourself a close friend or are just curious, we meet in Christs peace. Peace be with you. Invocation Creator of the seasons, as the cold and dark winter begin to surround us, we ask that you set in us the […]
What do you do when you are invited to talk a bit about Forest Church and lead a fellowship meeting when it is held at night and in the dark part of the year? The evening at Barcaple started with an introduction to Quartz, and then reading Johns introduction to his Gospel. Light, and light […]
Those interested in pioneer ministry will hopefully be recognise many common ways of working in this article (and perhaps even identify glimmers of micro-gospels). The article is about creative placemaking, and a phrase which stood out to me is: “The common thread amongst various definitions, however, is that it is a process that helps to […]
On Sunday the 30th of October 2022 at 6pm we will be gathering in St John’s church building. The clocks will be changing to mark the end of British Summer time. The Nights are getting longer and darker, and the trees are drawing into themselves, letting go of their fruit and leaves. Seeds are buried […]
Here is a video made by Simon as part of his chaplaincy work with Dumfries High School. It was used during mental health week, with an introduction linking the advice given by Jesus to reflect on what is important, and the way in which our social media feed can drag our attention down unhealthy paths. […]
Here is a video clip produced as a collaboration between Alison and Kate. for the intercessions at an evening service in St John’s Dumfries we were encouraged to write prayers on long bandages. Then we wrapped them round a globe as an act of prayer. Kate videoed the finished glob and sung a song by […]
Some more thoughts by Alison, blogged by Simon for Quartz. Read part (I) here. In the first of these reflections Alison described encountering God “Sitting on a bench looking out at the Solway restores my soul, and through it I sense a spiritual truth and reality. In this place it comes naturally to me as […]
For those of you who are reading through the Psalms, here is Jeremy Irons reading them for you. https://jeremyirons.net/2019/04/23/jeremy-irons-reads-the-psalms/ They were recorded for the BBC and are read as poetry, with some music to accompany them.