A rural Sunday

The frost soon cleared and the sun shone sparingly on a cool spring day. This morning I was leading worship at Bradmore, a secluded rural Methodist Chapel to the south of Nottingham. Some years ago we talked about a mission endeavour which culminated in the building of a prayer labyrinth in Rushcliffe Country Park, not far from Bradmore. It's 2 years since it was completed and according to John Randall, the main driving force behind its construction, is well used. So I stopped off at the country park before the service although I didn't get out of the car, I simple savoured to peace and stillness.

The service featured John Wesley's famous saying on a 'dead sect' and took the letter to the church at Laodicea and Nehemiah Chapter 1 as the texts. I introduced them to 'Sing of the Lord's goodness' which they seemed to enjoy.

After lunch I went to Wheatcrofts and bought some primulas and a squirrel dome for the bird feeder. I erected it and got the pole to stand up straight for the first time. I also planted the primulas and planted the wheelbarrow. I also put the rocks into the rock garden in the front. All in all with yesterday's work in the garden I feel I have achieved a great deal.

Esther popped around for a coffee. She had been to Wheatcrofts too and bought an orchid. She brought the Vaseline which we no longer need now that I've sorted the bird feeder. She confirmed that we can invite up to 120 people to our anniversary party at the Embankment.

A couple of years ago I sat with the members of Bradmore Methodist Church to discuss a community outreach project. This culminated in the building of a prayer labyrinth on Rushcliffe Country Park a mile up the road from Bradmore. This is used by visitors to the park although, how much they connect with its spirituality is questionable. Some use it for prayer, some simply walk around it while others kick footballs across it.