Here's my contribution to 'my 2025 in 12 photographs'. It's been quite a year, thanks to all who have travelled with me and my prayers and best wishes for 2026.

O Christ, our Morning Star,
Splendour of Light Eternal,
shining with the glory of the rainbow,
come and waken us
from the greyness of our apathy,
and renew in us your gift of hope. Amen.

Venerable Bede.

Lovely morning to be out and about leading some services in Monmouthshire. We do have some lovely church buildings and gorgeous views.

A peaceful walk from Forest Coal Pit to the Shrine and church of St. Issui, Patrishow; followed by a visit to the holy well.

I did a placement in Blaina when training for ordination. A really informative time and lovely people. I still have a copy of the 'rape of the fair country' that they gave me when I left. Also the grandson of a mineral (Welsh).

I like to give my sermons a short title... today it was 'dazed and confused'... a touch of Led Zeppilin 😉

On today's World Red Cross & Red Crescent Day, we express our gratitude to our Red Cross & Red Crescent volunteers & staff, around the world, for changing the lives of millions of people every single day, providing care & assistance.

Even in the darkest moments, we remain on the side of humanity.

Happy Tuesday... my last day on retreat and up to catch the sunrise :-)

Alleluia, Christ is Risen! A happy and blessed Easter.
And what a backdrop to begin the Easter liturgy.

Today's walk has included dunes, beaches and a visit to the house of a certain fictional detective 😉

Some company for today's walk:
''As the deer longs for running streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.'' (Psalm 42).

Germans pay tribute to Bonhoeffer, 80 years after his execution ‘He lived to be only 39 — yet hardly any 20th-century Protestant had such a profound impact on Church and society’

German Protestants have commemorated one of their foremost theologians on the 80th anniversary of his execution during the final days of the Second World War

#Bonhoeffer #DietrichBonhoeffer

Reflecting on the life of St Joseph at today's Eucharist: 'a man of deeds rather than words' and the patron saint of workers. Praying today for all who are quietly going about the daily tasks of life, often not noticed but who make such a difference to our communities.

A fairly late decision to spend a few days in Cornwall this week and to walk stage 1 of the Cornish Celtic Way - here are some pics from the start (St German's) and where I got to (Polruan on the Fowey Estuary). Looking forward to completing the walk later this year.

What a lovely morning... and any early morning 7 mile walk to Llanwenarth (the only church in the Abergavenny Ministry Area I hadn't found). I think my body clock has gone into spring time 😀

After such a wet, windy and cold day it's good to be reminded of light shining in the darkness... and a church welcoming people to prayer.

You are all in my prayers. Take care.

And there was me thinking it was my age!

Big fish... little fish... 😀

Hadestown... sort of jazz meets Shakespeare in the underworld. Well worth seeing 😀

Lunch in the city...

Celebrating the feast of Candlemas and the gift of light for the world.

Today, on the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation, we honor the millions who suffered and perished in the Holocaust. For over 1.5 million people—mostly Jews—Auschwitz was the end of an unimaginable ordeal. For the International Committee of the Red Cross, it marks its greatest failure in its history, a failure to speak out and protect the millions of people who were subjected to Nazi persecution and genocide. As we reflect on this solemn day, let us renew our commitment to preserve the memory of Holocaust victims and survivors and to be steadfast in building a world where the dignity and humanity of every individual are not only recognized but fiercely defended—without exception, without hesitation, and without compromise.

Today, on the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz’s liberation, we honor the millions who suffered and perished in the Holocaust.

As we reflect on this solemn day, we renew our commitment to remember them and defend the dignity & humanity of all—without exception.

Read more: www.icrc.org/en/news-rele...

''A most pathetic service was held'' a wonderful newspaper description of the funeral service for my great-great- grandfather held in 1907..... of course meaning something very different to how we might interpret a similar comment today 😂

There are a few of your predecessors in the churchyard 😉