This afternoon I gave the lawn it's first cut of 2025.  It always amazes me how bulky the grass is that gets cut from a relatively small space... I had to empty the grass box three times, and by the end of it, my 'garden waste' bin was more than half full.  I also cut back the hydrangeas (someone told me this was a spring task and as long as I cut above the buds/shoots all will be ... time will tell).  The parsley and tarragon in the pots are springing up and it won't be long before the self-set mint is once more reaching skywards.

I'm not a gardener, but I do enjoy the metaphors that gardening (or at least agriculture and viniculture) offer for thinking about spirituality and church life... spring is that odd mixture of new life, with buds and blossom, and stripping back what has died off over the winter.  I find myself pondering what metaphorical spring 'gardening' tasks are being undertaken by God's Spirit in my life, and the lives of the communities I serve.

This weekend we were working with our students on aspects of governance, as part of which I led a session in Risk Assessment... HSE Tolerability of Risk 'carrot' diagrams, traffic light approaches and 'hazard house' pictures.  I hope it was vaguely useful - at least I had fun!

The annual Ministers' Conference has come round again.  It is nice to see familiar faces, especially those I know from BMS and BUGB and only ever see at conferences.  Enjoying some thoughtful presentations on the book of Romans, eating way too much food, and grateful for the quiet of my room after the hubbub of conversations all afternoon/evening.

Having caught up on some admin, I think that an early night is justified!

Rather a wonderful mug (perhaps something to add to my Offensive (TM) collection) from the US Baptist Women in Ministry network.  I love it!  It was a treat to self, and a symbol of solidarity with sisters across the pond.

A day of annual leave, and a lovely day out to Liverpool Cathedral to see the 'Threads Through The Bible' exhibition.  It was a lovely way to spend a couple of hours, and lots to ponder.

I think my favourite section was probably the Creation, and the photo is of 'In the beginning, God' - an attempt to express something of the mystery of God as a three-stranded spiral... an image that recurred throughout the panels.  Vibrant colours, tiny details, and a dancing creation from a swirling creator, it really was a delight.

The section on the life of Jesus was beautiful, and I loved the playful detail of a different bird on each panel, chosen for their symbolism, ancient or modern, fanciful or thoughtful.

For me, Threads through Revelation, wasn't anywhere near as attractive, in fat, apart form the final panel, it left e quite cold.  It was courageous and creative, attempting to express complex symbols without trying to make them something literal when they aren't, so all credit to the creator, just not really for me.

The exhibition will be touring over the next couple of years, and well worth visiting if you have the opportunity.  See more here