It seems that this week the press and web are full of people discussing whether or not is is OK to refer to God using feminine language. 

Firstly, this is hardly new.  Such debates have gone on for as long as people have worshipped God.

Secondly, any half decent reading of Scripture will reveal metaphors for God that are "animal, vegetable and mineral" including feminine ones.

Thirdly, last Sunday I happened to use two feminine metaphors - Midwife and Mother - drawn from the OT as part of my reflections.  So please keep up, press and web, this is old news for us!!

Now and then I work part of a day from home to fit around meetings etc. at this end of my 'patch'.

Sometimes that can be tricky because one or other cat borrows my laptop to plot world domination (or check there are sufficient photos of them on social media).

Good job this is my lunch break, then!!

Sometimes we need to be reminded of, or given permission to do, these things

Nowadays it is comparatively rare for me to hand write anything of any substance.  I jot down notes for sermons, or key points for letters or emails, but that's about it.

Today I actually wrote out longhand a first draft of my reflection for Sunday, which meant the first typed draft was already partly refined.

And it was good.  Maybe I should do it more often! 

Maybe now the commentaries and worship books are nearer the desk and further from the computer, I will.

Anyway, in another rare event, for the second successive week by the end of Tuesday I have a full first draft for Sunday.  In theory this should lead to lots more honing; in practice time will tell!!

The annual theological reflection group BBQ - with the weather doing what it does best on the west side of these islands... blowing a hoolie/gale and bucketing/stoating/hammering rain.  So we put on our waterproofs, hats and gloves and had a JOLLY GOOD TIME in best British stiff upper lip/West of Scotland fatalism fashion.

The food was plentiful and delicious
The company was happy and vivacious

And by the time we were heading homewards, the sun broke through.

A really fun evening.  Huge thanks to B & K for their hospitality and to O & C who acted as waiting staff

We certainly weathered the weather, whatever the whether, whether we liked it or not!!

Photos copyright KF