HRH The Duke of Edinburgh

Sadly we are now marking the death yesterday of HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and consort to The Queen for seventy three years.

I don't think any of us can imagine what it must have been like to live his life, but his contribution not only to his family, and to The Queen's reign, but to his own interests including wildlife conservation, science and engineering have shown his sharp intelligence and curiosity. His interest in and encouragement to young people has been inspiring to hundreds of thousands around the world. Most of all the value of his support to Her Majesty through their long marriage has been incalculable.

This prayer has been issued to mark his death:

God of our lives,

we give thanks for the life of Prince Philip,

for his love of our country,

and for his devotion to duty.

We entrust him now to your love and mercy.

Through our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

Amen

Easter Sunday

The greatest celebration of the year, when we remember our risen Lord, alive again so that we, too, may live.

Wonderful that so many churches have opened for gathered worship today, many thanks to Rev. Sally Rees who came to Llanbedr to lead us in Holy Communion this morning, and especially joyful to compare this Easter with last year - all churches closed, people fearful and angry, hardly a celebration at all.

To make the point that this year is, indeed, joyful, today in the Vale of Gwryne I saw a swallow.

Hurray indeed!

Tuesday in Holy Week

We are approaching Easter, thinking of the presence of Jesus Christ among us here on earth. He was certainly here, and he is certainly still here among us. No harm to be done in remembering the Celtic rune of hospitality, marked for today by Kenneth MacLeod

among the Aidan Readings in the Northumbria Community's Celtic Daily Prayer:

I saw a stranger yestere'en.

I put food in the eating place,

drink in the drinking place,

music in the listening place,

and in the sacred name of the Triune

He blessed myself and my house,

my cattle and my dear ones,

and the lark said in her song

often, often, often,

goes Christ in the stranger's guise.