Travel, Trees, and the gift of Time

Last month I stood inside a c.4,000 year old yew tree. It put time into perspective for a few moments: when the locals hollowed out the trunk of the tree in 1820 and put a door in it(!) they found a cannonball buried in the trunk, presumed to date from the English Civil War; the yew was already around 2,000 years old at the time of Jesus’ birth and was roughly 1,200 years old when Isaiah prophesied about a Saviour King to come.

I’m now back from sabbatical and working to deadlines again, but although hanging around inside trees may have to come to an end I’m keen to keep in mind God’s bigger perspective on time as I go about my week!

I’m looking forward to preaching a series in the autumn on ‘The Tree of Life’, and how God uses trees in the bible, from the beginning to end, to point us to the life and salvation that only Jesus – hung on a tree - can bring.

Over the last 12 weeks I’ve visited N Ireland, seen family and friends around the UK, had four weeks in Tuscany with Libby, and worshipped in all kinds of churches and cathedrals (including singing hymns and reciting the creed in Welsh!).

I’d love to share with you some of our experiences, and so I will be organising an evening in August in church with coffee and cake, and a few photos and thoughts from my sabbatical - see our website for more information.

It’s good to be back, and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

Your friend and Vicar,

Mick