031/365:2010

The Baptism of Elizabeth Kee, our wee niece, in St Peter's Free Church, Dundee - the Church of Robert Murray M'Cheyne.

030/365:2010 Poppy

Poppy Toller the rabbit, residing in Dundee.

029/365:2010 Passing the Port

Jetting off for a weekend in Dundee, it was time to get the passport out.

028/365:2010 Rainbow Toes

Leaving it late today for a photo, this a spectrum of coloured socks straight out of the washing machine!

027/365:2010 Home Sweet Home!

Having been away for several days at the Proclamation Trust NIMA Preaching Conference it's nice to dump the bags in the hall and be back home again!

026/365:2010 Dry Stone Wall

A free afternoon in which to explore the Mournes. This was above Annalong, and I liked the contrast between the 'wee' stones and the big mountains. The left peak is Bignian / Binnian depending on spelling.

025/365:2010 To The Mournes

En route to Newcastle, I spotted this view between Ballykinlar and Clough looking towards the Mourne Mountains. This was taken on the iPhone for quick upload, but a full 15megapixel version will come shortly to replace it!

024/365:2010 Uncollared

Sunday afternoon and the clerical collar can come off. We wear civvies at the evening service. Abstract view of the white collar!

023/365:2010 East to West

The view from the very top of the Belmont Road, looking over East Belfast and beyond. A hazy day, after quite heavy fog last night. Took this on my way to Tesco!

This is one of the few photos on my Flickr account that have been edited. Normally they come straight from the camera, so in this case, what do you think of it? Is it too artificial? Colours and exposure were tweaked a wee bit.

022/365:2010 Commissioning

The Commissioning of Trevor Johnston as Ireland Team Leader of Crosslinks, the Evangelical Anglican mission agency. The service was held in St Saviours Church, Dollingstown, and I was asked to take some photos, so I planted myself in the gallery from which to get a good vantage point. This was during the prayer of commissioning itself, when all the ministers present were invited to join in the laying on of hands. A powerful moment, and a great service with the word faithfully proclaimed by Bishop Wallace Benn of Lewes.

021/365:2010 Raindrops

Three full weeks completed on the 365 photo a day challenge. It's raining. Again. Spring and summer, please come soon!

020/365:2010 Ballyclare

Ballyclare is a small town in County Antrim. This is the town hall (I think) in the middle of the town Square, lit up by night.

019/365:2010 I'm a Little Teapot!

Contrary to the popular notion that all ministers drink endless rivers of tea and coffee, I don't ever drink coffee, and rarely drink tea. Very surprising for some parishioners who insist on making tea. I think some wonder if I'm secretly a Mormon or something!

The reason there are two handles visible is because this is an ingenious teapot with matching cup underneath.

018/365:2010 Thoughts for the Day

I love books. The house is coming down with them. When I'm reading a book, I like to engage with it - but I won't write inside a book. Instead, I use one of these quarter slices of A4 paper on which to take notes, interesting thoughts, good arguments, or bits I don't agree with, all of which help me when I come to review the book on my blog. It's also a helpful bookmark to find my place!

My current reading is 'Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture' by Graeme Goldsworthy. It has sat on my shelves for too long, so eventually I'm getting through it and benefiting immensely! Why didn't I read it a long time ago?

In this photo, you also get to see my scrawly, tiny handwriting! I'm sure a handwriting psychology expert would have a field day with my sample!

017/365:2010 Evening Church

Gathering for our evening meeting. Light isn't great, but it's the only photo I'm taking today!

016/365:2010 Belfast Stormtrooper Invasion

Belfast was invaded by Imperial Stormtroopers today. Perhaps they're here until Policing and Justice are devolved? Spotted at Cornmarket.

015/365:2010 Ready Steady Cook!

Tonight we had a fundraiser in church in the Ready Steady Cook format, hosted by The Pampered Chef agent, Shirley Kerr. Johnny (our Youth Worker) and myself (the Curate) were each given a bag of ingredients with which to make a meal... Johnny won the judges' vote, but I won the popular vote by the audience!

014/365:2010 A Big White Lump... and the Remains of a Snowman!

I was at a training morning, so this afternoon I took a quick walk at Stormont estate to clear my head and think through my Family Service talk for Sunday morning. While there, I spotted the last bit of snow, the remains of a snowman.

013/365:2010 College Colours

Another cold and wet day for some visiting this afternoon. My scarf was very necessary to keep me warm! It's my undergrad scarf from Trinity College Dublin. Several years ago, I was in London, and a man walking past on the street recognised the colours and instantly shouted out Trinity Dublin!

012/365:2010 Beanz!

Today's a horrible day, cold and windy, so when I got back from staff meeting I wanted a quick and easy lunch. Cue the baked beans on toast! Plenty of pepper gives some variation from the reddy orangey tomato sauce!

011/365:2010 Love So Amazing

After a busy day, it's nice to relax at the piano and play (very badly). The line comes from 'When I Survey The Wondrous Cross' and concludes: Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. Amen!

010/365:2010 To Beard or Not To Beard?

To beard or not to beard, that is the question. A necessary trim of the unruly beard before church gave inspiration for today's shot.

009/365:2010 Secondhand Books

I love books, especially secondhand bargains. The Evangelical Bookshop opposite Inst is a treasure trove of secondhand books down in the back room. I could spend hours in it! On my day off we came into town and I had a wee
visit. Only bought one book today, which is a miracle of epic proportions!

008/365:2010 The Blank (Sermon) Page

Friday morning is normally sermon writing morning, but the challenge is always getting started. The introduction has to be gripping and draw people in. The first words are important, so need careful thought. I'm preaching from 1 Thessalonians 2, so here goes...

007/365:2010 Back in the Box

A day late, but the Christmas Tree has been consigned to the box for the long hibernation until the middle of December. Sleep well, O Christmas tree!

006/365:2010 Stormont Double

A late substitution for my 365 photo of the day. Reflection of the Parliament Building at Stormont in one of the benches surrounding the Carson statue. Here's the previous choice which has now been replaced:



The view from our bedroom window over the village of Dundonald. More snow fell this morning giving another layer of white. In the foreground of the picture is the roof of the old Rectory, and beyond is (left to right) the old St Elizabeth's Church, the new St Elizabeth's Church, and the Cleland Mausoleum. (First 2 comments are from this picture being uploaded).

005/365:2010 Suds

Suds slipping down the plughole this morning after my bath. Our shower
stopped working on Christmas morning and we haven't got it fixed yet.
Hopefully tomorrow. In the meantime, it's baths all round...

004/365:2010 Ready for Soldiers!

Today's photo comes from my lunch, and a nice runny boiled egg and some toast soldiers.

003/365:2010 Hot And Cold

First Sunday back in Church after the New Year and our Christmas holidays and my cold struck with a vengeance. I was leading the service but could hardly speak so my colleague tool over for parts. I'm meant to be preaching later, so I'm wrapped in a blanket having a hot Beechams flu plus drink. Bleugh!

002/365:2010 Stingray Smile

Had a wee afternoon in Exploris Aquarium down in Portaferry. Lots of nice fish to try and take photos of. Some were more successful than others. This was my favourite catch of the day!

001/365:2010 Sunset Pylon

Were you waiting for it? Maybe you thought I'd forgotten on the very first day, but no, here we are.

Today we had the usual New Year's Day family event at one of the aunt and uncle's houses. After lunch we went out for a walk and I captured this sunset. We've started! Now for Day Two's photo...