Day 1 Lindisfarne

Up early this morning for Morning Prayer service. Turns out the Anglican way is to follow Morning Prayer with Holy Communion. Two for one as it were.

Lovely breakfast at the High Rigg House where we are staying. Then off to find a cappuccino. Turns out the local post office is all set up to brew.

From there we walked partway along the Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve. Beautiful walk. We'll return tomorrow to finish.

Boats which were at one time used for fishing, are now turned upside down and used to store the fishermen's gear. They are called fishermen stores.

St. Aidan prayed;
Leave me alone with God as much as may be.
As the tide draws the waters close in upon the shore,
Make me an island, set apart,
Alone with You, O God, holy to You.

The Holy Island of Lindisfarne

We traveled across Scotland today, and tonight I am in England. Who knew?

The journey today began with the ferry taking us off Iona, to the Isle of Mull. Then an hour to drive across Mull, arriving just in time to get the ferry over to Oban. From there it was a 5 hour drive across Scotland into England. We drove along the North Sea and arrived in Berwick Upon Tweed and from there across the causeway where Holy Island becomes an island when the tide comes in. In our case that was 45 minutes after we drove over. It's quite a gathering place for swans.

It's critical to know the tide tables. People misjudge often enough that structures have been erected in the causeway for the stranded to swim to safety. Their cars have to be abandoned to the sea.

A highlight of the drive was the time spent driving through Loch Lomand National Park.

We are back to walking everywhere, beginning with pub dining tonight and Morning Prayer service early tomorrow.

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.'
And he replied:
'Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. '
ML. Hoskins

Leaving Iona

For those who depart Iona, there is a Leaving Service at the Abbey. One of the prayers is:

The Maker's blessing be yours
on your road
on your journey
guiding you, cherishing you.

Tonight's service was a combination Silent Service and Taize. Quiet time on a Sunday night.

Tomorrow we will be on the 9am ferry across the Iona Sound to Mull, where we will pick up our car and journey across Scotland to Lindisfarne (Holy Island). It turns out this is in England. Yep, I'm headed to England. What a surprise!

P.S.

I may have stayed on the beach too long, as the return walk pretty much did me in. I walked past a sheep that clearly looked like how I felt.

Day 6 on Iona

At the Harvest service this morning the lesson was from Genesis.

God said, “I command the water under the sky to come together in one place, so there will be dry ground.” And that’s what happened. God named the dry ground “Land,” and he named the water “Ocean.” God looked at what he had done and saw that it was good.

I have seen that "good" in everywhere I have walked, stood, or gazed out upon.

This day we returned to the beach on the north shore. It is about a 45-50 minute walk, past fields of grass and sheep. When the beach comes into view it takes your breath away. The surrounding islands are all hues of green and blue and lavender.

While on the beach, I created a mandala - out of seaweed, kelp, shells and rocks. A mandala is a prayer form which involves creating a circular design.

Tomorrow we leave this thin place where I have indeed experienced a closer space between heaven and earth.

Worship Excellence

With the worship service this morning, I have now attended 12 services of worship. Morning and Evening Prayer, Compline, Service of Harvest Thanksgiving.

I'm struck with the excellence of worship in each service. Led by both Iona community staff and volunteers, it is obvious that each person is intentional about preparation and presentation.

In the The Iona Worship Book we use are these words: "We will not offer to God offerings that cost us nothing."

I believe leading worship whether it be by clergy or laity, is an offering to God. And if we do not prepare, it feels like an offering without cost.

I take home with me a renewed commitment for those times I am called to participate in worship, to give to God an offering of my time to prepare and to serve.

How to get the day started on Iona

This morning the owner of Martyr's Bay Restaurant asked me if I was the one who had emailed some many weeks ago inquiring if I would be able to find espresso on Iona. Indeed, that was me.