Jeanette 10th july

VICARS BLOG - 10^TH JULY.

DUNBAR HARBUR, SCOTLAND.

Over the last week we have certainly sailed and made some headway on our pilgrimage. Yesterday we sailed into Dunbar harbour to be greeted by my sister and her family. They had prepared a meal, as well as alcoholic provisions, and we sat in the cabin of pilgrim

Highlights of the week have been;

1. Sailing into Whitby, and seeing the Abbey from the sea.

1. Going to County Durham, and being joined by friends Gillian and Douglas who took as to two places associated with the Venerable Bede. St. Paul’s Jarrow were he lived most of his life and wrote his history of the church in Britain, and St. Peters Church Monkwearmouth, which was another house associated with his community. We also visited Bedes World and exhibition centre about Bede and his community.

2. Visiting Durham Cathedral, and taking part in a service in Durham Cathedral, at the shrine of St. Cuthbert  giving thanks for the Lindisfarne Gospels which are in Durham City, at present.

4. Sailing into Holy Island accompanied by a party of inquisitive seals.

Later that evening as we were sitting on the boat, drinking wine, and we heard the beautiful but eerie sound of them singing as they basked in the late evening sunshine, on a beach opposite Pilgrim’s anchorage.

5. Walking around Lindisfarne Priory ruins the home of St. Cuthbert and Aiden.

There has been so much to reflect on and give thanks to God for. On Sunday when Chris and I said Morning Prayer on the back of Pilgrim, the focus of our prayers was the work of religious communities today, their continuing commitment to prayer and hospitality. And having seen so much beauty in our coastline, and in the variety of birds we’ve seen, and the friendliness of the seals, we prayed for all those who work in conservation.

Themes that were embraced by the Celtic church.

Almighty God,

who called your servant Cuthbert from following the flock

to follow your Son and to be a shepherd of your people:

in your mercy grant that we, following his example,

may bring those who are lost home to your fold;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Some recollections from our journey to Holy Island. The words above are the collect (Special Prayer) for St. Cuthbert, who was Bishop of Lindisfarne, (Holy Island).  We anchored at Holy Island, arriving in the evening after a long day’s sailing, having left Seaham at 5.50am. It was lovely to sea Holy Island loom into the distance, looking like a huge rock. Gradually the castle came into view. As we arrived we were greeted by a number of seals, who looked with curiosity at as we set about releasing our anchor.

I was at the helm bringing the boat in being careful to follow the buoys. Chris and I have both got more confident in handling the boat as well as working as a team.

After a meal we sat out on the back of Pilgrim with a glass of wine, listening to the seals ‘singing’. A strangely eerie sound, but also rather beautiful. This morning I had my early morning cup of tea, again sitting on the back of the boat listening to the seals dawn chorus, looking at them through my binoculars.

Thought of Nelson, he would have joined in the chorus and the seals would have replied!!!!!!!!!!!!  Now in Scotland and over to look at the Isle of May and onto Arbroath, then Stonehaven – Peterhead –Whitehills-Findhorn and then Inverness, into the Caledonian Canal.