St Andrews - 5

Even the castle grounds were deserted - perhaps there was some big golf event going on that I was unaware of!

More time for meditation.

The rich man in his castle,
The poor man at his gate,
He made them, high or lowly,
And ordered their estate.

All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful:
The Lord God made them all.

It was a glorious day!

5th Sunday of Easter

Hardly the sort of vine that Jesus is referring to in the gospel today, but it is good to see this wisteria vine in full bloom. The vine, which looks so dead during Lent, bursts into new life at Easter - Alleluia!

This joyful Eastertide,
away with care and sorrow!
My Love, the Crucified,
hath sprung to life this morrow.
Refrain:
Had Christ, that once was slain,
ne'er burst his three-day prison,
our faith had been in vain;
but now is Christ arisen,
arisen, arisen, arisen.

Death's flood hath lost its chill,
since Jesus crossed the river:
Lover of souls, from ill
my passing soul deliver, Refrain

My flesh in hope shall rest,
and for a season slumber,
till trump from east to west
shall wake the dead in number. Refrain



Happy Sunday!

St Andrews - 4

Plenty of time for quiet meditation in the university garden. I was starting to wonder whether the grounds had been cleared for some special filming, and I was ruining everything!

Come, ye faithful, raise the strain of triumphant gladness;
God hath brought forth Israel into joy from sadness;
Loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke Jacob’s sons and daughters,
Led them with unmoistened foot through the Red Sea waters.

’Tis the spring of souls today; Christ has burst His prison,
And from three days’ sleep in death as a sun hath risen;
All the winter of our sins, long and dark, is flying
From His light, to Whom we give laud and praise undying.

Now the queen of seasons, bright with the day of splendour,
With the royal feast of feasts, comes its joy to render;
Comes to glad Jerusalem, who with true affection
Welcomes in unwearied strains Jesus’ resurrection.

Neither might the gates of death, nor the tomb’s dark portal,
Nor the watchers, nor the seal hold Thee as a mortal;
But today amidst the twelve Thou didst stand, bestowing
That Thy peace which evermore passeth human knowing.

Alleluia! - now we cry to our King immortal,
Who, triumphant, burst the bars of the tomb’s dark portal;
Alleluia! - with the Son, God the Father praising,
Alleluia! - yet again to the Spirit raising.

St Andrews - 3

Here we see the totally deserted main building of St Andrews University at high-noon. I know that there are cut backs in public spending on higher education, but this is ridiculous!

Still, I had plenty of peace and quiet for my Easter meditation.

A brighter dawn is breaking,
And earth with praise is waking;
For Thou, O King, most highest,
The power of death defiest.

And Thou hast come victorious,
With risen body glorious,
Who now forever livest,
And life abundant givest.

O free the world from blindness,
And fill the world with kindness,
Give sinners resurrection,
Bring striving to perfection.

In sickness give us healing,
In doubt Thy clear revealing,
That praise to Thee be given
In earth as in Thy Heaven.

St Andrews - 2

Here we see the main building of the university at 12 noon - during term time. Where is everyone? Don't tell me they are all in the library!

Tell me the old, old story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.
Tell me the story simply, as to a little child,
For I am weak and weary, and helpless and defiled.

Refrain

Tell me the old, old story, tell me the old, old story,
Tell me the old, old story, of Jesus and His love.

Tell me the story slowly, that I may take it in,
That wonderful redemption, God’s remedy for sin.
Tell me the story often, for I forget so soon;
The early dew of morning has passed away at noon.

Refrain

Tell me the story softly, with earnest tones and grave;
Remember I’m the sinner whom Jesus came to save.
Tell me the story always, if you would really be,
In any time of trouble, a comforter to me.

Refrain

Tell me the same old story when you have cause to fear
That this world’s empty glory is costing me too dear.
Yes, and when that world’s glory is dawning on my soul,
Tell me the old, old story: “Christ Jesus makes thee whole.”

Refrain

St Andrews - 1

I recently paid a visit to St Andrews - and had lunch in my favourite restaurant, the Doll's House. This is the restaurant where (the then) Kate Middleton worked as a part-time waitress when she was a student at the University. How her life has changed!

I have never seen the town so quiet - perhaps people knew that I was planning to visit! Here we see the main street looking towards the ruins of the Cathedral.

I had a delicious lunch and sat at the table at which the body guards sat when Prince William and Kate were out courting. I was informed that on one occasion, the couple asked to have the body guards moved, as they were being a nuisance! The restaurant is superb value - just £6.95 for a two course lunch. I also enjoyed a quarter litre of wine - well, it is Eastertide. I had to taste the vine's new fruit!

Thou hallowed chosen morn of praise,
that best and greatest shinest;
fair Easter, queen of all the days,
of seasons, best, divinest!
Christ rose from death; and we adore
forever and forevermore.

Come, let us taste the Vine's new fruit,
for heavenly joy preparing;
today the branches with the root
in resurrection sharing:
whom as true God our hymns adore
forever and forevermore.

Rise, Zion, rise! and looking forth,
behold thy children round thee!
From east and west, from south and north,
thy scattered sons have found thee;
and in thy bosom Christ adore
forever and for evermore.

O Father, O co-equal Son,
O co-eternal Spirit,
in persons Three, in Godhead One,
and One in power and merit;
in thee baptized, we thee adore
forever and for evermore.

May Day

In many parts of Britain it is traditional to have maypole dancing on 1 May.

The winter’s sleep was long and deep,
But earth is awakened and gay;
For the life ne’er dies that from God doth rise,
And the green comes after the grey.

So God doth bring the world to spring;
And on this holy day
Doth the Church proclaim her Apostles’ fame,
To welcome the first of May.

Two saints of God went by the road
That leadeth on to light;
And they gave up all at their Master’s call,
To work in their Master’s sight.

Would Philip’s mind the Father find?
Lo, he hath found the Way;
For to know the Son is to know the One
Whom the earth and the heavens obey.

And James, ’twas thine by grace divine
To preach the Christian life,
Where our faith is shown by our works alone,
And love overcometh strife.

Lord, grant that we may brethren be—
As Christians live in deed;
For it is but so we can learn to know
The truth that to Thee doth lead.

This hymn of course is for use in those churches which keep 1 May as the Feast of Sts Philip and James, rather than St Joseph the Worker.

For those of you who have never seen maypole dancing, here is video of some well-trained dancers in Oxfordshire.



They seem to capture the joyful mood of this Easter Season!

Happy May Day!