Coronavirus Journal October

If you want to see the earlier entries,
click here >> Coronavirus Journal for September
click here >> Coronavirus Journal for August
click here >> Coronavirus Journal for July

October 28th

SADNESS
It is with sorrow that I have to tell you that lovely Janet Hastings, after losing her courageous battle with cancer has now gone to be with the Lord she loved and served all her life. We will so miss the beautiful creative writing that she shared with us and her amazing smile and attitude to life. Pauline, a good friend and regular attendee at Kingdom Arts used to send her butterfly cards every day since her diagnosis. ….what a lovely, thoughtful gesture. Pauline always made butterfly cards as Janet loved the butterfly symbol of Resurrection New Life. I asked her to let me see one and here is one she made. So beautiful. Thank you.

Alex

 

You will find examples of Janet’s writing in the Creative Writing section

February 2019 : Living Water

January 2020 : The Temple


October 19th

A harvest poem from Helen

It’s easy to forget the importance of harvestime in our urban world, yet it is vital for the well-being of all living plants and creatures, including us. Helen’s poem is a beautiful reminder . . .

Read it in the October Writing page

October 13th

Today should have been our October gathering and a chance to enjoy fellowship and one (or two) of Jan’s delicious soups. Here’s one you might like to try at home:

Curried Pumpkin  Soup

This autumn/ harvest soup is full of goodness and is delicious. Pumpkins will be plentiful this autumn; it could be eaten at lunch or in the evening, it is sure to warm you through the season.  It is high in fibre is free from dairy, nuts (provided you remove all seeds), eggs and wheat. It is easy to make and can be frozen. It serves 4.

Ingredients

1 medium pumpkin, de-seeded and chopped.
2 tbsp coconut oil, melted (or substituted by oil of preference)
½ tsp ground cinnamon
750ml vegetable stock
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
1 ½ tbsp curry powder
Coriander chopped to garnish
Salt and pepper to taste

Method

1. Reheat oven to 200 degrees centigrade.
2. Remove seeds from the pumpkin, chop into chunks and place on a lined baking tray.
3. Drizzle the coconut oil (or substitute) over the chunks, season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with cinnamon.
4. Using your fingers, massage the oil and spice into the pumpkin.
5. Roast for around 35 mins or until the orange flesh is easily pierced with a fork.
6. Place the pumpkin into a blender or liquidiser. Add the vegetable stock, lemon juice and curry powder and blend until smooth. Add water until the consistency is right.
7. Place in a medium sized saucepan and heat on the hob for a further 5 mins.
8. Serve and garnish with coriander and pumpkin seeds ( if liked).

 


October 7th

Falling?

 

A ripe rosy apple has fallen from the tree
It lies alone, glistening in the rain-soaked grass until
A small brown black slug slides across the skin looking for
A place to enter and spread the rot
Like the doubts and anxieties entering my thoughts to spread discontentment
Shall despair takes hold?
No!
I remove the slug
I wash the apple clean then
Like Eve I invite you to share it.

 

© Barbara Rolison, Kingdom Arts, 2020


Trees

Two images of my take on the autumn colours.

One: Colours on the tree…..

 

The other: A tree hand . . . with the leaves falling through . . .

 

can be a tree . . . or my hand trying to catch them . . . colours are vibrant reflecting God’s gifts of nature and colour and Glory.

Shefali


October 6th

The days are changing and the nights are drawing in. Autumn is here, all those gorgeous colours appearing on the trees as they change colour, those wonderful reds, golds and yellows. Our minds turn at this time of the year to Harvest. No Harvest suppers for us all this year, I am afraid! However this lovely very old Harvest Hymn came to mind as I was walking along today in the late burst of sunshine…

All good gifts around us are sent from Heaven above, then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord for all His Love

So we take Harvest as our theme this month and especially Psalm 65:6-13… a psalm that depicts a world alive with the Bounty and Glory of God.
Here we read about the abundant harvest that God provides and the psalmist is giving thanks to God for pouring out His Blessing on the Land.
This makes us think and be aware, even in the midst of our upside down world at the moment, that if we take a moment to look we can see the world around us is alive with the beauty and splendour of God. Do as the psalmist says at the end of the psalm, “shout and sing for joy”.

How about capturing something of this beauty and Glory in word, or music, or art using the glorious Autumn colours, or fruits, or vegetables?
Send them to us for our delight and encouragement. Make our October webpage a feast of colour and praise to God.

Sue and Alex.