Today is my father’s birthday. He and my mum are pictured above on their honeymoon, I believe, in or near Strathyre in Scotland. Dot and I also honeymooned there, and last year we visited the village for the first time in many years and believe we identified the cottage!

The other day I noticed something odd on my father’s grave. I had always believed he was born in 1912, but his tombstone has him dying on 13 March, 1956 aged 42.  If the birth date I believed is in fact correct, he must have been 43 and nearly 44 when he died. Clearly more research is needed.

An excellent Easter at church, with three really good events: an “ambient wonder” Maundy Thursday evening, with interactive opportunities; a Good Friday event at St Luke’s concentrating on the persecuted church; and an Easter Sunday Communion at St Augustine’s which I organised, expoecting a very small congregation. We had about 30 (big for us), and it all went well, even the strawberried, sparkling wine and Dot’s delicious simnal cake afterwards.
Used some songs and poems of mine, including

EASTER SKY

Is this a crucifixion or a resurrection sky?
Is it the sky he was pinned to like a butterfly
skin running with blood
clouds stained sunset-red?
Or is it the ash-black, volcano-scarred sky
that lets no life through?
Darkness at noon, blank
as a worn-down tombstone,
words weathered away?
Is it the lightning-bright sky
torn apart by splinters of broken law,
channels for tingling spirit?
Or is it the arching white glory of an aching Easter dawn,
transfiguring, clean sheet, reborn?

And if a man walks down the valley and asks
the way to heaven,
does he look up?
Does he stumble as stones roll away?
Is there a lamb in the garden,
or someone praying beneath a tree?
A woman may meet an angel
out of the blue:
bread and wine may be set on rock,
waiting for fire.
Almost anything could happen.

But keep watching the sky.
Soon the stars will sing together
and you may catch a glimpse of the shining, shekinah walls
of the city of God, though not
as you imagined them.
The sky always surprises you.