Lindisfarne Days - the Second Day

Cuthbert - Anam Cara

Genesis 1:6

And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters 
to separate water from water."

Information about the life of Cuthbert here

seal off Cuthbert's isle

In my heart I feel a great similarity between Cuthbert and Francis of Assisi. Cuthbert doesn't seem to carry the angst that Francis suffers; perhaps because elder 'brother' Aidan had gone before him. He holds the same sense of mindfulness of the world around him; tales of praying otters and friendly 'Cuddy' (Eider) ducks add to the sense of a man at one with creation.

Like Aidan he carries with him the sense of God's hospitality which results in a ministry of welcoming others with a kindness that is both physical and spiritual. The wildness of Lindisfarne is even now held in a breath of God's peace which captures the pilgrim with the first step onto the island and is in everything.

Massie's Cafe

If you have not visited then you may imagine that the island as some kind of open air cathedral with 'quiet please' signs on every corner. In fact, the change of the tide brings a wealth of visitors; pilgrims, fishermen, photographers, National Trust members, birdwatchers, ramblers, families with buckets and spades. There is a camp for inner-city and underpriviledged children, a varied selection of B&B's, hotels, holiday cottages and, yes, even retreat houses. And people live there, work there and commute there -and back again. In spite of the vaguaries of weather and tide - even the children sometimes have to board off-island - it is a home and a place of welcome. 

view across to Bamburgh; 

The wisdom and healing of Cuthbert called to just as many people way back then - Anam Cara meaning soul friend - despite the difficulties of travelling and the waiting on the capricious nature of wind and wave. And whilst the grace of God may be without measure; there is a human cost; even the most compassionate of friends needs a time to rest. 

Before he headed out to the remote refuge of the Farne islands, Cuthbert found a space apart on a little outcrop isle now known as Cuthbert's Island - this place being cut off even from Lindisfarne itself at certain points of the tide. 

Cuthbert's isle 

Arriving on Lindisfarne my first call is often the hill overlooking the isle to gauge the likelihood of getting on during the day. This has to be measured with care as the tide moves in rapidly over rocks and quicksand catching your balance even when quite shallow. The remains of a chapel capture the heart with thoughts of nights spent in prayer and rest held against the heart of God and sometimes against the furies of the Spirit's storms. The poem below was written on a day of fury and grace.

Cuthbert's chapel

The tip of the isle is called the promontory and is a place to stand against the wind and the gaze of the setting sun - see my post Lindisfarne Pilgrim.

Some Christians question the need for saints; surely the personal relationship with Jesus is all we should strive for. But I have a need of friends who have gone before; as brothers and sisters who can lead me home.  From my first step on this island it felt that Cuthbert has made a space for me. 

Island Madness

Madness rains;

Baltic storms hauled westward

By an intake of Earth’s breath.

This place, a vortex of power;

Creation’s pride overflowing.

Snow, wind and waves

Unbound in glorious fury

Against rock and stone.

While God’s breastplate

defends the Heavens,

glowering at a gunmetal sea.

Madness reigns;

Pilgrims called eastward

By the Spirit’s insistent breath.

Fellowship bound in Faith,

Boundless in Love.

Leaps of laughter,

in defiance of Gaia’s boasting,

are tempered by the

Aweful recognition of earthpower.

Yet it is transient man who is pledged

In Covenant to Creation’s Lord.

Blessed be.

wordinthehand2012

Northumbria Community's Compline for Tuesday here

Lindisfarne Days - The First Day

Aidan - Flame of the North 

Genesis 1:3

And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 

The end of this week sees the feast day of St Aidan and the Lindisfarne saints. On the island this is a week of thanksgiving. 

For a wonderful account of the life of Aidan see Canon Kate Tristam's article here. 

St Aidan's Bamburgh
from the Baptistry

When I have the time, my visits to Lindisfarne include paying my respects to Wilfrid at Hexham and then Aidan at St Aidan's in Bamburgh. By tradition, Aidan died in an earlier wooden church on this site and the beam he was leaning against has survived two major fires. Benedictines rebuilt the church in the 12th Century, honouring the memory of the Celtic 'apostle'. 

In a symbol of resurrection the beam is now part of the roof work over the baptistry. 

There is a simple shrine over the ground where he lay and, touchingly, prayer tokens take the celtic shape of shells, pebbles and feathers tucked into a little stone recess at the side.  

Then it is often a case of racing the tide for the crossing - it seems to be another personal tradition to only just make it one way or the other. 

This year was the first year that I made the crossing on foot - in bare feet to be precise - following the sentinel posts that mark safe passage. The poem and post Pilgrim Sands celebrates the experience of walking in the footsteps of all those who wander for the love of Christ.  

There are always poems surfacing in thanksgiving that my own 'wandering' leads me to a place of ebb and flow. A place where the Spirit feeds my spirit and then sends me home to follow my own roads and pathways of life and ministry. 

There are probably a thousand ways of expressing Celtic spirituality - a thought that came to me about Aidan is that he carries God's hospitality with him. That wherever he was, he was the doorkeeper to the Kingdom - and his lamp was always lit.

Blessing of Aidan 

May you  shine with Heaven's Light 

May your heart be Light

in Love's longing

May your words be Light 

in dark times

May your hands be Light

in life's struggles

May your feet be Light

in sharing journeys

and bringing all to the Feast

May you shine with Heaven's Light

Blessed be

wordinthehand2012

The Northumbria Community offers an on-line Daily Office which includes a Compline dedicated to the Lindisfarne saints. Monday is for Aidan

On the island there is a whole week of celebration leading up to Aidan's day on Friday - for those who are able to be there - and I wish I was one of them - this is the events diary and and more details here

26/08/12 St Aidan's Week/St.Mary's church: Choral Evensong with the Choir of St Cuthbert's Norham 17:30hrs 27/08/12 St Aidan's Week/St.Mary's church: Procession of the Lindisfarne Gospels (Facsimile) beginning at St Aidan's Church 15:30hrs 28/08/12 St Aidan's Week/St.Mary's church: Evening Prayer, followed by a of commemoration of St Aidan 17:30hrs 29/08/12 St Aidan's Week/St.Mary's church: Concert with 'Village Voices' 19:00hrs. 31/08/12 St AIDAN'S DAY/St.Mary's church: Holy Communion 08:00hrs. 31/08/12 St AIDAN'S DAY/St.Mary's church: Mass celebrated by Fr Des McGivern, preacher Revd Rachel Poolman 11:00hrs. Followed by a Barbecue at the Open Gate and 'Story Telling' in church with Adam Bushnell. 1/09/12 St AIDAN'S DAY/St.Mary's church: Story Telling in church with Adam Bushnell at 11:30hrs. 2/09/12 St AIDAN'S DAY/St.Mary's church: Parish Communion and walking of the ancient monastic bounds; preacher Revd Mark Tanner, Warden of Cranmer Hall 10:45hrs.

Feast of St Ebba

c615 - 683

Ebba was a princess, the daughter of King Æthelfrith of Bernicia and Acha of Deira. Her brothers were the Kings, Oswald and Oswy  and with their support she established a monastery at Ebchester and later at urbs Coludi, now known as Kirk Hill at St Abb's Head, latterly evolving into Coldingham Priory. This religious house lasted for about 40 years and was a double separate monastery of both monks and nuns governed by Ebba.

Legend says she became a nun to avoid the attentions of a certain Prince. Seems that women who want to be valued for who they are quickly turn to God. However, he refused to give up and it is said that due to her prayers the tide stayed high around Kirk Hill for three days and protected her.

Ebba was a great teacher and politician, bringing Christianity to the pagan Angles who had been settling along the east coast of Britain since the 5th century. 

The reality of life in the early Christian establishment was not always strict on sexual piety. Due to the noble background of members of the religious community, the monastery would also have been a place for eating, drinking and entertainment. While Ebba, herself was noted for her own piety, it seems that she would withdraw from the community rather than providing the necessary discipline at the monastery. As often happened when people are not naturally drawn to the rigours of religious life the monks and nuns found their own amusements. Perhaps she should have taken some instruction from Hilda who was seemingly ruling Whitby with a rod of virtuous iron.

It is told that St. Cuthbert would visit Ebba's monastery to instruct the community. At night Cuthbert would disappear to bathe and pray in the sea, to stop himself succumbing to temptations of the flesh. Very early one morning, a monk from the monastery spied him praying and singing psalms in the sea and as Cuthbert came ashore, he saw or imagined he saw two otters bound out of the sea and join Cuthbert in prayer.

Shortly after the death of Ebba, and as foretold in prophesy by the monk Adamnan, the monastery burned down. The  site was abandoned, and by the first half of the 8th century, as Bede confirms, the site was deserted. However the gifts of Ebba in bringing the Christian religion to this part of  Scotland was not forgotten, and in a book written about c.1200 by the monks of Coldingham, they tell of many pilgrims visiting the Kirk Hill and the spring at Well Mouth, located at the top of the beach now called Horse Castle Bay. St. Ebba's feast day is celebrated on 25 August.

Blessing of Ebba

May you know your own self

In the image of God's eye

May your own self be wise 

In the hearing of God's voice

May your own self be kind

In the speaking of God's word

May your own self be courageous

In the knowing of God's love

May your own self know itself 

In the image of God's eye

Blessed Be

wordinthehand2012

Lindisfarne Pilgrim

Here I am

Held in the palm of Your holy place

Fled from the gravity of daily life.

I perch on sun-warmed rock.

Heavy honeyed air is

Stirred by ancient breezes.

Almost beyond hearing

Seals sing Jacob’s mantra

‘Here I am’.

Poised on the promontory of faith

Sun and wind send their might against me.

And I stand, not bowed but exulted.

Fused to this place.

Sun Spirit,

Air Spirit,

Earth Spirit

Glorious Trinity of all You are.

Your breath on me is intoxicating, incisive,

Eroding pretence and artifice.

Leaving me standing bare boned

Before You.

Eyes closed against your crimson gaze.

Daughter to the island,

Sister to those gone before.

Here I am.

Blessed be

wordinthehand2012

Pilgrim Sands

Only a footprint

a passing waymark 

in the pilgrim sands 
leading home

Reclaimed by 

ancient whisperings 

crystals of sand

ocean's tears

Barely footed

under sun and moon
sanctuary revealed

in the turn of the tide 

Safe passage 

in the steps of the wise 
pock-marked staffs
of those gone before

This footprint
the pilgrim's seal
of welcome
to the Holy Isle.

Blessed be


wordinthehand2012

Lindisfarne, the Holy Island, is a tidal island. It can be reached twice a day by the causeway or by walking the pilgrim path - avoiding the quicksand and deep channels by following a series of staffs driven into the sand. At two points there are high platforms to be used as refuges when the tide catches you out. 

Prayer Walk - Walled Garden

The Gate

A moment of choice

Without, Within

 Threshold holds

The promise

The Path wanders

A winding reverie

Who am I seeking?

Hiding from?

Relax into silence

Hear Nature's silence sing

Hum and song

Birds and bees

Joy reaches out 

Taking me with Her

My Love is here

My Love and my Lord

Blessed Be

wordinthehand2012

Lammas

1st August  is Lammas Day from Anglo-Saxon hlaf-mass, "loaf-mas", the festival of the  wheat harvest, and is the first harvest festival of the year. In pagan culture, the festival centres around thanksgiving for the fruits of the harvest which had been given by the long days of the Sun. Wheat is usually the first harvest of the autumn. Bread would be made from the first pickings and used as a protective charm around the barns and houses, with an expectation that, as long as the bread was there, no-one would go hungry.


In Celtic Christianity, very little changed -   a loaf would be made from the first pickings of the crop and brought into church for the Mass. The loaf was blessed, and divided amongst the congregation; it would be kept in the home as a symbol of the sharing of God's blessing. In every Mass we give thanks to God who gives us the food and drink that we need to live.


As Christians we should be aware of  the generosity of our God,  Lord of all Creation. Particularly in these times when there are many of us who live well and often,  because of processed and fast foods, without any knowledge of where our food comes from. It would be good to take a moment sometime today to realise that even the most basic of foods has a life in God; has come to us through a cycle of life that has spanned centuries; that belongs to a pattern of interdependence that we are a part of - not in charge of.


You may not have a field to harvest, or the wherewithal to bake the first loaf of the season. Perhaps instead, take a moment at mealtimes to consider our food; how it comes to us; how we would be without it; how we could share it  - and to give thanks.

Lammas Blessing

Blessing of the Seven Days 

that bring the world to life

Blessing of the Sun and Moon 

that bring the seasons of the world

Blessing of the Earth and Rain 

that form the cradle of the world 

Blessings of the Seed and Shoot

that find birthing in the world

Blessing of the Harvest

that  celebrates its life

by giving it away.

Blessed be

wordinthehand2012