29 March, 2010 by thevicarswife
Inspired by Happy, the Vicar’s Apprentice, whose mother has an Easter tree, and Nicole at 168hrs, I have sent off to Baker Ross for plastic eggs and am planning a burst of Easter celebration in the Vicarage over the next few days.
The idea of Resurrection Eggs is a little like the Jesse Tree we have during Advent. A dozen plastic eggs each contain a small item to remind us of different stages in the Easter story. The plan is to read the bible verses and remember the Easter story together each day. I’ll take a photo once I have it all assembled.
Below are the passages and items I’m planning on using. I suspect our various Playmobil sets will be a good source for some of the pieces…
Day 1: Matthew 26:6-13. Jesus anointed at Bethany.
Cottonwool ball soaked in perfume.
Day 2: Matthew 26: 14-16. Judas agrees to betray Jesus.
5p pieces for the silver.
Day 3: Matthew 21:1-11. The triumphal entry.
Donkey or palm leaf.
Day 4: Matthew 26:26-29. The last supper.
Cup or bread.
Day 5: Luke 22:39-46, 54a. Gethsemane.
Praying hands or pipecleaner man.
Day 6: John 19:1-7. Jesus sentenced to death.
Purple cloth.
Day 7: John 19:16-17. Jesus carries his cross.
Cross.
Day 8: John 19:18. The crucifixion.
Nails.
Day 9: John 19:33-35. Jesus dies.
Toothpick (for the spear).
Day 10: Matthew 27: 57-60. Jesus placed in the tomb.
Rock.
Day 11: Mark 16:1-3. The women go to anoint the body.
Cinnamon/cloves/spices.
Day 12: John 20:1-8. The empty tomb.
And nothing in the egg!
I’m going to put together a pdf file of the references to pop in the eggs and the bible readings and I’ll blog those later in the week.
We’ll obviously be starting a bit later than we should if we want to open the empty egg on Easter Day, but as a two week Easter holiday is looming, I’m happy to be telling the story both before and after the big weekend. Now I just need to track down an empty egg carton and those Playmobil pieces.
Do you have any good Easter traditions?
Posted in Faith, Family | Tagged Baker Ross, celebration, Children, Easter, eggs, Family, Resurrection Eggs, traditions | 12 Comments »
26 March, 2010 by thevicarswife
I noticed recently that the candidates for the two main parties who will be standing at the next general election for our local area don’t seem to have much to choose between them:
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Tory candidate
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The Remove Candidate (Owl)
Grey suit – check, cheerful round face – check, widow’s peak – check, trendy black glasses – check. How am I to choose?
Posted in Fun | Tagged Alistair Thompson, constituency, General Election, lookalike, MP, Tom Watson, West Bromwich East | 3 Comments »
24 March, 2010 by thevicarswife
I was in Sainsbury’s earlier today, stocking up on Vicarage essentials (own-brand weetabix, apples, Cif spray, pinot grigio etc). As I was queuing to pay out the surprisingly vast quantity of money, I heard two check-out assistants asking elderly couples if they were collecting schools vouchers. The vouchers are collected by schools, scout and guide groups and kids’ sports clubs and can be used to buy sports, cooking, gardening and play equipment.
Neither couple wanted them. And I was a bit far away to shout out ‘No, no, keep them for me!’ It made me sad, though – these people didn’t know anyone they could give the vouchers to. They are part of a society where the old and the young don’t know one another.
This is one thing the church does well and I am grateful that we have church family where my children know folk in their 70s and 80s. Church is where older folk come and make cups of tea for mums at the toddler group and help out in the creche and where society’s trend towards isolation and individualism is rejected.
I shouldn’t have shouted out ‘Give me the vouchers’, I should have said ‘ Get yourselves to church’ instead.
Posted in Family | Tagged Church, elderly, Family, individualism, inter-generational, isolation, Kids, Sainsburys, schools vouchers, society | 1 Comment »
22 March, 2010 by thevicarswife
And it made me laugh a lot on Saturday, so I’m sharing it with you weary saints to cheer your Monday morning:
So the policeman comes up to me. He says ‘what were you doing between 6 and 11?
I said ‘I was in primary school’.
Posted in Fun | Tagged Fun, humour, joke, Kids | 5 Comments »
22 March, 2010 by thevicarswife
Last week I posted on the Colin Buchanan song ‘Press on Mums’ which seemed to resonate with a few knackered readers. If you’re as exhausted as I always seem to be and needing to press on, I’d also like to recommend the Sovereign Grace album ‘Come Weary Saints’ (if you click through, you can listen to a sample).
I bought it at the clergy wives’ conference I was on the other week, and have been listening almost non-stop (apart from when I was unearthing my Colin album). In a YouTube clip I watched the other day Bob Kauflin of Sovereign Grace described how they had wanted to produce an album for people who were struggling through difficult times – for those who need to press on through the chaos.
Keep pressing on.
Posted in Faith | Tagged album, Christian, Come Weary Saints, encouragement, music, pressing on, Sovereign Grace | 2 Comments »
18 March, 2010 by thevicarswife
Do they spend all day in their pinnies? Do they really wear twin sets and pearls?
I am pleased to report that I do have the definitive answer for you. Reminded by my friend, Alex, when she commented on the collective noun for clergy wives, I can exclusively reveal that clergy wives wear the following:
- Gilets
- Colourful beaded necklaces
On the ministers’ wives conference I attended, these were the predominant fashion themes. The gilets are obviously driven by the sub-Arctic temperatures in most Vicarages. The necklaces probably point to a love of jewellery and cheerfulness and a lack of budget. I have three gilets and many cheerful necklaces, myself.
I did see a single twin set and pearls outfit, but as there were 115 of us there, I think it can be confidently put down as a random occurence.
On a related note, if you could confidently share with me the correct pronounciation of ‘gilet’, I would be very grateful. I’ve been struggling and think that ‘bodywarmer’ is just too hideous a word for everyday usage.
Posted in Fun, vicar, Vicarage | Tagged clergy wives, clothes, fashion, gilet, jewellery, pronounciation, Vicar's wife | 25 Comments »
17 March, 2010 by thevicarswife
This weekend we went to see our family favourite, Colin Buchanan (not the bishop), in concert in Birmingham as a part of the Passion for Life mission that is taking place round the country over the next few weeks.
Colin with the Vicarage kids and their friend Wondergirl
The Birmingham concert was a typical Colin session – full of high energy, hilarity and gospel truths. The Queen was particularly pleased to be selected to wave a flag. It was great fun to be there and I’m already planning to ensure that the next time he’s in the Midlands we arrange a Sunday School outing to his show. It was just as entertaining for the grown-ups.
When I mentioned that I’d been to see Colin on Facebook and Twitter, two separate people quoted the first line of this Colin song to me. It’s from his grown-up album, Real Hope. His style was categorised as ‘country rock’ on one website I looked at – I love it, but wouldn’t class myself as a fan of country or rock!
Press on Mums
In all the chaos
Look to Jesus through the tears
Press on, Mums
God will guide you
Through those precious, tender years
Chorus:
And in all you do, do it for Jesus
Who won you life and free forgiveness
Yesterday, today
He is the same
All you do
Do it in Jesus’ name
Press on, Dads
Love your wife
Serve your children
Set the pace
Press on, Dads
Seize the moment
Show them Jesus
Run the race
Press on, kids
God adores you
He will hear you when you pray
Press on, kids
Love your family
Honour, serve
Forgive, obey
. . . and when all your human energy is gone
Look towards your Jesus and press on.
I’ve been singing it to myself all week. And now I’m going to see if I can locate the album, underneath the chaos somewhere.
Posted in Faith, Family | Tagged AP4L, Birmingham, Christian music, Colin Buchanan, concert, Family, Kids, Passion for Life, Press on Mums, Real Hope | 8 Comments »
15 March, 2010 by thevicarswife
There were 115 minister’s wives at the conference I attended last week. It made me wonder what the collective noun for such a gathering would be:
And we're all as glamorous as Elisa too!
- An encouragement of vicar’s wives?
- A chatter of pastor’s wives?
- A manse of minister’s wives?
- A hoot of parson’s wives?
- A Sunday lunch of clergy wives?
What do you think?
Posted in Fun, vicar | Tagged clergy, collective noun, minister, parson, vicar, wife, wives | 10 Comments »
11 March, 2010 by thevicarswife
From the inimitable Dave Walker. I’m just trying to get the kids to use the right terminology. I’ve given up on everybody else!
Posted in Fun | Tagged Mothering Sunday, Mothers' Day, pedants | 4 Comments »
10 March, 2010 by thevicarswife
I am currently spending two mornings a week in our church school, reading with some children who need a bit of extra help. I’m having lots of fun with youngsters who are keen to learn and love to read stories. This Jessica Hagy card from her wonderful website sums up what I’m seeing in practice:
I wish I could spend more time reading with them
I had a chat with a dad recently who was asking about tutors for his young son, who’s in Reception with the Engineer. I was surprised that he thought he needed a tutor. But it was because dad works long hours, and mum (who also works long hours) doesn’t speak English and Granny, who does after-school care, speaks limited English and cannot read or write in any language.
I was impressed with dad’s determination, but so sad that noone who could read simple English was available to spend just ten minutes a day reading with the child. I can’t read with all the children in the parish!
Posted in Kids | Tagged Children, Literacy, reading, School, writing | 5 Comments »
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The idea of Resurrection Eggs is a little like the Jesse Tree we have during Advent. A dozen plastic eggs each contain a small item to remind us of different stages in the Easter story. The plan is to read the bible verses and remember the Easter story together each day. I’ll take a photo once I have it all assembled.
The Vicar's Wife 