Easter Weekend Review

 One of the annual Good Friday activities is called The Walk of Witness.  Congregants meet at a starting point—usually a church, then process through the community, stopping along the way at significant places, where scriptures might be shared, but there are certainly songs lifted up in the fresh air and then usually the procession goes to another church.  In our little parish, at the final stop, tea and hot cross buns are served.  It doesn’t matter if it is sunny or rainy.  People use the opportunity to be seen as Christians.   

 Meanwhile, I observed my usually Friday hours at work, finishing the weekly newssheets, printing out the hymn sheets and updating the parish website.  At 1.45 pm I finished my work and went to St. Mary’s for the Station of the Cross service.  The vicar uses artwork from a local Christian publishing house to set up the stations in the church.  The artist of this year’s posters also wrote meditations and prayers for each stop.  The meaningful and reflective service, which included music by St. Mary’s choir and congregational hymns, lasted about an hour. 

 Just at Rev. Robin began his sermon, a member of the congregation called for one of the doctors to come to attend another worshipper.  St. Mary’s is blessed with four doctors in the house, and within a few minutes, three doctors—all dressed in choir robes—hurried down the aisle, and the other doctor joined them from one of the pews.  I know many people were praying quietly, whilst the dear patient was attended.  Paramedics arrived to attend to the ill congregant, which allowed Rev. Robin to continue with his sermon on the power of the resurrection.  The patient was taken to hospital by ambulance, being taken out while the creed was being recited.  I am sure the many prayers offered made a difference, as our dear friend was kept in hospital overnight, but only for observation.  From an e-mail sent out later in the afternoon, our dear friend was allowed home on Monday. 

“Mrs. Bee” and me.

“Maverick” and I had been invited to spend the day with “Mr. & Mrs. Bee.”  At 11.00 a.m. they picked us up.  “Mr. Bee” drove along some lovely country road, allowing “Maverick” to reminisce about his training rides.  The “Bees” wanted to take us to the pub near Henley-on-Thames that serves South African food, followed by a visit to Stonor House–one of England’s oldest manor houses, also near Henley-on-Thames.  The sun was out and the car was warm.  Because the bushes and trees have not as yet burst forth with leaves, we could actually see fields and valleys that would otherwise be hidden.

“Maverick” and me

Eweleme Church

Our first stop was at St. Mary’s church in Ewelme Parish.  (It is pronounced U-Elm).  The church is the burial place of Alice Chaucer, (1404 – 1475), Countess of Salisbury and Duchess of Suffolk.  She was the benefactor of Ewelme, using her influence and wealth to build the church, a school, and almshouses.  The steps leading out of the church take one down to the almshouses surrounding a courtyard.  If you’re interested in learning more of the history, the website is http://www.friendsofewelmechurch.co.uk/

Courtyard at Eweleme Almshouses

White Hart Bar Lounge

menu and a cozy, wood-beamed pub.  It was charming, the service was excellent and the food delicious.  John enjoyed curried chicken and prawns, while “Mr. & Mrs. Bee” tried the bobotie.  I chose the grilled bream (fish).  “Maverick” and “Mrs. Bee” had Amarula Crème Brulée, “Mr. Bee” had banoffee pie, and I chocolate cake with chocolate sauce and ice cream.  My goodness, it was the best ice cream I’ve had in ages.  As we ate, we learned the manager was from Durban, South Africa, as “Maverick” is. 

Displayed in the wood-beamed bar/lounge was a lovely “Dog Portrait.”  Of course, I had to take a photo of it.  They also have a website: White Hart Pub Henley on Thames

As we finished our tour of the house, I was getting tired, and was also a bit distracted thinking of Maisy.  Yet it would have been sad to miss visiting this grand house and property.  I think I would like to visit again sometime and bring Maisy, as she would love a romp in the great outdoors.