A MIlestone for this twenty first century poetry in St Cedd's seventh century chapel

Yesterday (Sunday 3rd August) was a milestone day for this collection of poems and prose. Pam, my wife, and I had been invited to lead one of the summer Sunday evening services in the tiny seventh century chspel at Bradwell-on-Sea way out on the tip of the Dengie Peninsula at the mouth of the River Blackwater in Essex. It was built by Saint Cedd and his followers.

St Peter-on-the-Wall, Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex,
Watercolour by the author

We used the framework of an Iona Community celebration of Creation, led by Pam and with  poetry readings from this blog as the basis for the address. People had come from close by and far afield and we received a lot of very favourable comment afterwards. The thread of the address was as follows (with links to the various poems.

The ancient Chapel has been a very special place for us and we celebrated it with 'Othona', St Peter-on-the-Wall, Bradwell.

This was followed  by the first poem which gave rise to the theme of the 'Cross and the Cosmos' which celebrates Creation viewed through the lens of science, titled Ex Nihilo' - Out of Nothing.

Thomas Aquinas in the 11th Century observed that our view of the Cosmos would shape our understanding of God. An invitation was made to consider the continuing nature of creation in the Cosmos referencing the 1995 Hubble picture of 'The Pillars of Creation'. Poem The God Who Created The Cosmos. For me, the theme of this poem might help to dispose of the unhelpful concept of God the Creator as an old man with a white beard!

From the vastness of space to the depths within us, a poem on DNA followed: Beyond the Farthest Mortal Ete Can Scan: DNA.

From there, we turned our eyes to Jesus with three poems about his birth and passion
Star of Bethlehem
Foot Washing: Grime and
Gethsemane, The Healing

We reflected on the wonder of the Creator of the Cosmos taking on the role of a servant and making the ultimate sacrifice for US - yes! You and me!

Finally, Looking up again - but into a daytime sky - the newly written poem CLOUDS reminded us oif our part in prayer and stewardship of this amazing earth - 'The Visited Planet'.

Then at the close, the hymn from this blog, Stars and Planets Sing Your Glory

You will find below the lovely Iona Service order and if anyone would like to consider holding a Creation/ Cross and Cosmos service, Pam and I would be happy to travel, if practicable, to lead a similar service. Contact us at crossandcosmos@gmail.com (Click on the following pages to make them readable)

Oh yes, and just to make this all a bit more special, the page-views of the blog rose through 25000 on this very day.