Questions about the `Resurrection appearances of Jesus… and hopefully a few paintings for reflection…

As I was searching for paintings of the Risen Christ... I remembered a painting I had seen that was by one of the Jesus Mafa artists in the Cameroon... but instead I came across a painting of the Risen Christ asppearing to Thomas, together with a poetic meditation on doubting and questioning : written in a blog from "paulist.org" but when I tried to copy it for you, the "copy" button seemed to work ok, but then it refused to "paste" here...maybe a copywright issue ? Try finding this yourself. If you cannot find it, then do buy the book by Guli Francis-Dehqani & Malcolm Guite: Stations of the Resurrection... there you will find several meditations and sonnets based on the resurrection appearances of Jesus. I have been delving into this book during Lent this year , in preparation for Easter, and find it very helpful; I hope you will too.

EARLY SIGNS OF SPRING

daffodils are looking beautiful right now, even if its still misty and rather damp with the early morning fog... I will try and give you a photo soon, but they are not uploading here yet :( sorry ! We also have a lot of white blossom on our almond tree down the garden ; perhaps this year will be the one for harvesting a few almonds :) but we do need some bees to have these blossoms pollinated first. Have you seen any bees around yet ? Over the last few months I have been working on a project for Easter, where people walking through Wivenhoe will be able to discover paintings inspired by the Resurrection appearances recorded by the writers of the New Testament. Several Wivenhoe artists have been painting and taking photos of their work, and I now have some beautiful A4 prints from dSudio printers in Clacton with several venues willing to join in and display these prints in their windows or noticeboards. Ihave now cut out and attachd a QR code to each one giving a link directly to the relevant New Testament passage to enable people to read and reflect. All that remains now is for me to deliver these beautiful prints, and all will be ready to surprise people on Easter day and hopefully for a week or two thereafter... watch for some photos on here if I can get them to upload ok in April, but if that is still not possible, then I will give you some hints of where to find them around Wivenhoe...

I just went out for a short walk to do some exercise today before it gets dark... so it was before 4pm and clouds were beginning to turn pink in the western sky. I crosed the road to turn eastwards and caught a glimpse of the moon overhead / "wow" what a surprise ! and then another surprise was all the Christmas lights hanging up on bungalows down the road like fairy lights in the dusk (it certailny wasn't dark yet...yes, the moon was still shining clear qand bright in the sky above, but it was noly just 4pm now. All the way home I noticed little lights, tiny little sparks like distant stars... looking even more entrancing than later on in the daarkness... these seemed fragile and vulnerable yet so beautiful shimmering in the dusky half light, giving a sense of the presence of the Creator; the source of the whole universe born here among us centuries ago and yet still present in our midst. I felt child-like myself and wanted to dance... but the reality of my half life as an octgogenarian set in with a slight thump as I grasped more tightly to my wheely walking frame and walked home surrounded by dancing lights with their gentle presence reminding me that we are all part of the mystery of the universe.

Did you Know ? that today [ 15th November ] is the International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians

please visit the Open Doors website for more information...

What have you noticed as you walk ?

Earlier this year I saw this group of deeep blue flowers in a front garden... and just today, I caught sight of these beautiful bright pink flowers that give great joy appearing on a dull November day !

What have you seen recently ??

W>A>T for November 2025... the New Wivenhoe Art Trail will be at the end of this November: Friday 28th to Sunday 30th November 2025 10am - 5pm each day. for the map of participating artists go to their website : wivenhoearttrail.com and use the map to plan your visits...and find the numbered signs around Wivenhoe, marking the trail... ENJOY !!!

W.A.T ?? Yes its THIS Bank holiday weekend

Wivenhoe Art Trail is here now ! see the map of art venues around Wivenhoe : www.wivenhoearttrail.com Visit and enjoy !