Ishmael's Website

What an amazing week we have had at the cathedral. On Good Friday I attended the devotional service at mid-day when hymns, Bible readings, poems and meditations were said by our Acting Dean, Bishop Graeme. It was lovely to spend some quiet time away from the hustle and bustle of shoppers and the commercialism that Easter seems to promote. While I quite understand that it is essential for people to have a break from work, I prefer to spend some quiet time thinking about the significance of Good Friday for our individual lives. I love to sit quietly and meditate on God’s word in the peace and silence inside the…

We took a few days break last week in the west country to relax and recharge after a busy few weeks at school, in the cathedral and on the road. The weather was wild, and it rained a lot, so we didn’t get as much walking done as we would have liked. However, I loved simply standing watching the sea crash against the shore and it reminded me of just how powerful the wind and waves are and of course just how powerful our God is. The natural world never ceases to amaze me, and I love the way in which God has created, as well as the enormous crashing…

Last week was very busy taken up with my final school chaplaincy duties before retiring. We held a school Eucharist in the cathedral and I spoke on the Good Shepherd. I explained that the word ‘Chaplain’ is taken from the Latin cappa. In medieval times a cappa was the cloak soldiers used when they were on the battlefield to give them protection, comfort, and warmth. I hoped that I had fulfilled my role of providing safety and comfort over the last 6 years in school. Ish helped me out with the talk by dressing in a cloak and holding a shepherd’s crook while telling the children about his job when…