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FROM MOUTH TO SOURCE

 What a great way to observe Holy Week! Leo and our companions along the way walked the 73 miles from Sunderland to Wearhead through wind, rain, sun, sleet, snow and a lot of mud! As we walked we talked about many things but each day we reflected together on the verses from Luke's gospel selected for that day in 'Lent for Everyone, Luke'. Each evening we joined in worship with a local congregation and shared our reflections with them.                                                                                          

  Sometimes the views were stunningly beautiful, sometimes they were less  so. 
On Monday we walked from the walls of Finchale Priory to the walls of Frankland prison. At that stage we were following Cuddy's Course - the route of St Cuthbert's coffin from Chester-Le-Street to Durham. The love of Christ is all embracing reaching those committed to life in a religious community and those who are imprisoned, reaching each one of us.
 
  
 
 
 
 
On Thursday I struggled, the walk began with a long and very steep climb and my body had decided that I had already walked far enough! I was making my way up the hill slowly but surely and said to one of our companions, 'Don't wait for me, I'll get there.' His reply - 'The last one should never walk alone.' I reflected on that on Friday as we thought about Jesus carrying the cross through the streets of Jerusalem, in a crowd but so alone. Simon of Cyrene and the women in the crowd were among his companions on the way.
 The Good Friday service at High House Chapel brought together people from across the two districts, Leo and I were very moved by that. After worshipping in High House, we walked the final mile to Wearhead and to the source of the Wear. There, the Stanhope Band accompanied our singing and we prayed and reflected together on reaching this point at the ninth hour - 'and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining.
 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last.' (Luke 23:44-46) At the source of the Wear and the end of our walk we remembered that moment when all seemed to have ended but which is the source of new life.
The Weardale walk was a journey to remember. Leo and I are both very grateful to those who offered us hospitality and shared their homes with us and to Elizabeth and Ian who carried our luggage (I never have learned to travel light!), various books and other items from place to place and were always there to greet us at the end of each day and to send us off each morning.

It was a pilgrimage for Holy Week but it was also a means of raising money to support the work of MRDF in Cameroon. It is not too late to sponsor us and you can do so at www.justgiving.com/wearwalk  or download a sponsor form and details of where to send any money from www.darlingtonmethodistdistrict.org.uk/blog/walking-wear