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Rising above the River Wear, the great Norman cathedral of Durham shelters the remains of three prominent Anglo-Saxon saints and spiritual leaders. In 1104, the remains of Saint Cuthbert were moved from an earlier stone church to their present location behind the cathedral’s main altar. At that time, the head of Saint Oswald (the Northumbrian king often credited with spreading Christianity in the region) was buried with Cuthbert. In 1022, the remains of Venerable Bede (the preeminent historian and theologian of the Anglo-Saxon Church in Northumbria) also were transferred to the cathedral.
Moments of stillness remind us of the presence of God in our daily activities and choices, giving us a renewed sense of purpose and direction. Nourished by this awareness of God’s activity all around us, we gain the strength to face any challenge with courage and hope.
Consider Isaiah 12: 3-5.
“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
And you will say in that day:
Give thanks to the Lord,
call on his name; make known his deeds among the nations;
proclaim that his name is exalted.
Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
let this be known in all the earth.”
This picture is used with the permission of Simon Owens, who reserves all rights of ownership to this image.