This photograph was taken by my friend Gill Henwood during a visit to Holy Island (Lindisfane) this past week.

The unusual light formation is of a weather phenomenon known as an IceBow.This is an ice-halo formed by plate shaped ice crystals in atmospheric clouds. Sunlight refracts through ice crystals giving this circular effect. Sometimes it is known as an ice-rainbow.
I’m told that it is extremely rare and not all that easy to photograph. (please ignore the green dot which is a camera effect and not a visiting martian!)

We are once again reminded that our planet is constantly surprising us. There is a beauty and awesomeness that is pure gift. We just have to tune ourselves to see the many splendored thing

In the  Prayer of Azariah  (Old Testament Apocrypha) verse 49, we read :
Bless the Lord ice and cold;
Sing praise to him and highly exalt him for ever.  (NRSV version)

This forms a verse of the Praise Song known as the Benedicite. (The Song of the Three Children)

O ye Ice and Snow, bless ye the Lord :
praise him, and magnify him for ever.  (verse 13)

The Song is an amazing prayer of Praise to God our Creator and a recognition that everything owes its being to Him. Praying it helps us to keep and correct the delicate balance of the earth, as well as putting us in our place!

Benedicite

1    O all ye Works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

2    O ye Angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

3    O ye Heavens, bless ye the Lord :praise him, and magnify him for ever.

4    O ye Waters that be above the Firmament, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

5    O all ye Powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

6    O ye Sun and Moon, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever. #

7    O ye Stars of Heaven, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

8    O ye Showers and Dew, bless ye the Lord :praise him, and magnify him for ever.

9    O ye Winds of God, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

10  O ye Fire and Heat, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

11  O ye Winter and Summer, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

12  O ye Dews and Frosts, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

13  O ye Frost and Cold, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

14  O ye Ice and Snow, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

15  O ye Nights and Days, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

16  O ye Light and Darkness, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

17  O ye Lightnings and Clouds, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

18  O let the Earth bless the Lord : yea, let it praise him, and magnify him for ever.

19  O ye Mountains and Hills, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

20  O all ye Green Things upon the Earth, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

21  O ye Wells, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

22  O ye Seas and Floods, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

23  O ye Whales, and all that move in the Waters, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

24  O all ye Fowls of the Air, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

25  O all ye Beasts and Cattle, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

26  O ye Children of Men, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

27  O let Israel bless the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

28  O ye Priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

29  O ye Servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

30  O ye Spirits and Souls of the Righteous, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

31  O ye holy and humble of heart, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him for ever.

[Mr G]

• Uncategorized