A Beacon & A Refuge

Inspiration for preaching often comes from unexpected places.  In the case of this sermon, preached on the 5th of February at Groomsport Presbyterian, it was a visit to Glendalough.  This national park, located about 40 minutes south of Dublin, in the Republic of Ireland, is the setting of a monastic settlement dating from the 6th century.  It is a place of beauty; you can see some of my photos of our visit following the audio player of the sermon.

Over the River

You can see the Glendalough Tower in the center-right of the picture.  This is where the watch-fires would have shown out at night.

Celtic Cross

Like many religious sites, Glendalough became home to a cemetery.

The Cathedral

The remains of the cathedral stand in the center of the site; this view looks from the entryway toward the altar.