iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Today's episode of unexpected moments in parish ministry: Someone has brought in a huge fruit platter for Harvest. How kind! On closer inspection, one of the 'fruits' is... sausages 🤔

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

When, in the course of The Great Vestry Clearout, someone announces from the depths of a cupboard "oh, there's a massive pooh here", it is quite a relief to see this chap emerge! 😂

A large Winnie-the-Pooh soft toy, sitting on a chair.

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Had a surprising amount of fun doing a thorough sort and tidy of the vestry this morning. "Does anyone know what this is?" was a frequent phrase 😂 (all liturgical items eventually identified by the combined efforts of the group, one small box of miscellaneous cables etc remains)

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Thrilled to see this write-up of our summer holiday activities in the diocesan magazine! One of the many joys of ministering in the Diocese of Newcastle is that the ministry of small churches is valued, supported and celebrated, and not just the big, shiny stuff. #TinyJoys #CofEpeeps ✝️⚓️🕯

The cover of Link, the magazine for the Diocese of Newcastle.

An article in Link about Launchpad youth ministry training for clergy, including a case study about summer holiday activities at St Peter Cowgate and St Wilfrid Newbiggin Hall.

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

A year today since Daphne arrived to live at the vicarage. (Pictured here in a box, like the gift she is.) #TinyJoys

A small black and white cat, sitting in a brown cardboard box, looking up at the camera.

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

A full and varied Saturday: queer theology with @charliebelllive.bsky.social and the Newcastle Diocese LGBT Chaplaincy this morning; harvest hymns and homemade apple pie in the parish this afternoon. Both excellent, in very different ways!

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Two years today since I was licenced to these wonderful parishes. Being their parish priest is a daily delight. I am very thankful, and looking forward to many more years to come.

A group of people including clergy and churchwardens gathered at the front of a modern church building.

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Reposted by Ruth Harley

Sam Wilson @samwilson.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

For those in the Church of England: To find out who's standing in this year's #Synod elections who is committed to equality in our Church (not just limited to equal marriage) do check out the Inclusive Synod candidates here and share with friends and colleagues togethercofe.org.uk/elections/

togethercofe.org.uk

INCLUSIVE SYNOD ELECTION CAMPAIGN – Together for the Church of England

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Walked into my study this afternoon and found that there was already a meeting in progress. These two were definitely plotting something!

Two cats sitting on chairs in a study, one black and white and one calico. They are looking towards the camera in a judgemental manner.

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Among the things I have learned at this evening's General Synod election hustings: I really do not have enough of a poker face for doing this on zoom! (I did also learn some useful things about the candidates and their views and priorities, which will inform my vote.)

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Me, to elderly church member whose birthday is tomorrow: And if you don't mind me asking, how old will you be? Her: I don't mind at all, but I can't remember! Fortunately her lifelong friend sitting next to her could remember: 92 🥳🎉🎂

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Unconventional church growth metrics: buying a larger box of fudge than last year to bring back from my holiday for the congregation.

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Hang on, why does my shoulder ache so much? Oh yes, that's right, I took a fearless and adventurous 2 year old nephew to soft play. (Worth it though, so much fun!)

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Paddling in the sea as the sun goes down = #TinyJoys

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Doing some of my favourite things with some of my favourite people = holiday perfection 👌 #TinyJoys

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

It's a long time since I called this corner of the country 'home', but this elicits a surprisingly strong visceral response. First protest I ever attended, age 14, was a counter-demo against a BNP march (or it might have been NF) on Dover seafront, so maybe that has something to do with it.

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Reposted by Ruth Harley

Rebecca Solnit @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Do not be saying feminism is over or got overturned or women are worse off when it comes to rights than they used to be if you're talking about the bad old days before second wave feminism. Thread below:

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

3 days of busy fun with small niece and nephew (and their grown ups), and now starting 10 days of holiday with this gorgeous sea view 😍 #TinyJoys

A view from a balcony across the green and the promenade to the beach and the sea.

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

"The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off." - Gloria Steinem By her words and her example she pissed people off, set people free, and inspired generations of feminists (myself included) to live and write truth more boldly. What a legacy.

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Went to a car boot fair today, for the first time in decades. Made an impulse purchase on the advice of my fashion advisor* #TinyJoys *8 year old niece

View looking down at the lower legs and feet of a white woman wearing fawn shoes with large red lobsters and a glittery blue stars on.

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Rejoice with me for I have completed not one but *two* of the big fiddly administrative tasks which have loomed large on the to-do list for longer than I care to admit. Now I just need to write a sermon, preach and preside twice in the morning, and then... two weeks holiday! 😎🏖🍻

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

A moment of outrage in this millennial household this evening: what on earth has happened to Club wrappers??? When did this happen? Why??? We are outraged.

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

My earliest memory of anything is of an IRA bomb going off at the bottom of our road when I was 2, which I guess counts as part of a 'historic event' ie. the Troubles? Otherwise: Nelson Mandela being freed.

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

And that's a wrap! Our final 'Pop-Up Living Room' of the summer ended with collective chalking of the path with an obstacle course encouraging people to hop, twirl, balance, jump... all the way to the church door. We've had so much fun with kids, teens and adults of all ages hanging out together.

A long concrete path leading to the door of a modern church building. There is lots of chalk on the path, including colourful circles and writing saying 'hop on bubbles'.

Further along the same path, a green chalked zig zag leads towards a bright yellow star in front of the church porch.

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Reposted by Ruth Harley

Helen-Ann Hartley @helenannhartley.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Votes close this Friday ‼️⬇️🗳️ www.battersea.org.uk/about-us/new...

battersea.org.uk

Vote for Purr Minister | Battersea Dogs & Cats Home

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Adding 4 new names to this little notebook today. When I was first ordained, someone advised me to keep a notebook in which to write the names of all the people I baptise, and it's such a lovely thing to do. ✝️⚓️🕯 #CofEpeeps #Narthex

A small notebook with a hand holding a pen resting on one page, and thw following text handwritten on the opposite page:
"For you Jesus Christ came into the world;
for you he lived and showed God's love;
for you he suffered death on the cross;
for you he triumphed over death, rising to newness of life;
for you he prays at God's right hand;
all this for you, before you could know anything of it.
In your baptism, the word of scripture is fulfilled:
'We love because God first loved us.'

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Pretty happy with today's foraging haul! And enjoyed my first walk in my new barefoot shoes. #TinyJoys

A bag of sloes, a bag of green apples, a bag of red and green apples, and a large box of blackberries.

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Today's vicarage veg patch harvest #TinyJoys

A selection of tomatoes, strawberries, courgettes, runner beans, and red kale.

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

"So what does a vicar actually do all day?" Today: Meeting with architect. Intergenerational lunch project with local youth org. Wild flower arranging on community allotment with another youth project. Deanery planning. And pastoral phone calls, and admin emails. And prayer. Lots of prayer.

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Staring at the to do list with mounting horror, until I remembered this is the list for the time until I go on holiday, which is a fortnight, and not my usual weekly list. No wonder it is twice as long. Panic over!

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

"Pray, Fast, Glue" Puzzled for some time over this poster in the vestry of a church where I was covering, before realising what it's actually supposed to say 🤣

White text on an orange background. The font is unclear. First two words are "pray" and "fast". Final word is presumably supposed to be "give" but looks a lot like "glue".

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

5 new people at mass. 4 services. 3 churches. 2 baptisms. 1 vicar very ready for a sit-down and a late lunch! But so many #TinyJoys to be thankful for.

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Repeatedly wrestling the cat to the floor in order to wipe poo out of the matted fur around her bum was not how I was hoping to spend my evening. In fairness, probably not how she was hoping to spend her evening either. I just hope whatever she ate while she was out yesterday was worth it! 🤢🐈‍⬛

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

#TinyJoys - spectacular sunset, viewed from the vicarage window:

A very orange sunset voewed above the rooves of houses.

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

When you get home from a long day of community fun in the sun (giant bubbles featured prominently) and answer the phone to a man who says: "Hello, you talked to my husband on the bus the other day. What time are your services? We'd like to come." Parish ministry really is pretty awesome. #TinyJoys

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Intermittent cloud cover during the eclipse was a bit disappointing, but we did see this amazing upside-down rainbow! Which I assume is an eclipse-related phenomenon

Fluffy white clouds in a blue sky, with a horizontal stripe of upside-down rainbow across the middle.

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

This is a genius level use of the 'Now That's What I Call Music' generator! 😂

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Today's harvest from the vicarage veg patch #TinyJoys

A small quantity of runner beans, courgettes, tomatoes and strawberries.

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Ending the working week with mass for the Feast of the Transfiguration, and the light has caught the icon perfectly. #TinyJoys

An altar in a modern church building, with a large icon of Christ in front of it, the gold paint reflecting the sunlight.

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Vicarage cats Cassie and Daphne have cast their vote for Ebba the Episcopuss, and urge you all to do likewise!

A calico cat and a black and white cat sitting on the floor and looking at the camera.

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Physio, after I fell down stairs and injured my back. "Your shoulders are lopsided." "Yes, I know, I have scoliosis, I've had it all my life." "Have you tried swapping your handbag to the other shoulder? That's probably what's causing the pain." I didn't go back for the followup appointment.

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Poor growing conditions for the vicarage plum tree this year means the annual batch of jam is putting the 'tiny' into #TinyJoys

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Turns out this actually *was* helpful! Being unable to continue close reading of interview transcripts (and unable to move due to the other cat) forced me to step back and re-examine the bigger picture, which has led to something of a breakthrough. I guess I owe the cats an apology. And Dreamies.

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

In my element this afternoon: crawling across the floor playing giant dominoes with two toddlers, while simultaneously giving a potted history of women's ordination to their grandma, who was very excited to meet a female priest for the first time. #TinyJoys

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

The cat is, once again, helping with the PhD. Sooo helpful. #PhDlife

A calico cat lying down on an open ring binder full of interview transcripts, surrounded by highlighters and post-it notes.

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

#CofEpeeps, I have sustained a liturgical injury! Genuflected and felt a sharp pain in my knee. Checked after the service and found a small but painful and bleeding puncture wound. How??? Turns out the stole I was wearing has hook-and-eye diaconal fastenings and I had knelt right on the hook. Ouch!

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Ruth Harley @ruthh.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

"Receive what you are: the body of Christ." I love these words for the distribution of communion, and will be using them tomorrow. And trying very hard to avoid repeating the previous incident in which I somehow managed to come out with: "You are what you eat: the body of Christ."

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