reverendjaneausten

My husband's entire family spent five days together for Thanksgiving in the Colonial History Mecca for the United States. This was a gift from Uncle Jim, which made it even more lovely! We were based in Williamsburg but got to Jamestown as well for the 400th anniversary visit. It was a perfect gathering-plenty of together time as well as time to carve out in smaller family sub groups. Our middle son's fiance and HER family (complete with Holly, their beautiful Golden Retriever) also joined us which was fun. We spent several evenings immersed in the Avalon Hill game, NAVAL WAR. We left our dogs kenneled at a posh rural retreat where they could play in safety. They had a web cam, and when we looked in, Erik's dogs Neo (Large Police Dog) and Freyja (Larger Great Dane puppy) were being badgered by our Border Collie, Seabury. I think she barked for all five days and was not even hoarse! Most special was worship together at Bruton Parish Church on Thanksgiving morning. It was spe

Mountain driving is so interesting. As a mid-western/north-eastern Ohio kind of gal I have not had much experience with that. This morning I left early to get to church in time to set up Morning Prayer in the Parish Hall. Our church has been cleared out so that we can repair and paint the 1960's era faux paneling and do electrical work. Ordination is 27 days away and it looks as though there are at least 30 days of work left! Although some are "not in favor" of this change, most seem pretty excited. I think it will really open the space. If you want to see pictures, e-mail me. When I try to load them here it becomes scripted gibberish. The clouds and fog were often interchangeable this morning, but there were times when the clouds were just like a horizontal veil. Sometimes I would be in one realm and sometimes in another! Then at one point the sun's rays were coming through and slicing vertical lines along the vapor. At the same time the hills were a lovely bronzed

The church and city are being so wonderful. The Parish House is tiny, so City Hall has been offered and trolleys will be available to take people up the hill to the church! Not only that, but a Hurricane Andrew refugee, a brilliantly colored Macaw named Ms. Ed will be present at the reception. Some pieces are coming together despite my ineptitude, which seems wholly miraculous.

One of the towns I drive through is Manchester, KY. Manchester is a town that supports its military citizens in a big way. Several weeks ago, a deployed group returned. Two miles out of Manchester, the posters and yellow ribbons welcoming them home were blowing in a gentle wind. You could feel the joy of the entire town at their return. East of Manchester, there is a marker with a rifle forming part of a cross. At the base is a pair of boots, and the helmet rests on the butt of the rifle. This week, flowers were added and today a large 4X6 flag flew low to the ground as part of this memorial. I think this particular remembrance might be for Sgt. Stanfill, who died in an accident on the Hal Rogers Parkway just east of Manchester a couple of years ago. Even though Sgt. Stanfill perished on the road I drive several times a week instead of on a far away battle field, I am glad the citizens of Manchester --or perhaps his family-- honor his service in such a way. We observed the tradition

This week I was about as organized as the leaves falling off of the trees. A dear friend died a week ago today. His funeral was Thursday this week; for those of you who know, it was the Deacon who gave me all of his stoles. His funeral was lovely and it was a huge honor to wear his white stole and serve at the Altar as Deacon. His wife was so touched to see that. I have been nesting prior to hibernation I think! I have washed quilts (after the washer died and was replaced) and rearranged things for winter somewhat. That is my usual mode of procrastination when I ought to be doing other things. On the other hand, it is one of the few times the house claims my attention! I had a better domestic week than a professional week, but I think that was perhaps overdue. How do people balance this?

Since we could not have Eucharist this morning we did the Liturgy of the Word today from Rite 2 instead of Morning Prayer. During the Prayers of the People, we had a candle lighting. We had a soft , nubby thick muted olive throw on a side table, and then two inexpensive 14" square chargers that were shiny black. They were positioned on an angle like diamonds. On top of them were multicolored, polished river pebbles of various sizes. Then tucked among them were 40 tea lights, 20 on each plate. In the open spaces between the tops of the two diamonds there was a plain, square crystal candle stick with a tall white pillar candle in it. All around the plates were sea shells in various colors of black, cream, white and gray. People came and lit the tea lights in the flame of the big candle and stood for a moment, taking a sea shell when they went back to their seat. The pianist played soft hymns the entire time. There has been some really hard loss this year; some people sobbed