Liturgy this morning was really special

Liturgy was so beautiful this morning.

While Christmas is glorious,

there is something really peaceful about

 the just after Christmas-day liturgy.

I have been more deeply thankful for church and

being IN church esp for such holy days and knowing

that not everyone can do so right now because of the ongoing pandemic.

I had a really deep sense, in about the middle of the liturgy,

of just wanting to be right there, where I was, in church,

with the prayers, the beauty, the Bishop visiting, 

everyone.  I am often one who struggles a lot with

thinking about the next thing instead of being present to where I am

so this moment was all the more poignant and special for me. 

It was a really treasured moment.

After liturgy we all visited (wearing masks of course) for a bit

in church and then my friend and I went off to a meal outside

of fish and seafood. 

It was a joy to watch her enjoying her seafood stew and to

just be outside in the sunshine, enjoying the time.

Vespers tonight, beautiful, a bit sad as afterwards they did a short service

for a dear parishioner's brother who just died (yesterday?!) and

it is a really hard time for this and the brother I think is in 

Romania and because of the pandemic, one could not just go over there

easily, so a hard time; and for many I know.

This year I would have been in Michigan for Western Christmas and 

also my birthday.  I can't tell you how thankful I am

that I was able to visit last fall. 

This was a huge help and I am very grateful. 

***

Martha, and everyone who may want to know,

this is the soup recipe for the mushroom soup.

At the end I pureed the soup but took out two 

fistaware teacups full of the mushrooms and put back in 

so that most of the soup was pureed while there was a bit of 

mushroom chunks still in it as a nice way to present the soup.

I got the idea from my friend T. I think who does amazing mushroom soups. 

***

I wrote this earlier on social media:

Bishop Michael was with us for this morning's liturgy and he gave a beautiful sermon about how Jesus' Mother pondered everything in her heart from the Christmas season and because of this had Christmas always in her heart. That for a Christian there is not an after Christmas letdown for we too can keep Christmas in our hearts, the life-changing reality of God with us, giving us the hope, faith and courage we need. He also said that Christmas lasts until Lent and if you know me, you know that I usually keep my Christmas tree until mid-February with the feast of the Meeting of the Lord, the Presentation of Christ in the temple, which is also candlemas. 

***

Well, I am tired and out of steam.  No wonder! :) 

I am so so thankful.

I pray that God is comforting your hearts, no matter what is happening 

in your life right now.

May we make room in our hearts for Christ,

like the stable made room for Christ's birth on Christmas day....