Oops...

I'll be back shortly ... been a busy day/evening ...
All morning it seemed to be one phone call after the other and then it was time to go to the funeral of my friend's mother.  Then, back to the rectory to cook dinner - lasagne with fresh vegetables and Mediterranean bread - followed by Christmas pudding and custard, cheese and biscuits!  Finally a check on the heater at the halls before returning to take a quick 365Project photograph and complete the blog!
Always when I'm on duty you'll see me wearing a particular silver cross ... it has been on the blog before ...

Every morning, just before I choose a pair of earrings, this cross is slipped over my head.
Today I was at the funeral as a friend so the "work cross" was laid aside and I chose an artistic one from Bali to wear instead.

Gold and silver leaves are entwined to make a cross and it was fun trying to capture a "sun flare" from the light reflecting off the silver.  Had I thought, the earrings that I was wearing are also made from both gold and silver ... maybe that's a picture for another day!
Central to the Christian faith is the cross ... to some it seems crazy nonsense ... but to others it is a symbol of the great love that God has for humankind.  Jesus Christ took that route so that we might become the children of God.  This is the great mystery that we have celebrated over the Advent - Christmas - Epiphany season.  This is how we can live life to the full.  And this is why we know that death does not have the final word ... the one who is "Emmanuel - God with us" is the one who is also "the resurrection and the life" and who is with us to the end of the age.  Hallelujah!

Eternal God, you hold all souls in life:
May the bright beams of your light and heavenly comfort
shine on your whole Church,
and grant that we, following the good example
of those who loved and served you here
and are now at rest,
may at last enter with them
into the fulness of your unending joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

Book of Common Prayer.