[Magdalen] Merry Christmas

[Ann Markle]

Happy 2nd day of Christmas to all! Beautiful early Xmas Eve service at
Trinity Lancaster (NY, where I am rector) - music, perfect child acolytes,
enthusiastic singing, just lovely. Then to friends for a time, with small
gift exchanges. Late service (attending, not serving) at Trinity, Buffalo
(my pre-ordination home parish). Christmas Day home alone, by choice. Today
a morning AA meeting (have finally managed to string together close to 9
months abstinent of alcohol), then back home.

Christmas spirit barely lukewarm this year, but have had fun with my little
crèche, and have burned candles enthusiastically.

For those who didn’t see on Facebook, Santa finally brought the red cowboy
boots I’ve wanted for the better part of a decade, but couldn’t bring
myself to buy new. Okay, I had to go pick them up at the local Amvets
thrift store, but I just know Santa left them there for me! And he also
left a red leather handbag at my favorite consignment shop. The token (very
token, I assure you!) amount I paid for each of these, I consider shipping
fees from the North Pole. And I just ordered a copy of the Leonardo daVinci
book from Amazon.

So overall, it has been a different, quieter sort of holiday for me, too.
Not wonderful, but far from awful. My fridge is full of wonderful food that
I made for myself, and actually, my heart is pretty full of gratitude, too.
Sounds like there was some time to just be still in the miracle of the
incarnation for lots of us.

On Wed, Dec 26, 2018 at 9:23 AM Ginga Wilder <gingawilder at gmail.com> wrote:

> After individual visits with each of our children and their families, we
> arrived back in Summerville late yesterday afternoon.  Christmas 'dinner'
> was Nabs and water on the road.  Thirty hours away from home with lots of
> goodness in the midst of that.  Last night's grilled cheese sandwiches will
> give way to our Christmas dinner today...just us.   This morning, I have a
> physical therapy session for balance issues I've been having, a short trip
> to the grocery store, then I will cook.  Beef roast and all the trimmings.
> Also an unusual Christmas, but a good one.
>
> Ginga
>
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> On Wed, Dec 26, 2018 at 8:44 AM Marilyn Cepeda <mcepeda514 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Sounds wonderful!  We had our family here in two shifts due to work but
> had
> > a wonderful time both days. Now we rest!
> >
> > Marilyn
> >
> > On Wed, Dec 26, 2018 at 7:29 AM cady soukup <cadyasoukup at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > > Blessings to all on this second day of the Christmas season,
> > >
> > > We had a very low-key Christmas with first son & family (Sunday
> > > afternoon), 3rd son home from Washington state, second son & family
> > > (yesterday), daughter home from Harrisonburg, VA (Shenandoah Valley)
> > > where she now resides. Limited "decorations" (Advent calendar is all),
> > > self-grazing sandwich/buffet meal, no alcohol, everything suitable for
> > > the 3-year-old granddaughter who is of an age to be transfixed by the
> > > doll house her grandpa made for her aunt (#3 son helped her to her
> > > heart's content to play with the dolls and furniture for nearly 90
> > > minutes!). Everyone commented what a "relief from the storm" it was
> > > just to relax. No buttons pushed, lots of simple conversation, no time
> > > on social media or electronics. A true break in our daily patterns.
> > >
> > > Yesterday's service - simple eucharist, no music - another small,
> > > welcome gap. It was surprisingly well attended, with several new
> > > faces, even a young couple (ho both came to the table for blessing yet
> > > neither took communion).
> > >
> > > Quiet joy brings its own quiet blessings. I am grateful for the space
> > > to welcome and recognize it.
> > >
> > > hugs - Cady
> > >
> > > On 12/25/18, Clarissa Canning <canplum at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > > We had services one each evening this week. The last one in Killarney
> > > where
> > > > wr live. Had Christmas over Fb with our Granddaughter Gaby & Sons
> Josh
> > n
> > > > Sam. Having a Christmas dinner with one of the Seniors complexes in
> > town.
> > > > Blessings this Christmastide
> > > > On Dec 25, 2018 6:42 AM, "Marion Thompson" <
> marionwhitevale at gmail.com>
> > > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> Every blessing at this holy Christmastide.  Just this morning’s
> > service
> > > >> to
> > > >> go and then I can have a nap or something before going to some St.
> > > Mark’s
> > > >> people for a grownup dinner later on.  Last night after our 5p.m.
> > mass I
> > > >> drove into Scarborough to my daughter Fiona where we were 11.  I had
> > > made
> > > >> a
> > > >> Christmas pudd’ according to Mary Berry on The Great British Baking
> > Show
> > > >> and it was spectacularly good, I must say.
> > > >>
> > > >> Have a wonderful day and week.  I must go now and bone up on the
> Kyrie
> > > >> from Willan’s Missa Brevis.  Thanks to illness and things, I will be
> > the
> > > >> only alto.  Baby Jesus will understand ….
> > > >>
> > > >> Love to you all,
> > > >> Marion, a pilgrim
> > > >>
> > > >> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >
> > >
> > --
> > Marilyn (Owens, Palmero) Cepeda
> >
>
-- 
Ann

The Rev. Ann Markle
Buffalo, NY
www.onewildandpreciouslife.typepad.com