A very long but satisfying day

~My day started when I sat down to work on my sermon at 7:30 this morning. I tried to write last night; I thought I had a start--lots of ideas had been percolating--but I ended up starting over this morning. Normally I have until early afternoon to finish, but I had a funeral at 2:00 and needed to be finished writing before noon. Happily I finished up about 11:30 and was showered, dressed, and at church by 12:45.

~There are always lots of details to attend to before a funeral, so I was busy from the moment I walked in the door. It was a big funeral, and people started arriving quite early. Fortunately I managed to be ready when the family arrived.

~I live in a place with lots of "old familes"--I guess every place has these, but where I am now it seems more pronouced to me. The woman we buried today was the matriarch of one of these old village families, and had led quite an interesting and accomplished life well into old age. She was a woman with strong ideas and her funeral clearly reflected her wishes. Very traditional and straight forward.

~The church was packed with people who clearly loved and respected this woman. There is something about a service done in such a group that feels---well, satisfying, proper, right, and that feeling was definitely present today. It was truly a celebration of a life well lived.

~In the congregation was someone I blogged about meeting here. I probably shouldn't notice such things but what can I say?

~My day was only partly done when the funeral was over. I had to proof my sermon, put together the prayers of the people (something I normally do on Thursday), and set up for the 5:00 service--which takes a while because we have lots of extra candles and a table for the altar and other stuff that has to be moved around. And after the service I had to take it all down and set up for tomorrow's 8:00 service, plus check in with the person setting up for tomorrow's workshop to make Advent wreaths.

~By the time I gave the acolyte a ride home and chatted with his parents for a few minutes, it was 7:15 when I walked in the door. Thank goodness for leftovers for dinner! The Kid is out, and I'm relaxing on the couch. And soon going to bed!