Third Sunday of Advent

We were out of the house at 7:45am, ahead of the regular 9:15 Sunday liturgy at St Paul's, Carlinville. The landscape along I-55, and then IL 108, we winter-wonderland exotic--snow-covered fields and bare trees revealing abandoned nests. We had a good time celebrating the Third Sunday of Advent--Gaudete, Rose Sunday--with the people of St Paul's. Fr John Henry displayed his versatility by covering duties at the organ bench, since I was there to cover the altar. Sumptuous meal afterward, the cheese grits being the most memorable feature after the table conversation about faraway places.

Following some afternoon downtime we went over to Staab Funeral Home to pay our respects to Jim Donkin in the wake of the sudden passing of his wife Mary. Her funeral will be tomorrow at Christ Church.

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