A happy return

I'm sorry I keep having to post collages, but today was kinda special and I can't decide on any one photo to represent it.  Advent 1 seemed a suitable day for the first visit of our Bishop to Holy Trinity - except, of course, that it's only 4 months since we said farewell to him as our Rector, so it was more of a joyous return. It was a lovely service - and a varied one. There was the lighting of the first candle in the Advent wreath, there was a licensing or re-issuing of licences to everyone with authorised positions in the church (so that I have an official certificate to say I am recognised as a Eucharistic Assistant and Preacher in Holy Trinity, something I've not had since Bishop Kevin's departure); we sang the Kilbride Mass (by Himself) at the bishop's request because he doesn't get to hear it elsewhere; we sang the wonderful hymns, ending with Lo He Comes, sung at full volume with the organ making the floor vibrate. Di brought a visitor to see if he liked it - he seemed bowled over. It was the kind of service that makes you forget the cold and damp of the day we made the wreath ... 

As the Annual Meeting followed the service, it was 1pm by the time we got home and 2pm by the time we'd drunk coffee and debriefed with Di. However, I was determined that I needed a de-stressing walk, so we drove down to Ardyne and walked in the gloaming. That's when we saw the heron of the fourth photo: there was a single, glowing, pinkish gap in the clouds which was reflected in a tidal inlet and in the middle of the water a statuesque heron with a perfect reflection. The air was full of the smells of sea and farmland, the air was still and relatively mild, and we could hardly see our feet on the way back to the car. Mad, maybe, but wonderful. 

Dinner was later than I meant - we have to be up early tomorrow - but I managed to do a good bit of present-ordering before we ate, as well as completing the Advent Village that we started yesterday, having worked out the function of some seemingly redundant cardboard flaps (they hold the floor up!). I'll probably post a photo of it with all its wee lights on at a future date, but tonight our house provided a scented candle. 

A light to lighten the darkness - but today the darkness of the world was dispelled for a while.