Easter Day on the Key and in other places.

Saint Boniface Church, Siesta Key, FL.  High Altar and Stained Glass window, Easter Day 2017 Photo' via Barbara F-C

I was at the "early"  (7:45 a,.m.) celebration of Easter at St. B's this morning, together with about fifty other sisters and brothers.

Anglican/Episcopalian early morning services are never very exciting or energetic.  They are designed that way for those of us who are morning people.

So today's service at 7:45 a.m. did not (and could not) convey the exuberance which is palpable at later morning Eucharists with their bells, brass instruments, superb organ music and glorious choral music.

That's perfectly fine. For at "early services" the Gospel is heard, and the Bread and Wine are shared, and God's people are fed.

To put it another way -  the early service is like a simple breakfast with cereal, toast, and tea or coffee.  The later service  (especially on great festival days) is more like a "full English" breakfast.

The menu is not crucial just so long as the meal is nutritious.

So I had my "tea and toast" at 7:45 this morning, and then spent the rest of the morning sharing Holy Communion with St. B's folks who are unable to get to Church.

There was B.L. in the memory unit of an retirement community in Bradenton; B and G in their home at Palm Aire. G is recovering from major foot surgery. C  in a rehab and long term care facility near our "new" Mall.

If the folks cannot get to Church, then the Church gets to them!

Even better in my case,  Ben comes along on these pastoral calls.   The presence of this handsome dog brings great pleasure  to other residents who are in "care".  Most wonderfully, those with varying degrees of memory problems seem to come alive in a good way when they see my dog.

The dog is more important than my "dog collar"!  (And why not?)