I want to be in church this morning, but swollen glands have kept me at home, I am missing praying in community, missing singing advent hymns... it does not feel right to be at home...

... and I am wondering how many of next weeks activities will be truly possible, how many I will have to hand over to others to do, or worst case scenario cancel!

I am not indispensable, but I need to worship, and I need others around me to help me to do so, I don't know if that is silly or selfish, but it is a fact, actually I think it is simply because we are created to be relational...

.... but when I stop moaning and think, I know that for me this is temporary, for others their solitude is constant, the housebound and infirm (usually elderly) spend day upon day week upon week in isolation, unable to get out, and unlike me without family around who care... as a church we make occasional visits to those we know about, taking tapes of services, staying for a cup of tea and a chat, but we are scratching the surface..

... and now Tim has just arrived home from taking what should have been my service, he stopped at Tescos and bought me some orange juice and flowers... ( he knows flowers always work magic with me), and now he is unloading the dishwasher!

We have all been invited out for lunch, which means we don't need to think about cooking!

Also several Christmas cards arrived this weekend three with letters from friends, and I realise that although I cannot be in church in different ways church has come to me, in the care and prayers of my friends and family...

Lord my worship this morning has not been in prayer and song, but in reflection, thank you for giving me eyes to see your love in the love of others, help me to be willing to share that love.