Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

from The Isherwoods

Stanley's in Sedona

So far Sedona has been everything they said, and perhaps even more, except for the weather. It began to rain when I arrived on Thursday evening finally letting up about Saturday noon. Sedona is surrounded by startling red rock hills with such names as Cathedral and Snoopy. The natural beauty is almost matched by that found in the numerous art galleries (or outside them as in the sculpture pictured), and all the locals are, or at least pretend to be, glad to see you.

Tomorrow I’ll be attending a community church across the street from the resort since the Episcopal church is too far to walk to and the timing doesn’t work out. When I do this sort of thing I’m always dramatically reminded how difficult it must be for non-Anglicans to visit one of our churches. I usually find it quite hard to relax enough to worship and am relieved when the whole thing is over. There is actually an alternative for me tomorrow since there’s a breakaway Episcopal church here with its own Bishop – but I think I’ll give that a pass.