As a church, we have a good friend who serves as a hospital chaplain, and who is very stretched right now.

A couple of days ago, she put out a request for wooden crosses that could be offered to sick or dying patients as a tangible expression of love, faith and hope in these strange times.

Today the palm crosses we cannot use, the 'stock' of holding crosses I keep for precisely this purpose, and my rosary will be picked up from the end of the path to our flats.

Please pray for R, and for all chaplains, in healthcare, hospice, prison, military, educational and workplace settings at this time.  And for those to whom these crosses - and a few cross-shaped cards and angels I am also sending - may be a comfort.

It's probably selfish, but the holding cross in the image is the one I have used for many years, and it, along with last year's palm cross, is staying put.