Isabella is remembered in our calendar today. She founded the deaconess order in the C of E, now largely lost in the lists of time, but as I remember her I also remember Jane Durell who died recently and was my colleague deaconess in my first incumbency and who was later one of the first female deacons and then priests. And I give thanks for these and all our steps, however small and painful, to be the church God calls us to be living out his love in and to the world.