Communion of Saints

It intrigues me very much the juxtaposition of graveyards and churches in old places.  Now a days there are far too many people and far too little land to bury in the front yard of the church and I suppose it is just a little weird and creepy.  But that is how it was done for centuries and it is really so interesting to think of knowing your small church congregation so well that you would know the names and stories on those stones you passed on your way to the front door.  It is sad to have lost that deep rooted sense of community and makes me wish I lived in a much smaller place.  (That theory has SO many flaws, but we'll ignore them for the moment of nostalgia.)