"Friends' " Flowers

Friday 4th May 2012

Flowers at the Good Samaritan window

The Friends of St Cuthbert's Bellingham have their Festival of Flowers completed to welcome any visitors who have come specially for this event or for the major local Baafest (Bellingham All Acounstic music festival) this weekend.
      The window, of course, illustrates Jesus' parable told in answer to the question "Who is my neighbour?"  (Answer: anyone who helps you if you're in trouble; and you do the same: "Go and do thou likewise")  Curiously, it's not irrelevant to this evening's meeting of the Deanery Chapter (the group of local clergy) who had agreed that after our evening Communion service at Bingfield we would discuss "How to love your enemy" in accordance with Christ's instruction to his disciples.   It seemed to me realistic to start with the question "Who is my enemy?" (not as obvious as one might assume).
     Meanwhile, many comings and goings, not only to enjoy the flower arrangements but also to do some final publicity at the campsites, to do a little parish visiting and all the other unpredictable encounters.