The Flowers

"Journeys of Faith" (2007)

In July, the Church was decorated by a display of floral arrangements on the theme "Journeys of Faith". 

(Click pictures below for larger image)

PORCH Contemporary arrangement.
CHILDREN'S CORNER BEHIND DOOR Old photographs from Stonehouse School, now demolished
WALL & FIREPLACE Three Wise Men followed a star to worship a King because they had faith that he would save the world.
OLD ORGAN Moses led the Israelites on a long journey out of Egyptian slavery to the promised land. His faith gave him courage to follow God's instructions as the sea parted to allow them to escape.
NEW ORGAN Mary and Joseph were warned in a dream that Herod wanted to kill baby Jesus so Joseph, in complete faith, took his family to Egypt to escape Herod's revenge.
WINDOW Ruth, a Moabite, stayed with Naomi her mother-in-law, an Israelite, even though she would be in an alien land saying, 'Wherever you go I will go with you', because she had faith in Naomi's God.
WINDOW Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and taken in chains to Egypt. His faith sustained him on the journey and subsequent captivity.
WINDOW John the Baptist preached faith as he journeyed and baptised converts to Christianity, in the name of Jesus.
WINDOW Jesus spent forty days and nights fasting in the desert to reinforce his faith against the temptations of the devil.
BEAM Their faith gave the puritan Pilgrim Fathers courage to sail to America in 1620 to escape religious persecution. They founded the settlement of Plymouth enabling them to worship in freedom.
STANDING William Wilberforce worked tirelessly for years to eradicate the injustice of the Slave Trade because he had faith that God supported him. Eventually the Act was passed in 1807, exactly 200 years ago.
LEFT OF ALTAR Archbishop Desmond TuTu, the first black Anglican Dean of Johannesburg, always had faith that the policy of segregation, Apartheid, would be defeated by peaceful means. He remained outside politics, using the Bible as Us text, saying God decreed all peoples to be equal.
RIGHT OF ALTAR St. James [The Greater] was chosen by Jesus to witness     His transfiguration and agony in the garden, because of his faith. He was the first Apostle to be martyred. According to Spanish tradition St. James visited Spain preaching the gospel and his body was returned to Spain for burial at Compostela in Galicia. The scallop-shell, carried by James for baptism at the roadside, is still used as a symbol by pilgrims today
STANDING Jesus' journey of faith from Bethlehem to Resurrection.
WINDOW After his conversion St. Paul travelled to many places taking Christianity to the Gentiles ie non-Jews. He emphasised the difficulties of life as a missionary in one of his many letters: 'In journeyings often in perils of waters, robbers, mine own countrymen, the heathen, in the city, in the wilderness, in the sea, among false brethren, in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.' He is symbolised by a sword and a book.
WINDOW The destitute Prodigal son returned home because he had faith that his father, being a kind and just person, would receive him and welcome him home.
WINDOW Dietrich Bonhoeffer represents 20th Century martyrs who could have denied their beliefs but were executed for them making that final journey of faith. His book, 'The Cost of Discipleship' outlines the sacrifices made.
WINDOW The Bishop's Certificate was introduced to further an understanding of Christianity. The study for it involves a journey of faith making sacrifices to research and attend classes and being able to rethink popular misconceptions about the Bible.

Thank you for visiting St. John's Church. If you would like to know more about it please refer to a booklet on sale in Church.

FLOWER ARRANGER'S PRAYER
May God grant that our hearts, our eyes and our hands may receive His inspiration enabling us to glorify His house with the beauty of the leaves and blossoms which He has created.

With many thanks to all those who contributed to this beautiful and moving display.

Take a look at photographs from the Flower Festival held at St. Augustine's Church, Rugeley.

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