Photos above: Wendy Pope and Kate Fleming with Cross.  Dr Susan Burr and Becky Fleming.  Photo below includes Saisle.

 

St Oswald's Episcopal Church in Maybole held a flower festival at the start of Gala Week and it was one of hospitality, celebration, festivity and joy for the congregation of the church and the people of the town.

 

Visitors came steadily through the doors from Friday afternoon to Sunday evening ­ to admire the flowers and church, to enjoy hospitality in the hall, and enjoy the exhibitions of the congregation’s handiwork. The little church has been extremely well supported in their efforts to stage the event with arrangements by members of the congregation, and members of Maybole Parish Church, the Baptist Church and Our Lady & St Cuthbert’s Church.

 

Holy Trinity, Ayr and St John's Girvan, as fellow Episcopalians, also contributed with arrangements depicting the liturgical seasons of the church year. The young people of the town had a strong part to play as the Easter cross was re-decorated by church teenagers, and the four schools in town prepared and displayed window boxes stuffed with a rainbow of flowers for the approach path to the church door.

 

A songs of praise service on Friday evening was a time of celebration and launch, singing nine hymns to take everyone through the seasons. Many found it strange, but fun, to be singing In the Bleak Mid Winter on the hottest day of the year so far! A selection of readings and poems reflected the church year. Rector Rev Ian Meredith commented "the singing was marvellous, I have not heard such a great swell of joyful praise in the little church"

 

On Sunday morning, the church was packed as worshippers came together from the three South Ayrshire Team congregations and beyond to give thanks on what was Environment Sunday symbolised by the exquisite floral arrangements decorating every ledge and window sill, and every pew-end. The colours and scents were a glorious experience.

 

Visitors included Bishop Gregor Duncan who came down from Glasgow on both Saturday and Sunday, when he also attended and took part in the Crossraguel open air service. There was also a guest preacher on Sunday, Rev Anne Tomlinson, who is the Ministry Development Officer for the diocese who in her sermon greatly encouraged and commended the efforts of mission shown through the festival. Members of the congregation of St Oswald's are delighted with the support and appreciation they received and want to thank all who contributed or went along.