On Sunday we celebrated the Feast of Pentecost (Whit Sunday), one of the major festivals of the Church's year and the end of Eastertide, and the church was decorated for the occasion.  Here are some photos!

Photos by Anne Tinker and Richard Stanton

As part of our Twelve Hours of Prayer in St Mary's yesterday, we had a great couple of hours with the children.  After drinks and biscuits they heard the Pentecost story told through Godly Play, and then explored the work of the Holy Spirit by making doves (a symbol of the Spirit shown on the font in St Mary's), windmills (for the rushing wind which accompanied the coming of the Spirit at the first Pentecost), and flame-coloured hand prints and ribbons to decorate a cross at the back of the church, celebrating the Holy Spirit's descent in "divided tongues, as of fire," which appeared on each of the apostles.  We thought about the people we want to pray for, and after our prayers enjoyed delicious birthday cake for the birthday of the Universal Church and sang "Happy birthday".  Everyone got a flame-coloured cake to take home as well... and now we're looking forward to Pentecost itself when we'll be making kites!