“For everything there is a season.”  (Ecclesiastes 3 v1.)

The church too has its seasons and colours: when the church was first closed because of the pandemic, it was Lent and the colour was purple. Since then, we have had Easter when the colour was white and Pentecost when the colour was red and then white for Trinity Sunday.

We have missed that change in seasons, but we are grateful to our Ministry team and others who have maintained opportunity for worship throughout and we have experienced new treasures too. (Matthew13 v 52.)

We are now into a long season of Sundays—known as Sundays after Trinity, or Proper, or Ordinary Time and the colour is green---apart from Feast days. Let’s hope we can be back in church again before it’s purple once more and Advent!

We should try to enjoy this “green” season. Green is part of the rainbow and currently featuring in the rainbows in many house windows. At the end of every storm, there is a rainbow of hope. Green is our colour of hope and growth and rejoicing too. We rejoice at seeing the first green shoots appear in Spring, the first leaves on the trees and watching crops and fruit ripen. We too can grow in friendship and compassion for people around us who may need our love, kindness or care ---they are all part of God’s creation, whatever their colour, status or belief.

“Lord, make us instruments of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let us sow love.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness, joy.      

(lines from the Prayer of St Francis of Assisi.)