Mid-week Joy 2nd June

 Mid-Week Joy – 2nd June 2021

Welcome to a summery edition of Mid-week Joy. 

As I write this week’s piece, the sun is beaming down on Leesfield and it really feels like summer is just around the corner. There are smiles on people’s faces and folks are at last getting their summer clothes out from the back of the wardrobe. The bigger bonus is that this long-awaited spell of good weather has landed on the Bank Holiday weekend and half term.

Some of you will know that over the last month I have been doing the 300,000 step challenge to raise money for Christian Aid, (to put that into context, it’s approximately 150 miles). After what has been a very wet and cold month it was so nice to have the final stomp in warm weather and not wrapped up in a raincoat and woolly jumper, so I thought I would share some pictures from that last day. For anyone that hasn’t manged to donate to Christian Aid this year it’s still not too late to – please visit the Just Giving page at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/churchestogther-leesdistrict. I only need £30 to reach my goal of £300. 

 

The pictures above were taken in Alexandra Park and in the woods between Park Bridge and Fitton Hill. They are magnificent examples of what is on offer on our own doorstep -  with the verdant hues of fresh green foliage and the splashes of blossoms which also fill the air with the fragrance of spring. 

Perhaps my favourite photo of the day is the one below which shows the blossom of the hawthorn tree. It’s almost impossible not be in awe of the marvel of God’s creation at work through nature. Please take a minute to look at the intricate detail and beauty of each individual flower that makes up this blossom head – the corolla of each flower, the petals, anther and filaments of the stamen and last but not least the pollen.  A miracle that is repeated tens of thousands of times on each tree and millions of times in all varieties of plants and flowers that clothe the countryside.

As the famous hymn says…..

“Each little flower that opens,

Each little bird that sings,

He made their glowing colour,

He made their tiny wings.“

Nature Quiz - How is your plant knowledge?

As a bit of fun, I thought it might be nice to set you a spring challenge. The picture below was taken in the church yard just to the left of the main gates. There is a lovely display of both cultivated and wild flowers. How many you can name?

 

………………….and finally,

Our congratulations to Neil and Paula who were married at St. Agnes on Saturday 29th May by Bishop Mark. They also went to Alexandra Park to have these beautiful wedding pictures taken. 

 

As the saying goes….. “The sun shines on the righteous”.

Paul