St John’s, Percy Main, celebrated its 150th anniversary with a flower festival, and invited Churches Together in North Shields to join them for Pentecost praise.

The church was full, and more chairs had to be brought in to accommodate the congregation.

Vicar of St John’s Revd Helen Gill led the service of worship, with other members taking part.  The story of Pentecost from Acts chapter 2 was retold in modern language, punctuated by the refrain, “It was weird… but wonderful!”  Helen spoke briefly of the coming of the Holy Spirit, and reflecting that experiencing the Spirit can be different for everyone, with each person receiving individually hand-crafted spiritual gifts.

Planning the flower festival had taken 9 months of preparation, and had formed new friendships with people from other churches and organisations in the area, who had helped in decorating the church.  A slide show was given, showing the floral displays being assembled and then completed.

The service concluded with releasing party poppers and sharing in a celebration cake, after we had all greeted each other and shared the peace.

The flowers themselves were ingeniously displayed – some arranged in the form of anchors and cranes, and filling various shoes around the church.  Displays included the work of the Fishermen’s Mission, over the rainbow (with red shoes on a yellow petal road!), the Port of Tyne, a table and armchair set for afternoon tea, memories of the Great War, Mary Mother of God, Pentecost, celebrations, the Lindisfarne Gospels, inner strength, Mother Church, the allotment (with small pots of flowers and produce), the local coal trade, baptism and of course footprints!