Lilies for loved ones

Once more on Easter Sunday our church will be enhanced by the beautiful flowers, known as “the white robed apostles of hope”.

Tradition holds that the flowers, most significantly associated with the Resurrection of Jesus, started to grow in the Garden of Gethsemane after the Lord’s betrayal. The white lily is a symbol of rebirth and new beginnings and is mentioned many times in the Bible.

Lilies also represent purity and are strongly associated with the Virgin Mary. In artworks depicting the Annunciation, the Angel Gabriel is often shown holding white lilies.

We hope you enjoy our Flower Team’s annual parade of assorted white lilies and apologise to those in our congregation with allergies. Each year, we do our best to remove the offending pollen and to choose lilies which have no stamens.

Many thanks to all who generously donated to the “Lilies for Loved Ones” tradition. Hopefully, with loving care, the blooms will continue to give pleasure for many weeks.

— Lynn Radnedge