CAPTION: On Mothering Sunday people were invited to collect bouquets of flowers from the porch of St Andrew's Church, Ashburton
Churches In Devon Say It With Flowers
Churches in Devon gave out posies of flowers to people in their local communities to mark Mothering Sunday this year.
Flowers are traditionally given to women during the Mothering Sunday church service, but this year, because of coronavirus restrictions, some churches decided to take flowers out onto the streets or invite people to collect them instead.
At St Andrew’s Church in Ashburton, a team of volunteers made up more than 70 bouquets of flowers which were left in the church porch with a sign inviting people take one for their Mum, Gran, a neighbour or for themselves.
Children and Families Mission Advisor, Heidi Lewis, holds up one of the finished bouquets
The flowers proved popular and by lunchtime on Sunday all the bouquets had been collected. Some posies were also delivered to people in their homes.
Heidi Lewis, the Children and Families Mission Advisor, said “We didn’t want people to miss out on the opportunity to have a little bit of brightness in their life at this time.
“We thought it was especially important to give out flowers, knowing that some people would not be able to see their own mothers or children this year.
“We also wanted to encourage people to think of neighbours and others who might be alone and pop a bunch of flowers round for them as well.
Each of the bouquets had a message attached to it which read: “Given with love on Mothers’ Day 2021” and Proverbs 31:25 “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come”.
The floral display outside St John the Baptist Church, Bishopsteignton
Heidi said, “We chose an uplifting Bible verse which sends a very positive message about being a woman, about being strong and being capable.
“That’s a particularly important message at the moment when some parents have found it really difficult over the last few months.”
“It’s been such a joy to see the smiles a small bunch of flowers can bring in these challenging times”
At St Michael’s church in Teignmouth posies and slices of Simnel cake were given out outside the church to accompany an online service.
St John the Baptist Church, Bishopsteignton, had a floral display outside the building and posies were given out.
St Paul’s, Honiton, posted on its Facebook Page: “We have had a wonderful morning outside St Paul’s giving away posies of spring daffodils for Mothering Sunday.
“It’s been truly lovely having the opportunity to chat with so many people (socially distanced of course!)
“It’s been such a joy to see the smiles a small bunch of flowers can bring in these challenging times. Lots of smiling faces.”
