A warm welcome to Pathhead Parish Church which meets at 11am each Sunday. On regular Sundays, we offer online worship via Zoom for those who cannot be physically present and this can be arranged by contacting the church office. Whichever way you meet us, welcome! At 6pm most Sunday evenings we have an online meeting for those wishing to look at a Bible passage, chat about it and pray. Just contact myself to get on the email distribution list for the Zoom link. I can be contacted at minister@pathheadparishchurch.co.uk
We also offer Messy Church once a month and there is a Messy Church page on this website where you can find more details of its activities.
A Christian message from the flowers!
I am always greatly encouraged when I start to see snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils emerging in the garden. For me, they are always signs of Spring and also a sign that the season of Lent is never far away. This year March 5th marks the beginning of Lent, that forty-day period of preparation for Holy Week and Easter, not including Sundays.
Did you know that there are certain flowers which are associated with Lent and Easter itself? For example, the Rose, seen as a symbol of the blood He shed on the cross; the thorny stem, a poignant reminder of the crown of thorns that Jesus wore. Just as the rose blooms despite its thorns, Jesus endured the pain of the cross for the joy set before Him – the salvation of humanity.
“Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the seed that with the sun’s love
In the spring becomes the rose.”
The columbine. The name “columbine” comes from the Latin for “dove”, because the inverted flower resembles five doves clustered together. Interestingly, it’s also the origin of the name, “Columba”. The colours of columbine – blue or violet and yellow, stand for passion and penance (violet); and for bright yellow, the Resurrection.
I was intrigued to learn that the Passion Flower derives its name from the Passion of Christ! According to Passion Flower expert breeder, Myles Stewart Irvine, back in 1600’s, Spanish Christian Missionaries in South America, explained each part of the flower with the story of the Passion of Jesus Christ. It was known by the Spanish as “La Flor de las cinco Llagas” or the ‘The Flower With The Five Wounds.’ ‘Passionis’ referring to (Christ’s) suffering.
Five sepals and five petals: the ten Apostles who neither betrayed Jesus (like Judas) nor publicly denied Him, like Peter.
Purple: the colour of penance and sacrifice.
Three stigma: the nails piercing Jesus’ hands and feet.
Five anthers: His five wounds.
Circlet of corona filaments: the crown of the thorns.
Three-pointed leaves: the Holy Trinity, the same yesterday, today and forever.
The Vine: God’s attachment to the earth.
So, there you have it – a little Easter sermon in three flowers! May they help us all to consider the great love of Jesus and the joy He brings to every season.
Every blessing,
Andrew Donald
Minister
It will be a great pleasure to welcome everyone back to worship but for those not able to join us, we shall continue with the Zoom facility so that people can join us from home. Our 6pm Sunday Bible Study will continue on Zoom and if you wish to join the regulars you can find the details along with those of the morning Zoom meeting which is sent out by email.
