Just back from our Pentecost bonfire meet on Ardentinny Beach. It was great!

We went all 80’s and did some parachute games! I have not done this for years, and it was a hoot!

Then we scooped the edge underneath and sat in our own flappy tent- whilst Paul told the story of the disciples in the upper room, and coming of the Spirit. A great gust hit our parachute tent just as he got to the mighty rushing wind bit too!

Then we put prayers on paper doves, to hang in the trees.

Then we read the passage from Galatians 5 where Paul talks about the fruit of the Spirit- here are a few bits, with my emphases-

Galatians 5, 13-26

It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows.

My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness.

But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives. That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives.

Each of us is an original.

And recognising that we needed help, we then made a long prayer flag out of strips of foil with words from the passage above on- then flew it in the wind from a kite pole.

Finally, as a way of thinking about moving back into the world, we planted some flowers in tubs, and committed ourselves to placing them on other people’s doorsteps as a kind of guerrilla gardening project. Ours are already placed!

Oh- then we had a barbecue, and ate a lot.

Andy brought his camper van and gas barbie, so we ate well, and we ate in luxury!