Dear Visitor,
You may recall in ’Allo ’Allo!, the BBC comedy set in occupied France during the Second World War, a secret radio for contacting London being kept under René’s mother-in-law’s bed. When London called, light bulbs in the bed-knobs flashed, and René, summonsed by his mother-in-law, would run upstairs and transmit a response: ‘’Allo, ’Allo! This is Nighthawk. Are you receiving me?’
The question ‘Are you receiving me?’ is an apt alternative title for our festival, for communication is all about producing, saying or broadcasting something, and ‘receiving’ or listening to the same. Have we communicated with you through what we have created here, through flowers, words, hospitality, and our smiles and words of welcome? And have we been attentive to you, and listened to what you have to say? Have we, indeed, ‘received’ you?
When we ‘make a statement’ through something we create, do or say, we hope that this will have an effect on the receiver. But of course we can never be sure what they actually ‘receive’: indeed, it may be very different from what we intended. That is part of the joy of being alive and trying to communicate with one another!
We extend a warm welcome to you this weekend. We are simply a community which seeks to receive the goodness of God, through his many blessings, and through the gift of himself in communion and in his Word. We hope that what we ‘receive’ in this way also challenges us. I would particularly like to thank all who have worked so hard to make this festival possible, and you, for coming here today. Perhaps in a small way God may speak to us here in St. Oswald’s, through our fellowship in preparing for and offering this flower festival? Perhaps God may speak to you through the beauty and quiet of this place of worship? Perhaps he is saying to us all: ‘Are you receiving me?’
With every blessing,
Peter
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We hope you enjoyed our displays and look forward to seeing you next August.
