CLOSE OF FLORAL FESTIVAL

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28833, 2 March 1959, Page 7

CLOSE OF FLORAL FESTIVAL

Thanksgiving Service Held Cranmer square was an outdoor church yesterday afternoon when the Christchurch floral festival thanksgiving service was held. There was a good attendance, although a cold southerly wind inade conditions unpleasant. The service was held primarily in thanksgiving for the gift of flowers, and, to this end, two children from each city Sunday School brought bunches of flowers, which were dedicated by the Bishop of Christchurch (the Rt. Rev. A. K. Warren). These .flowers were afterwards distributed to the sick by members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and Rotary. The platform on which the officiating minister* stood was decorated with marigolds, as were the choir stalls. The sermon was conducted by the minister of the Colombo street Baptist Church (the Rev. A. L. Silcock). Mr Silcock said that three things could be learned from flowers. The first was that If God provided for flowers, He would certainly provide for man as well By studying the flowers, man could learn something of the nature of God who made them. If God provided for flowers, which had such a short life. He would certainly provide for man. whom He meant to live for ever. At the end of the sermon the massed choir sang "The Hallelujah Chorus,” from Handel’s "The Messiah.” The choir was conducted by Mr W. Hawkey, and accompanied by the Salvation Army Band, which also provided the accompaniment for the hymns. The service was conducted by the chairman of the Christchurch branch of the National Council of Churches (the Rev. D. M. Taylor). • The lesson was read by the Rev. H. G. Brown, and the prayers were led by the Moderator of Presbytery (the Rev. K. L. Warren).