2000 at rally

Press, 31 March 1980, Page 1

2000 at rally

Palm fronds swayed in the breeze as about 20.00 people joined in song and prayer yesterday to celebrate Palm Sunday in Cathedral Square. Silver birch and sycamore leaves were also waved with as much enthusiasm as the traditional palms as worshippers sang, waved, and jumped their way" through the half-hour rally.- Palm Sunday commemorates Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem a week before his Cruci-» fixion. It is remembered as the time- when the crowd lined-his route into Jerusalem with palm fronds. Welcoming people to the service, the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr H. G. Hay), said it was encouraging to witness such a': demonstration of faith. The crowd applauded when he said that Christchurch’s origins as a church settlement were evidently becoming more meaningful to a significant section of the. community. Although conditions were ideal for the outdoor service, the crowd was smaller than the 5000 to 10,000 people the organisers had hoped to attract to -the Square.