Rainbow Praise - Many People Many Songs

Nelson Cathedral is in for a roof raising experience on April 19 when the second Rainbow Praise service will attract numerous ethnic choirs and an expected capacity congregation. .

Organiser, Evey McAuliffe from the Nelson Multi-Ethnic Council, says the concept of ‘Many people many songs’ was such a success last year there was no question about staging it again.

“Rainbow Praise is a chance for people to see and hear how other people worship with music,” she says. “In spite of our different cultures, people actually have a lot in common, and this service is a way of welcoming people into our community and showing we are interested in them.”

The service will be lead by Reverend Andy Joseph and will feature a range of choirs including Maori, Cook Island, Korean, Filipino and Chin as well as two large groups of Tongans here for the fruit harvest.

This year the congregation has an opportunity to join in with a final hymn, and they’re also being asked to bring a plate of food to share.

“The people who come to listen are not so much the audience as the hosts,” says Evey. “These wonderful singers are our VIPs and we want to treat them to a picnic in the cathedral grounds after the service.”

There’s a koha option and everyone is welcome to stay for the picnic. There will be extra seating in the cathedral, set up for the final service in the 150 celebrations of Nelson’s city status.

“We are very grateful to the cathedral for hosting Rainbow Praise – in many ways it is a real celebration of how far our city has come in the last 150 years,” Evey said.

Part of the service is to be filmed by the TVNZ crew from Asia Down Under.

Rainbow Praise is at Nelson Cathedral at 2pm on Sunday April 19. It is presented by The Nelson Multi-Ethnic Council with thanks to Nelson Cathedral.

ENDS

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