Rainbow Praise - Many People Many Songs

The joyful sound of ethnic choirs will draw a capacity congregation to Nelson Cathedral on 10 April for the fourth Rainbow Praise service.

The joyful sound of ethnic choirs will draw a capacity congregation to Nelson Cathedral on 10 April for the fourth Rainbow Praise service.

Evey McAuliffe from the Nelson Multicultural Council says the concept of ‘Rainbow Praise - many people many songs’ is now a regular feature on the Nelson calendar. She says Nelson led the way but others have picked up on the idea and versions of Rainbow Praise have been held in Palmerston North and Invercargill.

“I think it’s brilliant - Rainbow Praise is a Christian event as well as a valuable opportunity to gather different ethnicities together,” she says. “It’s about people sharing the way they worship through music and when the choirs work together you get something beautiful.”

Most of the Pacific Island choirs are made up from seasonal workers who come to the region to help with the fruit harvest. Evey says they have a great tradition of choral music and enjoy performing with choirs from Nelson’s permanent ethnic communities. The programme also includes two hymns for massed singing from the congregation.

Bishop Richard Ellena will lead the service at Nelson Cathedral, beginning with a mihi in te reo Maori. This is the first time Bishop Ellena has been available to attend Rainbow Praise.

Cathedral Priest, the Reverend Yvonne McLean, stresses that Rainbow Praise is a church service, not a concert.

“It’s is way of welcoming people into our community and coming together in worship - it’s very moving,” she says.

Rev McLean said many of the members of the choirs have never experienced being in a cathedral: “It’s a meaningful place and gives a wonderful experience of worship for each of them to take home.”

Space at the cathedral is limited, and much of it is taken up by the choirs, the organisers have introduced an admission pass to accommodate the large numbers wanting to attend the popular event.

Admission passes are limited and can be picked up in return for a donation, from the Multicultural Resource Centre at 4 Bridge Street. People are also asked to bring a plate to share at an afternoon tea that will be held in the cathedral grounds after the service.

Rainbow Praise is at Nelson Cathedral at 2pm on Sunday 10 April. It is presented by the Nelson Multicultural Council and the cathedral.

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