Flower Ceremony in St. Luke's Church 24.6.2017

On Saturday 24th June 2017, Woodcocks' Well held their annual 'Crowning of the Rose Queen' ceremony in St.Luke's Church. This year, it was made all the more special with the inclusion of a 'Flower Ceremony' held in memory of our loved ones whom we have loved and lost. In addition, Rose Queens from days gone by were invited to join us. The words spoken by our Rose Queen and attendants, during the 'Flower Ceremony', can be read below. 

We use flowers in our service today to help us symbolize the love that is hidden deep inside us.

Flowers are beautiful, and so are the feelings of love among people.

Their beauty cannot be measured, and neither can the feelings of people be measured.

Their life is short but new flowers will replace the flowers that die, and new love can come into our hearts.

This bud is for the new babies who have joined our families this year. Last year these babies did not exist. This year they are a huge part of our lives.

Before they could crawl, they learned to smile. Before they could speak, they learned to love.

If we help them keep this love in their hearts, they will pass it on to others, many years in the future.

This flower represents the people living all over the world. Maybe we will never see them face to face, or touch their hands.

But we can still warm our hands on their hearts, because we know that their hopes are like our hopes, their pain is like our pain, their love like our love.

These flowers were each brought by a different person and put together.

They stand for all the people here today.

These flowers, so lovely today, will fade tomorrow.

But the love among brothers and sisters, 

families and friends and our memories of that love, will go on and on.

We know one another

We know what is in each other's hearts.

We have brought our flowers and our love to brighten our church and gladden our hearts.

We and the Woodcocks’ Well Choir would like to sing,

‘Think of a World without any Flowers’

 Please put your hands together for our prayer.

For flowers that bloom about our feet,
For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet,
For song of bird, and hum of bee,
For all things fair, we hear or see,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!
For families near and families far,

For friends that pass and leave a scar,

For memories left, to help us heal,

For giving us, your love to feel,

Father in heaven, we thank Thee!
For blue of stream and blue of sky,
For pleasant shade of branches high,
For fragrant air and cooling breeze,
For beauty of the blooming trees,
Father in heaven, we thank Thee!

AMEN