Emotional memorial service for the people of Christchurch

March 2nd, 2011
[by David Armstrong]

Just over 50 people showed their solidarity and support for Christchurch people at an emotional memorial and thanksgiving service held at St Andrew's Uniting Church in Motueka yesterday during the lunch hour.

Rev Peter Norman and Rev Wayne Thornton led those attending with prayers, hymns, readings and reflections, and during the service, at 12.51pm, they observed two minutes silence, as were hundreds of others assembled outside Motueka Museum, in remembrance.

"Thank you for coming along this afternoon to stand in solidarity with and offer support to the people of Christchurch through your thoughts and prayers," Peter began. "May this service be a time of drawing near to God and focusing on those who have died, those who are still missing and those whose lives, many of them devastated, have been so profoundly affected by the earthquake."

He said we had entered the church, "some of us shaken, some grieving, some looking for answers, to connect with one another and find hope for tomorrow".

One young woman sitting alone near the back of the church was known to have witnessed the fall of the PGC building. She had tried to help get people out of the building, and yesterday bruises and scars were seen on her arms and face. SHe left before the service finished.

Several emotionally charged moments stood out during the service. During a prayer, the congregation were invited to name people they knew who had been badly affected in some way by the quake. Minutes later names were still being quietly spoken, sometimes almost whispered.

People were invited to the front of the church to light a candle for loved ones caught up in the disaster. And many of the congregation were close to tears as the New Zealand national anthem was sung.

Rev Peter Norman leading the service

The congregation lighting individual candles for people they know affected by the quake

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