Easter Church Décor 2013

Here’s the church décor at St. Peter Cathedral Bandung on Sunday Easter, March 31^st,  2013.

Some materials we seldom use are sun flowers, cigar flowers and calathea flowers or here it’s famous as ‘bunga uler-uleran’ which has a unique look.

The other materials used are lilium of ‘Kongkadon’, roses, chrysanthemum … etc.

The members of Margriet who got duty to décor the church wall décor, lead by Mrs. Diana.

Here’s the altar décor taken from the right side angle of view.

And this is the flower arrangement in front of the Easter Candle 2013.

The one in front of the psalmist table

The flower arrangements which placed in front of the twin Angel statue. We also have the tutorial how to make it here.

And here's the church wall decor for Easter 2013. We had to make 14 pieces of these. Two big ones were placed on the wall at the front, 2 at the back and 5 pieces each at the left & right side wall. If you’re curious to know how to make it, just click here.

The flower arrangements in front of Mary & Jesus statues

The flower arrangement's look placed at breezeway between the right wing of the church and the hall.

The twin flowers arrangements placed in front of St. Peter & Antonius statues.

Easter Mass on St. Peter Cathedral 2013

Happy Easter 2013 guys….

Here's the atmosphere of Easter Sunday at St. Peter Cathedral when we attended the 10.15 mass. Solemn but full of joy and of course crowded as usual moreover lot of visitors from Jakarta as it's a long weekend holiday.

before the mass began ...

The choir on duty at that time, they sang very melodious. Good job guys!!!

After the mass was over, giving an Easter congratulation to each other.

IPBI DPC Bandung Monthly Gathering: A Flower Decoration Demo for Easter

Hi All, long time no see, hope you guys are all ok.

Since we’re nearing Easter (wow time does fly so fast) as usual we’ll give you some ideas for flower decorations. Unlike last year’s Easter flower demo which full of serious theme arrangements, this year’s flower arrangements are more casual. A little bit taking much time for the structure but quite simple for the flower arranging. As we all know that Easter is always identical with eggs, that’s why Mrs. Ida Hermanto and Mrs. Kitty Catharina, the floral designers this time, use decorative eggs on their design, even the last one use a bunny head miniature on her design. She said that once upon the time, it is said the first animal to came out after the winter ends is rabbit.  Whether it is true or not, we don't know. However, the adding of those accessories have made the flower arrangement look more beautiful and really typical Easter.

And if you imagine the floral arrangement for Easter should be white, yellow, orange and purple, forget it!! That's the old opinion, now it's more colorful. You can use any color you like, just like the following image shown:

And here’s a sneak peek on the first session. Look at the nest made from natural sisal mesh and also the colourful eggs on top. Those eggs were made by Mrs Ida's child. Gorgeous!!

The finished look, this flower arrangement used grouping, basing, terracing and sheltering techniques. For the complete step by step tutorial, you can view them here.

For the beginners who would like to try this flower arrangement, we must remind it in advance that it's quite expensive since it needs a lot of materials. It's more suitable for commercial flowers hamper for Easter.

And the second session to perform the demo is Mrs. Kitty Catharina. Most of the materials she used here are flowers and foliage taken from her garden. So, who said garden flowers can't be beautifully arranged? This one proves it! 

For the complete step by step tutorial, you can view them here.

The detailed look seen from above. The bunny head miniature looks cute, right?

About 71 members were present at the last monthly gathering of IPBI DPC Bandung. And by voting, Mrs. Ling Ling was elected as the chairwoman for the period 2013 - 2016. Congratulation!!!

Note:

The images taken at the IPBI monthly gathering, February 28, 2013

The floral designers are Mrs. Ida Hermanto and Mrs. Kitty Catharina.

From The Seminar held by Dorothea (1): Dried Flowers Arrangement

This dried flower arrangement was made by Mr. Harry Zulkarnaen. Actually the materials were almost thrown to a trash, till Mrs. Helena, the chief of Dorothea asked him to make an example of dried flower arrangement that is suitable for the pre-Easter season.

Here, Mr. Zulkarnaen used dry twigs, midrib of palm trees, dry seeds and 'Jenggot Musa' grass or tillandsia. This plant absorbs nutrients and water from the air. (see our post on Excursion to Wijaya de Art of The Garden)

An up close look 

Church Décor on Ash Wednesday

After a seminar on 'The Lenten Days, Sacred Tri-Duum and Its Decor' held by Dorothea few days ago, we're entering the Lenten season which beginning with the Ash Wednesday. The question is 'Is there any different in Cathedral church decor?' You're curious about it, right?  So, let's check it out.

Tadaa..., here's what the Altar looked like on the Ash Wednesday, February 13, 2013.

The design's devided into 2 parts, the upper and the lower. On each part we used a nest which made of small stems as container as well as focal point besides the flowers made of corn leaf and the fruits of kebembem tree. Most of the materials are dried leaves, seeds and branches, the only plant we used here is the vines.

Actually the original design is just like this sketch. But because of no budget, so we have to be creative and omit some materials then substitute them with what we had at that time and some were borrowed such as the burlap and stones which were taken from the little pond of one of the member of Margriet.

The concept is that during the lenten season, the Catholic usually do spiritual preparation before the feast of Easter such as doing penance, more often praying, fasting and abstinence or other meaningful acts.

In decoration, it was interpreted by Margriet Team by using dried flowers/leaves/branches which have natural color a bit of dark.

The design is just like a concept of waterfall. It's divided into 2 parts, the one which is higher and the other one is placed lower. Water naturally flows from a higher to a lower place. And after going through many steep and winding roads, it finally goes to the estuary where many small animals and plants live.  We're all expected to be able to behave like that, bring good to others and be humble just like a proverb, 'the older the rice plant the more growing down'. We believe It's not an easy thing to do but should be tried at least, right?

Another view of the Altar taken from the right side

These are the dried flower arrangements in front of Jesus and Mary Statues

Note:

Church décor : Team Margriet

Dorothea held a Seminar on ‘The Lenten Days – Sacret Tri Duum and Its Décor’

On last January 29th, 2013 Dorothea, a community forum for florists of Bandung diocese, held a seminar with a theme of ‘The Lenten Days – Sacret Tri Duum and Its Décor’. Most of Margriet members were attended, not only because Margriet is one of the members of Dorothea but also because it was held at St. Peter Cathedral church, the headquarter of Margriet which means Margriet was the host of this seminar. 

Totally 120 persons filled the hall of St. Peter Cathedral church, they’re the representatives of the parish churches in Bandung diocese (for information, there are 23 churches in Bandung) as well as in West Java such as from Garut,  Tasikmalaya, Purwakarta  etc.

The seminar began at 9.15 am, and it was given by Mr. Agung Nugroho, formerly the head of liturgy of St. Peter Cathedral Bandung. According to the theme, he talked about liturgy a glance and more about its decor, the color and symbol. He also asked what he was saying was not to be debated but just to add or complement to what the participants had already known.

Time passed fast, and before ending his lecture, he still provided time for the participants to ask questions and they didn't waste this chance. Lot questions from the participants were indicating that the seminar was interesting and long-awaited.

Hopefully this seminar can increase their knowledge about the pre-Easter season and be more confident in church decor and finally upon their returning further improve their services in their respective churches.

Some samples of the flower arrangements for the Lent days made by (opposite clockwise) Mrs. Kitty (using woven elegant-palm leaves), Mr. Harry (using dried leaves/seeds/salix), Mrs. Hany (using dracaena, fern, croton leaves)

Pastor Leo van Beurden, the head of the parish of Cathedral St. Peter Bandung took time to greet all the participants attended in the hall.

The seminar finished at 11.30, and before going home to their respective regions, the participants had lunch together. The queue was quite long.

And what is the menu? It’s a 'Lontong cap go meh'. It consists of rice cakes, shredded chicken, egg, spicy chili-gourd-chicken liver poured with coconut sauce and a bit of soy-garlic powder on top, hmm.... yummy!

First Friday of The Month: St. Elizabeth’s Turn

The first Friday mass of this month, Feb 1st, 2013 was the turn of the people of the region St. Elizabeth who prepared everything. Then, what should be prepared ie the lector, psalmist, altar helpers, choir/gospel etc, as well as preparing the church decor such as the flower arrangement in front of the altar, Jesus & Mary statues and on the seven candle stand, offerings fruit & flowers. The liturgical color for the first Friday is red. It means that there should be the element of red color in the flower arrangement.

Since Thursday 31st, 2013 there were 2 couples who got wedding ceremonies (These were the last brides before we're entering the pre-easter weeks, where the church of St. Peter Cathedral Bandung usually doesn't hold the sacrament of marriage), then the church has been beautifully decorated by Team Margriet. So, they didn't do much, just added the red color a bit. How lucky the people of St. Elizabeth are! However, the flower arrangement on the seven candle stand and offerings fruit & flowers must remain to be made.

These were what the flower arrangements look on the seven candle and the flowers offerings. If the seven candle stand is usually placed in front of Mary statue, this time during the first Friday mass, it's placed in front of the Jesus statue because the main devotion of the first Friday is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Just put some stems of red carnation on the flower arrangement in front of the altar made a day before, then it's ready to be used for the first Friday mass.

Our Community Easter Party

Yup, it’s custom flower project time…… It’s been a while since we're making the last custom project, but this time Floplus did it again!!!! It's for our church community Easter party. Well, post Easter actually, we made this flower pot arrangement, inspired by our workshop at Hero supermarket a few days before. In this arrangement we used daisies, roses, caspea, ivy and lily paris leaf. Lovely isn’t it?

Another view of the flower arrangement. For more details and pricing, please visit our webstore at www.floplus.com.

The party itself was held at Mrs. Yoke's house, quite a lot of us came, including the men and children. Since easter is identical with egg, there’s the egg decorating contest, in only 15 minutes… sheesh, so little time!! Since most of us are ladies, it’s not surprising that flowers are quite popular as decorating themes.

And here's all the participants' eggs!!!! They're about 25 decorated eggs on the console table. I chose a lotus flower theme with a bunny inside, while little Flo made the blue chicken. No.., not because she loves chicken, but because she wanted a décor theme that can be done quickly and use as little material as possible (smart girl!). 

The judge was supposed to be Annabelle, the baby girl, here shown she’s studying the row of decorated eggs. However, since she couldn’t decide, the judging job went to Mr. Chris, our choir teacher.

What’s a party without food? And this time it was the all Indonesian food party!!!

Thankful, our eggs went into the best ten and we both won prizes which consisted of snacks, chocolate and a reading glasses!!! And each people who was present seemed having such a fun time that day!!!!

The blue chicken which won prize made by little Flo, cute isn't it?

The Divine Mercy Sunday

A week after the Easter Sunday is the feast of Divine Mercy or in Indonesian it's called as 'Hari Raya Kerahiman Ilahi'. Actually, it's preceded by Novena to The Divine Mercy during 9 days in a row which begins on Good Friday. And a different intention of the souls will be prayed each day.

After 9 days held Novena to The Divine Mercy, St. Peter Cathedral Church is now getting ready with the feast. A big picture of the Divine Mercy placed on the right side of the altar and so was a long flower arrangement.

These are the pictures of The Divine Mercy up close

Overall look and detail pictures of the big Easter candle which placed beside Altar.

This is the flower arrangement in front of the announcer table.

The overall look of the flower arrangement in front of Mary statue (left image) and the close up (right image). From different point of view, the statue of Mary here looks more charming, doesn't it?

The flower arrangement in front of the psalmist

The materials used are lilies, anthurium, hydrangea, gerbera, spray carnation, roses, shamrock, sena, ivy, schefflera and dracaena.

Church Decor by Team Margriet

Happy Easter Day 2012

After the Good Friday, we all from Margriet gathered again for the Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday décor. 

There are 12 wall décor like this hung on the wall inside the church. The frame is from curly willow. The other materials are gerberas, lilies, daisies, shamrock, chinese bell flowers or in Indonesia named as 'bunga balon', ivy and philo sellum.

This is how the inside-church décor looks from afar.

Since there were so many flower arrangements to be done, the team works simultaneously inside the church and in the room at the building of church activities facility.

Detail of flower arrangements, number 1 in front of the altar and number 2 behind the altar near the angel statue.

This is the ones in front of the Peter and Joseph statues

And this in front of the psalmist altar

For the ones in front of the Jesus and Mary statues, you can see that the floral design using a stand with 2 different height level i.e. on the base and above it. Actually it's made of used-wood container.

According to previous experiences, all the mass would be filled with people even in the courtyard, so it should be decorated too. And these flower arrangements were for the courtyard décor.

Wait… we’re not done yet, there are still the flower and fruit offerings for the Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday mass. Since there were 4 mass that need the offerings on Saturday and so was on Sunday, then we decided to wrap the fruit at the supermarket (of course under our supervision) so that we only need to do with the flowers. Phew.., this day really exhausting

Church décor : Team Margriet