We are blessed with a group of very gifted individuals at Christ Church who create beautiful floral displays to enrich our worship. During Lent there are no flowers in church – part of the pared back feel of a period of penitential reflection. The contrast on Easter Sunday morning is well worth waiting for and celebrating.  
However, members of the Flower Guild, led by Claire Satchell have also made a commitment to protect the environment which will challenge their creative skills. The Guild is moving away from using floral foam (oasis) and will instead find alternatives which do not damage the environment. Floral foam is adding to microplastic pollution – the tiny pieces of plastic can be ingested by aquatic creatures. The foam also leaches chemicals into the surrounding water. Floral foam is made from phenolic foam which contains carbon black and formaldehyde.  
A new global industry initiative called ‘The Sustainable Floristry Network’ aims to tackle current practice (www.sustainablefloristry.org) It’s another small thing we can do as a church, and the key is staying alert to new research and acting on it where we can.
So thank you to the Flower Guild for stepping up to this challenge.