The Bible’s Inspiring Stories – In the Rose Bowl Parade

On New Year’s Day, chances are you were among the 450 million television viewers watching the Rose Bowl and, before that, the Rose Bowl Parade.  

The theme for the 2015 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade was “Inspiring Stories”–and the seventh float in the line-up celebrated the most inspiring story of all.   The float designed and constructed by Lutheran Hour Ministries, the only Christian float in the Parade, was named “The Bible … God’s Story.”  It featured an open Bible, a nativity scene, a statue of Christ, and Noah’s Ark, as well as various Old and New Testament characters.  

And it was a beauty!  The LHM float captured the “Princesses’ Trophy” for the most beautiful float 35 feet and under.

The 2015 “The Bible – God’s Story” float was the 66th Rose Bowl float sponsored by Lutheran Hour Ministries.  The Lutheran Hour Ministries float was constructed by Petal Pushers, a group of 4,000 volunteers who decorate seven Rose Parade floats in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade.  

Each year, volunteers from across the nation assemble in December during Detail and Decorating Days to decorate the Lutheran Hour Float and other commercial sponsors’ floats.  The volunteers range in age from 13 to 96, and many of them “urban camp” on floors of local Lutheran Churches. Individuals, church groups, families, senior citizens and Girl Scout Troops are some of the people who join in the fun and assist in making the Rose Parade a time honored tradition for all. 

The following video offers a glimpse into the evangelistic motivation and the creative work of Petal Pushers through the years.

Photo credit:  Petal Pushers