It could have been better attended, but the Thanksgiving Service commemorating the Anguilla Revolution was a moving experience for those in attendance.
The scripted service, at the Church of God (Holiness), was held on Sunday afternoon, May 26. It was a joint presentation by the Anguilla Christian Council and the Anguilla Evangelical Association.
The two-hour service was convened by Brother Claudel Connor of the Church of God (Holiness) and the greetings and welcome remarks were delivered by the Church’s Senior Pastor, Philip Gumbs. The Pastor’s remarks gave a brief historical reflection on life in Anguilla leading up to the 1967 Revolution, when the island broke its constitutional links with St. Kitts-Nevis, climaxing in 1980 with formal separation from the then Associated State.
The Old Testament Lesson, taken from Nehemiah 2: 1-18, was read by the Hon. Chief Minister, Hubert Hughes. The Epistle from 2 Corinthians 13: 1-11 was read by the Hon. Leader of the Opposition, Evan McNiel Rogers; and the Gospel Lesson from Luke 4: 16-21 was read by Pastor Bernard Joseph of the New Testament Church of God.
An Anthem entitled Anguilla My Home, composed by Pastor Philip Gumbs, was sung by the Choir of the Shekinah Church of God (Holiness).
The sermon (Challenge & Call To Action) was delivered by Pastor James Harrigan of No Walls Church of Hope. He centred his lengthy but soul-searching sermon on the theme of the Anguilla Day celebrations: Past, Present and Future Must Mix – Anguilla Day at 46.
“When we reflect upon our history, since 1967, almost two generations have passed and prominent changes have taken place,” he said. “Just as our customs and culture have changed, so too has our outlook on our view of God. Our view, for the most part, of a changeless God has changed with the changing times. And so, as much as we might desire the past, present and future to mix – after 46 years, it is a venture that is almost impossible. [This cannot happen] unless we begin from now, in the present, to look within our souls and collectively set out to change our hearts by the grace of God.”
Pastor Harrigan compared the leadership of Anguilla from St. Kitts-Nevis in 1967, by revolutionaries Ronald Webster and the late Atlin Harrigan, to that of the Israelites being freed from bondage in Egypt led by Moses and Aaron. Similarly, he said that both the Anguillians and the children of Israel had spiritually rebelled.
“Just as Moses was called of God to confront cruel Pharoah for the liberation of the oppressed slaves under Egyptian bondage, so Mr. Webster was certainly called of God,” Pastor Harrigan said. “He was called to take the initiative to set Anguilla free from the oppression of Bradshaw in St. Kitts.
“But just as the Israelites had become proud and haughty after their liberation, and rebelled against God, Anguilla, too, has changed over the years. It is a subtle kind of rebellion against the God of our forefathers.”
Pastor Harrigan said there was much spiritual change and decay in Anguilla, and it was time for action to correct the lives of all Anguillians. He added that this would be achieved “if we would look within our souls and have a change of mind, a change of heart, a change of spirit and make a turnaround to God with humble contrition. In essence, ‘we must change back to what we have changed from, to move forward with a change that pleases God.’”
The scripted Affirmation of Hope, in the brochure for the Thanksgiving Service, was delivered by Pastor Cecil Richardson of the Central Baptist Church. Among other matters, he expressed a desire that, with trust in God, the Government and people of Anguilla would “continue the spiritual struggle of advancing an agenda of hope and empowerment – a national programme where indifference, poverty, disease and human suffering are alleviated.” He went on: “We affirm that it is only through the power of a Triune God that Anguilla can actively demand the good from among her Belongers and Residents, in order to remain hopeful and resist the negativity among us. We believe that our God, who is the same yesterday, today and forever, will summon us to focus on the good characteristics of others and sing the song filled with assurances for this island.” He prayed for God’s guidance as “we sail this ship of Anguilla into the next forty-six years with strength, unity and endurance.”
The Prayers of Intercession for Anguilla, its people and the future, were led byMrs. Janice Hodge, a Local Preacher in the Anguilla Methodist Circuit. Among other things, she prayed that the 46th Anniversary of the Anguilla Revolution would be a reminder “of all those who have sacrificed for our freedom, purchased with a very high price.” She added: “While the liberation of Anguilla did not cost anyone his/her life, bless those who have served and continue to give sacrificially for our freedom. We pray, O God, that you will continue to call men and women throughout the length and breadth of this island to give themselves for the sustainable development of Anguilla.”
The Benediction was pronounced by the Right Reverend Errol Brooks, Parish Priest in Anguilla and Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the North-eastern Caribbean and Aruba. He prefaced his statements by thanking those who attended the service. He nevertheless hoped that more persons would be in attendance at the 2014 Anguilla Day Service. He prayed that, like the liberation of the people of Israel from bondage in Egypt, God who guided Anguilla during the past forty-six years, would continue to be ever present in the lives of Anguillians.
