A capacity crowd, representing various religious denominations and faiths, filled the Church of God (Holiness) on the Queen Elizabeth Avenue of Sunday, May 31, for the Anguilla Day Ecumenical Service.
It was the last of a full month of various activities organised by and through the Ministry of Home Affairs in the run-up to the annual Official Parade, in observance of Anguilla Day, May 30, which this year fell on June 1, a national holiday.
The service was moderated by the Reverend Dr. Wycherley Gumbs, Superintendent of the Anguilla Methodist Circuit and Chairman of the Anguilla Christian Council.
The introductory remarks were delivered by the Senior Minister of the Church of God (Holiness), Pastor Philip Gumbs. He spoke in praise of the vibrant national colours of Anguilla worn by many persons at the service, and the pride and resilience demonstrated by the Anguillian people over the difficult years of the island’s history.
During the service the Scripture readings were delivered by the Hon. Chief Minister, Mr. Victor Banks; the Hon. Leader of the Opposition, Ms. Palmavon Webster; and Ms. Ariana Woodley, a young member of the Church of God (Holiness).
The sermon was delivered by Pastor Gareth Hodge of the Hilltop Baptist Church at Island Harbour. He spoke on the topic: “Leadership Runs Down from the Head”.
The nephew of Anguilla’s Revolutionary Leader, James Ronald Webster, Pastor Hodge made passing reference to Mr. Webster, the late Atlin Harrigan and others who were the early leaders of the Anguillian 1967 struggle. He stressed the need in celebrating Anguilla Day, to remember those who made outstanding contributions to the island.
He called on Anguilla’s present leaders to chart a course of exemplary leadership that would filter down from the top to the citizenry, thus leading the island and its people in the right direction.
Other persons who participated in the ecumenical service were Rev. Menes Hodge of the Anglican Church; Pastor Bernard Joseph of the New Testament Church; and Pastor Ambrose Richardson of the Christian Fellow Church.
The service ended with the recessional hymn “Send Us Forth O Blessed Saviour” written by the Reverend Dr. Wycherley Gumbs and sung to the tune of “Guide me O Thou Great Jehovah”.
