Christians across the island who were sensitive enough to recognize and observe last Sunday as Pentecost Sunday would be able to identify with the Anglican Church Women Association (ACWA). They, as a routine, staged their twenty-sixth annual Living in the Spirit program on the afternoon of Sunday May 20th.
Pentecost Sunday falls seven weeks after Easter Sunday, and it commemorates the advent of the Holy Spirit who fell upon the early church, as its members were seated in the Upper Room in Israel’s premier city of Jerusalem, some two thousand years ago. News of His coming was spread abroad, back then, by visitors who had come to the holy city for the Pentecost festival. Similarly, on Sunday ACWA proclaimed the Spirit’s coming in song through a variety of choirs and special renditions that lauded His arrival upon earth so long ago.
The welcome address for the event was made Ms. Veda Harrigan, a staunch and outstanding member of the church. She also introduced the MC, in the person of Ms. Kamarla Vanterpool, who added a rich flavor of exuberance to the occasion by the warmth and charm of her moderating style.
For the most part, all of the songs depicted what the church terms as God’s “out-pouring” of the Spirit’s power upon mankind. Songs the likes of: Let the Power Fall on Me; Rain Down on Me; Fill Me Up; Spirit Come Down; On the Day of Pentecost; Spirit of God; and Holy Spirit Lord of Grace all served to create a theme of joy and a spirited savor in an atmosphere of holy reverence.
And, while it’s no intention to esteem one song over the other, yet it was evident that the audience was specially inspired by Breath of the Spirit sung by the ACWA choir itself. This is a stirring rendition that highlights the Christian’s prayer for the Spirit to be: “sweeping away the pride, til all that is left inside is a heart that is pure, with strength to endure, and a faith to believe.”
Other appealing items were: “Let You Living Water Flow Over my Soul” harmoniously rendered by the Hodge’s Family, as well a vibrant selection, Hosanna, Hosanna, presented in lively up-beat fashion by two admirable young sisters, Alannis and Alissa Hodge, accompanied by their father, Ash, on the keyboard. In addition, The Liturgical Dancers also added their striking contribution to the program with their dance performance of Welcome Holy Spirit.
As Jerusalem sits at the epicenter of political contention today, especially being recently named as Israel’s official capital city, it would be worthwhile for Christians to realize the importance of this holy site with regard to the arrival of the Holy Spirit who was, in fact, promised by Christ Himself prior to His ascension. Just as Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey marked a significant moment in human history, likewise the Spirit’s coming into Jerusalem’s Upper Room on a symbolic rushing mighty wind fulfilled the promise of God’s representative agent upon Earth.
The magnificent two-hour Pentecost program came to an end with the Vote of Thanks given by Mrs. Joycelyn Richardson, following ACWA’s jubilant performance of Blak Up, a folkloric feature with Jamaican origin. We look forward to ACWA’s 27th edition which would be held on Sunday, June 9th 2019.
