The Anguilla Christian Council and the Anguilla Evangelical Association joined in observing the passing of Hurricane Irma with a Thanksgiving Service on Thursday, September 6, 2018, at St. Mary’s Anglican Church.
The 420-mile wide category 5 hurricane, the largest recorded in the history of the Atlantic Ocean, struck Anguilla on Wednesday, September 6, 2017, devastating the island and, unfortunately, killing one person. A number of other regional islands were also severely damaged.
The Thanksgiving Service was brought to order with the opening prayer and welcome by Bishop Errol Brooks. Other participating members of the clergy were Methodist Ministers Rev. Joseph Lloyd, who moderated the service; Rev. Dr. Wycherley Gumbs, Superintendent Minister, and Chairman of the Christian Council who delivered the sermon; and Rev. Dunstan Richardson – and Pastor Gareth Hodge of the Hilltop Baptist Church and Deputy Chairman of the Evangelical Association who led the intercessions and the Gospel reading respectively.
Other participants were Governor Tim Foy, OBE, and the Leader of the Opposition, Ms. Palmavon Webster, both of whom delivered Scripture readings; and Chief Minister, Mr. Victor Banks, who reflected on Hurricane Irma, the recovery efforts in Anguilla and the relief assistance received from the UK Government, Caribbean Governments and various organizations.
Mr. Banks was pleased that one year after the hurricane, the various religious leaders, and members of the public, had chosen to be at the Church Service to give God thanks for what could have been a more deadly hurricane in Anguilla.
Rev. Dr. Gumbs stressed that “thanksgiving is an attitude of gratitude”. He pointed out that Anguillians had known a history of struggle; overcoming droughts; battles fought against the French; they had known revolution, hunger and thirst; and leaving the island to eke out a living, but God had always brought them out. He added: “We have gathered to say thank you, Lord, for watching over us.”
The Thanksgiving Service was held at a time when Anguilla, and the rest of the neighbouring islands, had entered the peak of the Atlantic Hurricane Season with the hope that no more storms of such magnitude as Irma strikes the region again.
