The customary ecumenical church service to commemorate the Anguilla Revolution, and the observance of Anguilla Day, was held at the Church of God (Holiness) on Sunday afternoon, May 29th. This year’s observance bears the theme: “Standing proudly 55 Years Later, United we make Anguilla Greater”.
The Anguilla Revolution was a memorable event. It was initiated by the will of Anguilla’s brave men and women who, in 1967, fought without casualties or bloodshed for Anguilla’s freedom – separation – from the oppressive regime of St. Kitts.
It is for this reason that people from all across the island came together to fill the church to capacity, last Sunday, and to reflect with thanksgiving for God’s protection.
The service got underway with steel-pan music to the tune “Anguilla is the Only Place for Me”, while the National Choir, government dignitaries, and officiating clergy made their way along the aisle in a processional march.
Then, with the singing of “Lift Every Voice”, the Anguilla National Choir, led by Lois Hazell, set the stage for a memorable service. Each item on the programme was extraordinary – well fitted for an occasion of thanksgiving for the past, and making petitions for God’s divine guidance in the future.
The moderator was Pastor Jerome Harrigan, and after the National Choir’s rendition of “Shine Jesus Shine” he introduced Apostle Elmead Allen who offered the opening prayer and delivered the welcome remarks.
The Old Testament reading was presented by the Honourable Premier, Dr. Ellis Webster. The Leader of the Opposition, the Honourable Cora Richardson-Hodge, read the Epistle, and the reading of the Gospel was done by Pastor Juliet Simon, giving way to a stirring sermon, preached by the newly installed Minister of the Methodist Church, Rev. Wilmoth Hodge.
Rev. Hodge’s message was profound. With encouraging connotations, he implored the congregation to always display qualities of unity, love and kindness – remarkable attributes of our forebears. His scriptural reference was based on St. Matthew 5:13 where Jesus told his disciples: “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under the foot of men.”
“The call to put our hands to the plough belongs to you; it belongs to me,” he declared. “We must all endeavour to make this nation a better place – a greater place. We must be that salt of the earth as Christ calls us to be. We must affirm each other. We cannot continue blaming each other for the ways in which we have erred. We must lift up our fallen brothers and sisters and not be so quick to criticise them, while pretending that we are without fault.”
Then with reference to another salient point, he alluded to Jesus’ advice in St. Matthew 7:5. Here, Jesus warned his followers: ‘“You hypocrites, first get rid of the log in your own eye, then you will see clearly enough to deal with the speck that is in your brother’s eye.’
“Today we claim that we are going to build a new Anguilla, but I submit to you that we can only do so when we are clear about who we are, and about what God says we are. You are the salt of the earth.” he said.
“And so we stand upon the shoulders of our revolutionaries,” he continued, “those who are yet our foremost visionaries. They were united in their mission to make Anguilla a greater nation. They fought for the truth, and so must we. They pursued what was right and just, and so must we.”
“Can the attributes of the heart of a 2022 Anguillian measure up to the attributes of the heart of a 1967 Anguillian?” he asked. “The Anguillian was truly proud to be Anguillian because of what it meant to be Anguillian. Being Anguillian meant that we looked out for each other.
“Yes, brothers and sisters! The characteristics of caring for one another, loving one another, and being your brother and sister’s keeper, need to be evident among us today as we show concern for others. Let us be determined that the good we do for others is good that is done unto Christ who said, ‘If you have done it to the least of these, my brethren, you have done it unto me.”’
Following the sermon, the song “Pas s Me Not O Gentle Saviour” was sung, after which Canon Reid Simon of the Anglican Church made prayers of intersession. The final song, “Oh God Our Help in Ages Past”, was then sung, and Father Xuan Ho of the Roman Catholic Church pronounced the benediction.
