Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/7031/-1/135/
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LARGE TURN OUT AT ANGUILLA DAY SERVICE Call For Greater Faith To Face Future
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The stage has been set for the celebration of Anguilla Day on Tuesday, June 2, under the theme: Anguilla at 42: Moving On, We Celebrate With You. The staging event was a Thanksgiving Ecumenical Service at St. Mary’s Anglican Church on Sunday, May 24, attended by a capacity congregation, the largest seen there in recent years.
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Anguilla Government Officials, Clergy and other guests outside the St. Mary's Anglican Church
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It is now 42 years since the May 30, 1967 Revolution in which Anguilla broke away from St. Kitts-Nevis, one of the then Caribbean Associated States created by Britain. This year the celebration has been shifted to June 2 as the official holiday falls on a weekend.
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Section of congregation
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The service, at which the sermon was preached by the Reverend Dr. Ambrose Richardson, of the Christian Assembly Church at Blowing Point, was attended by a number of dignitaries representing the Governor’s Office, the Anguilla Government and Ministers and members from various Churches.
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Sweet Harmony Plus
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The preacher, known for being outspoken, exhorted Anguillians not to forget their difficult past and to forge ahead. “I call upon every person not to be spectators but to get involved so that we can build a greater nation where God is honoured, love is shown`, respect is given and no one is left behind,” he addressed the congregation. “‘Anguilla moving forward, we celebrate you’, can only be a reality if we, despite our differences..., overcome pride and selfishness and learn to forgive even when we are inhumanely treated.”
Pastor Ambrose observed that Anguilla had entered an era with new and greater challenges and decisions to make; new and greater storms to face and that in order to tackle them there must be renewed and greater faith and courage.
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St. Mary's Choir
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The Pastor, who returned to Anguilla from the US Virgin Islands in the middle of the Anguilla Revolution and started his ministry, based his sermon mainly on the leadership of Moses, one of the greatest leaders recorded in Biblical history. He made passing reference to Ronald Webster’s leadership of the island in the difficult days of 1967 when he was called the “Moses of Anguilla” and reflected on how far the island, though now affected by the global economic crisis, had come since those times with the help of divine assistance. He charged that there had been a falling away from God and called for a return to the Almighty to help guide the island and its leaders in order that Anguilla might go forward.
‘“Anguilla at 42: moving on, we celebrate you.’ “May God bless Anguilla,” he concluded.
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Rev. Dr. Pastor Ambrose Richardson
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Other Ministers who participated in the service were Assistant Anglican Priest, Rev. Menes Hodge, who served as Moderator; Methodist Minister, Rev. Careen White, who read the Gospel; Pastor Gareth Hodge of Destiny Church who delivered the Intercessory Prayers; Pastor Samuel Daniel of the Church of God of Prophecy, who conducted the Act of Commitment; and the Rt. Rev. Errol Brooks, who gave the Final Prayer and Blessing.
Earlier in the service, Chief Minister Osbourne Fleming and Opposition Member Hubert Hughes read the First and Second Scripture Lessons respectively.
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Veteran and aspiring politicians at service
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The St. Mary’s Choir, Soloist Susan Best-Richardson and a young people’s group called Sweet Harmony Plus rendered special selections in addition to the congregational singing. Can’t Give Up Now, sang by the youth group, was a well-chosen and fitting piece for Anguilla and its people faced by current and coming challenges.
The Anguilla Day holiday will be observed with the customary Official Parade at the James Ronald Webster Park, commencing at 8 a.m. and involving various uniformed bodies. Other activities for the day will be the round-the-island boat race and the senior citizens’ lunch.