The congregations of the three Anglican Churches – St. Mary’s, The Valley, St. Augustine’s, East End and St. Andrew’s, Island Harbour - held a joint observance of “Family Sunday” on December 2.

One of the tables at the Family Brunch

The occasion began with a service at St. Mary’s and continued at the nearby Scouts and Guides Ruthwill Auditorium in an atmosphere of food and fellowship in the late morning.

The events were presided over by the Assistant Parish Priest, Reverend Menes Hodge, who was asked for his comments.

Another of the tables at the Family Brunch

“This has been started some years ago. It is an attempt to bring the three Churches together so that they can share worship, food and fellowship,” he replied. “It is indeed one Church but has three different locations. And so on Advent Sunday, which is the first Sunday in the Christian year, we come together at one of the Churches. We rotate it so that sometimes it is at St. Mary’s, the next year at St. Augustine’s and the other year it is at St. Andrew’s. This year it was St. Mary’s turn and so they have all come together to share in the worship, the food and the fellowship.”

Asked what he told the congregation in his sermon, he responded. “I told them that as we prepare for Christmas, the emphasis should not be on the coming of Christ as a baby in Bethlehem because that took place over 2,000 years ago. But Christ is coming back as He said He would, in John 14, to receive unto himself those who have turned to Him in faith and fellowship. So I told them that Jesus will not be coming back as a baby but as a Judge.”

A third table at the Family Brunch

Asked whether he had taken the opportunity of “Family Sunday” to speak to the congregation about the importance of the family in relation to society, parental guidance, youth discipline and development, the Priest replied:

“No. That was not the theme for today. The theme was actually the coming of Christ and so those matters will be dealt with at another occasion.”

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