Published 11 November 2019
Buckie Got It. St. Kitts and Nevis News Source
PM Harris joins in the celebration of 80 years of Christian discipleship in ‘De Village’
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, November 11, 2019 (PLP PR Media Inc.) — Prime Minister Dr the Hon Timothy Harris joined the leadership and membership of the St. Johnston Methodist Church on Cardin Avenue in West Basseterre on Sunday November 10 for a colourful special 80th anniversary celebration service which was held under the theme ‘Grounded in Christ: Disciples Serving De Village’.
The service was officiated by Rev Stacia Williams-Christmas and Rev Mark Christmas who noted that over the past years the church had experienced the blessing and guidance of the providence of God and had come to celebrate. Guest Preacher, who praised the Village Community for the Christian discipleship over the 80 years, was Canon Dwayne Cassius, Provost, Pro-Cathedral of St. George’s Anglican with St. Barnabas.
The church is part of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas, Leeward Islands District Conference, St. Kitts Circuit. The iconic church, which was designed and built by Rev William Sunter, was dedicated on Thursday November 2, in 1939. Rev Sunter was the longest serving minister in the history of the Circuit, 1910-1948.
According to the church bulletin, the St. Johnston Congregation has grown steadily over the past eighty years, so much so that it is now has the second largest membership in the Circuit. Through the years, as a result of its vibrant groups and organisations, the Congregation has played a significant role in the life of ‘De Village’, and the Nation at large.
Prime Minister Harris was accompanied by Senior Minister and Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs the Hon Vance Amory, and Mrs Vernie Amory, and the Permanent Representative of St. Kitts and Nevis to the United Nations, His Excellency Sam Condor. Also attending the special service were Deputy Speaker Senator the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett, and Clerk of the National Assembly Mrs Sonia Boddie-Thompson.
During the service, five members were confirmed. They were Miss Ashchari Patricia Allers, Miss Chrystal Kaydesha Herbert, Miss Terren Tavice Maynard, Miss Iyanla Rasheeda La-Vaughna Sergeant, and Master David D’andre Omar Walters. After the laying of hands, the newly confirmed members were awarded Confirmation Certificates.
Congregants, led by the newly confirmed members, were invited to partake of the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Prime Minister Harris and Senior Minister Amory and Mrs Amory were among those who came forward to take the bread as a sharing of the Body of Christ, and drink from the Cup of Blessing as part of the sharing in the Blood of Christ.
“Let us celebrate the 80 years that God in Christ through the power of His Holy Spirit has been made manifest in and through the St. Johnston Methodist Church, bring to God our prayers and intercession,” the minister told the congregants before the intercession prayers. “Lord, we come before You, not alone, but in the company of one another to share our happiness, troubles and burdens with each other.”
The Minister prayed “For the life and witness of the St. Johnston Methodist in which God has set us; For our fellow Christians in other churches in ‘De Village’ and its environs; God of community, may the life of our churches be a way in which people can meet You, and come to know Your love in Jesus. May we press onward and upward.”
The congregation answered: “Grounded in Christ as disciples serving De Village.”
