AS Guyanese continue the 50th Independence celebrations, the La Retraite /Stanleytown Development Group held a joint church service Sunday last at La Retraite Primary School, West Bank Demerara.The observance brought together six churches in the community as they celebrated Guyana under the theme: Arise, Repair and Rebuild. The churches which participated were Benevolence Congregational, Stanleytown Seventh-Day Adventist, St. Francis Xavier Universal Scientific Church, Bethesda Congregational, St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church and Stanleytown Full Gospel Church.

Chairman of the group, Gladston Joseph, in his opening remarks described the day as “amazing”, pointing out that it was a fantastic opportunity for all churches to come together to share in fellowship and praise.
The programme included representatives of the various churches and pupils of La Retraite Primary School entertaining the audience with wonderful renditions of national songs. A message was delivered by Pastor Marvin Smith, who is also the Youth and Chaplaincy Director of the Guyana Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists.
Joseph told the Guyana Chronicle that he was pleased with the response of the churches, noting that the event was well attended. He stated that the group has also planned other activities in observance of the country’s Golden Jubilee Independence celebration. These include a cultural explosion on May 22, comprising poetry, song, drama, interpretive dancing, physical display and other cultural items.
They also plan to honour nine elders. Senior citizens would also receive a lunch sponsored by an overseas-based group. A fitness walk is also slated for later in the month.
Pastor Smith, in brief comments, told this newspaper that the amount of support the group has galvanized and the nature of the programme speak a lot about the quality and the impact the group is making thus far in the community.
He alluded to the fact that influential household representatives are part of the group, which he believes is a tremendous leap in the right direction towards community development.
He applauded the group for the initiative in bringing together key stakeholders in the community and encouraged others to do the same.