Grace Temple celebrates Jubilee Anniversary
Grace Temple worshippers dressed in ethnic clothing during   the church’s jubilee celebrations
Grace Temple worshippers dressed in ethnic clothing during the church’s jubilee celebrations

IT WAS not a church service as usual for members and friends of Grace Temple Assembly of God Church in New Amsterdam, Berbice, as the Sunday School Department held its inaugural cultural day presentation in honour of Guyana’s 50th Independence anniversary.The congregation displayed the nation’s cultural diversity, outfitting themselves in garments reflective of the six ethnic groups who came primarily from Asia, Europe and Africa.

A peek through the doorway of the two-storey wooden and concrete building at Pope Street, New Amsterdam revealed pictures, posters, replicas , and ethnic garments mounted on the walls, while the national flag and a Guyana map stood on the stage, where the church leaders and worship singers were seated.

 A Wapishana hammock on display at Grace Temple, Assembly of God Church, New Amsterdam
A Wapishana hammock on display at Grace Temple, Assembly of God Church, New Amsterdam

The collective voices of the worship singers and the congregation, who were accompanied by their musicians, brought moments of nostalgia , as they sang patriotic songs such as “Oh Beautiful Guyana”, which was composed by fellow Guyanese Hilton Hemerding, and “Let us Cooperate”, written by William R A Pilgrim, causing tears to flow down the faces of the elderly.

The songs caused me to fall in love with my country all over again, said Sheran Lewis, a worshipper at one of the largest Pentecostal churches in the Ancient County.

Superintendent of the Sunday school, retired educator Jewel Ward said it was important for the church to be involved in the country’s Jubilee celebrations “as God has kept us. He has spared our lives”.

The congregation was divided into six groups, reflective of the country’s ethnic makeup, and creative presentations were done on the contributions of each group to Guyana, along with details on how they came and from where they came.

The congregation, led by Senior Pastor Reverend Doreen Henry, collectively sang, “Heal Our land”, before offering special prayers for the country of their birth and its leadership.

 

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