Religion: Easter Sunday in Jamaica

Easter Sunday is a high religious Festival in the Christian calendar.

The font which contains water was blessed by Rev.Khan Honeyghan and the symbiotic renewal of baptism was read from the Book of Common Prayer. The Blessed Holy Water was then sprinkled on all present. While the song “Baptised in water” was sung.

Red Book

The appropriate section is read from the Red Book or Book of Common Prayer, which is commonly referred to as the ‘Anglican Bible’. This red book contains the readings and liturgical calendar of readings even alternates, including Psalms for each week and seasons of the Anglican Communion. Morning and Evening prayers and Feast Days are catalogued. Baptism, Weddings, Funeral settings are all laid out in the book of Common Prayer. It is a sought after resource book which is believed to be “borrowed” or closely “spied on” by other denominations. It has a history of its own. It’s origin dates back to the early 16th Century and has been revised several times.

Religion

Commentary

Most Jamaicans make every effort to attend church on Easter Sunday, even if no other Sunday.
Reverend Khan Honeghan in his short homily observed that “Resurrection was not easy to understand and we should give Thomas a break”. You will recall that it was Thomas who said he would have to see the palms of Jesus’ hands before he could accept that it was the same individual who had been crucified on Good Friday had been Resurrected. Some of the disciples were more accepting of this fact. Other disciples were scared as they had mixed feelings about Jesus’ return from the dead to be with them.

“A cross with a butterfly inscribed is a way of commemorating the Resurrection event.” According to Reverend Honeyfhan.

It should be noted that without the crucifixion and associated bloodshed there would be no Resurrection.

An anthem by the choir “Yours is the Glory”, with a trumpeter plus a liturgical dance made it an Easter Sunday to Remember.

The music ministry plays a vital role in churches worldwide. The trumpeter did a solo piece accompanied by the pianist during the administration of the communion. (Breaking of bread).

At a recent ecumenical Lenten Crusade hosted by the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, St. Jude’s Chapter, which has been around for some three decades.

A trumeter was used to bring a new flavour to the grand finale.
Over 100 persons from 5 congregations attended for 6 weeks for Lent. This was ecumenism in action.

The mass was well attended and was a great event as the spirit of Jesus Christ was felt. Vision’s SIC was there and filed this exclusive report with photos.

By Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie, Senior International Correspondent & Photojournalist for Vision Newspaper Canada.