On Sunday 23^rd June the Annual Celebration of the Sacrament of Holy Communion with the Moderator took place at Elmslie Memorial United Church, George Town.

It was an all island service with all the churches belonging to the United Church Christian denomination taking part. The church was packed.

The theme for the service that was organised by the Cayman Islands Regional Mission Council was “Renewal and Transformation for LIFE.

L: LIBERTY – Oil

I: INTEGRITY – Light

F: FAITH – Cross

E: ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP: Plant

The Preacher and Celebrant was the Moderator of the United Church of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, Rt. Rev. Dr. Yvette Noble-Bloomfield with Co-Celebrant, Rev. Tara Tyme, Chair of Council. The Liturgist was Rev. Dr Dave Hazle, Minister of Elmslie United Church and Cantor Rev. Donovan Myers, Minister Savannah United Church.

Other persons taking part in the service were ministers: Pr. Herbert Crawford, Rev. Rohan Forrester, Rev. Louis Sully, Pr. Ormond Williams and Pr. John MacMillan. Lay persons taking part included Bryan Bothwell, Vernon Jackson and Francine Jackson.

Musicians were Katherine Jackson, Noel Wallace, Garth Webster, Fitzroy Robinson, Nayil Arana, Dean-Paul Wallace and Brett Mobley.

Hymns and songs included “I am the Way”, “Come Christians Join and Sing”, “Lord You are Good”, “You Are God Alone”, “Purify My heart”, “Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet”, “No Eye Has Seen”, “For the Beauty of the Earth”, “My Faith Look Up to Thee”, “How Deep the Father’s Love For Us”, “In Christ Alone” and “Hymn of LIFE”.

The combined choirs of the United Churches led the singing.

The service commenced with a processional where the Holy Bible and the Bread and Chalice for the Holy Communion were carried in by two young members of the congregation.

Trees were presented to Gina Ebanks-Petrie of the Cayman Islands Department of Environment.

Moderator, Dr.Noble-Bloomfield gave the sermon and Holy Communion followed.

Holy Communion is when Christians come together corporately as one body to remember and celebrate what Jesus Christ did for the world by dying for the atonement of our sins.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:26-28 (NIV)

Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:53-54 (NIV)

Holy Communion is a celebration that is executed often in the church’s calendar because Christians claim it strengthens their relationship with Jesus Christ.

At the Passing of the Peace the congregation sang:

Let there be love shared among us

Let there be love in our eyes

 Let now your love sweep this nation

Cause us, O lord, to arise

Give us a fresh understanding

Of brotherly love that is real

Let there be love shared among us

Let there be love.

At the close of the service there was an Instrumental Postlude.

I must mention Elmslie Church was decorated most gloriously with plants and flowers.

The service was beautiful, uplifting, inspiring and for me, personally, gave hope, not just for myself but for all of us.