‘God has been good to us’: National Independence Thanksgiving Service

The angelic tones of seven-year-old Gerrad Norville echoed through the Sir Garfield Sobers Complex on Sunday as he sang the uplifting notes of The Goodness of God. The lyrics encapsulated the feeling of gratitude which was constant in the National Independence Thanksgiving Service.  

Under the theme Embracing Our Heritage with Grace and Thanks, Bishop Dr Kenroy Burke, the Administrative Bishop and National Overseer of the New Testament Church of God, declared during his sermon, “God has been good to us.”  

He said, “As a nation I wish to submit to you this morning that I believe we need to learn what it means to be a little bit more thankful.” He noted that in the previous month there were complaints about the sweltering heat and similarly about the increased rainfall.

He reminded, “God has been too good to us as a nation for us to have an ungrateful attitude in 2023. I suggest that everything is not perfect, but Barbados has been blessed over the years with some of the best. We ought to give God thanks for all that he has done and all that he has been to us as a nation.”

Using three thoughts to reinforce his point he advised, “Let us be careful to be always thankful for the progress that we have made over the years. We have to be careful that the price of progress is not too high.”  Secondly, he noted, “We must maintain our identity as a people in this region.” 

His final assertion was, “Be careful to preserve the cornerstones.” He explained, “In all of our progress let us not walk away from the stones that our forefathers laid for us. Even if it has not cost you anything it sure did cost them something. Some of them gave their lives for it, it cost them a whole lot.”

He emphasized, “This little island has done so much in the last 57 years. I want to suggest this to you, there are several others that have much more might, financial might, military might, all the other things that they may have. But Barbados stands tall among them, and we ought to be thankful as a nation for all that he has done for us.”

Commending Prime Minister Mia Mottley on leading the country through the pandemic he said, “I pray that God will guide you. I pray that God will lead you, I pray that at every single moment of your leadership of this nation that you would hear clearly what God would want you to do.”

Prior to the official start of the service, celebratory messages were delivered by Barbadians from across the diaspora. Patrons enjoyed a musical interlude by the Barbados Police Service Band and renditions of Walk Holy and March on.

There was an emphasis on youth involvement in the celebration. Members of the Barbados Boys Scout Association conducted a ceremony with a presentation of the national flag. The multi-denominational service included a reading from the Bhagavad Gita by Kalika Ramdat of the Barbados Hindu Community. Prayers for the nation were led by Joshua Roett of the Prince’s Trust Team Programme. Alviann Jordan of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Barbados offered a prayer for the elderly, Tobia Blenman of the Seventh Day Adventist Church offered one for home and family life, and Tamia Reece of the Barbados YouthADVANCE Corps prayed for the youth and children.

Other youthful participants included Kemar Beckles of the Irvin Wilson School leading those assembled in the national pledge.  Bible readings were delivered by Jason Cadogan of Harrison College and Josiah Lowman of the Cuthbert Moore Primary School. The Covenant Dance School added a kaleidoscope of colour with a liturgical presentation choreographed by Valerie King.

(STT)