Antiguans and Barbudans in the tristate celebrate 44th Independence anniversary this SundayMembers of the Antigua and Barbuda diaspora living in the tri-state area of New York will begin the celebrations of their country’s 44th anniversary of political Independence this Sunday.
The occasion is the annual Independence Thanksgiving Service, which will this year be held at the Westchester Methodist Church in the Bronx at 4 pm and will once again bring together Antiguans and Barbudans for an afternoon of reflection in song and prayers for the many blessings that have fallen on the nation since November 1st, 1981.
A clergy corps made up of Antiguans and Barbudans will lead the worship. Rev. F. Craig Henry of the Little Rock and Shiloh Baptist Churches in Brooklyn will serve as officiant while the sermon will be delivered by Rev. Dr. Lennox Pigott of Grace Wesleyan Church in the Bronx.
Also leading the church with their melodious voices will be the Antigua and Barbuda International Chorale under the direction of Dean Belgrave Pelle of the St. Mary’s Anglican Church. The City South Steel Orchestra will be in attendance to render their beautiful medley of patriotic songs that always remind the congregation of the land of their birth.
Meantime, retired Antiguan Minister Rev. Stanley Charity will deliver a special hymn of reflection adding to the atmosphere of reverence and celebration expected to fill the church on Sunday.
Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Walton Webson, is expected to address the congregation of Antiguans and Barbudans on behalf of Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne on the theme of this year’s Independence “Solid, Stable, Soaring.”
The service will be streamed live from the church’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/wmcbronx/ and the New York Offices of Antigua and Barbuda invite anyone who cannot be physically in attendance to join online. They also encourage Antiguans and Barbudans who intend to be in the congregation to wear their national attire.
Similarly, thanksgiving services to celebrate Antigua and Barbuda’s 44th anniversary of Independence will take place in Philadelphia this Sunday and in Boston on Sunday 2nd November.
