Pastor's Desk Series

Tracking the Legacy of Enslavement and Emancipation in the Covid-19 Century

“There is some small logic in placing the issue of Emancipation between two of the most deadly plagues which have assaulted our Caribbean peoples.” Presenting the virtual Emancipation Lecture on July 25, 2021, retired deputy principal, UWI, Professor Pedro L V Welch indicated that the choice of the title for his lecture is not accidental, as the first of these he noted, is the long sojourn of chattel enslavement on the socio-economic and cultural landscape of this region, the second, he indicated is the unwelcome visitor who, if we personify its existence, has long exceeded our expectations

Pastor's Desk - When a Widow is born

Usually, we think about babies being born. They come into the world, are nurtured, cared for, attended to until they reach maturity and a new cycle begins.

What happens when a widow is born? That person who was married to another and the other has departed due to COVID-19, accident or a deadly disease. Recently I have been faced with the phenomenon of widowhood as there are a few persons I have discovered have been 'born' into this unwelcome phase of their lives.

Pastor's Desk - Family

Dear Family I am happy to greet you again.

This month the light is focused on families. This is something we need to do all the time but especially this month we want to draw attention to our families. I speak of those within this church and those in the community.  My main concern with families biological and church at this time is essentially how grief is being experienced during this unusual period.

Pastor's Desk - Easter Greetings

Dear family and friends, Easter greetings.

I have decided to address two issues in the news over this past week. And make a brief comment on the baptism and reception of the new candidates to our church.

Khanice Jackson

Pastor's Desk - Should I take the vaccine?

This is the question that some pastors hope that members would not ask, and at the same time it’s a question some are eager to answer.

One would think that with the deaths over 2.5 million to date and in Jamaica over 400 deaths and over 24,000 infections, getting the vaccine jab would not be an issue, but surprisingly it is.

The Pastor's Desk - New Year

One almost does not want to believe that 2020 happened. But I do not want to join everyone else and just say this was the worst year ever, no it was a year that produced mixed blessings. It was a year of change. It was a year of testing, and it was a year of great discovery.

The Pastor's Desk - When the US sneezes...

When the US sneezes, the world catches a cold. What happens when it has severe covid-19?

I saw this title online and became sad. When this article was written, in the middle of this year, gloom was predicted for the world by the end of the year 2020, which would be felt in 2021. There would be shrinking of the US economy and so will the economies in the rest of the world. Unemployment will rise, more people will join or go under the poverty line and there will be serious social unrest. From the standpoint of the Reuters’ columnist, there will be economic and social chaos. 

The Pastor's Desk - Issues in the news

We woke up on Friday morning October 2, with the news that the President of the United States and his wife were tested positive for the corona virus. Whereas we are saddened by this and we pray that they will both recover well.

The Pastor's Desk - What really matters?

This is a question that Jesus asked on several occasion and particularly in his encounter with Mary and Martha. I’m borrowing the question, not expounding the text.