Back-to-School Service

In our Back-to-School Service we sang favourite school hymns including: We build our school on Thee O Lord, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, O What can Little Hands Do and Lamb of God.

Miss. Sharon Brathwaite did a pep talk to primary school students; Mrs. Joyann Toppin spoke to seniors, while Mrs. Dawn Thompson advised parents. These talks were rich in good morals and time-bound values.

Mrs. Dawn Thompson advising parents

The young people performed a skit entitled Support Needed.

In dramatising how the paralytic was lowered by rope on a mat before Jesus, Elder Catwell presented his homily, “Value the Ropes”. He asked the audience, especially the students to value the ropes of support held by teachers who help them to succeed, by parents, grandparents or guardians, who nurture and provide for them, the Church which seeks to give them good moral and spiritual grounding, and friends from whom they derive social support. The audience was reminded of the positive impact that these ropes can have in helping them to:

·       face life’s problems,

·       strengthen faith,

·       acknowledge, honour and serve God, and to

·      incorporate timeless values—sanctity and value of life, righteousness, godliness.

Elder Dr. Catwell dramatising how the paralytic was lowered by rope on a mat

The audience was also asked to be watchful for and avoid negative influences that can arise, as well. Failing to thoroughly prepare oneself, lack of self-respect and disrespect of person and property were some of the elements to be avoided.

In addition to receiving a blessing from the Elders, the primary, secondary and tertiary young and mature students were presented with packages containing books and stationery items for use at school. 

Students receiving a blessing from the Elders

Sponsors of the donated packages included Kathy Elliot, a motivational speaker and a Minister from the USA, Miss. Debbie Simpson from Simpson Motors, Mrs. Dawn Thompson, The Optimist Club of Barbados and other corporate sponsors.

Along with prayers for the people and Commonwealth of Dominica, a monetary collection was received for them.

A part of the students' prayer included:

God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in mine eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;

God be at mine end, and at my departing, in Jesus’ Name, Amen! 

(Sarum Primer, 1558)