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Boulevard Baptist Church JAMAICA 50

Week of Celebration July 29 - August 5, 2012

BBC e-Magazine

September 2012 Special edition

Inside :

Jamaica 50 Sermon

Annual Emancipation Lecture

South African Film Show

Open Day Exhibition

Annual Bruckins

Emancipation Walk

Special Church Service

Cultural Presentation

London Glory 2012

Acknowledgements

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Sunday July 29

Members recollecting the years

Sis. Maud Daley reflects…

The Hutchinsons recall the years as they are interviewed by Sis. Mary Dick

Members of Parliament 1962 Prime Ministers 1962 to present

REFLECTIONS – 50 YEARS

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Sunday July 29

Jamaica 50 Sermon: “In de pen”

While delivering his Jamaica 50 sermon to the Boulevard Baptist

congregation, Rev. Dr. Devon Dick related views that were

expressed by his barber as he sat in his chair. His barber viewed

Jamaica’s independence as being restricted, stifling and

suffocating, and to coin a playful term from independence, “in de

pen”. This he asserted was mainly due to our economic challenges. Rev. Dr. Dick

explained that ‘in de pen’ means we are in a strange place where we do not belong.

We are squatting in a pen. We are trespassing. We have to be singing songs in a

strange land because this is not our family land.

The sermon was based on scripture lessons from Deut. 15:1-18 and Lev.25:1-28 and Luke 4: 16-19-: Text: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,” Luke 4:18. Rev. Dr. Dick stated that we are celebrating the Jubilee of Jamaica’s independence from British Colonial rule. To mark this occasion of fifty years of political independence from our former owners or ‘backra masters’, he invited us to examine the Jewish Jubilee concept in order to ascertain the lessons to be learnt. Rev. Dr. Dick mentioned that there are two versions of the Jubilee Law- - one in Leviticus which focuses on the fiftieth year and the other in Deuteronomy that spotlights every seven years. The Jubilee concept was not implemented by the Jews because they perceived it as unworkable, unreasonable and unnatural. They rejected God’s way as impractical, imbecile and too inclusive of all and therefore followed the example of the nations around them. Rev. Dr. Dick asserted that we are similar to the Jews in rejecting God’s concept concerning Jubilee. In fact, he said, we want freedom from enslavement and forgiveness of our debts. We even want family land to be ours, but when we have these things, we do not want everyone to experience freedom from enslavement (Maroon mentality and English emigrants). He explored three themes, namely: freedom from enslavement, forgiveness of debts and family land returned. Rev. Dr. Dick posited that in the year of Jubilee, all enslaved persons should be set free. When the Emancipation Act was passed in 1834, compensation of 20 million

Independent or “In de pen”?

Read and cast your vote at communicationsandmedia@gmail.com

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pounds was given to the owners for services lost, but no back wages, land or money was given to the people of African origin who were enslaved. It is the business class who usually get the breaks and the working class who go broke. The enslaved then were either persons who were indebted or prisoners of war. Family land returned Rev. Dr. Dick acknowledged that to return family land is to give identity and continuity. When we are landless, we doubt our ability to provide for family and we sometimes take out anger on our loved ones. Without land, we often feel we have no stability and permanence. We are like nomads always on the move or living in fear of the landlord if one is a tenant and in fear of the police if one is a squatter. He stated that there are approximately one hundred squatter communities. Forgiveness of debts ‘At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts’ Deut 15:1. This pertains only to loans given because of poverty. The Israelites were not only to cause those who had no possessions (Levites, strangers, widows, and orphans) to refresh themselves with the produce of their inheritance, but they were not to oppress the poor. Debtors especially were not to be deprived of the blessings of the sabbatical year. There could also be a lengthening of the term and no pressing for payment. The poor were to be protected and not even to be asked to tithe, ‘Deut 14: 28-29. This year of release typified the grace of the gospel, which is proclaimed the acceptable year of the Lord; and by which we obtain the release of our debts, that is, the pardon of our sins. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors, Mt 6:12. Debtors are those who are bound to others for some claim in commercial transactions; for something which we have had, and for which we are bound to pay according to contract. "Literally" there can be no such transaction between God and us. It must be used figuratively. We are exposed to its penalty. We are guilty and only God can forgive, in the same way that only a "creditor" can forgive a “debtor”. The word "debts" here, therefore, means sins or offences against God - offences which none but God can forgive. He paid a debt He did not owe; I owed a debt I could not pay; I needed someone to wash my sins away. And, now, I sing a brand new song, “Amazing Grace.” Christ Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay.

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A spectacular Ensemble They are coming! Here they are!

Marissa on keyboard Dr. Damion King delivers lecture Emphasizing a point

Sister Gloria Ranger animatedly Dr. King receives citation Deacon Verna closing prayer

brings her views across

ANNUAL EMANCIPATION LECTURE

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Monday July 30

“The Choir”

Before the movie Lights off! Enjoying the “The Choir” Preparing popcorn

Pay attention! Snacking at Intermission Children enjoying the movie

Gazing at the camera May I have some iscr-e-a-m? Bigger children relaxing

Chilling or lyming?

SOUTH AFRICAN FILM SHOW

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Thursday August 2

“Ole time ‘appenins”

Make no doubt about it – she ‘ot! Cheese please …… only toto no cheese?? Signing the guest book

Ole time radio and record player Face basin and goublets Chamber pots Ever slept on one like this?

Typewriter or a jooky jam? Check out the 4 legged pot The kerosene stove Have cocoa beans to beat?

MC Godfrey Taylor at his game Engaging the pastress A treat from the Mento Band A boonoonoonoos kiss

She is leaving on a jet plane …..

OPEN DAY EXHIBITION

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Friday August 3

Folklore and Cuisine

From one generation to the next – Next 50 what’s next? Mackerel rundown, jerked chicken.…. hhhmmmm…

Serious business! Camera shy …. or what? Hats for the occasions She cool and deadly!

On stage! Wicked dance moves! Different moods MC Dwight soliciting a response

Prizes galore! Lining up for the competitions Sis. Jennifer collects her prize

At the controls Tie-a-leaf and the works Enjoying the moments Relax and smile a while

ANNUAL BRUCKINS

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Saturday August 4

The walk from Boulevard Baptist Church to Emancipation Park - organized by Bro. Varick Downie

Enthusiastic strides Emancipated moves Having fun!

Easy strolls Loving the camera Even children took the trek

Refreshed on the way Account for each and every one Never to worry aid is here

Cheer them on! Sis. Ruth shares in the Park Reverence in prayer

EMANCIPATION WALK

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Sunday August 5

Fr l-r: US Ambassador, Nigerian High Comm’ner, M.P. Karl Samuda, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, and Canadian rep’tives

Attentive congregation A bit of humour ? Choir’s scintillating performance

Children’s choir delighted The talented musicians In harmony

Delivering their messages to the Boulevard Baptist congregation. From left to right

Hon. Robert Pickersgill rep. the P.M., Mr. Karl Samuda, MP, Pamela Bridgewater, US

Ambassador and His Excellency Olulola-Charles, Nigeria High Commissioner.

SPECIAL CHURCH SERVICE

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Sunday August 5

Sermon: Being the Yeast “He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven

is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large

amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."-

Scripture Passages: Ps. 131 & Matt. 13: 33

Rev. Dr. Devon Dick while delivering the sermon at this

special church service made reference to a newspaper

article written by Father Richard Holung about Yohan Blake calling himself a beast,

which in his view, and based on the book of Revelation the beast is a false prophet

who inspires false worship.

Contrary to Father Holung’s view Rev. Dr. Dick said that he doubted that was the

imagery Blake wants to evoke when he accepted the nickname of the ‘Beast’. The

word beast has more to do with strength and a strong will to win as symbolized by a

beast such as a lion, king of the jungle. A beast could be a large domestic animal

such as a horse or bull. A beast is one of God’s creations which carries heavy load

and engages in hard work such as a donkey or mule. Therefore, there are two ways

at looking at beast - either as a symbol of evil or as an imagery of enthusiasm for

hard work.

Similarly, he explained, there are two interpretations for yeast. Yeast is classified as

a symbol of evil and a little spreads a long way. In the Bible yeast/leaven has

represented false doctrine, malice, wickedness and immorality. Mark 8:15, states,

‘"Be careful," Jesus warned them. "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that

of Herod." Yeast is akin to one bad apple spoils the whole bunch. However, an

alternative interpretation is yeast being likened to the church in the world and yeast

having an effect on the whole leaven-penetrating (piercing), persuading and

SPECIAL CHURCH SERVICE

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pervasive. This latter interpretation is consistent with the parable of the mustard

seed which though small is very effective, impactful and influential. This is a short

parable but profound parable-‘likkle but Tallawah’ a small nation having a big impact

beyond our size-like Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce, who though having a pocket size

frame delivered yesterday on the world stage in a big way by winning gold at the

Olympics for the second time in the 100m.

Verse 33 reads ‘Another parable spake he unto them . . . To the disciples and the

multitude, this parable appears to be of the same kind, to the same purpose, and

relating to the same subject as the former parable of the mustard seed; that is, the

spread of the Gospel in the world. This morning as we continue to commemorate

the golden Jubilee of Jamaica’s political independence from our former colonial

masters the latter interpretation is preferred, that is, to perceive the role of the

church in society of proclaiming good news to all including persons who are poor,

restoring land to the landless, forgiveness of debts, restoration of family and

freedom from slavery-all objectives of Jewish Jubilee and part of the manifesto of

the prophet Isaiah and Jesus, the Messiah.

In those days a piece of the leavened dough from an unbaked loaf was put among

the new dough to cause fermentation. As yeast, though hidden in the flour, and

though deposited only in one place, works until all the mass is brought under its

influence. This leaven or yeast is being interpreted as the gospel spreading greatly.

Similarly, the Gospel of Christ should pervade all the nations of the world, and fill

them with peace, joy, holiness, and liberty.

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Sunday August 5

Hail the choristers! Children doing their piece Raise your flags and wave!

The steel band MCs on a roll Alex - JCDC gold medal winner

Down a Linstead Market Sis. Asha representing Miss Lou Pleased with the presentations

Couple celebrates 50th

W/Anniv. Sis. Claudette celebrates 50th

B/day Cutting Birthday cake

CULTURAL PRESENTATION

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We celebrated with the Jamaican Olympic Team and the spectacular performances at the

London Olympics

To the world! Relay gold Medal ceremony - rec’ 100 m gold

The silver girls Basking in the glory 1-2-3 Bolt Blake Weir

Can’t test… we are the best! A sound beating!

LONDON GLORY 2012

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

First to acknowledge Deacon Hyacinth Brown who is the brainchild behind this publication.

She also consistently provided advice and support as the work progressed.

Recognition to the editing team of Sylvia Kelly and Claudette Reid who assisted with the sermons.

Most importantly to Varick Downie who provided the pictures for this publication.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed, whether directly or indirectly; without you this publication would not be possible.

Sophia Williams

Chairman – Communications and Media Committee

A publication of the

Communications and Media Committee

Boulevard Baptist Church

2 Washington Boulevard

Kingston 20

Tele: 905-2422 or 832-1522

Email: boulevard.baptist@yahoo.com

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