A Thanksgiving Interfaith Service to Celebrate the 57th Anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
A Thanksgiving Interfaith Service
FOCUSED, DETERMINED AND UNITED, AS WE FACE THE FUTURE
Her Excellency Paula-Mae Weekes, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Dr. the Honourable Keith Rowley, MP
Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Congregation stands
The Procession of the Celebrants, led by His Excellency Orville London, High Commissioner for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
The National Flag is placed in its stand at the altar
Congregation remains standing for THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
Performed by Brent Holder MBE - Pannist
Forged from the love of liberty In the fires of hope and prayer
With boundless faith in our Destiny We solemnly declare; Side by side we stand, Islands of the blue Caribbean Sea
This our Native Land, We pledge our lives to thee
Here every creed and race find an equal place, And may God bless our Nation
Here every creed and race find an equal place, And may God bless our Nation
Congregation sits WELCOME
by The Revd Ralph Williamson, Vicar at St Peter's Eaton SquareCongregation remains seated
INTRODUCTION OF THE THEME
Father Henderson George
“Focused, Determined and United as we Face The Future”
Congregation remains seated
'Ride on King Jesus'
Performed by Anne Fridal - Dramatic Mezzo-Soprano
Congregation remains seated
Reading of the Message from Her Excellency Paula-Mae Weekes, President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on the Occasion of Independence Day 2019 by His Excellency Orville London, High Commissioner
Congregation stands
'God Bless Our Nation’ Led by Anne Fridal
God bless our nation Of many varied races
May we possess that common love That binds and makes us One.
Let it be known around the World That we can boast of Unity
And take a pride in Our Liberty.
God bless our isles of tropic beauty rare Of flaming Poinciana
And shady immortelle
The warm and sparkling waters
That beat upon our shores
Beat out a tune that seem to tell We take a pride in Our Liberty.
God bless our leaders
Give them grace to guide
Bestow on them thy judgement wise To rule our land aright
To keep the flag of freedom high that we may sing most lustily We take a pride in Our Liberty Congregation sits
SPIRITUAL READINGS
A contribution on behalf of the Muslim Community Excerpt from the Holy Qur’an read by Mr Adem Zein Ghany Holy Qur’an, Chapter 1, verses 1 – 7, Chapter 2:255, Chapter 3:103 and 105, Chapter. 9:71 and Chapter 49:13
In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds; the Beneficent, the Merciful; Master of the Day of Judgement;
You alone do we worship and You alone do we ask for help. Show us the straight way, the way of those You have favoured; not the way of those who earn Your anger nor of those who go astray.
God is He beside Whom there is no god, the Ever-living, the Selfsub-sisting by Whom all subsist; slumber does not overtake Him nor sleep; whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth is His; who is he that can intercede with Him but by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them and they cannot comprehend anything out of His knowledge except what He pleases; His knowledge extends over the heavens and the earth and the preservation of them both tires Him not and He is the Most High, the Great.
And hold fast, all together, by the Rope which God stretches out for you, and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude God’s favour on you; for ye were enemies and He
joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus doth God make His Signs clear to you that ye may be guided.
Be not like those who are divided amongst themselves and fall into disputations after receiving clear Signs: For them is a dreadful penalty.
The believers, men and women, are protectors one of another: they enjoin what is just and forbid what is evil: they observe regular prayers, pay the poor dues and obey God and His Messenger. On them will God pour His mercy: for God is Exalted in power, Wise.
O mankind! We created you from a single pair of a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes that ye may know each other, not that ye may despise each other. Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is he who is the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted with all things.
Congregation remains seated
A contribution on behalf of the Spiritual Baptist Community Excerpt from the Holy Bible by Ms Natasha Clarke Mark Chapter 3 Verses 24-27
And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
Congregation remains seated
Congregation remains seated
SPIRITUAL READINGS
A contribution on behalf of the Hindu Community Read by Ms Omadaye Sawh
1. Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha -Om Salutations and Prostrations to Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles, for success and wisdom;
2. Om Hreem Sri Lakshmi Bhyo Namaha: Goddess Laxshmi reside in me and bestow thy abundance on all aspects of my existence;
3. Om Shri Hanumate namaha: Reverence to Hanuman, invokes unbounded love, gives strength, success in devotional activities, and reveals the power of the soul that can triumph over adversities for attaining highest realizations;
4. Om Namah Shivaya;
Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 16: The Divine and Demoniac Natures: Texts 1-3
SRI-BHAGAVAN UVACA ABHAYAM SATTVA-SAMSUDDHIR, JNANAYOGA-VYAVASTHITIH DANAM DAMAS CA YAJNAS CA
SVADHYAYAS TAPA ARJAVAM AHIMSA SATYAM
AKRODHAS,TYAGAH SANTIR APAISUNAM, DAYA BHUTESV ALOLUPTVAM
MARDAVAM HRIR ACAPALAM TEJAH KSAMA DHRTIH SAUCAM, ADROHO NATI-MANITA BHAVANTI SAMPADAM DAIVIM
ABHIJATASYA BHARATA.
Meaning:
The Blessed Lord said: Fearlessness, purification of one's existence, cultivation of spiritual knowledge, charity, self-
'The Carnival is Over'
control, performance of sacrifice, study of the Vedas, austerity, simplicity; nonviolence, truthfulness, freedom from anger; renunciation, tranquillity, aversion to fault-finding, compassion and freedom from covetousness; Gentleness, modesty and steady determination; vigour, forgiveness, fortitude, cleanliness, freedom from envy and the passion for honour-these transcendental qualities, O son of Bharata, belong to godly men endowed with divine nature.
Dear Lord: May we the peoples of Trinidad and Tobago on this day of our independence, find in our hearts the desire to follow all things holy and pure, love and respect each other, strive to exist in peace and harmony. This is the only way forward in achieving joy, happiness, health, wealth, prosperity and on the long-term productivity, which leads to an enriched life for all peoples of our nation.
Om Bhur bhuvah swah, tatsavitur, varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayat.
O God, The Giver of life. Remover of pains and sorrows Bestowed of happiness, and Creator of the Universe Thou art most luminous, pure and adorable .We meditate on Thee May Thou inspire and guide our intellect in the right direction.
Om vishwani deva savitar duritani parasuva, Yad bhadram tanna asuva.
O Lord! The Creator of the Universe, remove all forms of vice and sorrow from us. Give us those qualities that are ennobling.
Om asato ma sad gamaya. Tamaso ma jyotir gamaya, Mrityorma amritam gamaya, Tasmai Shri Guruve Namah
O Lord! Lead us from untruth to truth Lead us from darkness to light Lead us from death to immortality
Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niramayah, Sarve
Bhadrani Pashyantu
Ma Kashchit Dukha Bhaag Bhavet
May all be happy may all be free from illness, may all see what is auspicious, and may no one suffer.
Bhajan: Aaj Andhere
Aj andhere mein hai hum insaan, Gyan ka suraj chamka de bhagwaan (2x)
Ah ah ah ah ………………………………
1. Bhatak rahe hum rahe dekha de Bhagvan rahe dekha de (2x)
Kadam kadam par kirna bicha de, Bhagvan kirna bicha de (2x)
In akhiyan ko prabhu kara de (2x)
Jyoti se paichan (2x)
Aj andhere ………………………………
2. Hum to hai santan tihari prabhu santan tihari (2x)
Teri daya ki ham adhikari prabhu hai ham adhikari (2x)
Duniya hove sukhi hamari (2x)
Aisa de vardaan (2x)
Aj andhere ………………………………
Meaning:
Today, we human beings are searching in the dark, Let the Sun of knowledge shine, We are lost, show us the way, Light our way at every step, Bring light to these eyes, Oh Lord.
We are your children, We deserve your compassion, We deserve your pity, Bless us with a happy world.
A contribution on behalf of the Christian Community
Excerpt from the Holy Bible by
Ms. Jenny G. Thompson,
Commissioner Ephesians 4: 1 - 16 (KJV)
Deputy HighI therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
This is The Word of The Lord
Response: Thanks be to God
Congregation stands
'To God Be The Glory'
Led by Anne Fridal
To God be the glory, great things He hath done, So loved He the world that He gave us His Son, Who yielded His life an atonement for sin, And opened the life gate that all may go in.
Chorus:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the earth hear His voice! Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, let the people rejoice! Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son, And give Him the glory, great things He hath done.
Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood, To every believer the promise of God; The vilest offender who truly believes, That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.
Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done, And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son; But purer, and higher, and greater will be Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.
Congregation sits THE HOMILY
Father Henderson George
Congregation remains seated
'Because of Who You Are'
Performed by Reverend Mark David, Church of the Open Bible Siparia
Congregation remains seated 'Patriotic Medlies'
Performed by Tobago Crusoe and D’Alberto
Congregation remains seated
A collection will be taken at this time.
Congregation stands
CLOSING PRAYER
Canon John Metivier
Special Prayers for - Her Excellency Paula-Mae Weekes, President; Dr. the Honourable Keith Rowley, Prime Minister; Members of Parliament; the Judiciary and the People of Trinidad and Tobago
Congregation remains standing 'Battle Hymn of The Republic' Led by Anne Fridal
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord: He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored; He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword: His truth is marching on.
Refrain:
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on
I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel: “As ye deal with my condemners, so with you my grace shall deal; Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel, Since God is marching on.”
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat; He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat: Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet! Our God is marching on.
Refrain
He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave, He is wisdom to the mighty, He is succour to the brave, So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave, Our God is marching on.
Refrain Congregation remains standing Flag Bearer, leads the Procession of the Celebrants down the aisle. The Congregation is asked to remain standing while the National Flag bearer proceeds down the aisle, followed by the High Commissioner for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Celebrants.
END OF SERVICE
Light refreshments will be served in the courtyard of St. Peter’s Church, Eaton Square
(Participants)
The Reverend Ralph Williamson, Vicar at St Peter's Eaton Square
Father Henderson George
Canon John Metivier
His Excellency Orville London, High Commissioner
Ms Jenny G. Thompson, Deputy High Commissioner
Ms Natasha Clarke
Mr Adem Zein Ghany
Ms Omadaye Sawh
Special Thanks
Flag Bearer: Ms Alicia Acres-Youksee, Immigration Attaché
Mr Brent Holder MBE
Ms Anne Fridal
Mr Mahesh Mathura
Mr Janardan Mathura
Mr Vash Mathura
Reverend Mark David
Tobago Crusoe
D’Alberto