From the beginning of man’s existence God ordained marriage. Genesis 2 v.24 declares “therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” This has also been confirmed in Matthew 19 v. 5, where Jesus Himself says, “For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh.” Mr. Bowe, a young man from Long Island and a Boat Captain by trade, sailed frequently into the Rock Sound Harbour; where on one of those visits he saw the beautiful smile of a young lady named Bethsheba, who unbeknown to him was also from Long Island. Unable to resist her charm and whit, he was immediately smitten by her and fell madly in love. Determined not to let her slip through his fingers, their courtship was a brief one. On August 13th, 1958, Captain Bowe and Bethsheba Lloyd, in the presence of family and friends exchanged vows; and embarked on their life-long journey as husband and wife. This union has been blessed with nine children, five daughters and four sons; eighteen (18) grand children and four (4) great-grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Hayward Bowe have learnt that “the middle years of marriage are the most crucial. In the early years, spouses want each other and in the late years, they need each other.” This union has proven that “weddings are celebrated by lovers and 50th anniversaries by soul mates.”
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Tribute
Our Golden Wedding Anniversary Celebrations
Hayward Alphonso Bethsheba Magdalene Bowe and and
Mass of Thanksgiving for the
50th Anniversary of the marriage of
Hayward Alphonso and Bethsheba Magdalene Bowe Saturday, 9th August, 2008 at 11:00 a. m. St. Gregory’s Anglican Church Carmichael Road New Providence, Bahamas
Our Golden Reception follows the service Ocean View Room, SuperClubs Breezes Cable Beach New Providence, Bahamas 3
Solemn Holy Eucharist & Renewal of Marriage Vows SERVICE OUTLINE • Introit Hymn……………...………. A&M 300 • Entrance Antiphon • The Collect For Purity • The Kyrie • The Gloria • Collect • First Lesson………………………..Genesis 2:15-24 Read by Lynden Pindling • Psalm……………………………… 121 • Poem……………………………… Read by Nia Rolle • Second Lesson……………………..1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Read by Sean Bowe • Gradual Hymn…………………….. “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” • The Gospel………………………... John 2:1-11 • Special Selection………………….. Latisha Taylor • Special Tribute……………………. The Rev’d Dr. James Moultrie • The Sermon……………….. The Rev’d A. Budhu • The Profession Of Faith: The Nicene Creed • The Renewal Of Marriage Vows • Intercessions………………………. Litany of Thanksgiving • The Act Of Penitence • The Absolution • The Peace • The Presentation Of The Offering • Offertory Hymn…….……………... “Living By Faith” • Eucharistic Prayer……. Form A • Communion Hymn………………... “How Great Thou Art” • Post Communion Prayer • The Blessing • Recessional Hymn………………... “To God Be The Glory” • The Dismissal
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INTROIT HYMN……………………………………………………...….A&M 300 All hail the power of Jesus’ Name; Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race, Let Angels prostrate fall; Ye ransom’d of the fall, Bring forth the royal diadem Hail Him Who saves you by His grace, And crown Him Lord of all. And crown Him Lord of all. Crown Him, ye morning stars of light, Who fixed this floating ball; Now hail the strength of Israel’s might, And crown Him Lord of all.
Hail Him, ye heirs of David’s line, Whom David Lord did call, The God Incarnate, Man Divine, And crown Him Lord of all.
Crown Him, ye martyrs of your God, Who from His Altar call; Extol the Stem-of-Jesse’s Rod, And crown Him Lord of all.
Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget The wormwood and the gall, Go spread your trophies at His feet, And crown Him Lord of all.
Let every tribe and every tongue Before Him prostrate fall And shout in universal song The crownèd Lord of all.
ENTRANCE ANTIPHON: Celebrant: For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become as one flesh. - Genesis 2:24, Mark 10:7-9.
Blessed be God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Alleluia! Alleluia! And blessed be His Kingdom, now and forever. Amen. Alleluia! Alleluia! Celebrant: Blessed Lord and Father, ALL: we have assembled in Your Name and in fellowship with one another. Enable us by Your grace to offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; to proclaim and respond to Your Holy Word. Teach us to pray for Your world and Your Church. Grant that we, confessing our sins, may worthily offer to You our souls and bodies as a living sacrifice and eat and drink of Your spiritual food in this Holy Sacrament. Amen. Celebrant: ALL:
COLLECT FOR PURITY: ALL: Almighty God, to You all hearts are open, all desires known, and from You no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You, and worthily magnify Your Holy Name, through Christ our Lord. Amen. THE KYRIE: ALL: Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy, Christ, have mercy, Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy. THE GLORIA: Celebrant: Glory to God in the highest, ALL: and peace to His people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, Almighty God and Father, we worship You, we give You thanks,
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we praise You for Your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; You are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For You alone are the Holy One; You alone are the Lord: You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
PSALM 121.
THE COLLECT FOR ANNIVERSARY OF A MARRIAGE: Celebrant: O gracious and everliving God, look mercifully on Hayward and Bethsheba, who come to renew the promises they have made to each other. Grant them Your blessing, and assist them with Your grace, that with true fidelity and steadfast love they may honour and keep Your promises and vows; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. ALL: Amen. Please Sit. + FIRST LESSON + READ BY………………………...………………………….LYNDEN PINDLING Reader:
A Reading from Word of God written in Genesis 2:15-24.
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The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, ‘You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.’ 18 Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.’ 19 So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, ‘This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken.’ 24 Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. Reader: The Word of the Lord.
Response: Thanks be to God.
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Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning is now, and shall be forever. Amen. POEM………………………...…………………………...READ BY NIA ROLLE + SECOND LESSON + READ BY………………………...………………………………....SEAN BOWE Reader:
A Reading from Word of God written in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast,* but do not have love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
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Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. 9 For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; 10 but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. Reader: The Word of the Lord.
Response: Thanks be to God.
Please Stand. GRADUAL HYMN………………………...“GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS” Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father; There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.’ 4 And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to Me? My hour has not yet come.’ 5 His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever He tells you.’ 6 Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. 8 He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. 9 When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ 11 Jesus did this, the first of His signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. Reader:
This is the Gospel of Christ.
Response:
Praise to Christ our Lord.
Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
SPECIAL SELECTION………………………...…………....LATISHA TAYLOR
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
PROFESSION OF FAITH: THE NICENE CREED: ALL: We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen or unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us and for our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit He was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He suffered, died and was buried. On the third day He rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, Who proceeds from the Father. With the Father and the Son He is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
THE GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: Leader: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Response: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Leader: Blessed are You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom to mere children. Response: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! + THE GOSPEL + Reader: The Lord be with you. Response: And also with you. Reader: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John 2:1-11. Response: Glory to Christ our Saviour.
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus and His disciples had also
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SPECIAL TRIBUTE……………………...THE REV’D DR. JAMES MOULTRIE SERMON…………………………………..…THE REV’D A. BUDHU
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INTERCESSIONS………………………….LITANY OF THANKSGIVING Leader: Let us give thanks to God our Father for all His gifts so freely bestowed upon us. For the beauty and wonder of creation ALL: We thank You, Lord. Leader: For all that is gracious in the lives of men and women, revealing the image of Christ, ALL: We thank You, Lord. Leader: For our daily food, for our homes and families and friends, ALL: We thank You, Lord. Leader: For minds to think and hearts to love, ALL: We thank You, Lord. Leader: For health, strength, and skill to work, and for leisure to rest play, ALL: We thank You, Lord. Leader: For those who are brave and courageous, patient in suffering and faithful in adversity, ALL: We thank You, Lord. Leader: For all who pursue peace, justice, and truth, ALL: We thank You, Lord. Leader: Today we give thanks especially for the 50th Anniversary of the marriage of Hayward Alphonso and Bethsheba Magdalene Bowe. ALL: We thank You, Lord. Leader: For the communion of saints, in all times and places, ALL: We thank You, Lord. Leader: Above all, we give You thanks for the great mercies and promises given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord: To Him be praise and glory, with you, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. ALL: Amen. ACT OF PENITENCE: Celebrant: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Let us therefore confess our sins. Please Kneel. Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we have sinned against You and one another, in thought, word and deed, and in what we have left undone. We are sorry and repent of all our sins. For Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, forgive us all that is past, and grant that we may serve You in newness of life to the glory of Your Name. Amen.
ALL:
THE ABSOLUTION Celebrant: Almighty God, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. ALL: Amen.
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Please Stand. THE PEACE — FORM A: Celebrant: We are the Body of Christ. By the one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body, and have all been made to drink of the one Spirit. ALL: Let us then pursue the things that make for peace and build up the common life. Celebrant: The peace of the Lord be always with you. ALL: And also with you. THE PRESENTATION OF THE OFFERING: Celebrant: Through Your goodness, Lord, we have this bread and wine to offer, the fruit of the earth and the work of human hands. They will become our spiritual food. ALL: All things come from You, O Lord, and of Your own do we give You. Blessed be God for ever. Amen. OFFERTORY HYMN……………….……………………....“LIVING BY FAITH” I care not today what the morrow may bring, If shadow or sunshine or rain. The Lord, I know, ruleth o'er everything. And all of my worry is vain. Living by faith, (Yes, living by faith), In Jesus above, (in Jesus above), Trusting, confiding, (trusting, confiding), In His great love, (yes, in His great love), From all harm safe, (safe from all harm), In His sheltering arm, (His sheltering arm), I'm living by faith, (I'm living by faith), And feel no alarm, (feel no alarm). Tho' tempests may blow and the storm clouds arise; Obscuring the brightness of life. I'm never alarmed at the overcast skies, The Master looks on at the strife. I know that He safely will carry me thro' No matter what evils betied; Why should I then care, tho' the tempest may blow, If Jesus walks close to my side. Our lord will return to this earth some sweet day, Our troubles will then all be o'er, The Master so gently will lead us away, Beyond that blest heavenly shore.
THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER — FORM A: Celebrant: The Lord be with you. ALL: And also with you. Celebrant: Lift up your hearts. ALL: We lift them up to the Lord. Celebrant: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. ALL: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
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It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give You thanks, Father almighty, everlasting God: PREFACE OF MARRIAGE: Because wife and husband sharing together in Your grace which gives life, bear witness through mutual love and commitment one to another, to the bond of love between Christ and His Church. Therefore we praise You, joining our voices with Angels and Archangels and with all the company of heaven, who forever sing this hymn to proclaim the glory of Your Name:
Celebrant:
Please Kneel. Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might; heaven and earth are full of Your glory, Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Celebrant: All Holy and glorious Father, our Creator God. We give You thanks because in Your loving wisdom You brought all things into being, and are truly worthy of praise from every creature You have made. Again and again we have turned away from You: yet in every age Your steadfast love has called us to return to live in union with You: for it is Your eternal purpose to put new life into all things and make them holy. Through Your Son. Jesus Christ who took our human nature upon Him You have redeemed the world from the bondage of sin: and by the power of Your Holy Spirit You have gathered a people to Yourself, to make known in every place His perfect offering which He made to the glory of Your Name. Hear us, therefore, Father, through Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord; and grant that these gifts of bread and wine may be unto us His Body and Blood. For, on the night He was betrayed He took bread, and when He had given thanks to You, He broke it and gave it to His disciples and said: “Take this, and eat it: This is My Body which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of Me.” And after supper He took the cup of wine: and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them and said: “Drink this, all of you: This is My Blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of Me.” Celebrant: Let us proclaim the mystery of our faith. ALL: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Celebrant: And so, Heavenly Father, rejoicing in His Holy Incarnation, His Blessed Passion and His Perfect Sacrifice made once for all upon the Cross; His Mighty Resurrection from the dead: His Glorious Ascension into heaven: and looking for His Coming in glory; we offer to You this Bread and this Cup. ALL:
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We pray that You will accept this sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving; and grant that all who eat and drink of the Body and Blood, of Your Son, our great High Priest, may be renewed by Your Holy Spirit, and be one Body, one Spirit, in Him. Let faith and love increase in us. Unite us with all Bishops. all other ministers of Your Word and Sacraments, and with the whole people of God, living and departed, whom You have made for Yourself. Confirm us in holiness, that we may be found ready to join the company of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Apostles, St. Gregory and all Your saints, when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again: forever giving You thanks and praise through Him from Whom all good things do come. With Him and in Him and through Him, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we worship You, Father Almighty, with all who stand before You in earth and heaven, in songs of everlasting praise: ALL: Blessing and honour and glory and power be yours for ever and ever. Amen. Please Stand. THE LORD’S PRAYER: Celebrant: As our Saviour has taught us, so we pray: ALL: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name; Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours now and forever. Amen. THE BREAKING OF THE BREAD—FORM B: Celebrant: God of promise, You have prepared a banquet for us. ALL: Happy are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb. THE INVITATION—FORM A: Celebrant: My Brothers and Sister in Christ, draw near and receive His Body which He gave for you, and His Blood, which He shed for you. Remember that He died for you, and feed on Him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving. ALL: Grant gracious Lord, that we so eat the flesh of Your dear Son Jesus Christ, and drink His Blood, that we may evermore dwell in Him and He in us. THE AGNUS DEI: ALL: Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world: grant us peace. COMMUNION HYMN……………………………..“HOW GREAT THOU ART” O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder, Consider all the world’s Thy Hands have made; I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy Power throughout the universe displayed.
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Then sings my soul, my Saviour, God, to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art; Then sings my soul, my Saviour, God, to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art. And when I think that God, His Son not sparing, Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in. That on the Cross, my burdens gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin. When Christ shall come, with shouts of acclamation, And take me Home, what joy shall fill my heart; Then I shall bow, in humble adoration, And there proclaim, my God how great Thou art.
Please Kneel. POST COMMUNION PRAYER – FORM A: ALL: Almighty Father, we thank You for feeding us with the Body and Blood of Your Son Jesus Christ. May we who share His Body live His risen life; we who drink His cup bring life to others; we upon whom Your Spirit shines give light to the world. Help us to continue in faithful witness to Your Word, so we and all Your children shall be free and the whole earth live to praise Your Name, through Christ our Lord. Amen. THE BLESSING: Celebrant: The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. ALL: Amen. Please Stand. RECESSIONAL HYMN………………………...…“TO GOD BE THE GLORY” 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. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice, Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice. O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son, And give Him the glory, great things He hath done! O 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.
Our Golden Reception Seating Of Guests Entrance of Mr. & Mrs. Hayward Bowe Introduction of the Master of Ceremony ....Rosie BoweBowe-McPhee Master of Ceremony….....Elder Ernest Sweeting Prayer..................................................Fr. Budhu Tributes:……....................................Milly Young Leshan Bowe ~ ~ ~ Lunch Is Served ~ ~ ~ Cutting Of The Cake First Dance Vote Of Thanks..........................Diane Pindling
Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done, And greater our rejoicing through Jesus the Son; But purer and higher and greater will be, Our wonder, our transport when Jesus we see.
THE DISMISSAL: Deacon: Go in peace and serve the Lord. ALL: In the Name of Christ. Amen.
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