Flatbush church celebrates Homecoming, Int’l Day
By Nelson A. King
St. Paul’s Church in the Village
of Flatbush, Brooklyn on
the weekend of Sept. 7 and 8
celebrated its annual Homecoming
& International Day
Weekend.
“This was a wonderful opportunity
for the entire community
to experience the church’s vision
to be a welcoming, Christ-centered,
loving community,” the
church’s Barbadian-born rector,
the Rev. Sheldon N.N. Hamblin,
told Caribbean Life. “This
vibrant and inclusive Christian
spirit resonated throughout the
weekend celebration.”
The weekend of celebration
began on Sept. 7 with a lecture
by renowned scholar Dr.
Bernice Jacqueline deGannes-
Scott, a native of Trinidad and
Tobago. Dr. deGannes-Scott, is
an Associate Professor of Economics
at Spelman College,
Atlanta, Ga.
Rev. Hamblin said the lecture,
“Saving/Delayed Gratification
from the Perspective of
the Intersection of Race, Age
and Gender”, was “enlightening,
thought-provoking and dynamically
presented.”
He said some of the major
points highlighted were disparities
on the wealth gap and the
importance of creating wealth
within the African Diaspora
community in this country.
“Interestingly, many in the
audience concurred with her,
as she referenced to the history
of the ‘Soo-Soo’, which has its
roots in West Africa, and how
it still continues to play an integral
part in our economic lives,”
Rev. Hamblin said.
The next day, an International
Food Festival followed the celebration
Caribbean L 8 ife, Sept. 27 - Oct.3, 2019
of Holy Eucharist. Rev.
Hamblin presided over the Holy
Eucharist, and Dr deGannes-
St. Vincent and the Grenadines Group (see national fl ag in background next to Grenada
fl ag.) Ronissha Marksman
Scott was the guest homilist.
“She continued the momentum
with a homily based on a
reading from the Epistle Reading
Philemon 1-21,” Rev. Hamblin
said. “She presented this
passage of scripture where her
audience was able to reflect on
love, faith and social standing by
reflecting on the characterization
of the Onesimus the slave,
subtly reminding us that, as a
marginalized people, we can and
must exceed boundaries.
“From this scriptural allusion,
we were able to draw associations
from and make meaning
of biblical times, making
them applicable to our present
day circumstances and lived
experiences and the overall
human condition,” he added.
Rev. Hamblin said parishioners
then gathered to continue
the fellowship with family,
friends and supporters at
the International Food Festival,
where they sampled a variety
of indigenous delicacies from
the countries represented at St.
Paul’s.
“This was all accompanied
by the soothing and, at times,
nostalgic melodies of young
talented musicians playing the
steelpan with verve and contemplation,”
Rev. Hamblin said,
adding that one visitor, Joanne
Johnson, remarked that the
musicians were “phenomenal”
and that “they brought a sense
of universality” to the event.
The countries represented at
St. Paul’s include the US, Antigua
& Barbuda, Barbados, Costa
Rica, Cote d” Ivory, Ghana, Grenada,
Haiti, Jamaica, Nigeria,
Panama, Sierra Leone, South
Africa, St. Lucia, St. Vincent &
The Grenadines, and Trinidad
and Tobago.
Congresswoman Yvette D.
Clarke. Ronissha Marksman
PATIENTS’
CHOICE
RATED & AWARDED BY PATIENTS
SM