Special Service of Thanksgiving on July 28
By: , July 24, 2024
Photo: Derrick Scott
Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks (fifth left) and Minister of Webster Memorial United Church, Rev. Astor Caryle (sixth left), with flag bearers at last year’s Service of Thanksgiving for the Emancipation/Independence observance, at the Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church, Takoma Park, Maryland.The Full Story
On Sunday, July 28, Jamaicans in Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland will take part in a special Service of Thanksgiving for the 186th anniversary of Emancipation from slavery and the 62nd anniversary of Jamaica’s Independence.
The event promises to be a vibrant display of cultural pride and community spirit.
It will also mark the second year that Jamaicans in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) will be honoured with awards for sterling contributions.
Heads of various diaspora organisations and Jamaican clergy in the DMV area have partnered with the Jamaican Embassy in Washington to organise this grand celebration.
The service will be held at the Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church in Takoma Park, Maryland, just outside Washington DC, beginning at 10:45 a.m.
The service will feature a sermon by Pastor Everette Brown, President of the Jamaica Union of Seventh-day Adventists.
It will be moderated by Rev. Dr. Bertram Melbourne, Professor and former Interim Dean of the Howard University School of Divinity.
Attendees will hear the Prime Minister’s message, delivered by Deputy of Chief at the Embassy of Jamaica Mission, Lishann Salmon.
Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Audrey Marks, will extend her greetings and deliver welcome remarks.
There will be musical selections from artistes, including Yasmin McCoy, Lady Da Flame, and Tamara Simpson.
In recognition of their outstanding contributions to the Jamaican community, three individuals will be honoured with the Jamaica Diaspora 2024 DMV Award.
The recipients are Carmen Edwards, Doreen Thompson, and Larry Sindass.
Additionally, the Friends of Jamaica Award will be presented to Performing Artistes Under the Lord (PAUL) for their dedication and performances at the annual church service for more than 30 years.
Proceeds from the collection will be donated to the Black River Infirmary, which suffered severe damage from Hurricane Beryl.
Ambassador Marks said that the Emancipation and Independence Thanksgiving Service is more than a commemoration; it is a celebration of freedom, heritage, and the progress achieved since gaining Independence.
It will not only highlight the achievements and contributions of Jamaicans in the DMV area but also reinforce the importance of giving back to the community and supporting those in need, Ambassador added.