Ecumenical Church Service in South Florida to Observe Independence

Jamaicans in the South Florida community will fellowship next Sunday (July 29), at the annual Ecumenical Service in recognition of the nation’s Emancipation and 45th anniversary of Independence. The service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, Fort Lauderdale in Downtown, Fort Lauderdale.
Proceeds of collection from the service will go towards the Swift Purscell Boys’ Home in St. Mary, as well as to Experience Aviation School, founded recently by Jamaican pilot, Captain Barrington Irving, Jr., who recently made history as the first Black and youngest person to successfully accomplish a solo world mission in a single engine Cessna aircraft. Guest preacher at the service will be the Suffragan Bishop of Kingston, the Right Reverend Robert Thompson.
There will be a variety of selections performed by the Jamaica Independence Mass Choir, comprised of several choristers from congregations with large Jamaican populations and directed by Steve Higgins, formerly of the Jamaican Folk Singers and the Jamaica Musical Theatre Company.
Other recitals will be performed by the Jamaica Folk Revue, a folklore group based in South Florida; and the Sierra Norwood Children’s Choir, as well as a dance tribute by Lois Requa-Dunn, formerly of the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC), accompanied by her daughter, Sasha Dunn.
Immediately following the service, there will be a community reception hosted by the staff of the Jamaican Consulate.