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, to be held at the First Presbyterian Church Fort Lauderdale in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Proceeds of collection from the service will, this year, go towards the Swift Purcsell 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. The school is intended to expose inner-city youth to the aviation industry.
The guest preacher at the service will be the Suffragan Bishop of Kingston, the Right Reverend Robert Thompson who will deliver the sermon. 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 Mr. 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, the Sierra Norwood Children’s Choir, as well as a dance tribute by Ms. Lois Requa-Dunn, formerly of the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) accompanied by her daughter, Sasha Dunn.
Immediately following the service will be a Community Reception hosted by the staff of the Consulate.