By George Henry, Gleaner WriterSPALDINGS, Clarendon:
GOSPEL LOVERS in and around Spaldings, who attended a watch night service and concert on Wednesday night, had their festivities curtailed by the authorities who insisted that
the Noise Abatement Act be observed.
The hundreds of worshippers, who crammed into the Christiana taxi stand and spilled over into the main road to welcome the new year, were disappointed when they were informed that they would have to vacate the venue by 2:00 a.m.
Emcees Leon Nash of Love FM and Michael Thompson kept the show going up to 2:30 a.m., after the time was extended by the police, but patrons still did
not get to see several of their favourite acts.
UNTIL DAYLIGHT
One very upset woman, who identified herself as Pauline, said she went to the service and concert to enjoy herself 'in the Lord' and had no plans to return home until daylight.
Charging favouritism, she said that whenever secular dances are staged in the town, those events went beyond 3:00 a.m., and that the authorities could have allowed the organisers to go until 5:00 a.m. since it was a public holiday.
The event was hosted by the Spaldings Ministers Fraternal.
The organisers told the crowd, however, that they would be conforming with the directives of the police as the Noise Abatement Act was a law of the land and must be observed by all, including the church.
Rev. Monroe Wisdom, pastor of the Sanguinetti and Spaldings New Testament churches, also expressed similar sentiments. He noted that the church should set the example for others to follow.
Two years ago, the Spaldings police stopped a similar function when they ordered the organisers to turn off their music as, according to them, permission was not granted for the service and concert to go into the wee hours of the morning on New Year's Day.
That resulted in a quarrel between some residents and the police.
Since then, the Spaldings Ministers Fraternal has ensured that it gets permission for the event.
This year's service featured the preaching of an energetic evangelist, Author Grant, a member of the Evangelism Board in the New Testament Church of God in Jamaica. Patrons also rocked to some of the latest gospel selections as well as some old hits.
Evangelist Grant, who spoke on the theme: 'Expect More in 2004', told the worshippers that they need not worry, as God would take care of them.
"Drop the low self-esteem, the inferiority complex; rise up and stand up; you are a child of the King, a royal priesthood and a holy nation," said the preacher.
A NATION OF GAMBLERS
He also used the opportunity to hit out at gambling, noting that Jamaica was fast becoming a nation of gamblers.
"Persons are now being taught to gamble themselves out of poverty, but Christians are not to 'scratch'," he said, referring to the scratch and win games.
The crowds were also entertained by local groups such as Living Praise, The Melodious Voices, The Santa Hill First Born Church Singers as well as a number of young and upcoming singers from the area.
