Left: Bishop Carmen Stewart. - WILLIAM FOSTER PHOTO. Right: Rev. Nicole Ashwood, Associate Minister Meadowbrook/St. Paul's United Church
THE EASTER season is a time for reflection. Christians use the time to reflect on the great sacrifice that Jesus Christ made by dying on the cross for their sins. It is a time for reflecting on wrong deeds by asking for forgiveness. And it is a time to reflect on ourselves and make an effort to do what we can for a better society.
To assist in the process, Flair asked a few female church leaders to share their Easter messages with readers.
REV. NICOLE ASHWOOD, ASSOCIATE MINISTER, MEADOWBROOK/ST. PAUL'S UNITED CHURCH:
The message I have for Jamaicans is the same message I have been preaching the entire year. It is the main message that Christ came to teach us: love. Love for brothers, sisters neighbours and our enemies. This love looks beyond our own agenda and focuses on God's agenda. It is not about our great expectation. Rather, the great expectation from Palm Sunday leading up to Easter Sunday.
The great expectation is in the resurrection power that reconciles us to God. This means that instead of getting involved in criminal activities such as reprisal killings, we would seek peace and pursue it and work hard at doing our part in rebuilding the nation.
REV. CARMEN STEWART, PENTECOSTAL GOSPEL TEMPLE, WINDWARD ROAD:
The sermon on Easter Sunday is to bring to the congregation the power of the resurrection. Bring into focus that resurrection is not only about the power that caused Jesus Christ to arise. But the impact that power has on the various sectors - the believers and non-believers - of the population. So that the believers devastated with happenings over the Good Friday to Easter Sunday had the power to still believe in Christ. Also, in the sermon, I will be looking at the various meanings of power.
TARA THEREFE TYME, MINISTER MOUNT OLIVET CHARGE OF UNITED CHURCHES:
The season of Easter is a time for reflection as we commemorate and contemplate the suffering, death, resurrection of Jesus, the Christ. It would do us all well if each of us should stop for a minute to think about a sacrifice that is extraordinary for humanities quest in wanting to experience life - life that is not based on material gain or wealth but on spiritual fulfilment and learning what it means to serve each other; to take care of each other and to look out for each other.
DEONIE DUNCAN, PASTOR OF BUFF BAY CIRCUIT OF BAPTIST CHURCHES (JAMAICA BAPTIST UNION):
A message of hope. Easter speaks to hope, the hope of a the greater good that comes through suffering. So even though they sacrificed Jesus, this sacrifice is for hope ending our suffering and bringing victory. The ultimate victory can come through the resurrected Christ. Because of what God has done for humanity. So Jamaica may have despair, hopelessness and hardships; everything seems to be getting worse not better, but there is hope, because we have this hope with Christ.
- Shelly-Ann Thompson
