ANNOUNCEMENTS   On Sunday 15th February, 2009 celebrations to mark Black History Month were held at the church. Many persons were clad in the African attire as they gathered together for worship.  During the morning Service all choruses and hymns that were sung were from yester year, e.g. The Old Time Religion, Kum ba ya ma Lord, Walking in the King’s Highway and O Boundless Salvation. The Black National Anthem was also sung.  The Ladies Chorale also rendered a special item in song – The Happy Pilgrim.   The featured speaker was Dr. Thelma Phillip-Browne who held the congregation focused as she delivered a most appropriate message for the occasion.   The life of the late Dorothy Veronica Samuel was called to memory during the service and some of her favourite songs were sung.  Two profiles were read one (a family perspective) was written by one of her grand daughters and the other with a church perspective was put together by Bro. St. C. Lewis and Sis. V. Hendrickson.  Both profiles were read by Church Secretary Sis. Vernice Hendrickson.  A poem was composed and read by yet another grand daughter Sis. Paulette Phillip.     These two profiles are recorded below:   A Church Perspective of Sister Dorothy Doris Samuel     Sister Doris Samuel or Auntie Doris, as she was affectionately called at her home church here in Conaree, gave her life totally to Christ in the early 1960’s and was Baptized in the third batch of persons who were baptized after the first Conaree WHC known then as the PHC was dedicated. She was a very serious and devoted Christian.   Shortly after her conversion and Baptism she became the Church Secretary. She filled many leading positions in the church – She was Sunday School Teacher, Local Preacher, Choir Member, President of the Women Society. It is said that the only position she did not hold was President of the Men Society.   Auntie Doris did not attend High School but with her limited education she was a historian, a first class playwright, and a poet.  Many of her plays were presented under her direction at the church here in Conaree.   Because of her strong Christian principles, many of her grand children came to know the Lord.  She was more than a mother to her grand children whom she greatly loved.   - 2 -   She was full of humor, one who made you laugh until tears were brought to your eyes.  She is also remembered for her nuts and sugar cakes that she would make and take to church to share with the other church members.   Sister Samuel, Auntie Doris, lived an exemplary Christian life while working for her Master and was always ready to encourage and admonish others in the things of the Lord.  Sadly, a few years prior to her passing from this life she was stricken with the dreaded   illness of senility and was called home to glory on the 7th December, 2003.  We often wonder why we have to lose such genuine and devoted persons but God understands.  She has now gone on to reap her reward.  We are sure she has heard her Master say “Well done Good and Faithful Servant.”  Today we reflect on the precious memories and the life of a devout Christian and faithful servant. As Wesleyans we salute the life and work of a Champion of the Faith, Sister Samuel, Auntie Doris, Ms. Dorothy Victoria Samuel Tudor.       A FAMILY PERSPECTIVE Profile of Ms Dorothy Victoria Tudor known also as  Dorothy Samuel… aka Auntie Doris. By Carol Phillip-Tudor   Dorothy Victoria Tudor known also as Dorothy Samuel {aka Auntie Doris was born on March 20th 1920 to Emiline “Emily” Tudor and Augustus Samuel. She grew up during times of great hardship and depression. As a child, Dorothy learned as much as she could whenever the opportunity presented itself for her to go to school. She was often heard lamenting that life was most unkind to her in the way it stymied her at every turn with her best efforts to achieve higher learning. The difficult task of early employment made going to school for her, and many familial women before her, an unaffordable extravagance. On becoming a young woman Dorothy bore two children of her own, Dora Phillip and George Samuel, but Dorothy became the mother amongst mothers when she willingly raised all eleven (11) of her grandchildren and any other of her great grandchildren that wandered into her doorway.   She was a hard and determined worker, a strong-minded woman, unrelenting when it came to seeing that her children and grand children achieved better than what life had previously offered to her, and although that meant, and she knew it, great sacrifices to herself, she never wavered in that resolve.   During the late 1950, she accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. In her later years, she often confessed to anyone who would listen that that decision was something she had never regretted.                - 3 -    She became a member of the Conaree Wesleyan Holiness Church, then the Pilgrim Holiness Church, and endeavored to assist in the betterment of the Church and community; it was not uncommon to see the church pews suddenly and rapidly filled with her grand children and other children she would have picked up in her sweep on her way to Sunday school. Not attending church was not an option of luxury she lavished on her grandchildren. Keeping them “covered by the blood” was a familiar refrain they heard during her many intercessions to God on their behalf.   She became, first, a Sunday school teacher and then Youth Leader. Dorothy Samuel Tudor was a Playwright of the highest caliber. She kept the young Christians zealously fervent with activities; the skits she wrote, she’d rehearse them until late at nights and every parent knew that their daughters were safe from stealthy behaviors while with her and they knew that each boy was too busy doing God’s work to idle himself.   The cars lining both sides of the dirt road and additional vehicles hugging the leafy green cane field’s bough on the dark island main paved road outside the church were all good indicators that Auntie Doris was putting on a play performance. She had a dry sense of humour, a personality trait that must have led to the coining of the phrase “belly laugh”, because people were always “belly laughing” around her. As stern a disciplinarian as she was, the “belly laugh” and the crying would sometimes come in the same spell. When someone says to you that “Auntie Doris call you” if you knew you had been less than stellar or that you had been misbehaving, then that message is not a good one.   The scent of parched nuts and “pull pull” sugar cake preceded her into the church. The aroma of sea grapes and fat plumb on weekday service and programme practice nights were enough enticement for any young girl or boy too slow in learning his or her recitations. These recitations were lengthy and sometimes each person had more than one; posture and annunciation were part of the pact in the presentation and throughout the tedious polishing and preening practicing process, the reward of sticky sugar cake fingers and the anticipation of her smiling approval would sufficed. Dorothy held the Presidency of the Women department for many years.   She was also the Secretary of the Conaree Wesleyan Holiness Church for over 25 years, a position she held very dear to her heart and because of that she discharged her duties with much respect and dignity.   As Dorothy’s love for God deepened, she was appointed to Lay Preacher (local deaconess) of the Conaree Wesleyan Holiness Church, starting first under the tenure of the Rev. Charles and Louisa Grant and subsequent pastors, holding this position until just shortly before she succumbed to poor health and was no longer able to attend Church as often as she wished.       - 4 -   After fifty years of service, her favorite hymn is difficult to pinpoint, but “Whispering Hope – soft as the voice of an angel” and “When they ring those golden bells for you and me would be found amongst the ones she loved best.   Although Dorothy was unable to attend church because of illness you could still hear her singing and giving praise to her Lord Jesus Christ, you could hear her still thanking God for saving her life from sin and for the many blessings he bestowed on her.   On Sunday 07 December 2003 Dorothy did peacefully steal away to be with the Lord and Savior whom she had faithfully loved and served. Today, we pay Tribute and Salute the Life and Work of Ms Dorothy Victoria Tudor also know as Dorothy Samuel who is still known with affection as “Auntie Doris”.       ********************   At 7:00 p.m. on the said night the Black History celebrations continued with a program dubbed Down Memory Lane.   This event, under the chairmanship of Sis Christine Smith, commenced with the singing of Choruses and Refrains which were the popular songs in years gone by. These could very well be termed as the “oldie goldies”.  The voices blended as the songs were sung lustily and indeed the audience was high spirited as Bro. Everet Dore, Bro. Damion Hobson and Sis Carol Phillip-Tudor demonstrated their skills and moved their fingers briskly on the Guitars and our female drummer Sis Kathlyn Hobson ably pounding the complementary rhythms from the Drum Set to accompany the lively singing.   Following the singing the floor was opened for persons to reminisce on events from long ago. This was indeed an exciting moment in time, it was educational, nostalgic, revealing and from all quarters it was just awesome.    The day’s activity ended with the serving of the familiar bun and cheese, bush tea, mauby and ginger-beer.  It was an enjoyable and gratifying day which will be another historic occasion in the life of the Conaree Wesleyan Holiness Church.     A CHANGE IN PASTOR   The Annual District Conference of the Wesleyan Holiness Church (St. Kitts District) was convened on February 28 and March 1, 2009. At this Conference the leadership of the Conaree Wesleyan Holiness Church was again changed.  The present Pastor – Rev. Mrs. Sonia Herbert was appointed as Associate Pastor of the Basseterre Wesleyan Holiness Church and Pastor Louise Thomas will replace her as Pastor of the Conaree Wesleyan Holiness Church.  Farewell was said to Rev. Herbert on Sunday 22nd March and Pastor Thomas was installed on Sunday 5th April, 2009.                                                                         - 5 -   SUNDAY SCHOOL   The Sunday School has been very active during the month of March with a Sunday School Focus to revitalize the Sunday School, increase membership and general upgrade of the Department.  The Annual March to Sunday School in March was held on Sunday 15th March and the music was provided by the Seventh-day Adventist Path Finders Band. The marchers gathered at the Louisa Grant Pre-school then marched through the village of Conaree and climaxed at the church.   A number of informative posters were mounted at strategic locations in the church in support of the March focus on the Sunday School.       YOUTH ACTIVITIES   The Conaree Wesleyan Youths were in high sprits during their Annual Week of Activities Sunday 29th March to Friday 3rd April, 2009.  The events included:   ·         Monday 30th March     -      Lecture/Discussion on Health Related issues ·         Wednesday 1st April    -      Appreciation Service for 11 Past Presidents ·         Friday 3rd April            -      Competition – Tiphara vs Tehillah   In a cordial atmosphere the youths were engaged in a very timely and informative discussion by Dr. Andrew Holness a resident Family Physician.  Various health matters were discussed.  The audience was fully involved and interacted in the period of questions and answers.    The Appreciation Service for 11 Past Presidents of the Youth Department of the Conaree Wesleyan Church was held on 1st April, 2009.    A delightful programme was held to honour these persons for their faithful and dedicated service to the youths and the church on a whole.  Each honoree was requested to briefly reflect on any special moment while serving as youth president. This was very interesting and in most instances it created much laughter.  The Master of Ceremonies was Pastor Loughlin Tatem and the gifts were presented by Church Secretary Ms. Vernice Hendrickson.     The Past Presidents were – Desmond Hobson and James Browne who are now Pastors of the Wesleyan Holiness Church, Carol Phillip-Tudor, Lionel Phillip-Tudor, Everet Dore, Franklyn Hobson, Sandra Huggins, David Hobson, Dwayne Samuel, Latoya Liburd-Hanley and Paulette Phillip.   - 6 -   The final event of the Youth Week of Activities was the COMPETITION held on Friday 3rd April, 2009.  This was the climax of several weeks of steadfast preparation by the two groups which were competing.   The membership of the Youth Department was divided into two groups namely: Tiphara and Tehillah.   Both groups worked hard and devoted their time, expertise, commitment, talent and support to the whole event.  They competed in fund-raising, solo, group song, poetry and drama.  The Tehillah group emerged as winners.  The young people must be complimented for their effort and the team spirit which they exhibited throughout the period leading to the grand finale and their overall interest in the entire week of activities.   We salute the Youth President Mrs. Glendora Dore for her dedicated and hard work and for efforts in keeping the members of the youth department focused in these critical times.   ANNUAL CHURCH REVIVAL   The Annual Revival Services commenced on Sunday 26th April and will continue to Friday 1st May, 2009 at the Conaree Wesleyan Holiness Church.    The first service of the Revival Services coincided with Friends Sunday and indeed was a grand way to commence these services.  The church was tightly packed as additional seating had to be placed in the aisles.  The service was called to worship by Pastor Louise Thomas who invited the congregation to join in the singing of the refrain Make me Whole followed by the invocation.  The Praise and Worship Team Leader, Sis. G. Dore then led the congregation in a period of praise and worship where everyone joined in the singing of lively choruses which created the appropriate mode for worship. The Worship Leader, Sis. Cristine Smith conducted the spirit-filled service.  The Scripture Lesson was read by Blestina Charles and Special Rendition entitled He lives within my Heart was delivered by the Ladies Chorale.   The Guest Evangelist for the Revival Services Pastor Anthony Huggins delivered a most befitting sermon on the theme I am a Friend of God with a background scripture found in St. John 15: 1-17.  The Sermon was well presented and Pastor Huggins’ dynamism captured the attention of the entire congregation.  In closing he led the congregation in the singing of the hymn of consecration The Lily of the Valley.   The other nights’ services were just as rewarding and were well attended.  We thank God for His many blessings and a wonderful revival.  Indeed His presence was evident.   THE WOMEN 22nd ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS   The Conaree Wesleyan Women dubbed as the Women of Courage celebrated their 22nd Anniversary during the week of 17th May, 2009.  The celebratory activities included (1) A Rally, (2) Lecture Discussion (3) Variety Concert and (4) A visit to the Cardin Home Infirmary.   The first event the Rally which was held on Sunday 17th May and commenced at 3:45 p.m. The Guest Speaker was Dr. Thelma Phillip-Browne who shone the light on the various problems which exist in our country and the role in which women and especially Christian women needed to be more active, vigilant and concerned as our neighbors are neglected. Having defined the biblical meaning of “your neighbor” The congregation remained spell-bound as this most powerful and timely address was delivered.      The featured address set the tone for the Rally as it progressed and the Holy Spirit showered His Anointing and Blessings on the entire event. There was a packed church with a representation of women groups from various churches across the island.  Each group rendered an item in song, poetry or scripture.  Everyone left in high spirits and were indeed motivated to reach out to their neighbors.   Refreshments were served at the end of the Rally.                     ·         The Lecture Discussion was given by Dr. Caroline Lawrence a resident Cardiologist and Internist. She spoke on chronic diseases, Hypertension, Diabetes, Heart Diseases, Cholesterol and Breast Cancer.  It was a very informative presentation and the audience made full use of the presence of the doctor and was involved in a lively question and answer period.   ·         The visit to the Cardin Home Infirmary was heart warming as the inmates welcomed and participated in the service which the group conducted.  The inmates also requested s\certain songs to be sung and joined in the singing of these songs. This was rewarding.   Congratulations to the Wesleyan Women International (Women of Courage) on the attainment of their 22nd Anniversary and may God continue to bless them as they serve in this present age.