The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

Sunday was a splendid occasion in Long Island for Anglicans who attended St Andrew’s in Whymms for the church’s Fifth Sunday Family Eucharistic celebration to shed light on Bahamian school teachers.

Father Chester Burton, Rector of the Anglican Churches in Long Island, said the service was well attended with members and teachers that travelled from different islands. Ms Annafaye Knowles and Lillian Culmer Miller were amongst the many church goers that supported, said Father Burton.

“Lillian Culmer Miller is the new District Educational Officer in charge of the Long Island District and succeeded Basil McHardy who recently retired from the Public Service. Annafaye Knowles is no stranger to the Anglican Liturgics and Worship Service because she is an Anglican from birth ‘born and bred’ in St Agnes Anglican Church Baillou Hill Road,” said Father Burton.

Father Burton said Ms Knowles is a veteran educator who resides on Crooked Island. He said she visited him on several occasions, when he served as Priest in Charge of the Anglican Churches in Cat Island.

In his sermon to a packed church, worshipers took the text from the second lesson from the Book of Revelation 12:7. “War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon.” 
“The readings are appropriate for the Feast Day of the St Michael and all angels. The main theme and focus of the celebration was the importance and value of angels in the Bible tradition and the present world that we now inhabit,” said Father Burton.

He told his parishioners that the word angel comes from a Greek word “angelos”, meaning messenger. Father Burton also reminded them that there are only three angels’ names recorded in the Bible, but there are many more angels mentioned in the Bible that are unnamed.

“Michael is considered the chief angel and mentioned twice in Daniel and principally in the book of the Revelations. Michael is referred to as an archangel in Jude 1 vs 9. Secondly, Gabriel was mentioned in Daniel twice and then at the Annunciation of Mary in the gospel of Luke. And finally Raphael is recorded in the apocryphal book of Tobias chapter 12 vs 15,” said Father Burton.

He told the congregation that teachers are like Michael in the first line of the second lesson, fighting against the dragon. He said everyday teachers are faced with battles that can only be conquered by education.

“Many youngsters would be left bereft of a job or an opportunity for them to obtain a tertiary educational degree if it was not for the teachers in the public and private school sector, enlightening and edifying the mind of many young pupils in the Commonwealth of the Bahamas,” said Father Burton.

He said many community leaders and business owners in Long Island are impressed with the outstanding academic results received on national examinations, and are thankful for the sacrifices made by many in the teaching profession ensuring that their children get the best the Bahamian government has to offer in terms of education.

“This is not an easy task but a somewhat herculean one that requires a tripartite approach between, teacher, parent and student,” he said. Father Burton told the teachers in the audience to keep up the good work and reminded them that those who put their trust in God will not be confounded. He also encouraged his membership to pray for more young people to seek the teaching profession as a viable option of employment and vocation.

Soon after, Father Burton said he called on the cadre of teachers to introduce themselves to the congregation.

“Mrs Annafaye Knowles drove to all schools on the island to meet teachers to hear their concerns and see them in their natural environment. A meeting was held on Monday afternoon at the North Long Island High School so that she could speak with the various teachers from throughout the district,” said Father Burton.