But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. – 1 Thessalonians 5: 4 and 5
As I write I can feel the pain and frustration of Michael Pile of Brighton Plantation, St George as thieves continue to steal his crops.
It was reported in the last SUNDAY SUN that thieves took about 45 rods of sweet potatoes, about 450 running feet – worth more than $2 000.
It is very hard for any farmer, after putting a lot of hard work and spending plenty of cash in order to produce his or her crops, for someone to steal them.
We must remember that farmers are business people like everyone else. They have bills to pay like all business people. They also have bank loans to repay. I am convinced that more than one person was involved in stealing that amount of potatoes.
I also suspect that the sheer volume of produce being taken away means there is someone big in this country behind it.
It really hurt Pile who said: “they came in here and maul the sweet potatoes. Something like this only discourages you from planting, but I can’t say I will stop, farming is in my blood.”
What are we going to do? Pile said he had spent more than $10 000 hiring people to watch over his fields from dusk till dawn for the past two months. That is a lot of money to be spending and not getting positive results.
Stealing is wrong; we must practise what we are taught by the Bible through the eighth commandment: “Thou shall not steal.”
New appointment
The Reverend Joseph King has been appointed priest-in-charge of St Cyprian’s Anglican Church. I wish Father King God’s richest blessing as he assumed responsibility for the parish from January 1.
Week of prayer
The Barbados Christian Council (BXC) will be holding a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity over the next week. The focus is on Micah 6:8: “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.”
The programme:
Today: 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Prayer Meeting – Bethel Methodist Church; 12 noon Prayer Meeting – Calvary Moravian Church
Sunday: Prayers of Intercession – BXC member churches
Tuesday: 10 a.m. Day of Reflection – Mount Tabor Moravian Church – Rev Vera Waithe, preacher
Wednesday: 7:30 p.m. Mid-week service – Christ the King Anglican Church – Rev Roslyn Harper-Johnson, preacher
Saturday, January 26: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Youth Symposium – Bethel Auditorium Concert
The St Saviour’s Anglican Church in St Andrew will be holding a concert on Sunday at 4 p.m. at the church.
An epiphany of carol
An Epiphany of Carol Service will be held at The St Michael’s Cathedral on Sunday at 6 p.m. led by The St Michael’s Cathedral Choir with organist and choirmaster John Bryan. Admission is free.
Line dances
The Ushers Guild of St Silas Anglican Church invites you to their line dances tomorrow from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the Frederick Smith Secondary School Hall (formerly St James Secondary School), Trents, St James.
50th anniversary
The 4H Movement in Barbados will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. Activities begin with a church service at the St Thomas Parish Church on Sunday at 9:15 a.m.
Anniversary service
The St Joseph’s Parish Church branch of the Church Army will be holding its anniversary service on Monday at 10 a.m. The service will take the form of procession and sung eucharist. The public is invited.
Strictly Bajan
The Carrington Wesleyan Holiness Church presents Strictly Bajan on Monday, at the George Lamming Primary School, Flint Hall, St Michael from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Death
It is with great regret that we learnt of the death on Tuesday of Whitfield Forde. He was member of the Christ Church Parish Church and will be buried next Tuesday after a funeral service at the church.
This column expresses its deepest sympathy to his widow, Enetha Forde, grandson Fr Ryan Forde and all family members. May he rest in Christ and rise in glory.
