Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Dedication of the New Croix des Mission Methodist Church in Port au Prince, Haiti, February 16, 2014

At the old Croix des Mission Church...












we receive blue and yellow ribbons to wear for this festive occasion.  Joe Perrigo from our New Hampshire church looks proud to be a part of this celebration.










We join the congregation for a dusty walk of a few blocks to the new church.










Banners welcomed the congregation to the neighborhood.
                                             
                                   

Families joined us as we passed their homes.  The crowd grew.

And then we saw the new building!  It was an inspiring sight.
The church was decked out with plants, flowers, and ribbons.  The people were in their Sunday best.

On the portico are two bricks from Court Street United Methodist Church of Flint, Michigan. Symbolically, these 125 year old bricks are laid at the threshhold of the sanctuary.  The people of Court Street Church bought the land for this new Croix des Mission Church in 2005 and continued to support the building each year until it was completed.
The Reverend Gesner Paul, President of the Haitian Methodist Organization, cut the ribbon as Bob Parker watched.









The crowd processed into the new sanctuary.  More than 400 people found seats or stood in the aisles.









The celebration included some liturgical movement by young girls of the congregation.








The Reverend Marco Depeste, District Superintendent of Port au Prince Circuit, said a few words from the new pulpit.  The cross in front is from the Inglewood United Methodist Church in Florida.
Five choirs sang including the Youth Choir of Croix des Missions.
Bob Parker received a plaque from the congregation
saying:
                     Honor and Merit
                              go to
                      Mr. Bob Parker
               for his generous contribution
                     of the new temple
       "Methodist Church of Croix des Missions"
The children of Croix des Missions church sounded wonderful.
Communion was offered to all.









After the celebratory service was over, the ladies of Croix des Missions Church offered beverages and food to the crowd.









This plaque is on the wall of the sanctuary, thanking Court Street United Methodist Church of Flint, Michigan, Lebanon United Methodist Church of New Hampshire, and Brother Robert Parker.

        16 Fevrier 2014