Hope fills the air at JDF Carol Service
Published:Friday | December 11, 2020 | 12:11 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
A limited number of masked military men and women, dressed in their khaki uniforms and led by Lieutenant General Rocky Meade, chief of defence staff, along with other senior military members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), social-distanced inside the history-filled Garrison Church of the Ascension, Up Park Camp, on Tuesday evening for the traditional carol service.
Owing to the pandemic, the 2020 edition was not the usual lavish affair with thousands in attendance at what is seen as the prestigious JDF Open Air Carol Service. But, as the Reverend Dwane Blackwood said as he delivered the homily, “This event is so much a part of the fabric of the JDF that, despite the challenge of COVID, we thought it important to host.”
Against a backdrop of the familiar Christmas story about the birth of Jesus, with passages read from the Jamaican Patois Bible – without the usual chuckles from the audience – and carols such as Silent Night and the Negro spiritual She Rock the Baby to Sleep, the theme for this year was ‘Waiting’. Just as how 2,000 years ago people waited for the Saviour to deliver them from the oppression of the Roman Empire, many are waiting for a return to normal, Blackwood pointed out.
HOPE IN THE SEASON
He noted that even as they feel the squeeze of COVID, so much so that their cry is ‘Mi nuh see di Chrismuss’ and ‘Mi nuh feel di Chrismuss dis year’, and question why bother to celebrate the festive season in 2020, there is an answer. It is summed up in one word, ‘hope’. That hope resounded throughout the Garrison Church on Tuesday, as even the very walls seemed to echo the musical melodies of the JDF combined band and the combined choir whose fanfare and robust selections filled the nook and crannies of the sanctuary and the virtual space through live-streaming.
A lively selection of carols for the season, including favourites Ding Dong Merrily on High and Christmas Day in the Morning, arranged by E Park, followed the Hebrews 1:1-12 reading by Governor General Sir Patrick Allen. The band also uplifted spirits in their postlude titled A Jazzy Christmas, arranged by J. Vinson. Jazzy it definitely was.
The combined choir’s rendition of Joy to the World was no less spectacular, although all the choristers had their faces covered with visors, a stark reminder that this is indeed the era of the pandemic.
As usual, audience participation was turned all the way up with the programme requiring those in attendance to stand and sit nine times throughout the service, singing songs such as O Come All Ye Faithful, Rejoice, Rejoice Believers, Hark! A thrilling Voice is Sounding and, of course, the Ernie Smith-penned favourite, All For Jesus.
This year, the usual much-anticipated candle-lighting part of the service was replaced by a single, light-studded star, which shone as bright as hope itself, when the church was plunged into darkness at the flick of a switch.
Kudos to music director, Lt R. Salazar, and the Palmer family, Karissa, Caniggia and Vanderleer, organist, pianist and saxophonist, respectively. And not to be forgotten was the organist/conductor whose spirited moves signalled that this is indeed the “most wonderful time of year”.