Features

Joshua's first blessings

By GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

Little Joshua Mullings being held by his mother Talia Mullings, as Rev. Kenneth Thaxter prepares to have him baptised. - George Henry

SPALDINGS, CLARENDON:

MORE THAN 70 specially invited guest turned up at the St. Paul's Anglican Church in Spaldings, Clarendon on August 21, to witness the christening ceremony for six-month-old Joshua Lawson Mullings, son of Richard and Talia Mullings, business operators in Manchester.

Dressed in a white suit, shoes and hood to signify purity, the little lad watched with curiosity as Rev. Dr. Kenneth Thaxter, who presided over the ceremony, prayed, read lessons and explained what the ceremony signified.

The ceremony, which lasted about 50 minutes, included a repeat of Psalm 23 by the audience as the Old Testament lesson, while the New Testament lesson, which was read by Rev. Thaxter, was taken from the book of Mark, Chapter 1.

This was followed by another prayer by Rev. Thaxter before he explained that whenever a child is baptized he or she becomes a part of the church in a special way. He pointed out that after baptism or christening the child is brought back for confirmation to be an even stronger part of the church in an even more special way.

Role of Godparents

The Reverend also noted that the Godparents have a responsibility to perform alongside the parents, to ensure that all is well with him or her, especially with their spiritual needs.

The Godfathers for Joshua are: Christopher and Nohaud Azan; Godmother is Celene Ebanks; Grandmother is Audrey Mullings and Grandfather is Winston Mullings.

The christening of little Joshua, born February 10, was the first at the church since the beginning of this year.