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Homesick for
Heaven
 Alumni
Day 2002 for the Central Florida Chapter was
held on Sabbath, August 3, at the Miriam
Kittrell Gymnatorium at Forest Lake Education
Center, FLEC. More than 350 alumni and friends
from New York, California, Atlanta, Arizona, Massachusetts,
Maryland, South and Central Florida attended.
It was a day filled
with energy, inspiration, nostalgia and reflection. The value of Christian
education was highlighted as we reflected on
the impact that Northern Caribbean
University,
West Indies College and West Indian Training
College had made on our lives.
The theme for the day was "Homesick for
Heaven". That theme was
established in our Sabbath
School, led by
Charles "Obie" and Patricia
Burke. Later, our Divine Service guest
speaker, Pastor Don
Edwards, challenged us to
not let anything stand between us and getting
to Heaven.
We enjoyed
beautiful music all day. Claudia Clayton
and Divine
Praise inspired us during Sabbath
School. During Divine Service, we
enjoyed the talents of Mr. Michael Andrews on
piano, the Alumni Voices led by guest
conductor Barry Edwards, and Sam and E.J
Johnson on saxophone. The Heralds
closed the service singing Homesick for
Heaven.
A delicious
lunch was served to more than 300 persons.
Mrs. Marion Davis, Vice-President for Social
and Cultural affairs, along with her team,
worked very hard to make everyone comfortable.
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I'm
homesick for Heaven
Seems I cannot wait
Yearning to enter
Zion's Pearly Gates
Where never a heartache,
Never a care,
I long for my home over there
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Later that evening, the Heralds,
accompanied by Donnie Douce on piano,
gave a reunion concert in front of a packed
auditorium. There were smiles
everywhere as people sang along to familiar
tunes. Special guest artists Sam and
E.J. Johnson aroused the crowd with their
saxophone playing.
 During the
intermission, a tribute was offered to Everard and Dawn
Daley for their long-standing service to the
Central Florida Chapter. They have
served as officers of the chapter in various
capacities for the past fifteen years.
Everard was Chapter President for two years,
1993 - 1994 and currently serves as
Vice-President for Finance & Treasury.
A booth
featuring pictures and promotional information
for NCU and the Central Florida Chapter was on
display. Three Powerpoint presentations
ran simultaneously. Books written by NCU
alumni authors were also on display.
Immediately
following the concert, we had Vespers.
Jerome Higgins led Song Service then Pastor
O.E. Gordon gave us some Vesper thoughts.
After sundown,
we had an old-fashioned Grand March led by Don
Edwards and Oz Rugless. Following the
march, Dr. Lew Mullings and friends
entertained us with comedy.
Then it was
time to go. It had been a full
day. We were all tired but happy.
It was like being back on the hilltop, if just
for a day.
Let's plan to do this again.
See you next
year, God willing...
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