NEW YORK – The scriptures teach that “in everything, give thanks to God,” and on Sunday, June 11, 2006, Caribbean-Americans and believers from all walks of life will do just that when the first “Caribbean Gospelfest,” part and parcel of Caribbean Week activities in New York, comes to Brooklyn for a pan-Caribbean gathering of music ministries.
The Caribbean-American community in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and beyond will feel the music in the air at Hanson Place United Methodist Church (144 St. Felix Street) from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at a concert that features the finest in gospel talent, from Grenada to Guyana.
“The Caribbean is a spiritual community. We don’t leave our faith behind when we leave the countries of our parents’ birth,” says Hugh Riley, the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) director of marketing for the Americas. “We don’t lose our faith when we come to the United States, we don’t lose our faith when we become immigrants. In fact, not only do we take it with us, we depend upon it, we rely upon it and we thrive by it to guide us in all things,” said Riley, who underscored that “faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.”
But notwithstanding this solid depiction of the role of faith in Caribbean life, Riley says he will leave the ministry of the word to the Reverend Catherine Williams of Trinidad and Tobago who, along with the musicians, will deliver an inspirational message on the faith walk of Christian believers and Caribbean people at home and abroad.
The three-hour concert will feature long-time favorites and contemporary artistes from the Caribbean, including Wendy Mitchell and Wayne Johnson of Trinidad and Tobago; Hopeton Lewis and Joan Myers of Jamaica; The Bahamas Praise Team from Nassau, Bahamas; Joseph Niles of Barbados; Guyana’s Cora Williamson; Harrella Goodwin of St. Croix, USVI; Grenada’s Janice Charles; Miriam Drakes of St. Lucia; and the New Life Ambassadors of St. Vincent & the Grenadines. A number of talented young performers will open Caribbean Gospelfest, giving the audiences a peek into future of Caribbean music ministry.
The contribution for Caribbean Gospelfest is US $15 in advance via www.caribbeanweekny.com or $20 at the door. The music is boundless but space is limited, so book early.
Events scheduled June 10 to 17, 2006 as part of Caribbean Week in New York include:
June 10, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Celebrity Invitational Cricket Match at Idlewild Park, Queens
June 10, 8:30 p.m. – The OECS Music Legends Concert & Cocktail Reception at Tribeca Performing Arts Center
June 11, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – Caribbean Gospelfest at Hanson Place United Methodist Church, Brooklyn
June 12 to 16 – Caribbean Celebrity Chefs (various locations)
June 12, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. – Town Hall Meetings at Medgar Evers College, Brooklyn and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Bronx
June 13, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Caribbean Fair and Vacation Mart at South Street Seaport Piers 16 & 17, NYC
June 13, 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. – Do It Caribbean Weddings held at Caribbean Fair
June 14, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon – Caribbean Marketing Workshop and Industry Leaders Panel at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel
June 14, 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. – Awards Luncheon at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel
June 14, 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – Media Marketplace at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel
June 16, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 pm – CTO Press Conference at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel
June 16, 7:00 p.m. to midnight – 33rd Annual Governments of the Caribbean State Ball at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, NYC
