By Kisean Joseph
The Wesleyan Holiness Church District transformed the streets of St John’s into a living Nativity scene on Saturday, with a grand Christmas Caroling Rally that brought the spiritual essence of Christmas to the country.
The event, spearheaded by District Sunday School Secretary Reverend Josanna Lockhart-Brown, reminded people of the true meaning of Christmas amid the season’s commercial festivities.
“We wanted to remind people about the Nativity story – the angels, the star the wise men followed, and the angel Gabriel that visited Mary,” said Lockhart-Brown. “We’re getting back to our roots, our basic knowledge that this is a wonderful season of remembering the great love that God demonstrated to us by sending Jesus as a humble baby.”
The rally featured participants from 17 churches, each portraying different aspects of the Nativity story. Church members took on roles as shepherds, angels, Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus. Even the more somber elements of the story were represented, with one church group portraying King Herod and his soldiers.
Beginning at 3pm at the Multipurpose Cultural Center, the procession moved through Market Street and eventually onto Bishopgate Street, with musical accompaniment along the way.
“We had a drum set, guitar, keyboard; everything was there,” said Lockhart-Brown. “The whole crowd sang along.”
The event revived the tradition of Christmas caroling while adding a modern twist. Beyond the music and costumes, the rally included prayer intercessors in the crowd and the distribution of religious tracts. Each character in the nativity story carried placards with messages, creating a walking theatrical experience.
“We love God, and we wanted to share Him with everyone,” Lockhart-Brown emphasized. “We wanted to point people to Christ. That’s the main foundation of vision.”
The rally concluded at St John’s Wesleyan Holiness Church with a brief program and refreshments. While organized by the Wesleyan Holiness Church, the event welcomed participation from all denominations and the general public.
The organizers secured police escorts for the procession, which helped manage the busy Saturday traffic on Market Street. The event concluded as planned by 6:30 pm, offering what Reverend Lockhart-Brown described as “good time spent, good time for the family.”
Transportation was provided for elderly participants who wished to join the procession, while others enjoyed watching from the sidelines as the Nativity story unfolded through the streets of St John’s.
