It was a high sabbath at Blessed hope SDA church, Dartford on 16th September 2023. Residents of two care homes: Groveland park, Bexleyheath, West hill, Dartford, and the Mayor of Dartford, Rosanna Curran came for Sabbath worship. Usually, brethren from Blessed hope church visit these care homes fortnightly to worship through singing, storytelling and prayers. However, it was a delightful change to host the church’s senior friends at Priory Hill.
The Mayor, 10 residents, one family member and four members of staff from the two care homes enjoyed the special service. The heartwarming congregational singing was led by brother Chike Chike-Michael and beautifully accompanied on the piano by brother Bolu Dada. Starting with ‘Amazing grace’, peace and serenity flowed with ‘Holy Holy Holy’, joy was shed abroad hearts with ‘Tis love that makes us happy’, appreciation, love and prayer to God with ‘Praise the Lord His glory shows’ and ‘My Faith looks up to thee’. Other happy choruses like ‘O when the saints and ‘Swing low’ made one of the residents and his two carers dance with joy.
Children dressed in full adventurer uniform sang two songs (Joy is the Flag and Jesus loves me this I know) ever so joyfully. A poem written by Ayomide Ajibola was read with themes of prayer for strength, hope, love, forgiveness, gratitude, blessings, healing and courage. Pastor Ayodeji Adesina welcomed everyone warmly and in a short sermonette told an inspiring story about a mother’s tenacious love which he likened to God’s unconditional love for all.
To conclude the service, the Mayor addressed the church, thanking all for the beautiful singing and reminded all tha "we are here because of Jesus Christ".
