One of the many traditions that I have had the privilege of being a part of at Sam Sharpe is Love Feast, which occurs one week after Lunch Sacrifice and on the day before spring break, which is also Easter break. In Jamaica holiday breaks are still called Christmas break and Easter break since ‘they are a Christian nation’!
The auditorium at Sam Sharpe serves more purposes than any room I have ever been in including large lecture hall, student workroom, chapel, lunchroom, concert hall and special event room. Today it was set up for Love Feast with the tables set up in the middle of the room in the shape of a cross, draped with lace table clothes and candles. On each side of the room were enough chairs for all of the students and lecturers.
Then the chapel committee took us through the seven stages of the cross, including readings, singing, instrumental numbers, solos by both lecturers and students, a song or two sung by the choir and of course, dance. The president of the Year One class played the role of Jesus and did an outstanding job.
After a two hour program food was brought out of the kitchen and covered the table…Jamaican Easter delicacies such as fruit bread, buns and cheese, escovitch fish and festival. Then the lecturers each took a tray of food and after distributing plates to each student, served the student body. It was moving to say the least and reminded me of Jesus washing his disciples feet, it was such an act of humility in a school where lecturers are highly revered and students don’t even sit until requested to do so by a lecturer.
It was such a blessing to be a part of Love Feast and is one of the many things I will miss about Sam Sharpe Teacher’s College.
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