VEN. ONOVO CELEBRATES ACM SUNDAY IN STYLE, VISITS CHURCHES ACROSS NIGER WEST

VEN. ONOVO CELEBRATES ACM SUNDAY IN STYLE, VISITS CHURCHES ACROSS NIGER WEST

As the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion celebrated ACM Sunday today, 30/05/21, Ven. Onovo, ACM Chaplain, Niger West Diocese, in the company of Bro. Mike Chukwuma, ACM Diocesan President, visited some churches in the diocese to have first hand experience of the event.

The Ven. and his entourage were warmly received by the Vicars of the churches visited.

In Immanuel Church Umueri, Ven. Theophilus Edo, warmly received the August visitors. They were graciously received at Holy Trinity Igboezulu by Ven. I. C. Obalum. At St. Peter Aguleri and Divine Love church, Ven. Akachukwu and Rev Canon Osita Ezechi made them welcome.

The Ven. as well dispatched Br. Kenneth Obinwa, ACM Vice President to churches across Nando to celebrate with the children. The churches visited include: St. Jude Nando, St. Michael Ikem Nando, and St. Paul Isi-Inyi Nando.

The celebration was exceedingly colourful at St. Michael and All Angels Ivite Aguleri, where the children were not only allowed to lead in the liturgy of the day but also displayed their interesting dramas and enticing dances. 

The guest preacher at St. Michael Engr. E. A. Stressed the importance of parental blessings. She called on parents to be in the habit of blessing their children rather than coursing them as most parents do these days. In the same vain, she asked the children to obey their parents as this is the fastest way of attracting God's blessings.  Children should also honour those placed in authority over them. In her word: "honour your bishops and your governors so that you can inherit their blessings.

Engr. A. E. specifically emphasized that children should not look down on themselves, irrespective of their background as God has the power to turn their situations around. Using Bishop Ekwe as an example, the preacher said his Lordship lost his mother as a baby and was orphaned at a very young age. In spite of these challenges, God still lifted the Bishop up and has taken him to the pinnacles of his callings: he was not just a high ranking army officer, a scholar but also a bishop. Encouraging the children to trust in God and remain focused, Mrs, A. E. summed her sermon by saying that what God cannot do doesn't exist.

The climax of the feast at St. Michael was the sumptuous meal and drinks the children were treated to at the end of the Divine Service.

The Ven. own his own, was particularly impressed and overjoyed with the level of preparedness he saw among the children in the churches he visited.

He commended the Vicars of these churches, especially, the Vicars of Immanuel Church Umueri, Holy Trinity Igboezunu, St. Jude Nando, St. Michael Ikem, St. Paul  Isi-Inyi Nando and Divine love Aguleri, for allowing the children to play led-roles in this year's ACM celebration.

He also expressed his thanks, appreciation and unreserved loyalty to the Diocesan, Rt. Rev'd Johnson Ekwe and Mama Niger West, Mrs Ngozika Ijeoma Ekwe for the opportunity given him to serve as ACM chaplain . He said this role has increased the wealth of his pastoral zeal and experiences.