Home Going and Thanksgiving Service

for

 Serno Augustin

Born : 8th December 1989

Died : 28th November 2006

16 years old

St. Monica's Anglican Church

Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands

Satrurday, 10th February, 2007 at 10 a.m.

and afterwards at the

Bight Cemetery

Officiating : Fr. Scott Brennen

Organist : Lettice Malcolm

Directing : Corey's Funeral Chapel Ltd.

Order of Service

RECEPTION OF THE BODY ………………………………………… The Congregation Stands

Officiant: The Lord be with you

Officiant: Let us pray:

OPENING SENTENCES Father Scott Brennen

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection, and I am the life; he who believes in me, even though he were dead, yet shall he live, and who ever lives and believes in me shall never die." John 11:25-35

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His compassion never fails: every morning they are renewed. Lamentations 3:22-23

Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe in me." John 14:1

I am sure that neither death nor life, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus Our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. Romans 14:8-9

We brought nothing into the world, and we take nothing out. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away: Blessed be the name of the Lord. Job 1:21

The eternal God is our refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Deuteronomy 33:27

INTROIT HYMN ……………………….................... .."Immortal Invisible God Only Wise"

FIRST LESSON Romans 14:7-9 Almartha Thomas (Trustee)

None of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die or the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. For this is why Christ died and came to life, that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.

This is the Word of the Lord.

R: Thanks be to God.

AS I KNEW HIM Fred McGoverin (Teacher)

Claudette MunroClare (Teacher)

"UNFORGOTTEN" Daniel Turner

Obituary

of

Serno Augustin

1989 - 2006

Serno did not really remember his father, and was told that he had died when he was young. Then when he was 10 or 11 Serno's mother became seriously ill and also died, leaving Serno to survive on his own.

Serno was helped by friends of his late mother and eventually was brought to Providenciales when he was about 12 by George Parker who assisted him in finding various jobs.

He showed an aptitude for electrical work and worked for Tony "Africa", and for Charley both electrical contractors. He should have been in school but unfortunately children who had no status at that time were being denied education at Government schools.

In Grand Turk, Serno had attended the North Primary School and when he came to Providenciales he saved his earnings to pay for some schooling at the School Help and Language Centre for a short time.

In May of 2005 Serno was picked up by the police for a minor offence but then held in the cell at Provo police station for seven days as no one could be found to bail him out. A jail cell is not a fit place for a child, but in the absence of a responsible adult to vouch for him, there, it seems, he would have remained.

On hearing of his plight, Patricia Duff a Social Activist, went to the police to obtain his release, Having gained his freedom, Serno immediately asked for help to attend school; a request echoed by his friends when Ms. Duff met them. He was a bright child, but lacked basic skills through a need and want of education.

Janet Huddleson, Educator, of Educational Services offered to give him some private tutoring and Ms. Duff raised money to send him to the New Age Academy in July 2005 where he tried hard to improve himself.

The Department of Social Development insisted it was difficult to place a teenager in a home and were unable to find anyone to foster him. He was living at the far end of Wheeland with Flossie Parker who provided basic shelter. Sadly she also died and, at the age of 15, once again Serno was left alone to attend to his clothes, most of his meals and his transportation by himself.

The Social Services Department were requested to pay the customary $50 per week allowance to assist in feeding Serno, and for his transportation, but they said that there were no funds with which to do so.

Without a home where he would have the care and attention he needed it is not surprising that he ran afoul of the police. What is pleasantly surprising is that he was highly motivated to educate and better himself.

Although he had to travel from the far end of Wheeland, Serno was very regular with his attendance at the New Age Academy. Twice a week he attended the New Beginnings Vocational School in Five Cays operated by Fred and Carol McGoverin who said he was their best pupil and had a good work ethic.

In November Serno’s application for Belongership Status was approved.

In November 2005, Serno was once more picked up by the Police on suspicion of having stolen a car. As Serno had been working as a volunteer stage-hand for the production of Cinderella at the time of the theft, it was clear he had a multi-person alibi. However, Patricia Duff was told to leave him in the police station for a couple more hours. When she collected him she discovered that he had suffered a beating with a stick at the hands of a police officer; an injustice Serno was very indignant about.

At a Court appearance in December 2006, the Magistrate questioned the officer from the Department of Social Development and she admitted that the DSD had no where to house this orphan.

In summary, the Magistrate said it was "regrettable" that Serno was to be "remanded in custody for his own protection and welfare"; that "children’s facilities were woefully lacking in this jurisdiction".

In sending him to jail in Grand Turk the Magistrate made it clear that he was doing so because there was no other place of safety where the child would receive the adult supervision he required.

Serno spent 5 months in custody during which time Patricia visited him twice taking books, jigsaw puzzles, games and other educational supplies for the schoolroom which had been established for the Juveniles in detention.

When he returned to Provo, Serno's educational skills had greatly improved, particularly his reading.

He was placed with Denise Llewelyn who provided a caring home for him in Blue Hills. Patricia helped him to find some temporary work with the Graceway Sports Centre and with Finishing Touch until Soley agreed to give him a job with Provo Electric as a trainee electrician where he was found to be an excellent worker: careful, conscientious with a good work ethic and attitude.

Serno was delighted as it had been his long time ambition to work for Soley and he had planned one day to go to college and to eventually have his own electrical business.

In August 2006 Serno enrolled in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme run by the Director of Youth, Angela Forbes. She also ensured he had a place at the Community College where he commenced a pre-college course (being only 16) in September and where his attendance had been exemplary.

At the week-end before he was killed Serno had collected his exam card and said he was ready for his end of term exams.

While in prison it seems that Serno was befriended by an older criminal who took him under his wing and became the father figure Serno so desperately craved. Once released, the man re-established this strong attachment which ultimately led Serno to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when he was shot by the police on 28th November 2006.

* * *

May he finally rest in peace and may justice be served for all including those disadvantaged in our society.

THE COLLECT FOR THE DEPARTED …………………….. The Congregation Stands

Priest: Let us pray.

"TIME TO GET ... OFF THE STREETS" New Level

GOSPEL John 6 37-39 Angela Forbes (Nat.Youth Director)

A reading from the holy gospel according to John.

Jesus said to the crowd :

"Everthing that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gives me, but that I should raise it on the last day.

This is the Gospel of the Lord

SERMON Fr. Scott Brennen

Priest: Let us with confidence and hope confess the faith into which we were baptized, as we say,

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day, he rose again. He ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

THE INTERCESSIONS Patricia Duff (Friend)

Leader: In remembering Serno's short life, help us to understand the lessons we should know.

"WE WILL REMEMBER YOU" BlaKout

THE COMMENDATION Father Scott Brennen

Priest: Give rest, O Christ, to your servant Serno with your saints.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Priest: Let us commend our brother Serno to the mercy of God our maker and Redeemer.

Priest: Alleluia, Christ is risen!

Priest: Let us go forth in the name of Christ

RECESSIONAL HYMN ………………………….…… "Guide Me O Thou Great Redeamer"

Open now the crystal fountain
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fiery cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through:
Strong deliverer,
Be thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell's Destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan's side:
Songs and praises
I will ever give to thee.

.

The King of Love My Shepherd Is

"MY HEART WILL GO ON" Phylicia Hawkins (Steel Pan)

* * * * * * *

* * * * * * *

Johnston Construction have agreed to contribute 50% of the construction of a new residential facility for disadvantaged teenagers needing a home.