On pleasant September 25, 2011 in Mount Vernon, New York, cars carefully filed into the parking facility of the First Presbyterian Church of Mount Vernon, from East Lincoln Avenue entrance on the corner of North Columbus Avenue. The parking lot filled up in a short time and the overflow took to the streets and side streets, carefully utilizing every precious inch of space so everyone could be accommodated for what was an important and historical time in the life of the Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church and the community at large.

Quietly, quickly and solemnly folks would fill the pews of the Sanctuary to witness the “Service Installation of the Hudson River Presbytery for the Rev. Betty J. Griffin”, with the Rev. Angela Maddalone as the Moderator. The Installation theme, “Here I am Lord, Send Me” was quite aptly chosen especially for the preacher/teacher that Rev. Betty J. Griffin, or Pastor Betty as she is better known to the Mount Vernon congregation, has been for the past three months.

Deacons of the Church lit the candles, indicating the commencement of the service as the guest organist, Mr. Christopher Johnson, saturated the Church from the organ loft to the balcony, with a beautiful and prayerful prelude, with enough zest for the procession of clergy to take their places. Mr. Ronald Osbourne, the Minister of Music extraordinaire, led the children in rejoicing and the Chancel Choir in rendering celebratory hymns of praise from the cantorial. The Rev. Dr. Nancy Fields of Brook Presbyterian Church in Hillburn, New York offered the Opening Prayers, followed by the “Call to Confession and the Assurance of Pardon” orated by Rev. Dr. John Miller, pastor of Hitchcock Presbyterian Church, Scarsdale, New York. The young Deacon Crystal Williams participated and brought the service to the Sharing of the Peace of Christ followed by a most resounding rendition in song of The Lord’s Prayer by Sequina Dubose, a professional singer and a member of the Chancel Choir. There was great applause.

When it quieted, the First Reading, taken from Psalm 91, was prayerfully read from the lectern by Elder Jennifer P. Lumley. The Second Reading came from Nehemiah Chapter 4:1-6 and was read by Rev. Rex Espiritu, who grew up in the First Presbyterian Church in Mount Vernon and who is now the pastor in New Castle, Indiana. Gospel reading was delivered by Elder John Bossung followed by the Ancestral Praise Dance under the leadership of Ms. Lynn Walker; music by soloist Mrs. Eve Soto.
In the presence of members of the clergy, members of the congregation, friends from the community as well as ‘out-of towners’ and politicians, Reverend Espiritu delivered a most moving sermon appropriate for ‘The Installation’. Though he started his delivery from the pulpit, he moved up and down the aisle of the church, communicating greater warmth to the listeners; touching their hearts in a unique manner. Later on, Elder Lisa D. Niven lead the congregation in the reading of “The Litany of Gifts”. Rev. Raymond ‘Ray’ Charles read the “Statement on the Ministry of the Church” and the Moderator read “The Statement of Installation” followed by “The Constitutional Questions” to Rev. Betty J. Griffin, whose responses were all in the affirmative. Elder Sandra Gumbs posed “The Constitutional Questions to the Congregation” to which there was a resounding and vehement affirmative as well.

At approximately 4:15pm the members of the clergy, Deacons and Elders of the Church came forth for the “Laying On Of Hands” for the newly installed Pastor, the Reverend Betty J. Griffin, and there she was ‘declared’ to be the Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Mount Vernon. “The Charge” to Rev. Griffin was given by Rev. David Harkness of the Irvington Presbyterian Chruch and “ The Charge to the Congregation” was done by the Rev. Dr. Moody-Shepherd of The New York Theological Seminary immediately followed by Mrs. Annette Lewis’ solo. The Doxology was offered by Rev. Marcio Pereira, a Brazilian Minister whose congregation nests on the third floor of The First Presbyterian Church of Mount Vernon. Special guest soloist, Mr. Alexandro Olmedo accompanied by pianist Ms. Michiyo Morikawa, rendered another song of praise to begin “The Sending”
The “Newly Installed”, emotional and appreciative, joy-filled and humbled, expressed her love for God, and for knowing that her work is of a Divine nature. In her stylish cream-colored outfit, the radiant, Indiana-born Pastor Betty, articulated gratitude to those who have loved and embraced her and made her installation such a wonderful occasion - Family and friends, clergy and politicians, members and well-wishers, adult and children; Mrs. Catherine Brown, the church Secretary, the PNC