Memorial to M.L. King Jr. is true community event

By Linda m. Linonis

People from many faiths joined together for the observance.

YOUNGSTOWN —Representatives of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths joined in a community worship service in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Sunday afternoon at Price Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.

The Rev. Kenneth L. Simon, pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church, was worship leader. The church choir and King’s Dominion of Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church sang.

The Rev. Rosalyne Mitchell-Martin, pastor of Price Memorial, welcomed those in attendance. “I hope you feel the warmth in this building,” she said. “We’re here to salute the man whom God chose to lead the country,” the pastor said of the civil rights activist.

“As we remember his legacy, we’re embarking on a new era with a new president,” she said. “We all wish to be a help in his presidency.”

Offering readings were by Sen. Joe Schiavoni of the 33rd District, who presented a passage from the New Testament; and Ra’Shawd E. Davis, president and chief executive officer of Network of Community Educators, a passage from The Koran.

The Rev. Lewis T. Macklin, pastor of Holy Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, and Rabbi Joel Berman, co-conveners of the Martin Luther King Planning Committee of Mahoning County, also spoke.

The Rev. Mr. Macklin said the event served as a “community raiser and fundraiser.” Participants gave monetary donations and nonperishable items to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank.

“There are many names for God,” said Rabbi Berman, and he listed Lord, Jesus, Allah, Jehovah among them. “Our Father who art in heaven is the grantor of wisdom and grantor of peace,” Rabbi Berman said.

“If we take on any of these attributes and see a spark of the divine in each other, maybe it will lead to peace,” Rabbi Berman said.

Bonnie Deutsch Burdman, director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, said, “Martin Luther King was famous for using Scripture.”

She pointed out that this week — the observance of MLK Day and the historic inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama — coincides with a Jewish tradition and the Hebrew month in which the story of the Exodus is prominent. Burdman said there is a passage about Moses telling his people to make certain to pay workers because they need the funds to survive. She likened that to Martin Luther King’s promotion of a strong social system that “helps the poor and vulnerable.”

She quoted Rabbi Hillel, a famous Jewish religious leader and scholar. The quote epitomizes the idea and importance of community service: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when?”