A community of generations unite to reflect on King’s mission.
On Sunday afternoon, over 100 community members filled the pews of the Mount Tabor United Methodist Church for its ninth annual service, celebrating the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
The service took place on the Sunday before Martin Luther King Jr. Day, avoiding overlap with the inauguration of President Donald Trump.
“We thought a lot of people might be involved in that or tuned into that, so we didn’t want to conflict with it,” said Eva Wu, chair of Mount Tabor’s “Church for All People” committee. “But in general, we want to make sure people think about Dr. King in a way that’s not just a day off school or work.”
King visited Winston-Salem multiple times in the 1960s to help expand the Civil Rights Movement. In 1962, his first visit to the area, delivered a speech at Wake Forest University in 1962—a few months after the university had admitted its first Black student that year.
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Mount Tabor’s theme this year was “Witness for Justice.” Deborah Daniels, artistic director of the Voices of God’s Children choir, said the word witness was intentional as it challenges Christians to be a witness for Christ, and “love thy neighbor as you would love yourself.” The service blended music, scripture, and spoken performances that highlighted the enduring impact of King’s message of fighting for civil rights. Daniels said the theme also resonates deeply with the church’s mission.
“Dr. King’s work and legacy was in the pursuit of justice,” Daniels said. “It is in the fabric of the experience for African Americans and other people of color in America to seek equality, defeat segregation and advocate for civil rights.”
A multigenerational celebration
The service also featured performances by the Joy Singers of the Yadkin Valley District, Voices of God’s Children, and the Mount Tabor Chancel Choir.
Lauren Harris, director of traditional worship arts at the church, said the choir’s rendition of the anthem “Witness,” “Siyahamba,” (“We Are Marching in the Light of God”), and “Come to Jesus” were meant to become “earworms” for the congregation.
“We hope people will be singing these anthems in their heads as they leave the church and in the following weeks,” Harris said. “Because that will mean they are continuing to reflect on these overlapping themes of being witnesses for Christ and justice as we walk in the light of God on a day-to-day basis.”
With the theme of inclusivity in mind, this year the service expanded its range to include showcased contributions from the church’s youth and children. The TaborKids performed “Sing About Martin” selection, while the Mount Tabor Fusion presented a Reader’s Theatre performance intertwining King’s teachings with the parable of the Good Samaritan from the Gospel of Luke.
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Seventh-grader Levi Fulcher, who performed in the production, said the passage held personal significance to him as it features one of his favorite stories of Jesus.
“The importance of having youth and young people in services like today’s is to recognize that the work has been laid down for us, but it is not completed. It is still our duty and call to continue this mission,” Director of Student Ministries at Mount Tabor, Will “Willy B” Busch said. “It’s also important to remember that the work of Dr. King, and others before him, has been a shared effort across generations, from our grandparents to our parents, and it’s now up to us to carry that torch forward.”
A call to reflection
Since 2016, Wu said with the services each year, the goal is to get it bigger and better, and become more a community event versus just an event that they’d have at their church. At last year’s service, over 300 people filled the church.
One of those 300 was Al Ray, who attended this year again as a choir member in the Mount Tabor Chancel Choir.
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“After last year, I was blown away with the full sound and the congregational singing, the fellowship among the people in each of the choirs,” said Ral. “Music brings people together.”
He said it had been an honor to attend for a second time, and that he couldn’t wait for the church’s tenth year.
