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Community Corner

King's Birthday Celebrated at Shiloh Baptist with Song and Sermon

Alexandrians reflected on the words of Martin Luther King Jr. and his legacy at Shiloh Baptist Church during a Jan. 15 celebration

A rousing gospel choir, powerful sermons and a crowded sanctuary at Shiloh Baptist Church marked the city’s 38th annual celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday Saturday night.

“We have crossed the Red Sea,” said the Reverend Columbus Watson, pastor of Beulah Baptist Church, “but we have not crossed the Jordan River. We have come a long way, but have a long way to go.”

 Watson also noted that King Day “must not be a day of shopping for the latest bargains, but a day of reflection.”

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 The celebration took place in Shiloh Baptist Church's historic sanctuary at 1405 Duke Street, built in 1893. The Restoration Choir, from Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, treated the audience to several gospel numbers, including "Great is the Lord." 

Those in attendance were all very mindful of the message they thought King's life and death meant. Preston Wells told Old Town Alexandria Patch that the city celebration is "an annual event and I try to make it every year. It's a legacy that Martin Luther King spoke about. I'm hoping for standing room only tonight." 

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Renee Leonard, while not a member of Shiloh Baptist Church, said: "It is always a pleasure to come to a church that recognizes Martin Luther King's accomplishments." 

Mildred Hoskey is an annual attendee at the city celebration. Commenting on the current political environment, she said that "Martin Luther King was for unity and peace. We lack common courtesy. If we all followed the golden rule we'd be for more civility." 

Vice Mayor City Kerry Donley told Patch: “These kinds of events are supposed to rekindle value in our lives. We should sit back and reflect.” 

Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille observed during brief remarks that since the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Ariz., on Jan. 8, we have been hearing a lot of words like "hope, despair and tolerance." He said that these were some of the same words that Dr. King preached and talked about. "They are small words in spelling, but big words in usage and meaning and purpose." 

He also noted that King "was committed to insuring that freedom and justice would prevail for everyone." 

The Reverend Donald Kelly, pastor of Olive Branch Community Church in Sandy Springs, Md., spoke movingly of his experiences growing up in Louisiana, during the "Jim Crow South" era, and his struggles to go to college and earn his degree.

Kelly said dreaming was still possible, but that it required putting aside the "swords of prejudice and gossip," so that individuals can change. "When we change the hearts of individuals, we can build a dream together again." 

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