Celebrating Martin

| 21 Jan 2015 | 05:45

— On Monday, Jan. 19, members of the Warwick Union African Methodist Episcopal Church (UAME) and guests from throughout the Warwick community, including local pastors and officials, celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The guest preacher for the annual event was Rev. Dr. Lydell Lettsome, who not only earned a master's degree in Divinity at Union Theological Seminary but who is also a medical doctor board certified in general surgery and a member of Crystal Run Healthcare in Warwick.

A well-attended congregation that morning had gathered to honor the memory of Dr. King, the world famous civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner who was assassinated in 1968.

Early in the service the Rev. Kevin T. Taylor, pastor of the Warwick Union African Methodist Episcopal Church, led the congregation in singing the National Anthem.

Guests were also treated to the uplifting musical selections of the Union Tabernacle Choir and gospel jazz saxophonist Tony Smith.

And for the third consecutive year, young members of the Black Dirt Dance Studio, performed a creative dance in tribute to Dr. King.

Youngsters from the UME Youth Ambassadors each presented individual tributes to King.

Special guests, who gave presentations, included Orange County Legislator Shannon Wong, Town of Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton, Mayor Michael Newhard, Judge Nancy De Angelo, Judge Peter Barlet, Douglas Stage, president of the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce ,and Cedric Glasper, president and CEO of Mechanical Rubber and past president of the Chamber.

'Follow the North Star'
Barlet began his talk by recalling his visit to Lewiston, a short distance from Niagara Falls.

For many escaping slaves between 1840 and 1860, Lewiston, he explained, was a perfect crossing point between the United States and freedom in Canada during the days of the Underground Railroad.

"It was neither a railroad nor underground," said Barlet who described how difficult it must have been for someone who was breaking the law and had to travel at night without maps or money or food or anything else to help them survive.

"They were just told to follow the North Star and, when they reached the Erie Canal, go west," he said. "Thousands helped them. But it is difficult to understand today how a people born in our country had to cross a river to gain freedom."

'An inconvenient love'
In his remarks, Lettsome, spoke about "an inconvenient love."

Referring frequently to the New Testament parable of the Good Samaritan, he reminded the congregation that loving one another, like the hated Samaritan who was the only one who stopped to help a victim, and like Martin Luther King, we have to love and learn to help those we may not like.

"King was not a perfect man," he said, "but he had a relationship with a perfect God."

The Rev. Michael Otte, pastor of the Warwick Reformed Church and president of the Warwick Valley Ecumenical Council, presented closing remarks and following the service, guests were invited to share refreshments with church members.

- Roger Gavan