By John Kriz
The annual celebration in honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. held at the United Methodist Church of New Canaan on Monday was a full house, bursting with song and positive energy.
The day’s theme was Dr. King’s statement that “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” This wisdom ran like a leitmotif through the speakers’ comments.
Organized by the Interfaith Council of New Canaan, and coordinated by Marla Chisholm, the service kicked off with ‘Every Praise,’ ‘I Trust in God’ and ‘As the Deer’ – all sung with rousing heart and voice by the Men’s Choir from Pivot Ministries, a faith-based recovery program in Bridgeport. Nerva Altino of the Congregational Church of New Canaan www.godsacre.org provided accompanying music on the piano. Mr. Altino provided piano music for the subsequent songs as well.
Rev. Martha Epstein, pastor of the United Methodist Church www.umcofnewcanaan.org welcomed attendees, calling upon them to “heed those words that Dr. King said, that our lives begin to end when we stay silent about things that matter.” She further cited the Prophet Amos, who in Amos 5:24 teaches us to “Let justice roll on like a river, and righteousness like a never-failing stream.”
Rev. Gilbert Burgess of New Canaan’s Community Baptist Church www.cbcnewcanaan.org delivered the invocation, saying “that we collectively come to celebrate unity, love, grace, mercy, passion, commitment. Help us, Oh God, as we go forward with a fresh anointing for these trying times. We need you. Speak to each of our hearts.”
Jennifer Zonis, president of the Interfaith Council of New Canaan, thanked everyone for “joining us and having faith in our deeply held belief that there is so much more that unites us than divides us.” She then sang a prayer in Hebrew.
Three scholars at A Better Chance in New Canaan – Yanfer Martinez, Chris Feliz and Kian Ragaza – gave their own testimonies on speaking up and speaking out. Mr. Martinez noted that “honoring [Dr. King’s] legacy means choosing voice over fear, truth over comfort, because our voices matter. Not when they are perfect or polished, but when they are used.” Mr. Feliz stressed that “Silence is the partner of compliance,” with Mr. Ragaza citing Dr. King’s words that “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” then saying “Think about that. Silence isn’t just quiet. It’s a choice.”
Everyone joined in singing with vigor ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’.
Rev. Richard Williams, executive director of Pivot Ministries www.pivotministries.org was the guest speaker. His message from the pulpit was that the question confronting us today is “What happens to a people who choose quiet over conscience? What happens to a soul that keeps saying, ‘It’s not my problem. It’s not my business. It’s not my fight.’ What happens when we keep choosing fear and comfort and convenience over conviction? And if fear and comfort and convenience keep having the last word, how do we become a people to break a hush? How do we become a people to break that hush in truth and love? Friends, when we keep choosing silence over conscience, something inside us began to die. Silence does not spare us.”
What to do? Rev. Williams advised us “to name clearly what matters in our world and to speak courage, soaked in love, even when the words are hard to say. Today we not only honor Dr. King with our memories, but we honor the justice and the love he lived for with how we live, with what we say, with what we stand up for.”
A collection was taken, the proceeds supporting the New Canaan Food Pantry.
Rev. Mark Grorud of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church on God’s Acre www.stmichaelslutheran.org delivered the benediction, calling on everyone to “be who you are called to be. In any and in all the ways you can, seek justice, resist evil. Stand strong against death, and all death’s works and wiles. Add your voice. Move your feet. Extend your hands. Do not be silent.”
The celebration concluded with everybody leaving the pews, joining hands and singing ‘We Shall Overcome,’ enthusiastically led by Roosevelt Credit, a professional singer.
