Christ’s Church filled for celebration of King’s legacy

On a day of celebration and revival, the Rev. Yvonne Brunson brought people to their feet singing praises during the Jan. 16 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. worship service at Christ's Church near Lewes.

“We are here to celebrate what God has done in our lives,” said the preacher from John Wesley Church in Milford.

Brunson said she was in college in Jacksonville, Fla., during the 1960s when King was in the South calling for civil rights. She recounted firsthand experiences of segregation and marches she took part in at her college. “I lived it,” she said.

She said King faced many trials and tribulations on his path, as many do in their own lives. “But he knew that good would eventually win and he pressed on,” she said. “God used Martin Luther King to open doors for us. His toughness came from his faith,” she said.

Brunson also talked about the transition in government set to take place this week. “One man is not in control; God is in control, and God holds the future. Don't worry about the White House. You need to worry about the church house,” Brunson said.

She became emotional as she listed how Jesus was described in each book of the Bible as a leader of leaders, hope in time of suffering, the source of all truth and the king of kings.

Taking part in the worship service were Cape Henlopen High School students Donte Privott and Roisin Greer-Roelants as readers, the God's Angels of Glory dance group and The Gospel Disciples band from Trinity Faith Christian Center in Lewes. Others assisting in the service included the Rev. Max Wolf of St. George's Chapel near Lewes; the Rev. Tesha Miller of Macedonia AME Church in Seaford; Bruce Duffy of Faith U.M. Church in Rehoboth Beach; the Rev. George Edwards; and the Rev. Martha Tankard of Christ's Church. The Rev. Fred Brunson was worship leader.

The MLK celebration committee presented its annual community service award to Joanne Cabry of Rehoboth Beach. The retired educator moved to the area in 2002 and became active in several grassroots organizations, as well as working on political campaigns for Democratic candidates.

Last year, she helped plan the first Richard Allen School gala to raise funds to save the historic black school in Georgetown. She was also involved in a campaign to have all Delaware coastal towns pass resolutions against seismic testing and offshore drilling.

She is chairwoman of the Center for the Inland Bays board of directors and the Progressive Democrats of Sussex County.

A celebration dates back to 1988 with a banquet sponsored by the Sunshine Circle Club at the former Avenue Restaurant in Rehoboth Beach. In 1992, a committee was formed and the official MLK celebration weekend was started. A parade was added the following year.