Share: 

MLK message: Good news for troubled times

Dickerson AME Chapel filled to capacity during annual church service
Members of the Mt. Zion Missionary Church Mass Choir get into the spirit of the Martin Luther King worship service. RON MACARTHUR PHOTOS
Ron MacArthur
January 24, 2020

It didn't take long for the Rev. Janice Herman to draw people to their feet, praising the Lord during the Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday Worship Service.

Herman, pastor at Friendship United Methodist Church in Millsboro, told the large crowd at Dickerson Chapel AME Church in Millsboro Jan. 20, they were there to celebrate not only Dr. King but the King of Kings. Herman, an Army veteran who served in Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq, served as worship leader.

The Committee Service Award was presented to the Rev. Claudia Waters, a semi-retired pastor at St. Paul U.M. Church in Milford and Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church in Lincoln. Serving as a pastor at eight different churches over the past 20 years, she is one of the founders of Sussex County Habitat for Humanity.

She serves as president of the Coalition for Education, where she spearheaded an effort to close the George Washington Carver Academy in the Indian River School District. The group filed a federal lawsuit against the district claiming the school for special-education students was a dumping ground for black students. The lawsuit was settled in late 2019 when the district agreed to close the school.

Featured speaker the Rev. Joe Poe of Mt. Zion Missionary Church in Snow Hill, Md., talked about good news in troubled times.

“Dr. King's message came from God. God gave him the dream to look beyond his generation. We need a new strategy from God for this generation,” he said. “We need to look to God for a new dream. He's the one to give us the power.”

As he pointed to the congregation, he told them it was time to act. “You are the good news,” he said. “The answer to today's troubles is you. God is looking for someone to look up and say 'send me.”’

Music was provided by the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church Mass Choir. Others participating in the service were the Rev. Michelle Collins, Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware, Lewes; William Duffy, Dickerson Chapel; Bruce Duffy, Faith UMC., Rehoboth Beach; fifth-grader Shamir Lambert; soloist Greg Fuller; Higher Praize Dance Ministry; the Rev. James Hill, Dickerson Chapel; committee members Grace Satchell and Janie Miller; Don Peterson, vice president, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Organization; and Ardeth Edwards, committee chairwoman.

 

 

 

 

 

Members of the Mt. Zion Missionary Church Mass Choir get into the spirit of the Martin Luther King worship service. RON MACARTHUR PHOTOS
Invited speaker the Rev. Joe Poe, of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Snow Hill, Md., says God has power over all things.
The Rev. Janice Herman, of Friendship United Methodist Church in Millsboro, leads the MLK worship service.
The Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church Mass Choir gets the congregation on its feet.
Bruce Duffy, of Faith United Methodist Church in Rehoboth Beach, kneels at the altar to give the innovation.
Committee treasurer Janie Miller, left, presents the Community Service Award to the Rev. Claudia Waters, a semi-retired pastor of two churches.
Higher Praize Ministry dancers perform during the service. They are front to back, Nicole Smith, Eviolet George, Denisha Purnell and Lorraine Smith.
The Rev. Michelle Collins, of Unitarian Universalist of Southern Delaware in Lewes, gives the Old Testament reading.
William Duffy, of Dickerson Chapel AME Church in Millsboro, offers the New Testament reading.
Fifth-grader Shamir Lambert talks about the importance of the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.
Greg Fuller of Lincoln sings “Launch Out into the Deep.”
As she accepts the Community Service Award, the Rev. Claudia Waters says it’s up to everyone to keep the dream alive.
Don Peterson is vice president of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Organization.

Most Popular

Subscribe to the CapeGazette.com Daily Newsletter

Most Popular