About 50 brave souls turned out in the frigid cold Monday for the First Baptist Church of La Grange’s Community Prayer Breakfast honoring the birth of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Apostle Brenda Gates from the Born Again Outreach Ministries welcomed the attendees with a Call to Prayer, after which Rev. Shawana McGee spoke, offering a Reflection on the Occasion.
“This is a day that God made and we will rejoice and be glad in it,” McGee, also a Village Trustee, said. “Let us take time to give God 30 seconds of praise for everyone that has weathered this stormy cold weather and made it out here to praise Dr. King … surely it’s a blessing that we are on this side of Heaven.”
McGee spoke of Dr. King’s way of fighting for justice.
“Martin Luther King lived a life of example for nonviolence; let us pray,” she said. “While we live in a time of deep division, mistrust, and violence, we ask that you bless this celebration of a great life today.”
Harold Gibson and Becky Lorentzen of the Baha’i Faith presented a Prayer for Love. Chaplain Maria Maestra of UChicago Medicine AdventHealth La Grange offered a Prayer for Hope. Deacon Clyde Branch of the Western Star Lodge gave an invocation and blessing of the breakfast food.
A Children’s Choir led the guests in singing the “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” also known as the Black national anthem.
Brother Alfredo Banks of the Davis Memorial A.M.E. Church also offered prayers for Unity and Peace and led the audience in singing “We Shall Overcome” before introducing the special guest, Rev. Sabrina Hughey, also from Davis Memorial A.M.E.
“It is indeed a blessing to gather with you in this sacred space,” Hughey told the guests. “Im honored to speak to you this morning.”
Reading Scripture, she spoke of the Biblical effect on Dr. King’s life, saying “As we reflect on this day, we are also remembering and honoring a man who lived out this cause in his life. He heard the call and followed him … Martin Luther King was indeed a lively believer. His life was a testament to the spirit’s initiation and sustaining power … King was a man who embodied the teachings of Christ in his pursuit of justice and equality. “
The program distributed to guests included a short recap of Dr. King’s life, form his birth, through his education and the movement he helped start, to his 1968 assassination.
Several Village officials attended, including Village Manager Jack Knight, Police Chief Timothy Griffin, Fire Chief Daniel Reda, and Village Trustee Peggy Peterson.
“Last year was my first year attending,” Peterson said. “I met a lot of really interesting people and other leaders in the community and I was very impressed. That’s why I came back.”
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
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