Village Annual Martin Luther King Day Observance
All Are Welecome!
Ridgewood and Glen Rock to Host 33rd Annual Martin Luther King Day Observance Rev. Dr. James Forbes, Noted Speaker, Preacher and Teacher, will Address the Program’s Theme, “Standing on the Side of Justice” The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee of Ridgewood and Glen Rock will host its 33rd annual celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. King on Monday, January 19, 2015, at the Ridgewood United Methodist Church, 100 Dayton St., in Ridgewood, New Jersey. The Rev. Dr. James Forbes, Jr., noted speaker, educator, community activist and Senior Minister Emeritus of Manhattan’s Riverside Church, will address the theme of this year’s event, “Standing on the Side of Justice,” during an interfaith worship service beginning at 10 a.m. An 11:30 a.m. outdoor rally, 12 p.m. community lunch, and 1 p.m. performance by Mack Brandon and The Connection will follow the service. The performance will highlight the music that gave voice to the call for action that culminated in the Civil Rights movement.
The program also includes Ridgewood and Glen Rock student speakers and musical performances by the Indian Hills Chamber Choir and Men of Umoja chorus. Guests may attend any or all of the day’s events, which are free and open to the public. “The struggle for racial justice has taken on a heightened sense of urgency, as can be seen in the aftermath of the Ferguson and Eric Garner decisions and the administration’s battle over immigration,” said committee co-chair Alice Newton. “As we celebrate Dr. King’s life and work, we will focus on the vital importance he placed on non-violence, and on standing up and speaking out for justice as a catalyst for creating positive change.” Dr. Forbes served as Senior Minister of the Riverside Church for 18 years, and was named one of the 12 “most effective preachers” in the English-speaking world by Newsweek magazine. He is The Harry Emerson Fosdick Distinguished Professor at Union Theological Seminary and President of the Healing of the Nations Foundation, a non-partisan, interfaith, not-for-profit organization that promotes a holistic understanding of health and wellness. He was the recent host of “The Time is Now” on Air America Radio, and is frequently featured on radio and television. Mack Brandon and The Connection have been inspiring audiences worldwide for 15 years with their entertaining and uplifting renditions of popular gospel music. A composer, pianist, educator, and pastor, Rev. Brandon has been a professor of music at Ramapo College of New Jersey for 20 years and serves as pastor of the Metropolitan AME Zion Church in Ridgewood, N.J. The annual Ridgewood/Glen Rock Martin Luther King Jr. celebration began in 1983 in an effort to unite area residents, regardless of faith or ethnic background, in worship and action as they work towards peace and justice for all. More than 20 religious groups, the Ridgewood and Glen Rock Boards of Education, local government, and civic organizations participate in and support the event each year. For more information contact Alice Newton at 201-951-9903, email MLKgrrwd@gmail.com, or visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee of Glen Rock/Ridgewood, N.J. on Facebook.