"To remember is good: to act is greater." MLK

Over this past week I visited New Providence Presbyterian Church, DENSO, Fairview United Methodist Church, the MLK Center and Alcoa High. Each location hosted a portion of the movable feast of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Celebration. The food and fellowship were superb at New Providence as always the wholesome center of Maryville community life. DENSO was an impressive lunch for the business community, but the events really picked up the pace at Fairview Methodist where Reverend Jerry Russell delivered a personal story of overcoming racism that had the congregation tearing up and Reverend Colquitt claiming him as secretly a fellow Baptist Minister.

The real stand out of all four events, however, was the interdenominational choir which raised the already high rafters at Fairview and then rocked the gym at Alcoa. We truly have some singing talent in our local churches and it was great to see them sing together. The whole week was a reminder of how well the African American and white communities can work together and sadly somehow a reminder of how infrequently we do.