February is Black History month, but at BMBC the Black History Ministry plans, develops and implements programs throughout the year that uplifts and celebrates the African-American experience. Events and programs focus on religious, cultural and historical progress that Black Americans have made and are making, which range from lectures, video presentations and skits.
Photo Credits: Josephine Green of Beacon
The twenty-second Martin Luther King, Jr., Community Commemorative Service was hosted by Bethel on Sunday, January 17, 2010. At the service, the Black History Ministry's program five students read essays that reflected "Who is Martin Luther King, Jr. and What does he mean to me?" Click here to read words of Rachelle Abrams, Alexander Belton, Cameron Belton, Danielle Colter, and Brendon Nunn.
A special Jazz tribute echoed through the sanctuary with spiritual vesper tunes of saxophonist Alan Glover, guitarist William Hopson, pianist Dale Davenport and drummer Robert Ashley. The Spoken Word was delivered by the Reverend Lindsay Borden, Pastor, pastor of First Presbyterian Church.
Visit the Photo Gallery to view photographs of the 2010 MLK Commemorative Celebration.
Upcoming Event:
The Black History Ministry and the First Presbyterian Church (Wappingers) are collaborating with the Poughkeepsie Library District's 2009 Big Read - "Their Eyes Are Watching God" by Nora Zeal Hurston by sponsoring a lecture in October to show the connection of religion and the subject matter of this book.
Open the pages and see the faith
Community Continues to Build Racial Bridges
The twenty-first Martin Luther King, Jr., Community Commemorative Service was hosted by Bethel on Sunday, January 18. At the service, the Black History Ministry's program theme "UNITY - HOPE - CHANGE" illustrated the continuum of the 44th president's historic accession to the highest office in the United States. Quotes from Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., and President Barack Obama were read by youth from Community Baptist (Daniel Schafer and Alyson Young) and Bethel Missionary Baptist (Devin Gibbs, Rainya Heath, Chavone Hollaway, William Hollaway, Anna Nixon, Thomas Nixon and Earl Snead). Sister Arvenia Brown was the narrator. W.I.R.E.D Media Ministry members Robert Gibbs and Eric Porter facilitated the graphic presentation. Soloist Bobby Anderson and the Bethel Gospel Chorus added musical richness to the program. The Spoken Word was delivered by The Reverend Sandra Biassey-Mantz, pastor of United Methodist Church.
In 1989 three Wappingers Falls pastors, William Dalrymple, Community Baptist; Edward L. Hunt, Bethel Missionary Baptist; and Michael Weber, former rector of Zion Episcopal, institutionalized the service to honor Dr. King for his humanitarian service in building bridges of racial understanding. As is the custom, a donation from the service was made to a non-profit community initiative.
