Over 200 diverse St. Louisans attended the Wednesday, Jan. 11 Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Interfaith Service at Central Reform Congregation. This interfaith service began 20 years ago and is organized by the Joint Venture of Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church (CBPC) and Central Reform Congregation (CRC), switching places each year as the host congregation. It is one of the longest ongoing King Celebrations in the St. Louis region but is only the most visible project of this very active 20 year relationship demonstrating what can be accomplished when two racially and religiously diverse congregations work together on problems facing our City.

Some of the projects have included mentoring a second grade class at Cote Brilliante Elementary School from grade school through college, building a Habitat for Humanity home, marching in the King Parade behind a joint banner, sharing service projects at the City Youth Detention Center, jointly helping with weatherization of homes in the Grace Hill neighborhood and supporting a dialogue group that has been meeting every month for a shared dinner in each other’s homes for over 15 years.

The 20th Anniversary of their service to St Louis was honored by a Proclamation from Mayor Francis Slay and a Resolution from Board of Alderman President Lewis Reed. Rabbi Susan Talve, CRC and Revered Dr. Mary Newbern-Williams CBPC are the two faith leaders. Joint Venture Chairs Jesse C. Swanigan and Philip Deitch provided reflections on the past 20 years honoring founding co-chairs Chris Hexter, Dr. Ivory Johnson and Reverend Gillespie, founding CBPC minister who recently passed away.

They also offered a new vision for the next 20 years of “thinking out of the box.” Program Chairs Miriam Wilhelm and Neil Westbrooks designed a program which included congregants participating in African Drumming led by Sky Kingsland, leader of the University City drumming circle; reflections on the King Memorial in Washington D.C. from four individuals who have recently seen it; musical selections from the CBPH Choir and the CRC Band; and a classical piano solo by 16-year-old African American University City high school student Khalid McGhee who received a standing ovation. He is a part of Mark Sarich’s Orchestra of Diversity.

A highlight during the Service was the second annual mini dialogue discussion led by Lawson Calhoun and Ben Senturia. The congregation divided into small, mixed groups, sharing reflections on the legacy of Dr. King. There was a specially designed program book which included a detailed history of the Joint Venture along with photos of the King memorial.

The service traditionally ends with Rabbi Randy Fleisher leading congregants as they stand and link arms, singing “We Shall Overcome” with guest civil rights icon Sister Antona Ebo standing with the clergy.

All of this was followed with an outstanding meal providing additional time to share and build bonds.