Three Days of Events Celebrate Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

For more than two decades, has drawn people of all religions and races together – from throughout Portage County – to celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. And this year is no different.

The East Main Street church is hosting four King-centered events this weekend, starting at 9 a.m. Saturday morning with the annual Portage County NAACP Prayer Breakfast. The church’s regular 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday worship services will emphasize King’s commitments to justice, said the Rev. David Pattee.

Growing in popularity each year is the free Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Concert, set for 4 p.m. Sunday. Based on 2011 attendance figures, more than 250 people will gather at the church for the free public event held in honor of the famous civil rights leader.

The UCC celebrations will culminate Monday – the federal holiday commemorating King’s birthday – in a "Day of Service" for church members.

“The reason we celebrate Dr. King and sponsor these events is because we believe that the legacy of his ministry and the continuation of his work are central to the identity of this church. It’s what we’re about,” Pattee explained.

He said the weekend celebrations serve to unite Kent-area residents.

“This is a way we can connect with the wider community. We do this as Protestant Christians who celebrate King’s legacy and continuing work. It’s a way for us to connect that’s authentic to who we are – and that brings us into authentic relationships with other people of goodwill who may be … (of) different faiths or people who are searching for their beliefs. King’s legacy pulls us all together,” Pattee said.

Following is the lineup for this weekend’s events:

NAACP prayer breakfast

Kicking off the celebration at 9 a.m. Saturday is the annual NAACP Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast, which Pattee believes has been held at the church for more than 25 years.  A program will follow the meal in VanMeter Hall. Tickets are $10 each for adults and can be purchased at the door, located at the rear of the handicap-accessible church.

Youth art display

A display of student artwork honoring Dr. King will be on display in the church’s lower hall, adjacent to VanMeter Hall. The NAACP solicited artwork from among students at and Ravenna High School. Kathy Robinson, UCC director of Christian education, arranged for artwork done by fifth-graders at . “The art teacher gave them a variety of quotes from Martin Luther King that they illustrated,” Robinson said.

Worship services

As always, the entire community is invited to attend the church’s 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. worship services Sunday. Pattee said the services will emphasize King’s commitments to justice.

The concert

The third annual Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Concert actually began four years ago when the church received an anonymous gift, said Pattee. The 4 p.m. Sunday event will feature a variety of musical performances, followed by a reception in VanMeter Hall.

The free concert will include performances by the Kent African Drum Community with special guest Sogbety Diamande from the Ivory Coast, the Roosevelt High School Choralworks! group, area blues musician Rob Montgomery and David Fisher, a well-known area musician who also serves as the church’s organist.

Presenting readings from Dr. King’s work will be Carter Adams, a freshman at Ravenna High, and Jazmine Woods, a freshman at Kent State University.

The program also will include brief presentations by Pattee and the Rev. Pamela Canzater Cheney of First Congregational Church of Ravenna.

Day of service

A Day of Service is planned for Monday, when members of the congregation will be serving a meal at Miller Avenue United Church of Christ in Akron from noon to 2 p.m. (departing Kent UCC at 11 a.m.). Pattee suggests that anyone wishing to perform service on their own could help reorganize the food pantry and/or serve a meal at .