St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Elizabethton’s Historic District invites the public to a community-wide celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Sunday, Jan. 19, beginning at 11 a.m.
“It is a fitting and beautiful statement about our city and our faith that in a church built by slaves making bricks on-site and then laying them to raise this House of God in 1861, that we here today celebrate Dr. Martin’s Luther King’s message of the love of Jesus for all of us,” said Father Timothy Holder, Priest and Pastor at St. Thomas.
Two well-known and beloved daughters of Elizabethton, Loretta Bowers and Minister Teresa Bowers Parker, will lead the music and preaching for Dr. King’s Celebration.
Loretta blesses untold numbers of faithful with her singing and testimony throughout the area and around the country. Minister Teresa has returned home to Elizabethton from New York with her husband, Dan, after a career on Broadway, first appearing in the founding cast of “Ain’t Misbehavin’.”
“From Elizabethton these two gifted daughters sing, preach, and live the power of the God of love and justice for all,” said Father Holder. “This is the message of Dr. King, that God is great in each and everyone of His children, here in Elizabethton, Carter County and all around the whole-wide world!”
The Bowers’ sisters will lead with such traditional spiritual singing as known throughout America’s struggle for freedom and justice for all. Featured numbers will include “We Shall Overcome,” “Glory, Glory, Hallelujah,” and, “I Don’t Feel No Ways Tired,” and Dr. King’s favorite, “If I Can Help Somebody.”
Pat Van Zandt will accompany at the piano.