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Unity in the community

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To help strengthen the community’s resolve in combating crime in the city and beyond, the Washington Ministerial Association will sponsor its second annual Service of Christian Unity Sunday afternoon at Washington High School.

As many as 40 ministers, ministries and churches may be represented, said the Rev. Stuart Broberg of Church of the Covenant in Washington.

Broberg said ministers from various denominational and ethnic lines will gather at the Washington County Courthouse at 3:45 p.m. and march to Washington High School for the 5 p.m. service. When they arrive, they will gather in a prayer circle to pray for the community and its churches.

“The service is a visible demonstration of our unity,” Broberg said. “It’s a way to create a platform to address other important issues in Washington.”

Last year, the service drew more than 100 people. Broberg said the ministerial association is hoping to attract at least that many this year, including more members from its own association.

A fair number of members participated last year, Broberg said. However, “A lot of people said, ‘Gee, I wish I had been there.’ We said, ‘Gee, we wish you would have been there.’ It’s on more radar screens this year.”

Different elements of traditional worship will be incorporated into the service, with Pastor Paula Brower of New Dominion Birth Kingdom Ministries of Washington delivering the sermon.

Washington Mayor Brenda Davis and Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey Vaughan also will attend.

A joint traditional choir, under the direction of Pastor Richard White of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church with accompaniment by Darla Pepper-Miller, director of music ministries at Church of the Covenant, will sing, and there will be a special praise team under the direction of Tom Bellhy of New Hope Church.

Broberg said the service expands on CommUNITY, a concerned group of residents that has organized marches against violence in the city.

“More and more people are concerned with the number of drug-related deaths. … We want to be a community that together, churches can be sources for people to come,” Broberg said. “We’re trying to bring the community together and be a positive force for good.”

Fellowship with cookies and punch will follow the service.

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