CHURCH UNEARTHS STORY OF KING IN CANOGA PARK.

Byline: Diana Peyton Community Columnist

It was Jan. 15, 1961, just one day before what would become a national holiday honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., when the famous civil rights activist spoke at Canoga Park High School.

The promise of a new year and a new era were in the air.

He was the guest of the Rev. Fred O. Doty and Woodland Hills Community Church.

In a timely discovery, church historian Lou Benedict recently uncovered that bit of the church's past. ``I found boxes of papers and articles from previous church historians,'' he said. ``I am a compulsive filer, so I started to go through what's here, when I ran across the speech.''

The Rev. Philip Price, pastor of Woodland Hills Community Church, has read the text. ``I was amazed at how fresh it is in its message. It is very appropriate to Los Angeles in this next millennium. We have come a certain distance. . . . Southern California has changed a lot, but some of the old attitudes are still here,'' he said.

To commemorate King's birthday this year, the church invites the community to the Jan. 16 service to hear the two-hour talk, ``The Future of Integration.''

Price said the 1961 invitation to King was a forward-thinking event for the church. ``I want this church to be progressive. I think it was a brave and progressive stance in that day. . . . I hope we can do something to further the healing of racial tension and have an influence for positive change.''

Culminating his talk on the climate of race relations in this country, King's speech at Canoga Park High School included parts of the famous statement he would make two years later on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

``And this will be the day when all God's children, black men and white, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing with new meaning - Free at last! Free at last! Thank God almighty we're free at last!'' the text reads.

If that bit of church history is not enough to get one out of bed early on a Sunday morning, perhaps a time capsule will rouse some curiosity.

In 1942, the Rev. Ellsworth Smith was searching for a place for his Boy Scout Troop to meet. The Southern California Council of Protestant Churches secured four lots at Dumetz Road and Canoga Avenue that included an old Army barracks that the Scouts, the Chamber of Commerce and the church could use.

It was on this property in 1949 that the Boy Scouts preserved a little bit of their history in a time capsule, according to church records. Woodland Hills Community Church was officially established on the property in 1947.

On Feb. 13, church members and Scouts from Boy Scout Troop 54 will dig up the treasures buried since 1949 at a ceremony at the church. The site is just behind the church marquee and is covered with a plaque.

Price will officiate at the opening of the time capsule with the Scouts after the morning service. Church members present in 1949 and still around to witness this millennial event are Delores Burton, John Benson, Mimi Giles, Ted and Zazel Whitney, Helen and Wally Tyler, and Marv and Doreen McNeil.

RONNY DYER, member of Shalom Outreach Program, will receive the Mayor Tom Bradley Award from the San Fernando Valley Interfaith Council.

The 18-year-old will be honored at the 12th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Service scheduled Jan. 17 at the California State University, Northridge, Student Union.

The award is given to young people who demonstrate concern for the community and exemplify King's dream.

Two other teens received honorable mention: Brittany Ball, 16, and Natalie Onke, 17, both members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Members of a variety of Valley religious organizations will attend the 7 p.m. service. Speakers include the Rev. Jack Hayford of The Church on the Way and Salam Al-Marayati, director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council. This year's theme is ``2000: Same Dream, New Voices.''