FESTIVITIES FIT FOR A KING.

Byline: Mariel Garza Staff Writer

While the rest of Los Angeles prepared for parades and special tributes for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, one small North Hollywood congregation honored the slain civil rights leader in its own way Sunday.

``This is a special Sunday for us and the nation,'' said the Rev. G. Daniel Clark as he opened up the morning service to the 50 or so parishioners at the First Presbyterian Church, which was devoted to King. ``Today we share in his memory and legacy in music and the spoken words.''

During the church's annual celebration, Clark used the one-hour service to quote King, pass along some of his history and to inform his parishioners about the significance his work - both political and spiritual - from his birth in 1929 to his death in 1968.

Clark tried to get the message across to even the smallest attendees.

``Dr. Martin Luther King gave us a microscope,'' he said, using a metaphor to explain King's struggle for equal rights to the three children during Children's Moment. ``And if you look at people really closely you see a lot more than what the eye will tell you.

``Though we are all different,'' he continued. ``If you look at each face closely enough, you will see in all the faces what God has created.''

Clark aimed most of his messages at the adults in the crowd, reminding them to ``be eternally vigilant'' in seeking justice and tolerance in their everyday lives and to also take a hard look at themselves.

``Dr. King said it best, 'Within the best of us is evil, and within the worst of us is good,''' Clark said.

The highlight of the musical portion of the event was special guest Howlett Smith, a blind Los Angeles vocalist and composer who performed two of his own songs, including one he wrote specifically about King.

Called ``Does Anybody Still Remember,'' the congregation sat rapt as Smith played the piano and sang: ``He showed us how to fight without a sword or a gun. He had a dream that strife would be undone. ... Does anybody remember Dr. Martin Luther King?''

Smith said he was inspired to write the song several years ago after he visited with King's widow, Coretta Scott King.

``I came up through all of the '50s and the '60s, and Dr. King has always been a hero of mine,'' Smith said.

The International House of Blues Foundation will present the eighth annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration in West Hollywood today at 10 a.m. featuring dance groups, gospel choirs and motivational speakers at the House of Blues, 8430 Sunset Blvd.

At 11 a.m. today more than 10,000 participants are expected to attend the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Kingdom Day Parade, including Gov. Gray Davis at Martin Luther King and Crenshaw boulevards.

The governor will also deliver remarks at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference's 25th annual Martin Luther King Jr. birthday celebration at 6 p.m. at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel at 506 Grand Ave. in Los Angeles.

In the San Fernando Valley, the Valley Interfaith Council will hold its 14th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at 6:30 p.m. at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church, 10390 Remick Ave. in Pacoima.

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Choir members at the First Presbyterian Church in North Hollywood perform Sunday during a morning service dedicated to slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer