KING EVENT SEEKS TO UNIFY; CELEBRATION WILL JOIN MANY FAITHS GATHERING TO FOCUS ON BUILDING BRIDGES.

Byline: Sharon Cotal Staff Writer

VALENCIA - The Santa Clarita Interfaith Council will sponsor the seventh annual celebration tonight of the birthday, the dream and the work of Martin Luther King Jr.

The observance will be held at 7 p.m. at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 24901 Orchard Village Road in Valencia. The theme this year is ``Building Bridges Together.''

The Rev. Lynn Jay of St. Stephen's feels it is important for the community to get together and remember what people such as King have done for society.

``In order to be a community, we need to act in unison. It's not that we all need to think alike, but we need to have a similar view as to where our community needs to be,'' Jay said. ``It's important to remember someone like Martin Luther King, who reminds us of our responsibilities.''

Guest speakers at the event will be clergy and congregants from faith communities represented on the SCV Interfaith Council. Also featured will be musical performances and prayers by local Interfaith participants honoring King's birthday.

The council's membership includes Assemblies of God, Baha'is, Catholics, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Episcopalians, Jews, Lutherans, Methodists, Science of Mind, Seventh-day Adventists and Unity Church.

The public is invited to join in the observance, which is free. Donations and nonperishable food items will be accepted for the Santa Clarita Homeless Shelter.

``We're only as strong as the least of us in the community. That's why the free-will offering goes to our local shelter,'' Jay said. ``If we can raise up the least of the members of our community, it helps all of us.''

Jay said the thing she admired most about King was his willingness to put his life on the line.

``He didn't just talk a good talk, he stepped out with the people and put his words into action, and that's what we need to do,'' she said.