Pastor excited to play role in Inauguration Day service
They met while advocating from different angles for full equality and inclusion for all of Starkville citizens.
They became friends while maintaining a respect for their differences, which is why Rev. Bert Montgomery will be serving as one of the speakers at the Interfaith Inaugural Worship Service today at 9 a.m. at Unity Park for the Inauguration of Starkville's new mayor Lynn Spruill.
“I hope that Lynn will serve Starkville as mayor with the same level of integrity and openness as she has served our city in the past and with which she has operated her businesses,” Montgomery said. “Starkville has a wonderfully, beautifully diverse population, and we have such enormous potential to become a model 21st Century community of innovation, economic opportunity, and multiculturalism - not unlike our beloved University.”
Others involved with the prayer service will include Judge Larnzy Carpenter, WCBI anchor Aundrea Self Nichols, Episcopal priest Walton Jones, and Catholic priest Father Lenin Vargas.
”What a gift to come together as the beautiful and diverse community we are and to pray together for our new mayor, Lynn Spruill,” said Rev. Allison Stacey Parvin of Beth Eden Lutheran Church. “We will embody the beloved community where all are precious in God's sight so that she can see that unity does not mean uniformity and continue to lead in ways that benefit all rather than some. God will unite us in a powerful way so that together, we will build a ‘future with hope' on the solid foundation that already is Starkville!”
The interfaith prayer service will be one of several activities set as Starkville welcomes new mayor Lynn Spruill.
Following the ceremony, there will be a breakfast reception at 10 a.m. in the second floor conference room at Starkville City Hall.
The Inaugural Ceremony will be at 11 a.m. in the Municipal Courtroom of City Hall. The Community Block Party will begin at 6 p.m. in downtown Starkville.