Last Saturday, Hope Presbyterian Church celebrated the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by hosting a Community Cultural Fashion Show. The event was a celebration of the diversity that has made the United States so unique and so blessed, featuring music, dance, fashion, and food from nations including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, the United States, and more.
The Hope Innovation Lab 250 International Fashion Show was a phenomenal success, and the community is still celebrating its impact. As one attendee put it, “God is good all the time, and all the time God is good.”
Many Nations, One Celebration
Representatives from each participating country in song, dance, and the wearing of traditional clothing from their country of birth. Youth and adults took turns explaining the garments worn and their significance to their country’s history, liberation, and faith, offering the audience a window into the journeys and traditions each community carries forward.
Churches and Pastors United in Support
Four Presbyterian and Methodist congregations came together for the celebration:
- Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church
- Kenyan Presbyterian Church
- Hunting Ridge Presbyterian Church
- United Methodist Church in Anne Arundel County
- Hope Presbyterian Church
Seven pastors prayed over and supported the event: three Burmese pastors, three Presbyterian pastors, and one United Methodist pastor, reflecting the same spirit of unity that filled the room throughout the program.
The Day in Photos
A Fitting Close
The program closed with the American flag lifted high, accompanied by the song “250 Years” by Baby’s Baby, a moving tribute that tied the day’s international celebration back to the anniversary being honored.
Special recognition goes to the Innovation Churches of the Presbytery of Baltimore and to the leaders who helped make the day possible: Rev. Michele Wallen, Rev. Samuel Son, and Rev. DeEtte Decker.
Food and fellowship followed immediately after the program, giving guests a chance to continue the conversations and connections sparked throughout the day.
Learn more about the Presbytery of Baltimore’s Innovation Lab
