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You are Invited to the First Annual Celebration of Jesus and Jazz at Mt Zion AME Milburn NJ
February 23 @ 11:30 am – 1:30 pm EST
Join us for a spectacular, inspirational 1-year anniversary celebration of Jesus and Jazz at Mt Zion AME Church in Millburn, NJ! Join Reverend Eyesha Marable for a unique Jesus and Jazz event with these talented musicians.
You are Invited to the first annual Celebration of Jesus and Jazz at Mt Zion AME** in Milburn NJ. Get ready to be uplifted and inspired as we celebrate a year of Jesus, Jazz, faith, and community. Join us on **Sun, Feb 23, 2025 at 11:30 AM** at the beautiful historic Mt Zion AME Church. Come together with friends , family fabulous musicians to enjoy a service filled with soulful jazz music and messages of hope and love. Let’s celebrate Jesus and Jazz in a way that will lift your spirits and bring joy to your heart. Don’t miss out on this special event – mark your calendars and join us for an unforgettable celebration!
Live Jazz Music
Join the MZAME family led by Rev. Eyesha Marable for Jesus & Jazz on at 11:30 am for great music, melodies, meditative moments, and messages. We are located at 56 Church Street, Millburn, NJ 07041, and we are looking forward to seeing you there.
Leading the Jazz will be Phil Bingham with vocalist Lynette Sheard, Bassist Thaddeus Exposé drummer Mecadon McCune and Saxophonist Alex Desrivieres.
This will be a very special event please join us.
Space is limited so please let us know if we should expect you by reserving your space via email at mtzionamemillburn@gmail.com or RSVP TODAY.
Refreshments will be available immediately following the service by Pangea Caterers.
The Message
Pastor Eyesha Marable is a multifaceted leader—a trained dancer, ordained Itinerate Elder, and currently the pastor at Mt. Zion AME Church in Millburn, New Jersey. She serves as the Coordinator of Dance for the 1st Episcopal District under the guidance of Bishop Gregory Ingram.
Pastor Marable brings an impressive academic background, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Spanish, a Master of Science in Non-Profit Management, a Post-Graduate Certificate in Organizational Development, and a Master of Divinity.
In addition to her pastoral duties, she has made significant contributions to the field of liturgical dance. Pastor Marable is the founder of the National Liturgical Dance Network (NLDN), which unites and trains dancers in worship across many churches.
Moreover, her tenure at the Greater Allen Cathedral of New York spanned 14 years, where she was an associate minister and assistant dance director for the Allen Liturgical Dance Ministry.
Eyesha Marable also serves as the Assistant Vice President of Community Engagement at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC). With a passion for fostering connections and promoting the arts, Marable is instrumental in creating programs that engage diverse communities and enhance the impact of NJPAC in Newark and beyond.
Vocals and Mental Health Message
Lynette Sheard is the Director of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey’s New Jersey Mental Health Players
Lynette Sheard is the Director of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey’s New Jersey Mental Health Players, a highly successful, interactive community education program, winner of the 2021 national Richard Van Horn Innovation in Programming Award from Mental Health America.
Ms. Sheard has worked at the Mental Health Association for over 18 years as a staff development trainer, senior employment specialist, and a Community Education Coordinator. Combining art and advocacy, she channels her enthusiasm to the programs mission of increasing education and awareness, decreasing stigma and breaking the silence around mental illness and emotional wellness.
Ms. Sheard is certified by Mental Health America as a trainer of Mental Health First Aid. She is also a certified trainer of QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) suicide prevention training, crisis intervention, and trauma informed care. She is a sought-after panelist, host, interviewer, and keynote speaker. During the height of the COVID Pandemic she provided a weekly webinar entitled ”Why the Show Must Go On — How to Maintain Your Creative Sanity,” highlighting the connection between creativity and mental health along with the virtual presentations by the NJ Mental Health Players. It was viewed by over 15,000 people.
In addition to the Richard Van Horn Innovation in Programming Award, Ms. Sheard has been recognized by several other organizations for her accomplishments. She received the APSE Employment Professional of the Year for her work with individuals with disabilities from the Association for Professionals in Supported Employment.
Ms. Sheard is a versatile vocalist, actor, activist, producer, director, and vocal coach. The Star-Ledger proclaimed, “Her voice reaches deep into one’s soul and finds a soft spot.” She performs Jazz, R&B, Gospel, Soul, and Pop music. Being a native of Newark, New Jersey, her live jazz performances have landed her a spot in “The Encyclopedia of Newark Jazz.” Theater credits include principal roles in Dream Girls, Smokey Joe’s Café, Ragtime, Ragtime the Musical, Swing, Aida, For Colored Girls, A Raisin in the Sun, and Gary Coleman in Avenue Q in which Broadway World declared that “she is fabulous with a voice that shakes the rafters.” She is the CEO of Lynette Entertainment LLC.
Laverne S. Williams, CSW, Director of PEWS and Member of the MHANJ’s Community Education Team
Laverne Williams is a quintessential leader in emotional health and spirituality, possessing a heartfelt dedication to making the world a better place. Driven by her faith in God and her passion to create positive change, she became an inspiring figure in articulating and addressing mental illness in the Black Community.
After more than 38 years of service to the MHANJ, Laverne is retiring from her full-time position as the Director of the PEWS (Promoting Emotional Wellness and Spirituality) Program and an integral member of the Community Education Team. Laverne founded PEWS in 2005 and has remained at the helm until now. The PEWS Program’s goal was to help break the stigma associated with mental health conditions for members of the African American church. She became a strong proponent of equipping church leaders with skills to respond to congregants who had concerns about their own mental health or the mental health of their family members.
As an advocate on behalf of persons with mental illness, and as a long-standing Deacon and member of the Union Baptist Church in Montclair where she still serves, Laverne has diligently developed partnerships between faith-based communities and behavioral health institutions by bridging the gap between theology and mental health. Her insights were indispensable in encouraging culturally relevant behavioral health resources and family support services to an array of diverse consumers. She diligently worked to increase awareness and engagement with key stakeholders in communities of color.
In addition to her award-winning work, Laverne is also a New Jersey Certified Social Worker, WRAP (Wellness & Recovery Action Plan) Facilitator, Mental Health First Aid Instructor and Certified Grief Recovery Specialist. She is a highly sought-after conference keynote speaker and workshop facilitator having presented to numerous statewide and local agencies, consumer organizations and family member groups.
“We congratulate Laverne Williams on her many accomplishments over her 38 years of service at the MHANJ. She has pioneered several initiatives covering important topics such as mental health in communities of color, grief assistance and helping people with excessive attachments to name a few. She has been a true inspiration and her legacy will continue to make a difference in the years to come. We will always consider her a member of our MHANJ family,” said Carolyn Beauchamp, MHANJ’s President and CEO.
Through the years Laverne and her work have touched hundreds of clergy members, families and individuals across the state. She has conducted a multitude of trainings, discussions, presentations and outreach activities that have changed the landscape and helped to break the stigma of mental illness.
Her work has been published and she has been quoted by notable authors such as Sheryl Sandberg in her bestselling book, Option B – Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy. The PEWS program is referenced in a paper published by Laverne and her colleagues, entitled, Implementing a Mental Health Ministry Committee in Faith-Based Organizations: The Promoting Emotional Wellness and Spirituality Program,* accessible on the National Library of Medicine’s website.
Mt Zion AME Church (4th Sunday of the Month )
Live Music Curation
Gregory Burrus is a local live music producer, promoter, event planner, and community partner. He combines his extensive corporate business and technology expertise with his love of live music, making it his mission to keep the music alive by booking bands for private and public events.
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