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NATCHEZ — From the pulpit of Jefferson Street Methodist Church, Rev. Will Wilkerson spoke to an audience on Monday that extended beyond church members. He addressed the City of Natchez as a whole, with both in-person attendance and via livestream on the city’s social media, about the 133rd Psalm of David.

It says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like precious ointment upon the head that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, that went down from the skirts of his garment. As the dew of Hermon and as the dew descended upon the Mountains of Zion. For there, the Lord commanded the blessing, even life forevermore.”

Wilkerson said, “Where there is unity, you find blessings. And these blessings do lead to prosperity, success and fruitfulness. … We know we live in a world filled with division, filled with violence, with discord and with confusion, pain and grief. … All of these terrible events that have taken place in our country and around the world does take a toll on our hearts. We grieve for those who grieve and have suffered. … But this is not the way our Lord intended us to live. The evil and confusion of this world are not of him. He desires for us to live differently. To live in peace. He has called us his people to offer this to this dark and rebellious world.”

This message came as part of the City of Natchez’s annual Day of Unity Celebration, where Mayor Dan Gibson reiterated the message that it is important, now more than ever, that the city stay unified and pray for leaders locally, nationally and abroad.

“It is the blending of our cultures that truly makes us special, in a way like that wonderful old recipe that has so many spices and ingredients thrown into one good gumbo. In Natchez, we are that great gumbo. I see in Natchez a microcosm of our whole country. I see here so much of American history — the good in our history and the bad. But I also see here the one thing that we truly are renowned for as a country — that beautiful melting pot. I believe that it’s through our diversity that we are strong. I believe it’s in that beautiful diversity that we as a nation can begin to be used in a mighty way for what the Lord has called us to be — a light of freedom and hope to a world crying out for both.”

Gibson also played and sang an original song he had written inside a notebook in 2007 that reminds listeners of the Christian belief that God so loved the world that he gave his only son, Jesus Christ, so that we might live eternally with him.

“Many years ago, I scribbled this song out. It happened to be a day that I was feeling the burden of our world very much like I feel it today, and many days. The answer for unity is very simple, so I share this song and my faith with you.”

Tony Fields, music director at the historic Zion Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, also shared a worship song called “Total Praise.”

Below are more images from the Day of Unity celebration on Monday at Jefferson Street Methodist Church.