The gospel music tradition of praise and worship Sunday afternoon provided the spiritual lift for the Democratic National Convention interfaith service, which included Jews, Christians, Muslims and Buddhists.

Grammy Award-winning gospel artist Richard Smallwood headlined the program, which included a local methodist choir, Denver-based The Spiritual Project Choir.

"The service was beautiful,'' said Smallwood hours after the event. "It was a great coming together of different faiths. It was a great way to start the convention.''

Outside the theater, there were various protests. One protester, who disrupted the service, was taken out the building by security.

Smallwood, who sang "Anthem of Praise'' and "Total Praise'' performed before about 3,000 people.

"I believe prayer is important to get us in the direction we need to go from here,'' Smallwood said. "There was no fussing about what each other (religious group) believes.''

Smallwood will perform 7 a.m. Thursday at the Unity Prayer Breakfast in the Colorado Convention Center’s Korbell Ballroom as part of the DNC commemoration of the 45th Anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr’s historic 1963 March on Washington.

Martin Luther King III, Bernice King, Alfre Woodard, Blair Underwood, the Rev. Joe Lowery, the Rev. Al Sharpton, and Congressman John Lewis will speak at the event, which comes hours before Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama accepts the party nomination.