X
Live    Worship    Grow    Heal    Give

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebrations 2021

We celebrate the legacy and example of one of our nation’s most beloved civil rights leaders, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., on Monday, January 18th. His words and example seem especially fitting at this moment in time as we witness incredible division and violence in our nation. We remember Dr. King’s call to “Build bridges not walls” as well as his commitment to the transforming power of love in the midst of hate: “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend,” he said. Below are some worship and programming resources to assist you in witnessing to the example and legacy of Dr. King.

Annual clean-up and service events are not happening this year due to Covid. Instead, a group of local interfaith partners, including the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, is hosting The Thirteenth Annual San Diego Interfaith Community Event Honoring MLK Jr. Day, a Zoom event on Monday from 10-11am. The panel will highlight “the importance of the intersection between King’s mission of justice and the impact of environmental and climate justice on a local and city-wide scale today.” You can learn more and RSVP here.

You can find prayers and additional ideas and resources for reflection and action to help you celebrate MLK Jr. Day and the life and legacy of Dr. King below.

Collect of the Day and Lessons: (Holy Women, Holy Men)

https://standingcommissiononliturgyandmusic.org/2011/04/04/april-4-martin-luther-king-jr-civil-rights-leader-and-martyr-1968/

Prayers of the People/Liturgy of Call

https://dioceseofnewark.org/sites/default/files/resources/litany%20of%20call_0.pdf

Resources from “The Text This Week”

http://www.textweek.com/festivals/mlk.htm

Worship Resources from the Presbyterian Church:

https://www.presbyterianmission.org/wp-content/uploads/mlk-resources.pdf

Online Events

Bishop Curry to Speak at the Interfaith Breakfast: https://trianglemlk.com/programs-events/

FUMC Interfaith Community Event: https://www.fumcsd.org/event/1955278-2021-01-18-13th-annual-san-diego-interfaith-community-event-honoring-mlk-jr-day/

Prayer:

We do not doubt that through him and beyond him, you, holy God of the prophets, are still pledged to justice and peace and liberty for all. We remember Martin in gratitude . . . and chagrin. And we pledge, amid our stressed ambiguities, to dream as he did, to walk the walk, and to talk the talk of your coming kingdom. We pledge, so sure that your truth will not stop its march until your will is done on earth as it is in heaven.                                               – “Martin Luther King” by Walter Brueggemann from Prayers for a Privileged People (2008: Abingdon Press)

Other Ideas:

Consider, in place of a traditional Service Day this year during COVID, a call to service and supporting those ministries and organizations that serve your local community

Dr. King promoted building bridges and working together for change, this may be a good time to engage in or launch a civil discourse series. Some resources for this include:

Make Me An Instrument of Your Peace:  https://www.churchnext.tv/library/instruments-of-peace-a-guide-to-civil-discourse/109671/about/

Civil Discourse Curriculum from the Office of Governmental Relations of the Episcopal Church:

https://episcopalchurch.org/posts/publicaffairs/civil-discourse-curriculum-program-reflection-consideration-discussion

Living Room Conversations for Faith Communities:  https://livingroomconversations.org/faith-communities/

Braver Angels: https://braverangels.org/

image_print

by
Category: #Advocacy, #Communications, #Evangelism, #Repentance & Reconciliation, #Sundays, #Worship & Formation

Respond to this:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Stories

Comunidad de Luz: A Shelter for Women and Children
December 3, 2024

Tijuana has long been a crossroads for migrants from rural areas of Mexico, including indigenous groups and impoverished farming communities. Every year, families from across the country arrive at the […]

Bishop Susan’s Thanksgiving Message 2024
November 26, 2024

My Oklahoma grandfather was one of ten siblings who grew up on a small cotton farm outside of the tiny town of Temple, Oklahoma. As they grew up, they went […]

St. Mary’s Invite-a-Friend Sunday: Sharing Love and Community in Ramona
November 18, 2024

On October 27, St. Mary’s in-the-Valley Episcopal Church hosted a lively “Invite-a-Friend Sunday” along with a mini-ministry fair. This special event was part of a broader Episcopal Diocese of San […]

View All News
Receive the latest news.

© Episcopal Diocese of San Diego 2022. All Rights Reserved.