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Church celebrations, service honor King

 
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7:00 A.M. EST Jan. 17, 2011

Volunteers from Foundry United Methodist Church, Washington, D.C., load food into vehicles for transport to HIV/AIDS clients' homes.  A UMNS photo by John Coleman.
Volunteers from Foundry United Methodist Church, Washington, D.C., load food into vehicles for transport to HIV/AIDS clients' homes.
A UMNS photo by John Coleman. View in Photo Gallery

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

To commemorate what would have been King’s 82nd birthday, United Methodist congregations across the connection are “taking a day on, not a day off” to reach out to their neighbors in activities ranging from washing the feet of underprivileged children and giving them new pairs of shoes to writing words of encouragement to U.S. military personnel.

The Western North Carolina Annual (regional) Conference, for example, encourages United Methodists to participate in local celebrations, especially hands-on outreach activities that reflect the spirit of the civil rights leader.

“We are hoping to encourage a truly conferencewide celebration,” says Jennifer Davis, director of discipleship ministry. “We are requesting churches, students, conference organizations, families and anyone else to participate in a meaningful way in the events and celebrations that will be taking place in their communities.”

If a local community has no planned celebration, she recommends volunteering at a local outreach ministry or participating in some other project that exemplifies the ideals of King.

Two possibilities in that conference include Samaritan’s Feet — washing the feet of underprivileged children and adults and giving them a new pair of shoes — and Hands on Charlotte, featuring a donation drop-off, a volunteer-recruitment fair and free health screenings.

Alfred Hardnett (right) helps John K. Mink with his groceries in the food pantry at the Community Enabler Developer ministry, Anniston, Ala.  A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose.
Alfred Hardnett (right) helps John K. Mink with his groceries in the food pantry at the Community Enabler Developer ministry, Anniston, Ala. A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose.
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“It was our thought that this type of involvement would be an excellent way to promote community … and celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King,” Davis says. “It is really a small piece of a larger plan to focus on relationship-building within our communities as we continue our mission to bring others to Christ.”

A time for doing service

Individual congregations and other United Methodist groups are also getting into the act.

  • First United Methodist Church in Kalamazoo, Mich., holds a communitywide day of service. Area social-service organizations invite community volunteers to read to children, help elementary students create a banner to honor Martin Luther King Jr., and assist with a march and a wreath-laying ceremony.
  • In Omaha, Neb., United Methodist Ministries sponsors teams of youth and youth leaders who will use the day to volunteer at local agencies and study issues of race and poverty in the community.
  • At First United Methodist Church in Melrose, Mass., workers sort and pack donated items for military troops. Churchgoers also are collecting items for and organizing a church-based food pantry, taking teens to visit older adults and leading Cub Scouts in writing letters to military personnel.

The city of Lee’s Summit, Mo., has devoted slightly more than a week of service from Jan. 8 to Jan. 17. For “Living the Dream through Service,” area organizations — including Grace United Methodist Church — are collecting gently used clothing, household items, hearing aids and eyeglasses for various charities; delivering meals to the homebound; doing construction and repair projects; donating blood; preparing meals for group-home residents; and sorting food for area pantries.

A time for promoting understanding

Maya Donelson (center) uses the rooftop garden at Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco to teach neighborhood children about sustainable urban gardening practices and healthy eating. A UMNS photo by Kim Griffis.
Maya Donelson (center) uses the rooftop garden at Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco to teach neighborhood children about sustainable urban gardening practices and healthy eating. A UMNS photo by Kim Griffis.
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Many communities plan ecumenical worship services and discussion opportunities as well as rallies and marches to mark the day.

Central United Methodist Church in Detroit is the gathering place for the eighth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Rally and March. The event reaffirms the peace and social-justice legacy of King.

The keynote speaker is Willie Mukasa Ricks, a former field secretary for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, who worked and marched alongside King in the South.

In Feasterville, Pa., the regional clergy association sponsors a day of service, education and worship, with three key events: volunteering with an interfaith housing ministry, sharing in dialogue sessions about racial issues and joining in ecumenical worship.

For several years, the predominantly white First United Methodist Church and the Collins Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church — both in Memphis, Tenn. — have marked King’s birthday with a joint worship service.

In Minneapolis, Living Spirit United Methodist Church celebrates King’s contributions.

“Dr. King has a great legacy in my life,” says Virginia Richardson, a Living Spirit member. Her late husband, Samuel Richardson, went to school with the civil rights pioneer and led a delegation of adults who participated in the 1963 march on Washington. “It’s bringing up lots of memories,” she adds.

United Methodist youth bag sweet potatoes during a service project at Youth 2007 in Greensboro, N.C. A UMNS file photo by Mike DuBose.
United Methodist youth bag sweet potatoes during a service project at Youth 2007 in Greensboro, N.C. A UMNS file photo
by Mike DuBose. View in Photo Gallery

At Resurrection United Methodist Church, Durham, N.C., the congregation and community plan to view and discuss “Standing on My Sisters’ Shoulders.” The film chronicles the story of some of the most remarkable female activists in the civil rights movement.

An interfaith peace convocation at San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church, Alamo, Calif., features film clips and music honoring international peacemakers in the spirit of King.

Yardley (Pa.) United Methodist Church’s Interfaith Day of Understanding includes a guest speaker, a time for discussion with people of other faiths and children’s activities.

Larry Snider, coordinator of the Interfaith Community for Middle East Peace, calls the event “an opportunity for people to witness peace through interfaith conversations among Muslims, Christians, Jews and those of other faith traditions.”

“This is an opportunity,” he said, “to honor the memory of Dr. King by … gathering with others of many faiths and working together to promote understanding and peace.”

*Dunlap-Berg is internal content editor for United Methodist Communications.

News media contact: Barbara Dunlap-Berg, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5489 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

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