There is no better day to remind ourselves of the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. than today. And today it is easier than ever to read, watch, listen to him.
In my sermon yesterday, I mentioned The Drum Major Instinct. You can read or hear it here: https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/drum-major-instinct-sermon-delivered-ebenezer-baptist-church
There are several books available on Kindle which can be read in less than a day…check out Stride Toward Freedom about the Montgomery Bus Boycott or Where Do We Go From Here?: Chaos or Community or Strength to Love.
Today I will listen to Black pastors from across the ELCA take turns reading King’s Letter from a Birmingham Jail. It’s available to you on Facebook here: https://fb.watch/35hHa7Cjwv/ There’s a live watch party at 4:00 PM if you’d like to watch it with others.
I invite you to pray this prayer for Martin Luther King Day from the Book of Common Prayer (Episcopal):
Almighty God, by the hand of Moses your servant you led your people out of slavery, and made them free at last: Grant that your church, following the example of your prophet Martin Luther King, may resist oppression in the name of your love, and may strive to secure for all your children the blessed liberty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
In Christ,
Pastor Jen