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MLK  RESOURCES

LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING by James Weldon Johnson
 
Lift every voice and sing,
Till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of Liberty,
Let our rejoicing rise
High as the list’ning skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.

Stony the road we trod
Bitter the chast’ning rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet with a steady beat
Have not our weary feet
Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered
We have come, treading our path thro’ the blood of the slaughtered,
Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last
Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.

God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears,
Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who hast by Thy might,
Led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we meet Thee,
Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world we forget Thee;
Shadowed beneath Thy hand, may we forever stand,
True to our God, true to our native land.

A CALL TO ACTION...

 

1. Engage in Acts of Service ("A Day On, Not a Day Off") 

Reflect the servant-hearted nature of Christ (Philippians 2:4-8) by using the holiday to serve others rather than just resting. 

  • Volunteer at local non-profits:Look for opportunities at national service organizations or homeless shelters.

  • Participate in a "Mission Blitz":Some churches organize weekend-long service projects, from assembling health kits to working on Habitat for Humanity builds. 

 

2. Practice Reconciliation and Unity

Dr. King’s vision was rooted in the biblical concept of the "Beloved Community" and the equality of all people as image-bearers of God (Imago Dei). 

  • Worship with diverse congregations: Attend an interfaith or cross-cultural service to experience the "oneness in Christ" described in Galatians 3:28.

  • Confront "Walls of Division": Use the day to intentionally reach out to someone from a different background to build a bridge of understanding. 

 

3. Study and Pray Through Justice-Focused Scripture 

Focus on verses that align with Dr. King's mission of non-violence and social justice. 

  • Amos 5:24: "But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!"

  • Micah 6:8: "...and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?".

  • Matthew 5:43-45: Reflect on Dr. King’s application of "loving your enemies" as a radical, transformative force.

  • Lament and Pray: Dedicate time to pray for unity in the church and nation, and for those still facing injustice. 

 

4. Educate Yourself and Others Biblically

Deepen your understanding of how faith fueled the Civil Rights Movement.

  • Read "Letter from Birmingham Jail": This document is a profound theological defense of nonviolent resistance.

  • Listen to Dr. King's Sermons:Focus on sermons like "The Death of Evil upon the Seashore" to see how he linked the Exodus story to modern liberation.

  • Teach the next generation: Use children's sermons or crafts to teach kids about the biblical basis for equality and loving one's neighbor (Luke 10

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