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We commemorate The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr as a Federal Holiday on the third Monday of each January. We have done this as a nation since 1986. We remember Dr. King as a civil rights leader in the 1950’s and 1960’s, as a committed proponent of non-violence as means of protest and activism for systemic change, and as a remarkable preacher, prophet and pacifist. Dr. King’s actual birthdate is January 15 and his life was cut short by an assassin’s bullet April 4, 1968 at the age of 39.

It has become customary to participate in a Day of Service on MLK, Jr Day. And in 2026, one day just doesn’t seem like enough. Perhaps we need the entire year to dedicated to service through the building of relationships and advocacy. One of the ways in which we can honor the memory and the work of Dr King is to engage in acts of service with and on behalf of our neighbor. There can be multiple ways to serve our neighbor, especially in these days of turmoil in our community: caring for our immigrant neighbors through supporting our local food shelf, donating money, delivering food, watching out for our school children as they enter and leave school each day, calling our federal congressional representatives and senators, supporting immigrant small businesses, being in touch with our local government officials…while these seem small, they are all important steps in caring for our neighbors. 

And then, in a very concrete way of serving, our own Community Partners with Youth, housed here at Christ the King, needs our help with food preparation for the 100 youth who are in our building every day. CPY needs volunteers who could give 3 hours on a Tuesday morning (roughly 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) to prep and cook a meal for the kids who come to CtK after school. Racial Justice is working to build volunteer teams as part of our “Building Relationships” work in 2026 to help with this food prep. We want to invite all of Christ the King to participate in this service that will bless so many youth and families who reside in our community. Watch for more information in the weeks ahead as our plans continue to be developed and rolled out.

As many of us “enjoy” the MLK, Jr. Federal holiday, take more than a moment, take the day to fully contemplate the enormity of Dr. King’s legacy for all people, and then decide how you might act in service to others as we seek to “love our neighbors as ourselves” and build that “Beloved Community” that Dr. King dreamed and longed for.

— Kisten Thompson, on behalf of the Racial Justice Team