Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Resources (January 20, 2025)
A storytelling and deeply personal, empathy building article by Black woman ELCA pastor and global missioner, Rev. Andrea Walker, from Living Lutheran, Prayers for the fulfillment of King’s dream is a worthy read. Other personal reflections by Black Lutherans suitable for sharing are available below.
- https://www.livinglutheran.org/2022/01/living-out-martin-luther-kings-dream/
- https://www.gcsynod.org/news/i-shared-dr-kings-last-day
- https://blogs.elca.org/advocacy/seeing-peaceful-sea-of-march-on-washington/
- https://blogs.elca.org/elcaracialjustice/praying-with-our-feet-on-mlk-day-by-judith-roberts/
A collection of worship resources from the 50th Anniversary of the Assassination of Rev. Dr. King compiled by the Protestant Church of Germany and the ELCA, honoring that in 1964 he preached in both West Berlin and East Berlin (Marienkirche) at the invitation of famous Nazi resistance leader Heinrich Grüber can be found here. This adapted Nicene Creed with words from Dr. King and sample prayer petition are gifts from Metro DC Synod.
The 2025 National Day of Racial Healing (NDORH) is held on Tuesday, Jan. 21. It is an annual observance that follows Martin Luther King Jr. Day. This year, the ELCA, in partnership with Augsburg Fortress, will join the movement of racial healing on Jan. 21, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern time. The ELCA will feature a free online educational event that centers the voices of ELCA leaders of color. Information and registration is available here.
Worship Resources
Worship Resources for the Day of Racial Healing are available here: https://resources.elca.org/worship/worship-resources-for-the-day-of-racial-healing-2/ and additional resources for antiracism and racial justice are available through the ELCA Justice Portal at https://www.elca.org/our-work/publicly-engaged-church/justice-portal
LSS Resources
Lower Susquehanna Synod Resources are available as well, such as this beautiful digital prayer service from Revs Elizabeth and Jay Eckman, this 2024 message from Bishop Dunlop, and these reprintable blogs suitable for newsletter and social media pages
- https://www.lss-elca.org/a-call-for-authentic-antiracist-leadership-to-honor-dr-king-by-dr-monea-abdul-majeed/
- https://www.lss-elca.org/a-call-to-faith-in-action-and-in-deed/
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month
The ELCA has addressed commercial sexual exploitation in detail in its “Message on Commercial Sexual Exploitation” (https://www.elca.org/faith/faith-and-society/social-messages/commercial-sexual-explotation). The ELCA’s statement on human sexuality also addressed commodification of the body and naming the global sex trafficking system.
Since 2005, Women of the ELCA has been actively working to end human trafficking. Some work on education and awareness. Others provide support to agencies helping women to leave or who have left human trafficking. Others still are working to change laws that criminalize the victims of trafficking. Multiple resources for Bible Study, education, service, advocacy and awareness are available here: https://www.womenoftheelca.org/ministry-action/justice/human-trafficking
The Journal of Lutheran Ethics has also highlighted Human Trafficking as an issue of faith. Learn more here: https://learn.elca.org/jle/category/human-trafficking/
