President Lyndon B. Johnson meets with Martin Luther King, Jr., August 6, 1965. Photograph by Yoichi R. Okamoto, courtesy of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Wikimedia Commons.
For the fourth consecutive year, Christ Church Cathedral will celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a reading of his writings and speeches. The event, “Let Freedom Ring,” happens on January 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Attendees of the celebration may sign up for half-hour readings in advance at letfreedomring2013.wikispaces.com. The free event is open to the public, and attendees may participate in the readings without previously registering to do so.
The Very Rev. Mike Kinman, dean of Christ Church Cathedral, says King’s birthday should serve as a reminder of what it means to serve a community.
“Dr. King embodied the deepest tradition of our faith being a balance between reflection and action,” Kinman says. “President Obama has well reminded us that his birthday is an opportunity for action in our communities.”
Kinman says King’s words are so powerful because they have a different effect on each generation.
“Like scripture, Dr. King’s words don’t just have meaning for the generation in which they were written, but new meaning for every generation,” Kinman says.
“Let Freedom Ring,” is anticipated to attract a diverse audience, and some attendees plan to make it an educational experience. Students at John Burroughs School plan to attend, then incorporate the readings into a discussion about the importance of community service.
For more information on "Let Freedom Ring," contact Kinman at 314-348-6453, or email mkinman@cathedral.us. Christ Church Cathedral is located at 13th Street between Olive and Locust.
