Community Connection ~ January 18, 2026: A "Day On" for MLK

As is our custom each MLK Day, we’d like to share details about some of the local celebrations honoring Dr. King as well as extend the invitation to observe the day dedicated to his legacy as a “day on” rather than a day off. 

Dr. King articulated a vision of a “beloved community” grounded in agape love, peace, and justice. The shared joy fostered by the numerous MLK Day celebrations happening around the country is a great step toward realizing that vision. If you’d like to take part in the largest Arizona MLK celebration, which takes place in downtown Phoenix, check out the details here. Another local commemorative event with a great deal of history is the one put on by the City of Mesa - you can learn more about it here. While not occurring in Phoenix, the commemorative service put on by the King Center is livestreamed each year; you can attend it virtually no matter where you are. 

While celebrating Dr. King is a beautiful way to build community, dedicating an act of service to his memory is the most direct way to extend his legacy. After all, this is the man who redefined greatness in a 1968 sermon: “...everybody can be great. Because everybody can serve…You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” This focus on our collective responsibility to dedicate our lives in service to others, to create a more just, more loving world, is why the MLK holiday is considered a “day on.” If you are already involved in a service project, either through Desert Mission or another organization, spend some time on it tomorrow! And if you’re not yet involved in something, learn more about all the ways in which you can give back through DMUMC’s Missions and Outreach.

We’d love to know how you spent your King Day - share with us on Facebook or Instagram. We’ll leave you with more of Dr. King’s inspiring words: "Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in."