Sunday, January 19 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday
This Sunday we’ll celebrate Dr. King’s legacy with special readings, prayers, and music. Join us during our regular worship services at 8 a.m., 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Monday, January 20 – MLK Day
From Durham’s annual march to service opportunities, there are so many great ways to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy. Check out local events below!

St. Philip’s office will be closed this Monday to honor the day.

*We want to see how you celebrate! Snap a selfie at an MLK event. Then email it to us at communications@stphilipsdurham.org (use subject line “MLK,” and include a sentence about what you’re doing). We’ll post the photos so everyone can see how St. Philippians commemorated the day!


Celebrating Martin Luther King’s legacy in Durham

Click to enlarge

MLK Day Rally and March
Monday, January 20, 10:30 a.m.

Celebrate King’s life and legacy with Durham’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. march and rally. The event includes a parade from the NC Mutual Tower building to First Presbyterian Church and culminates in a presentation of music, prayer and speech.

10:30 a.m. – March starts from NC Mutual Tower (411 W. Chapel Hill Street)
12 p.m. – Ceremony at First Presbyterian Church


Keep Durham Beautiful MLK Day of Service
Friday, January 17 – Monday, January 20
Various Durham locations

Join Keep Durham Beautiful to help beautify Durham in honor of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Choose from several dates and times (on MLK Day and throughout the week). All tools provided. Learn more about MLK Day of Service


Hope is a Song – A Community Gathering on MLK Day
Monday, January 20, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Durham Central Park

Join Rainbow Collective for Change, LGBTQ Center of Durham, A Great Idea, and many more community partners in celebrating Black and LGBTQIA+ elders and DREAM together for a better future. Expect to share stories and participate in artivism together. Food and coffee provided; children’s and YA books celebrating Black and LGBTQIA+ leaders available to take home. Learn more about Hope is a Song Community Gathering


United Way MLK Day of Service
Monday, January 20, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
721 North Raleigh Boulevard Raleigh, NC 27610

The United Way’s MLK Day of Service is a drop-in event, where students can participate in group art projects with Artspace, service projects for Meals on Wheels, kit-packing with Empower All, and workshops with Youth Ambassadors of Service and Black SEL. Learn more about United Way’s MLK Day of Service


Duke Chapel’s Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration
Sunday, January 19, at 3 p.m.
Duke University Chapel webcast

Judge Jerry Blackwell, a member of the prosecution team that won a murder conviction for the killing of George Floyd, will deliver the keynote talk at Duke University’s annual MLK Commemoration. The theme of this year’s event, which is free and open to the public, is Hope Powered by Community: Protecting King’s Dream through Determination and Unity. Learn more Duke Chapel’s MLK commemoration


More resources

Resources to Learn, Pray, and Act this Martin Luther King Day

Triangle on the Cheap’s list of MLK events in the Triangle

Duke University’s list of MLK events

YMCA of the Triangle’s MLK Weekend events

The Triangle Martin Luther King Jr Committee’s event schedule

“I am absolutely convinced that God is not interested merely in the freedom of black men and brown men and yellow men. But God is interested in the freedom of the whole human race, the creation of a society where all men will live together as brothers and every man will respect the dignity and worth of all human personality.”

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.