Today is the U.S. federal holiday marking the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., which some people observe as a national day of service. (The civil rights icon would have been 82 this year.)

Here are some faith-related links:

• Giffords’ husband urges volunteer service on MLK Day (JTA)
• Obamas attend church in Washington (CNN Belief Blog)
• Honor Dr. Martin Luther King by embracing the American Muslim community (Russell Simmons and Rabbi Marc Schneier for On Faith)
• Is the Black Church dead? Debate flares among African American Christians (Politics Daily)
• Martin Luther King Jr. would support Afghan war, Defense Department says (National Catholic Register)
• MLK was a religious visionary, too (Eboo Patel for USA Today)
• How would Martin Luther King Jr.’s last Sunday sermon play today? (Episcopal Cafe)

Share your thoughts — including any other news links that relate to this topic — in the Comments section below.

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