The Sermon Exchange, the cooperative effort among the Mecklenburg County's houses of worship to share pastors, music and prayer, launches its third series Friday with a Martin Luther King-themed service at Temple Beth El.

The spiritual back-and-forths will continue through June. Last year, 58 congregations took part.

This year's theme: the power of words.

"This is such a simple way to build relationships," saysMaria Hanlin, executive director of Mecklenburg Ministries, which is sponsoring the effort along with Temple Beth El and Crossroads Charlotte.

"To love and respect people who believe and worship differently than we do - we hope this gets embedded in the fabric of our community."

Friday's 7 p.m. ceremony at Temple Beth El kicks off a series of exchanges over the King Holiday weekend. The Sabbath service will feature the choir from Briar Creek Community Church, and Briar Creek pastor Dennis Hall will offer a prayer of peace.

Kevin Vandiver, a Duke Divinity School student who worked last summer with at-risk kids at the temple's Freedom School, will give the sermon. His theme: a united communion with God.

In return, Beth El Rabbi Judy Schindler will lead a Seder at Brian Creek Church in the spring.

Other weekend events:

Saturday, Temple Israel in Charlotte will host St. Paul Baptist Church, with the congregations reconvening at St. Paul on Sunday.

Sunday, Providence United Methodist and St. Mark's United Methodist will exchange sermons and singers. Providence pastor John Fitzgerald and the church choir will be at St. Mark's for the 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. services. St. Mark's pastor Paul Milton and the church choir will do likewise at Providence.

Also Sunday, St. John's Baptist Church will hold a 6 p.m. King celebration featuring the Rev. Nicole Martin from The Park Church. Other participating congregations include Park Road Baptist, Greater Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist, Sardis Baptist, Hyaets, Promise Chapel Ministries, Wedgewood Baptist and Hope Chapel.

Hanlin says a goal of this year's exchanges is a deeper relationship between the participating congregations.

In April, for example, Dr. Cassandra Jones of Friendship Missionary Baptist will preach at Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church. In March, Friendship's Ministry of Social Justice will meet at the Rev. Robin Tanner's north Charlotte church for a short service, then programs on ethical eating, yoga and exercise, nutrition and meditation, to name a few.