From C4SO
REMEMBER.
What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth (short for June 19th) marks the historic moment when African Americans were freed from slavery in Texas. Juneteenth commemorates African American suffering and overcoming, and honors the end to slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and ensure the freedom of all enslaved people. During the two-and-a-half years between the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and the troops’ arrival, many Black people still functioned as slaves. In 2021, the U.S. government officially declared Juneteenth a federal holiday. Juneteenth is also referred to as Juneteenth National Independence Day, Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day (Texas), Freedom Day, and Black Independence Day.
Why do we celebrate? Juneteenth is an opportunity for us all, as the Church, to celebrate the freedom of our black brothers and sisters (Romans 12:15). As followers of Jesus, we emphatically proclaim that slavery in our country was a terrible and evil act from the beginning. We recognize this as a sinful stain on the history of our country. We also acknowledge that people claiming a Christian faith participated in the sinful act of buying, owning and selling slaves. As the Church, we look back with disgust on these acts and, together, celebrate this historic day when the liberation of slaves was communicated to the people in Texas.
We also need to be clear that racism and its sinful impact on our society did not end on June 19th, 1865. However, the proclamation that equal value is placed on all men and women, both former masters and former slaves, is in alignment with our Lord’s heart and certainly worth celebrating. And, as Christians who are seeking justice, Juneteenth is a day we can ALL celebrate the breaking of an unjust and unrighteous institution. There is still much work to be done, but praise the Lord for His faithfulness to His people. May we continue to seek the Kingdom, love our neighbor as ourselves, and seek freedom for the captive (Matthew 6:33, Mark 12:31, Isaiah 61:1).
** Responsive Reading for Juneteenth
By the Rev. Dr. Leslie Copeland-Tune, COO, National Council of Churches
Leader: Today, we gather to remember, to reflect, to celebrate FREEDOM!
Congregation: Freedom is not free. We thank You, O God, today for our freedom in You and remember those for whom freedom was so costly a price to pay.
Leader: We remember those who were enslaved. We recognize that slavery tried to erase the humanity of so many of Your people – those who were enslaved and those who brutalized and dehumanized others, not realizing the cost for their own souls. Lord, have mercy!
Congregation: Forgive us, O God. Help us to always treat one another as we want to be treated and to, above all, recognize that we are all created in Your image and likeness. We remember today. In Your mercy, O God, hear our prayers.
Leader: We reflect on the gift of freedom today and the many ways that the struggle continues. We lament those who are still treated as less than Your very own as we recommit to fight for freedom and dignity for all of Your people.
Congregation: Help us, O God, to be courageous in fighting for justice and righteousness for all of Your people until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream!
Leader: We celebrate today! For freedom has come and will come again. For those in cages at our borders, for those locked up in jail cells away from their families, for those who are caught up in human trafficking, for those living without clean water, for those trapped in the bondage of an opioid addiction – God as we celebrate freedom today, help us to continue the fight for freedom across the global village in every form and in every way.
Congregation: We celebrate FREEDOM today! We celebrate with renewed determination, knowing that our work is not done and our task has not been fully accomplished until all of God’s children are truly free from bondage.
ALL: We remember, we reflect, we celebrate this Juneteenth. Thank You, O God, for reminding us that freedom is possible, necessary and a promise from You.
Permission is granted for the use of this responsive reading if proper credit is given to the author.
We celebrated Juneteenth in yesterday’s liturgy. The ELCA website has a litany adapted from “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” which we incorporated into our worship. Then, in the afternoon a group from church joined the Juneteenth festivities in a nearby park.
Well said and absolutely sharable. Thank you for this call to the church. This is consistent with God's character and heart for His children.