Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Last Sunday, we began our commemoration of the week-long celebration of Juneteenth, by including in the service music from Lift Every Voice and Sing, the Episcopal Church’s African American Hymnal. This Sunday, Juneteenth Eve, we will continue with even more wonderful music from that Hymnal. Juneteenth is celebrated each year on June 19 as a federal holiday Juneteenth National Independence Day.
The Union of Black Episcopalians has pointed us to a TRULY interesting article on the history of Juneteenth, which I encourage you to read: “The Hidden History of Juneteenth” by historian Gregory P. Downs from UC Davis. (No paywall if you haven’t read more than 9 articles.) On June 19, 1865, two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and over two months after the Civil War ended, the Union Army’s Major General Gordon Granger announced in Galveston, Texas that: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor.” (General Orders, Number 3; Headquarters District of Texas, Galveston, June 19, 1865). This was necessary, because defenders of slavery were continuing to enslave people, and, indeed, a number of white slave-holders from other areas of the South had been sending slaves to Texas.
Beginning in 1866, Juneteenth celebrations began popping up and have continued since.
Racism of all sorts is by no means defeated in the U.S. In our baptismal promises, we say that we will “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.” As Christians, it is our privilege and our duty to dismantle this profound evil in all the ways we can. Please consider including one or more of these prayers daily.
Almighty God, you rescued your people from slavery in Egypt, and throughout the ages you have never failed to hear the cries of the captives; We remember before you our sisters and brothers in Galveston, Texas who [on this day] received the glad tidings of their emancipation; Forgive us for the many grave sins that delayed that liberating word; Anoint us with your Spirit to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim the year of your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Holy and righteous God, you created us in your image. Grant us grace to contend fearlessly against evil and to make no peace with oppression. Help us, like those of generations before us, resist the evil of slavery and human bondage in any form and any manner of oppression. Help us to use our freedoms to bring justice among people and nations everywhere, to the glory of your Holy name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
JOY!
Mo. Laura+