Dear Families and Friends,
Today we celebrate Juneteenth, a holiday that is less familiar to many of us, even though today is the 155th anniversary of the event it commemorates. On June 19, 1865, Union general Gordon Granger announced a federal order in Galveston, Texas, proclaiming that all people held as slaves in Texas were free. Although the Emancipation Proclamation had officially freed enslaved people in the Confederate states almost two and a half years earlier, enforcement of the proclamation had been spotty in areas with few Union troops present. This proclamation marked a major turning point in acknowledging the freedom of enslaved persons in the American south. (Enslavement was, in fact, still legal and existed in Union border states until the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution on December 6, 1865 which abolished non-penal slavery nationwide.).
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and Liberation Day, was celebrated the very next year, in 1866, in Galveston, and over time observances of the day became common in African-American communities. It is only in recent years, however, that Juneteenth has received more widespread recognition (
click here for a history of Juneteenth and its customs.)
Although American history might seem off-topic here, coming to terms with our racist history, the systemic racism embedded in our culture, and our complicity with it is an important part of our call to love our neighbors, and to respect the dignity of every human being. Learning about and honoring the history of enslaved peoples in our country, and celebrating the end of that enslavement is one step in the process.
Here's a great list of children's books about Juneteenth - great summer reading!
Our readings this week speak not only of God's abiding care for us, but also of the challenges of being a faithful disciple. In fact, Jesus warns that being a disciple might actually bring conflict to families. Some of us may have experienced that conflict when living out our faith requires us to take an unpopular stand or to speak out when it would be easier and safer to remain silent. Jesus reminds us that in those struggles we are not alone.
For more discussion ideas, click here.
The Church of the Heavenly Rest, in partnership with Episcopal Divinity School, will launch a three day Virtual Pilgrimage for Racial Justice June 23-June 25. The pilgrimage will feature in-depth discussions of the history of slavery, lynching, and mass incarceration of black people in this country, and what it means to face that truth as people of faith. High school students throughout the diocese are invited to join any or all of the three day session. You can see
the full itinerary of the program here. To register, please click
here.
The diocesan youth project to send cards to residents of nursing homes and rehab facilities this summer continues;, all families are invited to participate. For more information, including a list of nursing homes for each week and tips on making cards,
click here.
As always, please know we hold you in our hearts and prayers in this time we are apart. Please let us know how you are doing; and if there are other resources that would be helpful, or things we could do, please pass on that info, too. In the meantime, stay well!
May we live this week held in God's liberating and life-giving love.
Kris+ and Dent
The Rev. Dr. Kris Lewis-Theerman
Interim Associate Rector
Director, Children, Youth, and Family Formation
Dent Davidson
Director of Emerging Liturgy and Music
