Juneteenth marks a time in history that has remained largely unknown within the white community, yet it has long been celebrated among the African American community. The brutal history of slavery and segregation continues to inflict pain on our society, and Juneteenth offers a light of hope on the fight for freedom and justice.
As noted by the National Museum of African American History & Culture, Juneteenth is a time to celebrate, to gather as a family, to reflect on the past and look to the future. Within the African American community, Juneteenth is known as a second “Independence Day”. It is a holiday that commemorates the June 19, 1865 announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas, and more generally the emancipation of African American slaves throughout the Confederate South. Emancipation did not finally come until General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas and issued General Order No. 3, on June 19, almost two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863.
We mark this moment as a Church not only as the end of the institution of American slavery, but also as a reminder of the continued work to dismantle the sin of white supremacy which permeates every aspect of our lives.
This Sunday, our services will commemorate this day, celebrate the gifts and beauty of our Black siblings, confess our complicity in the system that continues to oppress, and then commit to one act of justice that will bring us closer to being the anti-racist God desires for us to become.
Please join us either on Facebook for our watch party, or on our Youtube premiere at 10:00 am. The service will remain on these platforms so that you may pray along during the days to come.
Come and commit to becoming an anti-racist; for Jesus wants us to have the new life he offers.
At 9:30 am, the children of the Church School and their parents or guardians will gather in the school for an in-person 10 minute service of story and prayers and then they will move outside to work on the Abundant Life Garden Project, growing food to be given to Lifebridge Center for their meals.
At 10:00 am, the service may be found on Facebook or Youtube. Marshunda Smith is our guest musician offering us beautiful cello music accompanied by Larry Kamp. Jason Stonehouse will offer a reflection on being a white father of privilege raising a son to be anti-racist. In Brian Fizer's reflection, he relates his experience of being a white father of privilege raising a beautiful black daughter. There will be readings from Scripture and Howard Thurman, poetry from Lucille Clifton, and prayers from Martin Luther King. All the hymnody is created by Black composers. The final Rite of Commitment concludes with an invitation from Iona Abbey. The links for the premiere of this service are found in the "Thought for the Week."
Please join us wherever you are
in your search for meaning.
Everyone is welcome at any and all services at
Grace Episcopal Church
Parish Prayer List
Please keep the following in your prayers:
Martin Ryan, Kristin Gourley, Scott Tucker, Zan Duffy, Dianne, Linda Whalen, Deb Guilford, Kim Colvin, Sarah Colvin Duffy, Michael Towey, Christine Reichert, Nancy Brown, Jesse Kamp, Stacia, Bob Peterson, Brian Peterson, Robert Squillaro, Jenny, Loretta and Kris, Deb Papps, Derek Fuller and Family, Kathy Southern, Becky, the people of Palestine, and the Salem Public Schools. For the peaceful repose of the soul of Spencer Felder.
For an end to racism, gun violence and oppression.
If you have prayer requests, please email regathering@gracechurchsalem.org by Tuesday at noon for publication in that week's e-news.
Regathering News
At Monday’s meeting, the Vestry accepted the report of the Regathering Committee.
Our first in-person communion services will take place on July 4 at 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. The following protocols are in place for these services:
Diocesan and state health guidelines prevail. Please observe the procedures listed below, and as always, thank you for observing these protocols, which is an expression of your care for everyone in the Parish family.
Everyone must wear a mask inside the church and maintain six foot social distancing between households.
Please enter the church by the front Church door. You will greeted by an usher who will direct you to sign in (by household name and email) for contact tracing purposes. Please wait to be greeted and maintain social distancing until an usher is available to invite you into the space.
As you enter and exit the church, please use hand sanitizer, which will be available at the entrance and in the pews.
Bulletins will be available on the table as you enter. They will also be electronically available. If you take a bulletin, please take it home with you at the end of the service.
Please place your offering in one of the Offering Plates on your way in. If you forget or arrive late, you may place it in the plate by the chapel door on your way out.
An usher will seat you in an open pew, starting at the front of the church. In order to maintain 6-foot social distancing in the pews, one person will be seated at each end. Members of the same household may sit together.
We will exchange the Peace with the Priest verbally. There will be no “passing” of the Peace with others.
Communion will be offered at the end of the service in one kind (host only). The Rector will distribute communion to parishioners in their pews. After the Rector distributes communion and steps away, you may remove your mask to consume the host. The Rector will then dismiss you. An usher will then direct you to exit the church via the Chapel door.
The restrooms are available, but we ask that they be used by only one person (or household) at a time.
For the time being, there is no coffee hour following the service.
Caveat: We are so happy to see you in person but please remember to stay home if you are experiencing COVID symptoms, have had close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID, or have been asked to quarantine or self-isolate.
Adult Formation
Every Wednesday from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm we offer adult education. For the past few years, we have been studying the Gospel passage for the following Sunday. Actually, we have been engaging in a conversation with Scripture, discovering ways it is speaking to us in the moment.
Beginning June 16, we will focus on Black poetry during this time. The first week, members of the Anti-Racism Team will lead us in a discussion similar to our cottage meetings. The weeks after that, we will explore works of Black poets. On Wednesday, June 23, we will study the poetry of Lucille Clifton.
Please feel free to join us on Zoom for this new series that allows us to encounter God in new ways. The link is on our website under “Bible Study.”
Rector on Vacation
Debbie will be away from June 16th until July 3rd. If you need assistance, contact Brian Fizer at brianfizer@gmail.com or at 412.867.1021. There will be no Tuesday Morning Prayer or Wednesday Evening Prayer during this time.
