Celebrating Juneteenth 2023

Recently, the Rev. Dr. Zan W. Holmes wrote on our site that “Juneteenth is the best known and one of the oldest American holidays that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States.” We, the Worship Team at Discipleship Ministries, concur with that statement, but also declare that where Juneteenth is not known and/or not celebrated, it needs to be.

Juneteenth ought not be a celebration only for those in the Africana tradition, but for all of God’s people. In this era of debate about what should and should not be taught about our history of racial strife, this is history that needs to be remembered and celebrated. We encourage all worshiping communities to not only acknowledge this event in our history, but to celebrate the ongoing struggle for emancipation that continues to this day. As a part of the denominational efforts toward dismantling racism, Juneteenth can be an observance of solidarity and hope for God’s people and a sign of unity within the body of Christ.

Here are links to Dr. Holmes’s article on the meaning of Juneteenth today, as well as some worship suggestions and outlines for use in the local church. Let us be bold in declaring our oneness in the house of God, where there is “no longer slave or free . . . for all are one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:28 NRSV)

Juneteenth resources:

• Juneteenth Day Worship Resources
• Juneteenth Celebrations Across the Denomination
• Juneteenth 2020: Choosing Community
• Music Musings: Juneteenth
• Anti-Racism Resources from United Methodist General Agencies
• De-Colonizing the Church: A Commitment to Anti-Racism
• Praying for Change: Daily Prayers for Anti-Racism