“…And Juneteenth, the day we celebrate the end of slavery, the day we memorialize those who offered us hope for the future, and the day when we renew our commitment to the struggle for freedom.”
(Angela Davis)
Gracious and merciful God, as we celebrate Juneteenth this week, we give thanks for the hope and perseverance of the African American people, who continue to contribute generously to the advancement of society. May all of us celebrate, remember, and act on the words of civil rights leader, Howard Thurman, when he says:
Look well to the growing edge!
All around us worlds are dying, and new worlds are being born…
This is the basis of hope in moments of despair, the incentive to carry on when times are out of joint…
Look well to the growing edge!
And so loving God, may we not close our eyes to our growing edges and the lessons of Juneteenth. Let us not make anyone wait for the freedom to live in their own truth and integrity. Turn our good intentions into acts of justice and reparation for the failures of the past. And may we learn to actively celebrate the freedom from oppression of each and every person.
This we ask in Your name.—AMEN.