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The oldest Episcopal congregation in the Mesilla Valley – founded in 1875

La congregación Episcopal más antigua del Valle de Mesilla, fundada en 1875.

Juneteenth: A Sacred Invitation to Remember, Recommit, and Rejoice

On June 19, 1865—more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation—Major General Gordon Granger and federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas. They brought with them General Order No. 3, finally delivering the long-overdue news of freedom to 250,000 enslaved Black men, women, and children.

Today, we celebrate Juneteenth (now a national federal holiday and a recognized feast day in the Lesser Feasts and Fasts calendar of The Episcopal Church). It is an occasion marked by vibrant community gatherings, music, feasts, and profound gratitude. Yet, for us as Christians and Episcopalians, Juneteenth also brings a solemn invitation to pause, reflect, and look deeply into our own hearts and history.

Rooted in Our Baptismal Covenant

As followers of Jesus Christ, our commitment to racial justice and reconciliation isn't just a social or political stance—it is an essential part of our discipleship. Every time we renew our Baptismal Covenant, we answer two definitive questions with "I will, with God's help":

"Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?"

"Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?"

Juneteenth is a powerful reminder of the gap that can exist between the proclamation of freedom and its actual realization. Just as freedom was delayed for years in Texas, true equality and dignity remain delayed for too many of God's children today due to the lingering sins of systemic racism and oppression.

Moving Toward the Beloved Community

Our former Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, frequently called the Church to "live into the Beloved Community"—a vision of a reconciled world where all people can experience the fullness of life, liberation, and love.

Celebrating Juneteenth provides our parish with an opportunity to do the hard, necessary work of truth-telling, self-assessment, and active repentance. True reconciliation requires more than passive agreement; it demands that we listen to the voices that have been marginalized, support equity in our local neighborhoods, and allow God to fundamentally transform our hearts.

As the prophet Amos famously declared:

"Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-failing stream.” — Amos 5:24

How We Can Observe Juneteenth Together

This June, let us commit to being active agents of change and reconciliation. Here are a few ways you can honor this holy day:

• Pray and Reflect: Offer up prayers for justice, racial healing, and an end to systemic discrimination. Use the special Juneteenth collects provided by our diocese during your personal devotional time.

• Educate Yourself: Take time to read or listen to the stories of those who survived American slavery and fought tirelessly for civil rights, such as Episcopal saint Pauli Murray.

• Engage Locally: Support Black-owned businesses, attend community Juneteenth festivals in our area, or participate in local advocacy efforts that promote equity and voting rights.

May this Juneteenth be a time of both joyful celebration and deep commitment to the gospel work that still lies ahead. Let us go forth in love, recognizing that our ultimate freedom is bound up in the freedom of one another.

VESTRY COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES

Buildings and Grounds—Lee Webb

EOM—Natalia Lozcano

Hospitality—Phala white

Pastoral Care—Fr. Peter Schmitt

For previous services, see our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCShhZZbMrGLNS__Zpzridkg

Or, see our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/stjamesoflc