CELEBRATING DIGNITY & FREEDOM

Juneteenth Celebration

We will host our Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 17 from 11am - 1pm on the front lawn of our church. Bring a lawn chair and join us on the front lawn for free food, fellowship, and community activities as we celebrate freedom and dignity! All are welcome at this event. In the case of inclement weather, we will move into the Gym.

WHEN: Saturday, June 17th from 11am - 1pm

WHERE: Sycamore View Church (Front Lawns)

Voices From Our Church Family

We asked a few of our church members how celebrating Juneteenth could be a blessing to our church. Their responses were so great we wanted to share those with you. Click the button next to each person to read their response in their own words.

What is Juneteenth?

• Juneteenth (also known as Emancipation Day) celebrates the date African American slaves who had been freed through The Emancipation Proclamation, but had not yet been told about their freedom, were informed that they were no longer slaves.

Juneteenth Origins:

• The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863. The proclamation from President Abraham Lincoln declared that “all persons held as slaves” within the rebellious states “are, and henceforward shall be free”. In other words, The Emancipation Proclamation freed the estimated 3,000 slaves in southern states.

• However, two-and-a-half years passed from the issuing of The Emancipation Proclamation until Union soldiers, led by Major Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas. On June 19, 1865, enslaved African Americans in Galveston were informed of their emancipation and that slavery had been abolished in Texas. This is generally regarded as the last place in the South to receive news of emancipation.

• On June 19, 1866, the first “Juneteenth” celebration occurred in Texas on the one-year anniversary of having received the news about freedom. The term “Juneteenth” came about from combining the words “June” and “nineteenth”.

• It is worthy of noting that The Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in southern states only. Slavery was officially abolished everywhere throughout the United States with the ratifying of the 13th Amendment on December 6th, 1885.

Celebrating Juneteenth:

• Juneteenth has long been a day for African Americans to celebrate freedoms, culture and heritage with food, music and story-telling.

• June 19th became an official state holiday to observe Juneteenth in Texas in 1980. Since then, 47 of the 50 states recognize Juneteenth as a holiday or an observance day.

Juneteenth & Sycamore View:

• We believe all people are created in the image of God and that Jesus came to proclaim freedom for the captives and the oppressed (Luke 4:18). Dignity (Imago Dei) and freedom are at the core of the gospel. Since dignity and freedom are major values of Juneteenth, we proudly join the celebration both by acknowledging the significance of this day historically and being a part of the ongoing conversation of reconciliation.

How is Sycamore view church celebrating Juneteenth?

• In 2020, our Shepherds voted to observe June 19th as a holiday and close the church office in observance of Juneteenth. As a result, our offices will be closed Monday, June 19, 2023.

• We will display a banner on Sycamore View Road celebrating Juneteenth.

• We have created this webpage to help our own church family as well as guests to learn more about the history and importance of Juneteenth.

• We will have a table set up in the lobby to learn more about Juneteenth.

• We are hosting a Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2023 from 11am – 1pm on the front lawn.

Additional Information:

Juneteenth History:

• Encyclopedia Britannica Juneteenth History Article

• PBS Juneteenth History Article

Juneteenth & Christian Community

• https://somajc.org/juneteenth/

  • “If anyone understands this concept of freedom in America, it should be the Christian.”

• https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/life-and-relationships/hardships/how-juneteenth-helps-you-see-god.html

  • “Celebrating Juneteenth helps us better see the image of God in others”

• https://uwepray.com/articles/united-we-pray-juneteenth

  • “Juneteenth is a foretaste of the day when every captive will be set free . . .”

• https://www.todayschristianwoman.com/articles/2015/june/freedom-is-cause-to-celebrate-juneteenth.html

  • “Juneteenth is for all who want be a part of an ongoing celebration of healing”

• https://calvarychapel.com/posts/why-juneteenth-is-important-for-all-christians

  • “To see the end of the oppression of any people group should resonate with all who understand their own deliverance by Jesus from the serpent, sin, and death”