ADLA of Metro New York | Reflections on Juneteenth
Jun 08, 2023
African Descent Lutheran Association of Metro. New York
Reflections on Juneteenth Freedom Celebration | June 2023
Words of the hymn “We’ve Come This Far By Faith” rings true to the history of African Americans in the United States. Through sweat and tears, we have thrived and survived. On this Juneteenth, as we celebrate the remembrance of those whose lives built this country economically and physically as we know it today, our response should be “Thank You.”
To our ancestors:
Thank you for your strength and courage.
Thank you for your fortitude to never give up or give in.
Thank you for your gifts and talents that brought us a mighty long way.
Thank you for the blessings you gave future generations though you did not know it at the time.
Thank you for the spiritual dance of different cultures, religions, and histories that meld together to form a cohesive union.
Thank you for showing us how to celebrate when you received the news of being free at last.
Words cannot express our gratitude for your faithfulness; you set the tone of who we are as people of African Descent. The bar is high because we have a legacy to maintain and build upon. As we celebrate in this time, place, and space, our ancestral lineage will not let us forget who we are and who we are.
To our future:
Do not be dismayed by the actions of those who want to erase our history and past.
Do not be distraught by the actions of those and their attempts to put us in bondage once again.
Rise each day with your head held high, determined to do and be who God wants you to be.
Continue to learn, remember our past, and look forward to a future built on nothing less than God’s faithfulness.
Celebrate life in every form using your bountiful cultural gifts and talents through spoken word, dance, drama, music, food, or whatever form it takes.
Embrace life to the fullest and remember who you are–complete and overflowing with gratitude and love.
And let the Church say “AMEN.”
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The Rev. Brenda Irving, President
The Rev. Dr. Linda F. Bell, Program Chairperson
Jennifer Cabey, Treasurer
Nicole Hudson, Media and Communication Specialist