Juneteenth Liturgy
At Diocesan Convention in the fall of 2020, the Diocese of California approved a resolution making Juneteenth a Feast Day.
Resources on the history of Juneteenth, how to teach about it, and other ways to mark the occasion can be found HERE.
The liturgy below was compiled by the Vivian Traylor Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians and approved by the Diocesan Liturgical Commission for use in DioCal. (An editable version can be found HERE)
Suggested Juneteenth Feast Day Order of Service/Liturgy
Prelude Medley
See list at the bottom of this page for suggested music
Opening Hymn (Processional)
See list at the bottom of this page for suggested music
Opening Acclamation and Collect
Blessed are you, holy and living One
You come to your people and set them free.
The People and Clergy Pray together:
Almighty God, you rescued your people from slavery in Egypt, and throughout the ages you have never failed to hear the cries of the captives; We remember before you our sisters and brothers in Galveston, Texas who on this day received the glad tidings of their emancipation; Forgive us for the many grave sins that delayed that liberating word; Anoint us with your Spirit to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim the year of your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
OR
Holy and righteous God, you created us in your image. Grant us grace to contend fearlessly against evil and to make no peace with oppression. Help us, like those of generations before us, resist the evil of slavery and human bondage in any form and any manner of oppression. Help us to use our freedoms to bring justice among people and nations everywhere, to the glory of your Holy name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession
Deacon: Let us confess our sins against God and one another.
Almighty God, Source of all that is,
Giver of every good gift:
You create all people in your image
and call us to love one another as you love us.
We confess that we have failed to honor you
in the great diversity of the human family.
We have desired to live in freedom,
while building walls between ourselves and others.
We have longed to be known and accepted for who we are,
while making judgements of others based on the color of skin,
or the shape of features, or the varieties of human experience.
We have tried to love our neighbors individually
while yet benefitting from systems that hold
those same neighbors in oppression.
Forgive us, Holy God.
Give us eyes to see you as you are revealed in all people.
Strengthen us for the work of reconciliation rooted in love.
Restore us in your image, to be beloved community,
united in our diversity,
even as you are one with Christ and the Spirit,
Holy and undivided Trinity, now and forever.
Amen.
Absolution
Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life. Amen.
Gloria
There are several settings to choose from in our hymnals
Collect of the Day
Presider: The Lord be with you
People: And also with you.
Presider: Let us pray.
The Presider prays on behalf of the people:
Almighty and most loving God, through your Son Jesus, who came among us as a slave choosing rather to serve his disciples than to be served by them; help us in our weakness not to seek to oppress others, nor to make peace with any form of exploitation, but in all things earnestly and of our own free will to seek to serve each other following Christ’s good example, this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Old Testament Reading
A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Amos (5:18-24)
Gradual Psalm
Psalm 137
New Testament (Epistle) Reading
A Reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians (3:23-29)
Sequence Hymn
See list at the bottom of this page for suggested music
Gospel
Luke 4:14-21
Sermon
Optional Musical Interlude
Music (See list at the bottom of this page for suggested music), interpretative dance or short film
Prayers of the People
Deacon: As we enter this Juneteenth holiday celebration, we offer prayers for ourselves and the world.
Lay Person: That those entrusted with authority in our nation may support the changes needed in order to exercise leadership and promote healing it in an authentic, responsible, and peaceful manner, we pray . . .
People: May we accept the call to be bearers of peace.
Lay Person: That the fullness of justice and compassion may be extended to the victims and families who have been subjected to violence, abuse, discrimination, murder, or the threat of, we pray . . .
People: May we accept the call to be bearers of peace.
Lay Person: That our communities and our schools may find ways to actively participate in efforts to eliminate violence, especially violence against black and brown people, so that this country may take the lead in fostering conditions for healing racial division, we pray. . .
People: May we accept the call to be bearers of peace.
Lay Person: That all who gather this week to remember Juneteenth be able to freely, peaceably, and in celebration with us, remember together, we pray . . .
People: May we accept the call to be bearers of peace.
Lay Person: That we be courageous in living out the Gospel, we pray . . .
People: May we accept the call to be bearers of peace.
(From: https://mercyedu.org/juneteenth-2020-prayer-service/)
Collect
We pray, O Lord, for change. Jesus you revealed God through your wise words and loving deeds, and we encounter you still today in the faces of those whom society has pushed to the margins. Guide us, through the love you revealed, to establish the justice you proclaimed, that all peoples might dwell in harmony and peace, united by that one love that binds us to each other, and to you. And most of all, Lord, change our routine worship and work into genuine encounter with you and our better selves so that our lives will be changed for the good of all. Amen. (From: https://www.archbalt.org/a-prayer-to-celebrate-juneteenth-a-light-of-hope-for-freedom-and-justice/)
Peace
Announcements
Offertory and Hymn
See list at the bottom of this page for suggested music
Doxology
https://hymnary.org/person/Brown_Grayson
The Great Thanksgiving
Presider: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Presider: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Presider: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Prayer D (https://www.bcponline.org)
Sanctus
LEVAS 255
Eucharistic Prayers and Words of Institution
Suggestion: Enriching our Worship Eucharistic Prayer 1
Lord’s Prayer (found on page 181 of The New Zealand Prayer Book)
Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and forever. Amen.
The Fraction
Lamb of God: (https://hymnary.org/tune/lamb_of_god_mclin)
Communion Hymn
See list at the bottom of this page for suggested music
Post Communion Prayer
Celebrant: Let us pray.
Celebrant and People pray together:
Creator God,
May we who have been strengthened by this sacrament, strengthen those in weakness
We who have been fed, feed those in hunger
We who have been welcomed, welcome others
We who have been seen and known, see and know the needs of others
Give us your grace to respond always in loving service
Through Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen. (Written by Revd Gemma Sampson, Diocese of Durham)
Blessing and Dismissal
And now, may God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, exploitation of people, so that we may continue to work for justice, freedom and peace. Amen
May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that we may reach out our hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy. Amen
May God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in this work, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done. Amen
And the Blessing of God Almighty, the One who creates, Redeems and Sanctifies, be upon you and all you love, this day, and forever more. Amen.
(A Four- Fold Franciscan Blessing by The Very Rev. Kim L. Coleman)
and
Go forth into the world in peace.
Be of good courage.
Hold fast to that which is good.
Strengthen the fainthearted.
Support the weak.
Comfort the afflicted.
Be patient with all,
but make no peace with oppression.
Love and serve the Lord,
rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Response: Thanks be to God.
Closing Hymn
See list at the bottom of this page for suggested music
Suggested Musical Selections
1. Wade in the water
2. Oh, Freedom
3. Go Down Moses
4. Motherless Child
5. We are marching in the Light of God https://www.riteseries.org/song/wlp/2034/
6. Swing Lo Sweet Chariot
7. I am so Glad Jesus Lifted Me (LEVAS 105)
https://www.riteseries.org/song/levs/1017/
8. Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing (not to be used during any type of procession)
https://hymnary.org/hymn/LEVS1993/1
9. On Jordan’s Stormy banks – LEVAS 9
10. We Shall Overcome
11. Go Tell it on the Mountain
12. Teach Me, O Lord
13. Just A Closer Walk with Thee
14. Lead Me, Guide Me