At Creator Lutheran Church, we mark Juneteenth not only as a historical milestone but as a sacred opportunity to reflect on God’s call to liberation, equality, and reconciliation. As followers of Jesus, we believe in the sacred worth of every human being, created in God’s image and beloved beyond measure. We acknowledge that the legacy of slavery and racism still shapes many of our systems and relationships today. Juneteenth reminds us that the work of freedom is not finished.
Scripture is full of stories where God sets people free from bondage and calls communities into covenantal justice. From the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt to Jesus’ proclamation that God came “to bring good news to the poor and to proclaim release to the captives” (Luke 4:18), our faith is rooted in a God who liberates and heals.
Juneteenth calls us into that same work today. We are invited to honor the strength and faith of Black Americans who have endured centuries of injustice, and to examine how we, as a church, can take part in building the Beloved Community where all are truly free.
In recent years, Juneteenth has become a time to reflect on the history of Black Wall Street, referring to the once-thriving Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the devastating Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921 Our youth visited Tulsa and heard Black Wall Street stories in 2015.
Juneteenth and Black Wall Street have become deeply intertwined, representing both the triumphs and tragedies of Black history in America
A Creator Prayer for Juneteenth
God of the oppressed and the liberator of captives,
We give you thanks for Juneteenth—
for the joy of freedom long-delayed,
for the courage of those who never stopped hoping,
and for the holy calling to justice that is ours today.May we be your church be bold in truth, rooted in love,
and always moving toward the day
When all your children live in freedom and peace.
Amen.
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