Juneteenth: Hallelujah Anyhow!

     
Tomorrow, June 19^th, will mark the 156^th anniversary of Juneteenth, commemorating the day slavery was ended in Texas in 1865. It will mark an inaugural Feast Day to be celebrated at Grace Cathedral and livestreamed on Facebook. At Saint John’s this Sunday, we will celebrate the Feast Day with an approved liturgy developed by our regional chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE).  And this past Wednesday, Congress voted overwhelmingly to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday!
 
Juneteenth, a contraction of “June nineteenth,” commemorates the day in 1865 when Union general Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to issue General Order No. 3, marking the end of slavery in the state. It was two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation and two months after the surrender of Robert E. Lee at the Appomattox courthouse.
 
In her new book, On Juneteenth, Harvard Law School historian Annette Gordon-Reed has written a short, but powerful book. Part memoir, part history, it’s a deeply personal look at the celebration that has been a state holiday in Texas since 1980 and that has now became a national holiday. Gordon-Reed explains that emancipation didn’t happen on a particular day—it was a long-drawn-out process. The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on Jan. 1, 1863, stating, “All enslaved people in the states currently engaged in rebellion against the Union shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” The Constitution’s 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery throughout the nation, was passed by Congress in January 1865, and was ratified in December. Juneteenth happened in between passage and ratification, June 19th, 1865.
 
Gordon-Reed describes Juneteenth as a “holiday in conversation with July fourth,” a remembrance of America gaining its independence even as enslaved people remained in bondage. She points out that the celebration was never really about the delayed proclamation, as much as a celebration of a people’s enduring spirit. The words that kept coming to me as I read her moving account of this enduring spirit were those of the old gospel hymn often quoted by the Rt. Rev. Barbara Harris: “Hallelujah anyhow!”
 
I’ve known about Juneteenth for years (I married a Texan!), but I really began to learn about it last year. Occurring less than a month after the murder of George Floyd, the meaning of Juneteenth became a national conversation. I’ll never forget a meme that was prominent on social media: “Juneteenth: freeish since 1865.” This is a feast that calls us all into ongoing work for justice and transformation, for deeper cultural and systemic change. It reminds us that God is calling us to something truer and better than freeish.
 
I hope to see you Sunday on Zoom or in the garden.

More love,
 
Scot+
 The Rev. Dr. Scot Sherman, Supply Priest

Join us by Zoom by clicking here and download the bulletin here,
if would like to reserve a seat in-person, you can RSVP here.

Readings:  Amos 5:18-24; Galatians 3:23-29; Luke 4:14-21

They can be found here
Presider: Richard Smith   Deacon: Jac Cherry    Homily: Lisa Fortuna

Currently reading: America's Holy Ground: 61 Faithful Reflections on Our National Parks

Join us by Zoom by Clicking here

Meeting ID: 807 890 278
Password: 697565
Dial by your location   +1 669 900 6833 then 807 890 278# then 697565
For more information contact DD, Brigit, Susan, Timm, Delores, or Liz.
Copies of book available to share.

Friday at 6pm
SJE Happy Hour
Grab a drink and come for a chat!

Join us by Zoom by clicking here

Saturday at 10am
Julian Pantry 
We provide groceries for our neighbors.

Julian Gate, Courtyard

A Call to Serve


 

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; (Matthew 9:37)
 

Behind the scenes roles

 

Inaugural Diocesan Feast Day
Celebrating Juneteenth



June 19th at 2 PM in person & online
 

Sponsored by the San Francisco Night Ministry

 

Start Pride Week with the first Castro Interfaith Drag Street Eucharist. We will begin at 18th & Castro at 6pm to honor our queer ancestors, our cloud of witnesses, then grandly process to Jane Warner Plaza to continue our celebration. Hosted by Rev. Seminarian Bené Diction, ELCA (sometimes known as our own, John Brett!), and Rev. Blessya Hartz, UCC. Bonnie Violet, a queer chaplain & host of the online series Drag & Spirituality, will speak. In drag or out of drag, all are invited to walk the Runway of the Spirit to the beats of DJ Jihan. Join us for Pride & claim public space for queer faith."

 

You can just show up in person, but if you'd like, you can sign up for the event on Facebook here.

Gubbio Bed Fundraiser 


We’re asking for support to buy new raised beds for our Sacred Sleep program. Our mats are old and need to be replaced, and we would like to lift people off the floor, giving them a more comfortable, dignified, and safe sleeping experience. Each raised bed is $80; they hold up to 500lbs, are easy to clean, and fold up for storage. We need 75 beds and are hoping to raise $6000 to pay for them. Any amount helps!  We so appreciate your support! 

Click Here.

More Love T-shirts


 

We have a new order of More Love T-shirts available.  Select and reserve your size by filling out this form.  Timm Dobbins has graciously volunteered to deliver your shirt if you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, or you can stop by the church and pick it up.

We are asking for a $20 donation for each shirt.  

Thanks to everyone who participated in our monthly book group this year. It was wonderful to be able to meet virtually through the pandemic. We are planning, as long as vaccinations continue and infection rates keep dropping, to return to our in person meetings at Ann Cromey's house in September. As we've done in the past, we are taking a summer break and our next meeting will be September 13th, the second Monday of the month at 7:30pm.

 

You will have the summer to read "While Justice Sleeps" by Stacey Abrams. Here is the blurb from our local bookseller (bookshop.org):