This coming Sunday is both Father's Day and Juneteenth and both holidays have powerful connections to our Christian faith.
Father's Day was brought about by a young woman in Spokane named Sonora Dodd. Since her Mother's death her Father had been raising her and her siblings. She approached her pastor about creating a day similar to Mother's Day to honor her Father and others like him and so the first Father's Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910. (You can read more here.)
Juneteenth is our newest national holiday and the event it commemorates is admittedly not something I had heard much about growing up. Many of us are aware of the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 but it wasn't until 2 1/2 years later when the Union army marched into Galveston Texas that word was delivered that the horrific institution of slavery was now abolished. In response hundreds of enslaved people marched in celebration to Reedy Chapel where they praised God for their freedom.
For more info on Juneteenth I highly recommend watching this recently released documentary: Juneteenth - Faith and Freedom
Also, this Sunday, make sure to pick up a special 10 day Juneteenth devotional that explores the themes of faith and freedom. They will be available on the tables near the Bistro.
- Pastor Andrew