From Exodus to Emancipation
This week brings Father’s Day as well as Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day. After you’re done expressing gratitude to the father figures in your life, take some time to connect to, and celebrate, the official end of slavery in the United States.
Juneteenth has been celebrated by Black Americans for over 150 years. It finally became a federal holiday in 2021, but its significance is even bigger than that! As retired Methodist Pastor Dr. Randy Kelley describes it, “Juneteenth is a sacred celebration culturally and religiously. It is the same as Passover for the Jewish people.” What a revelation! Juneteenth is deeply connected to the story of the Exodus, which is a great place to start your own observance of the day.
Take some time tomorrow to read the story of the Exodus with your family. You might even check out the Godly Play version of the story, which we read in Sunday School today.
After every Godly Play story, we wonder together – questions like “I wonder what part of the story you liked best?” “I wonder where you are in the story?” This time, add some additional questions to your wondering, like:
I wonder if you can think of anyone else who has gone through the water into freedom?
I wonder what freedom means to you?
I wonder what we can do to make sure everyone in this world is free?
The kids in your family may not make the connection to Juneteenth, but that’s okay. You can make the connection for them by “wondering” yourself. Here's a place to start if you’re not sure what to say.
At the end of the story, we sometimes eat matzo, a traditional Passover food, so that we can taste the story. This time, consider eating some red foods, which are traditional on Juneteenth because they symbolize resilience and joy. You might even try out a new recipe, like the ones described here.
With the exodus as a point of entry, we hope all families can connect to both the cultural and religious joy of Juneteenth. But special inspiration for the adults among us can be found in the story of Miss Opal Lee, the force behind the adoption of Juneteenth as a federal holiday: she was 89 years old when she began to work on this issue in earnest. In fact, she is STILL around and making change, well into her 90s. There is truly no age limit on activism! You can read more about Opal Lee here. Let her story inspire you to take action to become the best of who God created YOU to be. And don’t forget to share your commitment with us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
