Juneteenth – Honoring Freedom and Justice
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Pender UMC Office Closed for Juneteenth – Honoring Freedom and Justice
On Thursday, June 19, the Pender church office will be closed in observance of Juneteenth, a day of reflection, remembrance, and renewed commitment to justice.
On this date in 1865, Union Army General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and read General Order Number 3, announcing:
“The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free... The connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor.”
This announcement—made two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation—reached the last enslaved African Americans in the westernmost Confederate state. It marked the final chapter in one of our nation’s darkest histories and began what we now honor as Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day.
The following year, communities in Texas began celebrating Juneteenth with gatherings that included storytelling, prayer, music, food, and a deep sense of shared hope. Over the decades, the observance has grown and evolved—through the trials of the Jim Crow era, the advances of the Civil Rights Movement, and the ongoing work of racial reconciliation and justice today.
Juneteenth has long been led and celebrated in churches, where faith and freedom intersect through worship, education, and community action. Many now use this day not only to remember a moment in history, but to recommit to the ongoing work of antiracism and justice for all.
As more states and businesses recognize Juneteenth, we at Pender join with others in honoring its significance. We pray that this day continues to inspire reflection, unity, and a deeper commitment to love and justice in Christ’s name.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” – Galatians 5:1
LEARN MORE
- Juneteenth observance, UMC Religion and Race
- Juneteenth, UMC Discipleship Ministries
- Celebrating Juneteenth, United Methodist Women
- What is Juneteenth?, Wesley Brothers