Juneteenth: Freedom Day
St. Peter's and St. John's Episcopal Churches
1719 N. 22nd Street
2401 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23223
About this event
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863.
The Day's Activities:
Beginning at St. John’s Church:
Gates Open at 9:00 a.m.9:00 - 9:45 a.m. -- Poster making and Face Painting -- in preparation for our March for Unity
9:45-10:00 a.m. -- Gathering in St. John’s Church for Worship
10:00 -10:50 a.m. -- Joint Worship Service Our homilist will be The Rt. Rev. Susan Ellyn Goff, Bishop Suffragan and Ecclesiastical Authority of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia.
11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. -- A March for Unity with chants and songs symbolic of our Oneness as God’s children; Route: from St. John’s to St. Peter’s (approximately 1.5 miles)
Upon our Arrival at St. Peter’s Church:
Closing songs, prayers, and Blessing inside the Peter Paul Development Center
Bagged lunches will be served followed by indoor and outdoor games.
Activities will end by 3:30 p.m.
Any questions/concerns, please contact:
The Rev. Dr. Dorothy White, Interim Vicar, St. Peter’s Church revdrdorothyawhite@gmail.com or
The Ven. Deacon David Curtis, Deacon, St. John’s Church dcurtis@saintjohnsrichmond.org