Office Closed Today in Observance of Juneteenth

Today, Thursday, June 19, 2025, the Office of the Bishop of the Grand Canyon Synod is closed in observance of Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

On this day in 1865—two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation—enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, were finally informed of their freedom. Juneteenth is a solemn and celebratory reminder of the enduring struggle for liberation and racial justice in this country.

As people of faith, we honor Juneteenth not only as a historical milestone, but as a call to live out God’s vision of justice and reconciliation. We lament the legacy of racism that continues to wound our communities, and we recommit ourselves to the work of equity, truth-telling, and repair.

We invite you to join us in prayer:

God of freedom and justice,
On this Juneteenth, we give thanks for the announcement of liberty to the captives and freedom to the enslaved.
We remember the generations who longed, labored, and suffered, yearning for justice.
Stir in us a holy restlessness where racism and oppression endure.
Let the good news of Christ—who sets the captives free—move us to action.
May our churches be places of welcome, healing, and repair,
until your kingdom of justice rolls down like mighty waters.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

As we pause today, may we do so with reverence for the past and resolve for the future. Let us be shaped by the liberating gospel of Jesus Christ, who calls us to love one another and walk humbly in pursuit of justice.