Celebrate Juneteenth with the UCC

The United Church of Christ is celebrating Junteenth 2025 with an “Intergenerational Movement-Making toward Solidarity.”

UCC Racial Justice Ministries and Join the Movement are offering a unique encounter to engage in stories of emancipation movements from slavery to civil rights, to today. Participants will learn more about their connected lineages, and discover what these ongoing movements of emancipation can teach about the power of intergenerational leadership. Perspectives are shared from elders to youth and young adults – moving toward solidarity, freedom, equity, and liberation.

“Juneteenth 2025 is a celebration in recognition of the intergenerational lineages of African American Women within the Christian Church and beyond. This year Dr. Sharon Fennema and I have created a movement of stories with beautiful images, music, and liturgies,” said Rev. Dr. Velda Love, minister for Racial Justice and lead minister of Join the Movement.

“The stories of African American women as Christian faith leaders, preachers, organizers, and activists unafraid to push against heteronormative patriarchy when sexism and misogyny show up in Church and the broader society are seldom lifted as models to practice and emulate within predominately white churches,” Love explained.

Dr. Sharon R. Fennema, curator of Join the Movement for the UCC said, “We find ourselves living in a moment where there are renewed efforts to erase parts of the history of this country, especially the lineages and stories of those who have fought for freedom from the oppressive, violent, and death-dealing forces of white supremacy and colonization.  Part of the sacred calling to resistance as Christians for these days is to invest our time and energy and resources in learning and remembering these histories.”

She continued, “There is no better way to celebrate the joy, resistance, dreams and faithfulness of our ancestors of African descent this Juneteenth than to discover the ways those lineages live on in today’s movements and the ways Spirit is calling us to participate in continuing these lineages in our own faithful witness and work for racial justice in the world.”

Fennema shared, “With all the injustices we see happening to our kin around the world and in our own neighborhoods and cities, it can be hard to know how to respond or discern how we are being called to embody solidarity in concrete ways.  Juneteenth offers all of us, including those of us who are of European descent, the opportunity to lean into learning more about the stories of emancipation and abolition that have been kept from us so that we might discover new-old ways to work toward collective liberation and flourishing for all amidst the divisiveness being sown in our communities.  Taking time with these voices and this history is an important first step toward greater understanding and solidarity that can change the world.” 

The celebration includes a video with youthful perspectives, a powerful reminder of how this commemoration is important to all ages. “It was very special to work with the young people around this year’s Juneteenth program,” said Rev. Trayce Potter, minister for Children & Youth Engagement at the UCC. “To have them articulate their passions, hopes and lived experiences demonstrates that the church has strong leaders in it’s midst, waiting for the opportunity to give voice to the future. We have a generation that is ready and capable of making a positive difference in the church and the world. I’m excited to see what comes next for them and their peers.”

Love said the stories of Black Lives are important to Juneteenth. “Oral history is a way to preserve and remember sacred moments and movements of a people’s history and lived experiences. Stories are best remembered when they are told by elders and Griots, as well as stories with wisdom from youth and children.”

“African-centered traditions value storytelling as sacred for the survival and thriving of generations to come. We who believe in freedom shall tell our stories for the thriving of our children and our children’s children,” said Love. “We remember the marches, sit-ins, food secure programs, rallies, and strategies of defense across the nation to honor, respect, and protect Black Lives.”

Participants can explore reflections, learning resources, worship materials, and videos HERE.

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