While at the ABC USA Biennial, Pastor Annette and I took a selfie! She misses CBC and sends her blessings to the CBC Family.
As I attended the ABC USA Biennial, I was particularly made aware of the people from various ethnicities including White, Black, Asian, Latino, and Other/Mixed who make up the denomination and our respective journeys to freedom.
The current changing landscape with immigrants who are seeking their independence is reflective of the 4th of July and represents independence and the declaration of freedom.
The 4th of July weekend brings our focus on the freedom that we are privileged to have living in this nation.
Everybody wants to be free to live in a country where they can experience opportunities to live their best lives. In this land, which was occupied by the Native Americans, everyone else was either migrated by choice or by force.
Much of the oppression in our country is the lack of the freedom that can be seen through the recent Juneteenth celebration on June 19th. The Declaration of Independence, was ratified on July 4, 1776 establishing the United States of America. Juneteenth marks the end of slavery in the US when a Union general arrived in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865 to inform the last enslaved African Americans of their freedom.
This took place after the Emancipation Proclamation, which was issued over two years before. We can say that Independence Day is the independence at a national level and Juneteenth is the celebration that actually freed thousands of people who were not totally free.
Everyone wants to enjoy their freedom. Parents want to be free to make the best choices for their children and providing them with education that prepares them to live in many ways better than their generation. The living conditions of families depict circumstances that were afforded those who were beneficiaries of freedom. Much of our history symbolizes the sacrifices made by those who paid the ultimate price with their lives.
What does it take to be free? Real freedom requires real blood.
This period from June 19th through July 4th and more so with my experience throughout the ABC USA Biennial highlighted the strength that makes us all stronger and celebrating our diversity. Our CBC congregation is rich with so much history and being a part of the Underground Railroad in taking action to lift others makes us even stronger.
This Sunday’s message will be a homily and the beginning of our Summer Sermon Series, “Progress in the Process” and scripture will be taken from Proverbs 3:5-6. Our Sunday worship on this first Sunday of July will convene in the fellowship hall with time to be together in preparing for the future including the Lord’s Supper remembering the blood that Jesus shed for us on the cross at Calvary.
Pastor Frank