Commemorating Juneteenth // M-Note 6.19.2026

On June 19th, 1865 in Galveston Texas the last slaves in the United States received news of their freedom. Though the Emancipation Proclamation was written and released some two and a half years earlier, it took all that time to reach them. The day was obviously significant for them but it soon began to be celebrated throughout the south as a day when freedom formally was enacted for all.

More recently, the day became more widely recognized and celebrated and became an official federal holiday in 2021. It's now an important day for all Americans as it calls us to both remember the injustices of our past and present as well as the significant strides towards freedom for all people. Freedom is not only central to the promise of America, it is foundational to the gospel of Jesus. Freedom has two parts. There is the freedom from the forces which hold humanity back from being all that it can be. There is also freedom for life, joy, and flourishing for all people.

When we think about sin, and all that holds us back from life as God intended it, that sin is both individual, communal, and institutional. Individual sin is obvious and familiar to most of us. We all make mistakes that hurt people we love and distance us from God. Communal sin is those patterns and habits in a community that separate people from one another and keep them from being fully human. Institutional sin is perhaps the hardest to see. It is the way that generations of injustice, greed, and fear become woven into every aspect of life. We’re born into it, so it's sometimes hard to even notice it. Misogyny, extreme income disparity, elitism, homophobia, xenophobia, and racism are all more than mere political talking points, they are sinful distortions of God’s creation. Resisting these forces in all their forms is essential to the church’s mission and part of the call of all Christians.

While this work is never done and the Gathering has a long way to go, we are a church that is committed to creating a community that reflects God’s kingdom. It is our responsibility as followers of Christ to participate in this effort, not only individually, but together as a Church. Thank you to all of you that help make the Gathering more welcoming, more hospitable, and more just for all people.

Sincerely,
Matt Miofsky

P.S
This weekend is Father’s Day and we’ll be celebrating the men in our lives who have cared for and invested in us. I’ll be continuing our series, “Make It Make Cents,” as we continue to talk about God’s vision for how we spend and save money. I can’t wait to see you there and have a great weekend.