On June 19, 1865, news reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas that they were free. In later years Juneteenth grew as a celebration throughout Texas and other parts of the United States, with the descendants of slaves recognizing it as their Independence Day. In June 2021, Juneteenth National Independence Day became a federal holiday.
The 225th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will commemorate Juneteenth with a special worship service Sunday, June 19. The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, will be preaching. There will also be special selections of music and scripture.
The service is listed as the official closing event of the Juneteenth Jubilee Celebration for our host city Louisville, Kentucky. The entire service will be livestreamed at the GA225 Homepage and the Spirit of GA Facebook Page.