| Leader: | As we commemorate freedom as African Americans, let us not forget the trials and tribulations faced by our ancestors forced into slavery for hundreds of years |
| People: | Thanks be unto God for granting freedom and giving us victory through Jesus Christ our Lord! |
| Leader: | Let us continue to emphasize the importance of education and the advancement of the African American race. |
| People: | Thanks be unto God for granting freedom and giving us victory through Jesus Christ our Lord! |
| Leader: | God has granted us freedom, let use it wisely, guard it carefully, and embrace it totally. |
| People: | Thanks be unto God for granting freedom and giving us victory through Jesus Christ our Lord! |
| Leader: | Allow this Juneteenth celebration to serve as a reminder of our tenacity, our ability to hold on to hope and to our God. |
| People: | Thanks be unto God for granting freedom and giving us victory through Jesus Christ our Lord! |
| Leader: | Let all people of all religions come together and acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to negatively influence American society. |
| People: | Thanks be unto God for granting freedom and giving us victory through Jesus Christ our Lord! We are more than conquerors through Jesus who loves us so. |
| Leader: | Allow other ethnic groups to be sensitized to the conditions our ancestors endured and help them to understand why racism and bigotry cannot have the last word. |
| People: | Thanks be unto God for granting freedom and giving us victory through Jesus Christ our Lord! We are more than conquerors through Jesus who loves us so. |
| Leader: | Let all African Americans continue to hope for a better tomorrow while remembering and rejoicing over our triumphant heritage. |
| People: | We will not forget the “Middle Passage.” We will continue to tell our ancestral story of bondage that gave way to freedom, both physically and spiritually. We shall forever strive to advance the Kingdom of God through liberation and excellence. |
| All: | Thanks be unto God for granting freedom and giving us victory through Jesus Christ our Lord! We are more than conquerors through Jesus who loves us! |
From The African American Lectionary, © 2011.