At the June 14 Juneteenth service at St. John’s Cathedral, from left: Deacon Margaret McCauley and Rose West, national UBE treasurer, lead the prayers of the people; Qwendolyn Price reads the poem “Why?”; Guy Leemhuis preaches the sermon. Photos: Bob Williams
Canon Chas Cheatham leads the Episcopal Chorale at the Juneteenth service. Photo: Bob Williams
[The Episcopal News] Facets of diversity, equality and inclusion were affirmed in a Freedom Day Evensong titled “Juneteenth Jubilation” and hosted June 14 at St. John’s Cathedral by the diocesan Program Group on Black Ministry and the Union of Black Episcopalians H. Belfield Hannibal Chapter.
“Jesus was a D.E.I. specialist,” the Rev. Guy Leemhuis, first vice president of the national UBE organization and president of the local chapter, said in his homily. “If Jesus wasn’t a specialist in diversity, inclusion, and inclusion, I don’t know who is.”
Leemhuis plans to revisit this theme during a concert set for 7 p.m. Thursday, June 19 – the federal holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States – at St. Luke’s of the Mountains Church, La Crescenta, where he is priest-in-charge.
“We live in a time of intersectionality. We do not have the luxury any more of fighting only on one front of injustice,” said Leemhuis, who wove two traditional gospel songs into his sermon. “We have to connect the dots … We have to recognize that all of the struggle is important.”
Canon Suzanne Edwards-Acton welcomes the congregation to the Juneteenth service.
The service may be viewed on YouTube here.
The Very Rev. Anne Sawyer, the cathedral’s interim dean and priest in charge, and Canon Suzanne Edwards-Acton, co-chair of the Program Group on Black Ministry, greeted the congregation.
Deacon Margaret McCauley and Rose West, national UBE treasurer, led the prayers of the people, and orator Qwendolyn Price read the poem “Why?” Tenor Donald Perry sang the anthem “Let them hear you” from the musical Ragtime, and Kayo Anderson, bass, performed “Hallelujah, salvation, and glory.”
Other musical selections were provided by the Episcopal Chorale Society under the direction of Canon Chas Cheatham.
The service was followed by a reception featuring soul food favorites, including peach cobbler.
Members of the Episcopal Chorale perform at the Juneteenth service.
Episcopal Chorale singers’ African-inspired costumes added to the festive mood.