June 09, 2024: “Juneteenth: The Legacy of Opal Lee”
“Juneteenth: The Legacy of Opal Lee”
Gladys DeVane
Reverend Connie Grant
During our Sunday service, Resilience Productions will present this original work written by Gladys DeVane. The congregation will be invited to reflect on the true meaning of Juneteenth and the importance of living a purposeful life, as told by Opal Lee, the grandmother of the holiday.
Featured art: "Juneteenth" by Patricia Coleman
View the video archive of this service here:
Order of Service
Our order of service is available both here on our website and in print.Gathering Music
Songs of Freedom
Ringing of the World Bell
Lighting the Chalice Flame
Rich Slabach
“The Struggle for Freedom” by Paul Sprecher
Dr. Stephanie Kimball, Director of Lifespan Religious Education
Welcome and Introduction
Reverend Connie Grant
Opening Hymn
#151 “I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to Be Free”
Presentation
Scene I
“Juneteenth: The Legacy of Opal Lee” by Gladys DeVane
Resilience Productions
Pastoral Prayer and Meditation
“To the People” by Julián Jamaica Soto
Offertory
“Lift Every Voice” by J. Rosamund Johnson
Ray Fellman, piano
During the Offertory, you are invited to silently light a candle to represent a joy or sorrow in your life.
You are invited to participate in this morning’s offering by contributing as the basket passes or online at uucb.churchcenter.com/giving. You may make a non-pledge gift or a contribution towards your annual pledge, or both, at that site. This fiscal year, 25% of our non-pledge Sunday offerings will be given to All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center, which provides cloth and disposable diapers/wipes, pregnancy tests, feeding supplies, and other essentials to families in need. See alloptionsprc.org for more information.
Presentation
Scene II “Juneteenth: The Legacy of Opal Lee”
Closing Hymn
#149 “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
Announcements and Land Acknowledgement
Anabel Watson, Connections Coordinator
Extinguishing the Chalice Flame
“Beacons of Truth” by Mark Morrison-Reed
Benediction
Postlude
Resilience Productions: Who We Are and What We Do
Resilience Productions is a theatrical company created by three women who believe in the power of storytelling because “We are all immortal as long as our stories are told.”
Our mission is to educate, enlighten, and engage the public regarding African Americans’ many unknown and uncelebrated contributions to our state and country’s history. We research, write, and produce live performances inspired by historical events through plays, poetry, and staged readings.
Since its inception in 2016, Resilience Productions has brought compelling and thought-provoking stories of the African American experience to the stage.
Artist Highlight
Patricia Coleman is a Black artist who has worked in many media including poetry and stories, painting, printmaking, fabric design, and quilting. Her painting “Lotus Chalice” hangs in the hallway outside the Meeting Room. Patricia’s painting “Dancing Joy'' was featured in UUWorld magazine a few years ago with this note: “Her varied creative activities seek to ‘breathe out peaceful uplifting imagery, to add to offerings of sustainable positive vibrations through imagery and word.’” A reproduction of her quilted banner for Juneteenth is on the cover of the order of service.