Almighty and Ever-Faithful God, You, whose Word of Liberty was proclaimed by Moses to free the Israelites from Egyptian enslavement send that same Word, heralded on Juneteenth in a proclamation of emancipation, to our African American brothers and sisters inhumanly bound in American enslavement. Though our Freedom Journey is far from ended and the Freedom Proclamation continues to unfold, we give you thanks and praise for seeing us to this point on our mighty long way. Thank you, Lord, for fortifying our sisters and brothers of ebony skin and stout spirits whose faithfulness and courage released their calloused hand from the oppressive yoke of their enslavement to plow new paths of citizenship and opportunity for themselves and successive generations. And, we thank you, Lord, for the strength and resolve You bestowed upon the arduous work and fervent prayers of all who, throughout history, have had to trod stony roads and bear bitter rods in order to rise up against the pervasive oppressions of unjust racial persecutions and structural racial inequities. As we come together in this momentous occasion, we ask for Your Word of Liberty to continue to inform us and more of Your blessings to aid us along this toilsome journey towards true justice and equity. Grant us Your grace to open the eyes of all who are blinded by the poison of intolerance. May we all see Your image inscribed within everyone we encounter. Lend us Your love to free the hearts of all who are shackled by hatred and guile. May we dwell within Your love that binds us together as a Sacred Family unified as One Allot us Your mercy to expand all minds beyond the confines of prejudice, apathy, fear and discrimination. May these works of the Evil One flee at the presence of Your light. With Your Holy Spirit, empower us to be Ministers of Liberty as we repair, restore, and renovate all that has been broken by the blight of continued systemic racism and racial oppression. May Your work in us be our work in the world that gives glory to Your Holy Name and inspires us all to be our better selves. We ask these graces of You as we ask of all things, Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.