Sunday, June 14, 2020 5:00 pm CST/4:00 pm MST Mrs. Twyla Woods-Buford Mid-Western Regional Director Dr. Glenda Glover Supreme Basileus
A Brief History of Juneteenth The Emancipation Proclamation, which went into effect on January 1, 1863, was read aloud as a general order freeing slaves living in Texas, two and a half years after the signing in Galveston, Texas, to a quarter-million slaves residing in the state. It was truly a day of mass emancipation. It has become known as Juneteenth. Since then, Juneteenth has been a day of celebration for many African Americans, a de facto second Independence Day commemorating the end of slavery and a first step toward inclusion in the greater American dream. Currently, a little more than half of U.S. states acknowledge Juneteenth in some form or another, usually on the third Saturday of June. During the civil rights struggles of the 1950s and '60s, as African Americans looked more to change their future rather than focus on the past, Juneteenth celebration was not so widely popular. Following a resurgence in popularity in the '70s, Al Edwards, a Texas state legislator introduced a bill to make Juneteenth a state holiday in 1979; Texas was the first state-approved celebration that took place the following year. In recognizing the history of American freedom, advocates say, Juneteenth is as deserving of recognition as Independence Day. America cannot really celebrate freedom in America by just celebrating the Fourth of July.
Mid-Western Regional Directors
Delorise Gines th 19 MWRD
Brenda Lewis th
25 MWRD
Maggie Green th
28 MWRD
Wessylyne Simpson nd 22 MWRD
Betty Davis-Gause th 26 MWRD
Jan Carpenter-Baker th 29 MWRD
Alberta Jones th 24 MWRD
Vicki Miles-LaGrange th 27 MWRD
Twyla Woods-Burford th
30 MWRD
Juneteenth Spiritual Jubilee Celebration Speaker – Minister Quanda Brown
Sergeant First Class (Retired) Quanda Annette Brown was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. She is the daughter of Deacon Larry and Reverend Judith Brown. She graduated Des Moines North High School in 1992 and joined the United States Army in 1993. SFC (Ret.) Brown deployed to combat four times: Iraq (2003-04) with Ft. Campbell, KY 101st Screaming Eagles; Iraq (2006-07) with the Aberdeen Proving Ground Band; Afghanistan (2008-09) with Ft. Hood, TX, 1st Infantry Division; Afghanistan (2010-11) with Ft. Drum, NY, 10th Mountain Division. She was awarded the Bronze Star in 2009. In June 1999, she received her calling to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. At the time she was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. She travelled back to Des Moines, Iowa to deliver her first sermon at her home church, Maple Street Missionary Baptist Church. SFC (Ret.) Brown now resides in Des Moines, Iowa and is an associate minister at Corinthian Baptist Church. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Theology from Grand View University, Des Moines, Iowa. Her aspirations are to continue to share of the goodness of God through preaching and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and by the ministry of music. SFC (Ret.) Brown is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®, initiated into the Iota Zeta Omega Chapter, Des Moines, Iowa in 2015.
Juneteenth Spiritual Jubilee Celebration Order of Service
Call to Services ................................. Mrs. Jan Carpenter -Baker Musical Selection...................................Mid-Western Region’s Silver Tones Beta Kappa Omega Wichita, KS
Prayer ..................................................Ms. Delorise Gines Scripture Readings .........................................Mrs. Maggieann Green
Litany .........................................................Ms. Delorise Gines & Ms. Brenda Lewis
Introduction of Speaker .........................Soror Betty Davis Gause Musical Selection...............................................Silver Tones
Speaker Reverend Quanda Brown
Closing Remarks .............................. Mrs. Twyla Woods-Buford
Mid-Western Regional Director
Benediction ..................................Reverend Daphne Braswell
Mid-Western Region’s Silver Tones Beta Kappa Omega Chapter Wichita, KS
Litany: Juneteenth Spiritual Jubilee: A Reason to Celebrate
Leader:
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth, which is also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day is an American holiday honoring African American heritage and celebrated by people of all ethnic and racial backgrounds. It commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the State of Texas in 1865
All:
As Alpha Kappa Alpha Women of Faith, we pledge to rely on our faith as we celebrate the spiritual journey of our ancestors and move forward with love, empathy, and understanding in our communities and to all mankind.
Leader:
Juneteenth represents how freedom and justice in the U.S. has always been delayed for African Americans. What has followed is the disproportionate impact of mass incarceration, discriminatory housing policies, and a lack of economic investment.
Now, as national attention remains focused on acts of police violence and various racial profiling incidents, progress has been made since 1965, but considerable barriers continue to impede our progress. All:
As Alpha Kappa Alpha Women of Faith, we pledge to rely on our faith as we celebrate the spiritual journey of our ancestors and move forward with love, empathy, and understanding in our communities and to all mankind.
Leader:
Our ancestors taught us that prayer is timeless. Our deep spiritual faith in the Almighty is reflected in our prayers. Father, we stretch our hand to thee--for no other help, I know. Allow this Juneteenth Spiritual Jubilee, to serve as a reminder to sorors in the Mid-Western Region of our ability to hold on to hope and to our God.
All:
As Alpha Kappa Alpha Women of Faith, we pledge to rely on our faith as we celebrate the spiritual journey of our ancestors and move forward with love, empathy, and understanding in our communities and to all mankind.
Leader:
God has granted us freedom. Let us use it wisely, guard it carefully, and embrace it fully.
All:
As Alpha Kappa Alpha Women of Faith, we pledge to rely on our faith as we celebrate the spiritual journey of our ancestors and move forward with love, empathy, and understanding in our communities and to all mankind.
Leader:
Father, before we go further, we want to pause and thank you for allowing us to use this Juneteenth Spiritual Jubilee as a reminder of our tenacity, our ability to hold on to hope, and to our loving God.
All:
As Alpha Kappa Alpha Women of Faith, we pledge to rely on our faith as we celebrate the spiritual journey of our ancestors and move forward with love, empathy, and understanding of our communities and to all mankind.
Leader:
Many Juneteenth activities have been canceled or now are being celebrated virtually, but what will never be changed is the influence of Alpha Kappa Alpha women as we continue to emphasize the importance of education and awareness. We can unite people of all ethnic groups and religions; to continue to come together as we spread the word of what our ancestors endured
and helped each other to understand why racism and bigotry cannot have the last word. All:
As Alpha Kappa Alpha Women of Faith, we pledge to rely on our faith as we celebrate the spiritual journey of our ancestors and move forward with love, empathy, and understanding of our communities and to all mankind.
Leader:
Let all of our members and their families continue to hope for a better tomorrow while remembering and rejoicing over our triumphant heritage. We will not forget. We will continue to tell our ancestral story of bondage that gave way to freedom, spiritually, and physically.
All:
As Alpha Kappa Alpha Women of Faith, we pledge to rely on our faith as we celebrate the spiritual journey of our ancestors. We move forward with love, empathy, and understanding while promoting Equality, Justice and Action in our communities and for all mankind.
Leader:
Today, we celebrate Juneteenth because We Too Are America, and we will continue to say, Free at Last, Free at Last, thank God Almighty, we are free at last.
Special Thanks to the Mid-Western Region Technology Committee Elonia Norwood – Chairman - Beta Omega Ramona Davis - Co- Chairman - Beta Omega Alires Almon – Mu Omega Omega Shereece Dendy-Sanders - Delta Upsilon Omega Karmen Gooch – Beta Omega Danielle McKelvy - Mu Omega Evetta McMillan-Walker – Mu Omega Omega Pat Mitchell - Mu Omega Devona Whitfield - Beta Sigma Omega
Kansas – Missouri – Oklahoma – Colorado Nebraska – Iowa – Wyoming – Montana Mrs. Twyla Woods- Buford Mid-Western Region Director P.O. Box 16748 Kansas City, Missouri 64133