The First Congregational Church of Wareham, located at 11 Gibbs Avenue, invites the community to join in celebration of Juneteenth, or Freedom Day.

Juneteenth celebrates June 19, 1865, the date when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to ensure that all enslaved people be free and that the institution of slavery be ended.

Celebration of remembrance begins with a Sunday, June 16 service at 10 a.m. The service includes a liturgical dance by a local Baptist youth group.

On Tuesday, June 18, the church’s Stone Church Cafe brings out food, reflection and entertainment. The event begins at 6:30 with a light meal including BBQ, red velvet cake, hibiscus tea and much more. at 7:30, the women’s spiritual music group “Voices of Hope” guides the audience through a musical celebration that includes gospel songs and new Swahili and South African music, interspersed by reflection on the history on the history, impact and importance of Juneteenth to all Americans.