The call to work for justice and peace is a vital part of our faith at The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Our Savior. This June, we are actively engaged in several important community initiatives and observances. We invite you to join us as we celebrate Pride Month, raise awareness about gun violence, and commemorate Juneteenth, reflecting our commitment to love, dignity, and equality for all.
Keeping Busy with Justice & Peace in June-Join us!
June is busting out all over, as the song goes, with opportunities on a variety of issues to show our concern and support for neighbors near and far.
June is Pride Month:
- Thursday, June 5, 5:45 pm: Haddon Township Pride Parade, PATCO parking lot, Crystal Lake Ave. (Rain date, Saturday, June 7) All ages are welcome. Wear a colorful tee-shirt and look for the Our Savior Lutheran banner at the rallying point. Unable to walk the parade route? Gather on Haddon Avenue across the street from Treno to cheer us on. (Meet 5:45 at Westmont PATCO parking lot)
- Wednesday, June 11, 7:00 pm, LCOS Room 112: Gather for a watch party of the award-winning documentary 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture. The video also is available to watch online at home (1946themovie.com).
- Wednesday, June 18, 7:00 pm, LCOS Room 112: Gather with us to talk about the 1946 documentary. John Drozdal will lead the discussion. If we have an overflow crowd, we’ll find a larger meeting space.
- New event—Wednesday, June 25, 7:00 pm, tentative location Room 112: Book discussion of South Jersey author Jackie Domenus’ new release, No Offense, a Memoir in Essays. The book takes a magnifying glass to subtle moments that many people don’t recognize as homophobic or transphobic, exploring the impact of microaggressions on LGBTQ+ folks. The author has been invited to join us! Watch for further announcements about that. The books are available on the counter in the church office. If you would like to help defray the cost, a $20 donation would be appreciated but, not necessary.
National Gun Violence Awareness Day, June 6: Wear Orange Weekend, Jun 6-8
National Gun Violence Awareness Day is Friday, June 6, kicking off the beginning of Wear Orange Weekend—a weekend dedicated to honoring the lives of people in the United States affected by gun violence. Why wear orange? Orange symbolizes the value of each person’s life. We are asked to wear orange to honor the 125 people shot and killed every day in the United States and the more than 200 people shot and wounded.
Resource Fair & Concert featuring Who’s Bad: June 6, 6:00 p.m., Wiggins Waterfront Park, 2 Riverside Dr., Camden.
Among other observances throughout the area, the Camden County Board of Commissioners, along with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, SJ local group, and Community Partners will recognize National Gun Violence Awareness Day 2025 and Wear Orange Weekend with this special concert and resource fair at the Camden Waterfront.
Juneteenth: June 19th
June 19th is the Federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans. Once again this year at LCOS we are observing this important date by displaying Juneteenth flags at the entrances to our church building during the days leading up to this historic date. Keep an eye out starting June 15 for the red and blue flags with a starburst that represents the state of Texas, where slaves in the most remote part of the Confederacy learned of their emancipation on June 19, 1865.
