250th anniversary!

Dear Congregation,

Tomorrow, as our country celebrates its Independence and its 250th anniversary, many of us come to this day with mixed emotions. While we do love our country, its beauty and ideals, we are deeply troubled by what it has become under the current administration—an initiator of the war with Iran, the creator of masked ICE agents who terrorize immigrants, builder of immigrant detention facilities where human rights are violated, maker of policies whose attempt is to revision history especially regarding slavery, taker away of the civil rights of the GLBTQ+ community, usurper of women’s health care decisions, and much more.

Christian Nationalism has raised its ugly head and has perverted the Gospel with its messages of exclusion and hate. As Christians our primary allegiance is “…not to a partisan platform, but to the Gospel,” wrote The Rev. Dr. Lori Walke. Our symbol is not the American flag, but the cross of Christ. Church and State should indeed be separate.

And so, this Sunday there will be the opportunity after worship for you to participate in a Sharing Circle in which we reflect together on how we’re feeling about our country’s 250th Anniversary in light of our faith. We will have ice cream and popsicles, traditional Fourth of July treats, to enjoy as we:

1) Share a fond memory from a previous 4th of July celebration.

2) Share something you love about your country.

3) Share something that causes you worry about your country.

4) Share a hope you have for your country.

5) Share what you think it means to follow Jesus in difficult times.

I hope you’ll be present to connect with your church community.

All ages, backgrounds and all beliefs will be heard and valued in this space.

“For Freedom Christ Has Set Us Free”

In Christ’s love,

Pastor Candy