Message from the Pastor - Archive

July

In just a few days we celebrate in the birth of our country. We celebrate our freedoms by having barbecues, attending parades, watching fireworks. Its truly a time to be thankful for the country in which we live and which we call home. There is one other way we can celebrate our country’s birth that may not be so obvious — and that is going to church. Our founding fathers did not want to establish an official religion, but instead gave us freedom of religion. This is a wonderful thing. There are many places in our world where Christians still fear gathering together for worship. There are places where Christians are still imprisoned or worse for their faith. Yes, even in the 21st century there are still martyrs for Christ.

You and I are so lucky and blessed that we can come to church without fear of reprisal or persecution!

It is not always easy to live with freedom of religion. Because our country has not established a state religion, this means we live with religious diversity. Our churches are side by side with synagogues, mosques and temples. But by setting up this standard of freedom, it not only means that other groups can meet without fear, but we can too. Again, even though it is hard sometimes to coexist with our friends of other faiths, it is indeed a blessing that each one of us has the power to choose how, when, and where we will worship.

So, as we go about celebrating our nation’s freedoms with our various activities, let us also remember to give thanks for the freedom we have to gather for public worship – and then do it! Come to worship!

Let us pray:
Thank you God for giving us this country and for the gift of being able to worship you without fear of recrimination or persecution. We pray for those who live in other parts of the world who do not have such freedom. Give them strength to persevere, courage to stand up for what they believe, and the peace of knowing your presence with them through their trials. Help us not to take our freedoms for granted, especially the freedom we have to be your disciples and to worship you openly. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

Peace,
Pastor Lisa