A PERSONAL NOTE

This morning we got to go to church with our daughter Sarah, her daughter Brianna, Brianna's boyfriend, her daughter Hadley, Hadley's friend; Rachel, & her son Bentley. It is always a joy to attend worship with them, especially with our worship service includes Holy Communion.

SERVING GOD

"But in order to be used by God in any capacity, a Christian must be willing to serve God no matter what it costs . . . Whenever someone asked Christ about what would be expected of him as a follower, He always tested their willingness to surrender everything for God's sake." Larry Burkett, Men's Devotional Bible

EXTENDING GOD'S KINGDOM

"When it came to establishing God's kingdom 'on earth as it is in heaven,' Jesus built with an architecture of hope. He didn't swoop in with big appliances & low-interest loans. Yes, He miraculously fed people, healed people, even raised some from the dead. But again & again, He said this wasn't God's complete work (John 6:26). For Jesus, God's Word made flesh, the goal was & is still to build up trust between God & humankind. When the Word became human, He accompanied people on the way. He took the long walk, building God's kingdom one relationship a a time, at the ambling rate of two-and-a-half miles per hour. Jesus embraced the slow process, even as it would pass through His death on the cross, leading people into a Resurrection Life that has begun, but won't be complete within the span of our mortal lives." Rev. Michael Zeigler, Speaker of the Lutheran Hour, The Lutheran Layman, Spring 2022

TWO PRAYERS FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY *

* These prayer seem especially appropriate, given the current state of things in our country.

From "My Prayer Book"

O God, our help in ages past, our Hope for years to come, I give You grateful thanks on this anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence for the priceless blessings of liberty that with Your help were won for us by our ancestors. Stir up within us, I pray You, a new appreciation of the life, liberty, & pursuit of happiness we enjoy in this land of the free, & a greater readiness to serve our nation with our talents. Teach us, above all, to treasure that precious freedom of conscience & worship, without which other liberties would not long survive. May we never contribute to the loss of these dearly won blessing by our selfishness, ambition, or indifference.

Teach us furthermore, O Lord, that the enjoyment of freedom brings with it the responsibility to serve. To that end make us willing to respect the laws of our country, to serve our fellow citizens well in any office of trust to which we may be elected, to exercise faithfully our privilege to vote, & to give our loyal support to all public institutions.

Bless all those in authority. Give wisdom & faithfulness to those in positions of leadership. Preserve them from becoming the prey of selfish pressure groups, & give them willingness to serve the interests of the public.

Grant enduring peace to our country & its institutions, so that Your Gospel may be able without hindrance to turn the hearts of all from the bondage of sin to the freedom won by the blood of our precious Redeemer, in whose name & for whose sake we ask this. Amen.

From "Lutheran Book of Prayer"

Eternal Father, Ruler of all nations, on this day when our country celebrates its birth, we thank You for all spiritual & temporal blessings enjoyed in our land. In Your mercy, You have sustained this nation in times of trouble & preserved its liberties. Teach us anew to treasure especially that dearly won freedom of conscience & worship that is the cornerstone of this country's principles. Let us not misuse this liberty nor forget that true freedom is freedom to serve. 

Give us willingness to share in the process of democratic rule, to respect our country's laws, & to work for the preservation of its institutions. Forgive our past sins committed as a nation in the name of misguided patriotism, self-interest, or political expediency. Confound all those who, for the sake of partisanship or other motives, would sacrifice the greater welfare. Grant wisdom to our leaders. Strengthen all those who drive to do Your will. Increase loyalty to You & to our beloved country. Protect us & our fellow citizens from all subversive or terrorist acts. Above all, dear God, speed the course of Your Gospel among us, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, hearts are turned to that freedom from sin & death that You alone graciously give through Jesus Christ. Amen.

TWO HYMNS FOR OUR INDEPENDENCE DAY

Before You, Lord, We Bow (LSB #966, Sts. 1, 2)*

Before You, Lord, we bow, Our God who reigns above And rules the world below, Boundless in pow'r and love. Our thanks we bring In joy & praise, Our hearts we raise to You, our King!

The nation You have blest May well Your love declare, From foes & fears at rest, Protected by Your care. For this bright day, For this fair land--Gifts of Your had--Our thanks we pay.

* FYI:  The text of this hymn was written by Francis Scott Key.

God Bless Our Native Land (LSB #965)

God bless our native land; Firm may she ever stand Through storm & night. When the wild tempests rave, Ruler of wind & wave, Do Thou our country save By Thy great might.

So shall our prayers arise To God above the skies; On Him we wait. Thou who art ever nigh, Guarding with watchful eye, To Thee aloud we cry:  God save the state!