Pastor’s Corner "Thanks and Prayers for Our Nation"

As the 250^th Independence Day approaches, I’ve been reading through various quotes about the birth of the United States of America. John Adams, a primary author of the Declaration of Independence, wrote the following words to his wife Abigail after the vote to declare independence:

“I am apt to believe that [Independence Day] will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other….”

On this 250^th Fourth of July, there will be ample opportunity to participate in the “Pomp and Parade” celebrating the independence of our nation. I look forward to the food and fireworks (“Illuminations!”) as my family gives thanks for the many gifts we enjoy by living in this country – the simple pleasures of burgers and jazz; the remarkable beauty of intermingled cultures and ethnicities; the profound legacy of a nation founded on the truth that God created each person to enjoy equality, life, liberty, and happiness.

On the Fifth of July, we have the opportunity to participate in “solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty.” Last Sunday we remembered that even as we give our primary allegiance to Jesus, whose “kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36), the Lord directs us to seek the welfare of the nation in which he has placed us (Jeremiah 29:7). The greatest gift we give our nation is our faithful, uncompromised worship of the one true God, what we offer to him every Sunday (and every day!) at Immanuel.

Within that worship, we also seek the welfare of our nation through intercession and thanksgiving (Jeremiah 29:7; 1 Timothy 2:1-4). Last week we handed out notecards so you could write down your prayers and thanksgivings for our nation. Bring those cards with you this Sunday so that we can create our “Prayer Wall.” (We’ll have additional cards available as well.) After the Nicene Creed, our music ministry will offer “America the Beautiful” as an intercession for our country. During the music, you will be invited to bring your cards into the sanctuary, placing them in crevices of the stones behind the Table. We will then pray through a series of Collects taken from our Book of Common Prayer.

The Prayer Wall will remain in place throughout July, inviting us to remain in intentional intercession for these United States. “America! God crown thy good with brotherhood…God mend thine every flaw…God thy gold refine…God shed his grace on thee!”

Your guest celebrant and preacher will be the Rev. Wade Bradshaw. Father Wade is a priest in our diocese who is becoming a trusted friend of mine. He and his wife Chryse have formed a monastic community and retreat center in central Virginia named Benediction Farm, where they also raise water buffalo! I’m confident you will enjoy them, and they will enjoy you.

And even while I’m on vacation, I’ll still be praying for y’all.

Your Pastor in Christ,