Wednesday Word from Rev. Grace

I hope you all enjoyed a pleasant July 4 holiday yesterday.

For Episcopalians in the US, Independence Day is both a national holiday and a liturgical holiday. It is listed in the calendar of the Prayer Book on page 25 as a day for special prayer and remembrance. Our Wednesday Eucharist tonight will use the scriptures for the day.

We are rightly careful in this country to keep church and state separate. Mingling the two has proven harmful to both church and state. State control of the church damages the church's witness. Religious control of government limits the rights and freedoms of others. Separation of church and state in this nation is a gift we should hold dear.

Still, acknowledging Independence Day as a religious holiday seems like a healthy practice to me. It reminds us to give thanks for the many blessings of living in this country - the freedom, diversity, and beauty of our nation. And it invites us to examine our common life and consider where there is room to grow. It is like Ash Wednesday - a day to remember with reverence who we are and who we hope to be.

If you're free, join us tonight at 5:30 in the chapel as we give thanks and pray for our great nation, our leaders, and our future.

Blessings -
Grac