Dear Partners in Ministry:

As a kid in school, my class would say the Pledge of Allegiance every day. We held our hand over our heart and said together “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all!” That always sounded good to me, and it still does! It just seems more out of reach these days, with all our divisions and different ‘tribes’ that hardly know how to talk with one another or treat each other with respect.

In reality, divisions are a longstanding human sin; perhaps in some ways “the original sin”. There was Cain and there was Abel. There were the 12 tribes of Israel, which were only briefly united into one kingdom. There were the 12 male disciples of Jesus, nitpicking over “who is the greatest?” Even St. Paul and Barnabas had a sharp spat and split up rather than carry the good news of the risen Christ to the world together!

And then the American colonies split from England. And then our un-Civil War almost broke this nation permanently in two. (Don’t forget that St. John’s split-off from David’s Star Church in July of 1862! Was that a ‘friendly’ departure? I don’t know!) President Lincoln famously quoted Jesus with his “House Divided” speech, focused on the issue of slavery: “A house divided against itself cannot stand!” We’re good at division! Let us remember that God is all about multiplication!

As we’re on the eve of our nation’s 250th birthday, it is good to ask: What kind of nation do we aspire to be? And it is good to also ask, What sort of nation is God calling us to be? And how do we get there?

None of us has a magic wand or a crystal ball, but all of us have the same really good guidance from Jesus. What are the two most important commandments? Love God! Love neighbor! Jesus indicates that that’s really what matters! Loving and obeying God shows us who we are, and what God requires of us. Loving and respecting our neighbor-whoever that is, and wherever they are-is something that, with the help of the Spirit, we can do!

Is that clear enough? If we want to celebrate America at “250” and keep building this nation, then we love God and we love our neighbor! And if we want to celebrate St. John’s at “164” and keep building this church, then we love God and love our neighbor, too! It is a simple and as challenging as that!

Here’s a prayer for our nation from our hymnal: Holy Trinity, one God: Make us, who came from many nations and languages, a united people that delights in our many different gifts. Defend our liberties, and give those whom we have entrusted with authority the spirit of wisdom, that there might be justice and peace in our land, we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.,

Grace and peace, Pastor Paul