Dear Beloved:


Last week I dug through memorabilia to find things I kept from 1976. I found newspapers and even an art collections of the presidents’ portraits, through Nixon. I remember writing a paper for school about the celebration, and I have passed on a Scholastic book titled, Day of Glory, to my grandchild, a book I have kept for more than 50 years about the surrounding events and the Battles of Lexington and Concord. All the while, I was watching the World Cup, cheering “USA! USA!” in my living room. And watching the PC(USA) General Assembly with a range of emotions, especially as we debated issues of speaking truth to power in the name of bearing the yoke of Christ. The joy of that bicentennial celebration was completely different from this years’ joy and angst.

It’s not easy being Christian in America today, celebrating what is good and right and honorable. And honestly admitting what is evil and wrong and dishonorable. I offer this takeaway from our July 5thworship that was presented in the Invitation to Confession:

“seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare….” Jeremiah 29:7

This invitation suggests a theological premise from which faithful citizens of heaven (the church) advocate for justice and peace in and among the earthly nations where they live. I believe that the imago dei resides in every US citizen and resident (with or without papers), and across all national and ethnic boundaries we define. We are all beloved children of God.

Praying for the USA is not the same as being a white Christian nationalist. 

The reality is this nation has yet to fulfill the call of justice, to labor for peace, to provide human rights for all. Therefore, I pray, and invite you to your own,

Lord our God, king of the universe, please, bless the United States of America! We need it. We need you. And bless your church within its borders, that we may be ambassadors of Christ’s ministry of reconciliation. Keep us, the disciples of Christ, from confusing our allegiance to you with any pledge of duty on earth. Come, Lord Jesus to save us from ourselves and from temptation and deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, yours the power and to you belongs all glory forever. Amen.

Peace, RevBev