From the Pastor: July 2025

Dear Friends, 

Up on the third floor of the manse I have boxes of old sermons, not merely my own, but my father’s, grandfather’s, and a few above that.  Last week I came across some words my dad wrote about celebrating the 4th of July.  My dad was very patriotic and loved to sing the Star Spangled Banner so loud at ball games that it greatly embarrassed me, and now I do the same.  And he believed it was his patriotic duty to lovingly speak the need for change in one’s country, as well as in oneself. This is how he put it:

"It’s difficult to be objective about one’s native soil.  Criticizing your country is like examining your own face in the mirror—you’re inclined to overlook the most glaring defects, and single out other things not really deserving of criticism.  This is the trouble with many attitudes toward America—either blind, romantic, idealistic national self-interest on one hand, or cynical, pessimistic, radical self-criticism on the other.

This is why the prophet Amos found it homiletically helpful to begin by attacking surrounding nations, with no doubt enthusiastic nods from his audience, before calling out their own judgement in Israel, with this word from God:  “You only have I known, of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” (Amos 3:2)

Despite all the blessings of God, Israel had persisted in social sins, economic injustice, immorality and irreverence.  So it is that America, rich and powerful, falls under judgement.  On the one hand there are those who equate her with the Babylon of Revelation, whose fall is inevitable, and on the other those as blind as Israel’s supporters in Amos’ day, who think that America is the bride of Christ herself. 

What we need in America today is some good old fashioned patriotism served up with a liberal sprinkling of the Christian doctrine of the sinfulness of humanity.  We must believe in the cause of America’s freedom and justice for all, as we march forward under the banner of the God of love and humility.  If we worship ourselves, disaster.  If we worship God, He can do all things.

Let there be an old-fashioned Fourth of July this year, filled with all the picnicking and the fireworks.  Let’s have some political oratory and some red-white-and-blue bunting.  But as we do, let us be neither liberals, worshiping man; or conservatives, denying man's possibility.  Let us rather be children of light who walk in the midst of darkness with daring and confidence.  Not because we are God’s only hope, but because he is ours."

                                                                        --Rev. Pat McGeachy, July 3, 1966

Love and light,

Martin