Family Campfire Singalong
July 4^th at 7:30pm in the Churchyard
Followed by Fireworks on the Beach

St. Michael Night Out
Tuesday, July 13^th at the Shrine Club
Gather at 6pm for Fun and Trivia
Dinner ($10) at 7pm
We need a head count so please call the office by 10am Monday 7/12

As we celebrate the anniversary of our nation’s independence this weekend, we express our thanksgiving to God for the blessings of religious liberty, which guarantees that we may freely exercise our religious convictions as individuals and as a faith community. Our nation was founded on belief in God. The President takes his oath of office by placing his hand on the Bible, the Word of God, and ends with, “So help me God.” In our pledge of allegiance we say, “One nation under God.” Engraved on our money is “In God we trust.” Our Congress has a chaplain, begins each session with a prayer and provides for chaplains for the Military.

Our Founding Fathers may have opted for a separation of Church and state but not for a separation of God and state.  The division of life into the sacred and the secular is a false dichotomy. There is not now, there never was and there will never be the purely secular, that is, anyone or anything which is not dependent on God.  It is only in God that we truly are free.  So, we pray this day:

For the freedom to love… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to believe… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to hope… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to worship… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to serve in charity… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to care for the suffering… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to comfort the sick… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to feed the hungry… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to shelter the homeless… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to proclaim the Gospel… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to walk in chastity… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to live in peace… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to work in good conscience… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to stand in solidarity… Give us your grace.
For the freedom to seek justice… Give us your grace.

Prayer for Independence Day
God, source of all freedom, this day is bright with the memory of those that declared that life and liberty are your gift to every human being. Help us to continue a good work begun long ago. Turn our hearts towards the family of nations: to understand the ways of others, to offer friendship, and to find safety in the common good for all. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

On the Way Home: Mark 6:4 “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place.” Do you want a prophetic church?  For what causes? Racial justice? Immigration? Care for the environment?  Pro-life issues?  An end to gun violence?  Voter’s rights?