On the Sunday of the July 4th weekend I offered this prayer in worship at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church. It was suggested to me that I post it here. I'm following that suggestion. That the nation might be chastened by goodness. 

  Common Prayer, Pinnacle Presbyterian Church
  July 6, 2014, by Dr. Wesley Avram

A July 4 Prayer:
Toward a Nation Chastened by Goodness

Holy One, on this July 4 weekend, we pause to remember the sacred gift of land and nation. We are grateful for the freedom we share, the security we know, and the common good we desire. Keep us good stewards of each, that we might not hoard freedom at others' expense, confuse false security for true, lose the great blessing of community as we seek our individual happiness. Bless our nation with honest industry, sound learning, and an honorable way of life. Save us from violence, discord, arrogance, and from every threat to our values. Help us honor each other, even in our differences, and give us compassion, even as we expect each other to do our best for those we love. 

Give those entrusted with governing the spirit of wisdom, freedom from undue influence, and a desire to serve. Give those who serve in the military protection, good judgment, and a deep and abiding knowledge that they are prayed for and appreciated. Though they may be at war, keep their hearts for peace.

And on this day, for each of us who seek to follow you, let the memory of our baptism fill our vision. Remind us of the unity we share across borders with all who are baptized into your church. And through your church, let us know how profoundly connected we are to all people. Let the blessing we know as freedom be for us more than a privilege to protect, but also a gift to share. Bless all that aspire to your liberty. Bless all that work for your justice. Bless all that open doors of sympathy. Bless all that resist evil, love goodness, and do your work.

With so many places of concern on our minds in these days, we lift to you Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Israel and the Occupied Territories, the Sudan, the Central African Republic, the Congo and other African nations, the Ukraine, Turkey, European nations undergoing economic struggles, our own hemisphere including Haiti, Mexico, cities and towns of our own land where opportunity seems elusive and life is hard or violence rules.

In all of these places, and more, embolden those who would shape change in positive directions. Let your Spirit be the author of the future, the protector of the young, and the maker of peace.

And so finally, O Lord, we pray today as we pray every day:

For those who are ill among us.
For those who are lonely.
For those who face difficult decisions.
For those who have died, and for those who have been born.
For those unemployed, uncertain, or insecure.
And also for those who rejoice this day, for new opportunities, new love, new faith, strong will, health, and well being.
Through it all, we are yours.

Amen. 

Beyond the Christian holidays of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and Pentecost, my favorite secular holiday is the Fourth of July. This probably stems back to my grandma’s love for this holiday. For us, the Fourth of July was not just a day to celebrate the founding of our Nation, nor was it only a day for a parade, fireworks, and parties (although we did all that too); this was a day to celebrate our family story and how we have intricately been woven together.

Every year my extended family would travel back to my Dad’s hometown to celebrate together. The town’s festivities included street dances, a huge firework display, a parade and a family picnic lunch. We didn’t miss one minute of it.

Our traditions stayed the same each year. My grandma would paint all the girls nails in red, white and blue. We would wear our new Fourth of July attire. My uncles and dad would head to the firework stand to get the best firework work display for our “at-home show.” We always gathered at the dads' childhood home for the fireworks and make sure we arrived extra early to get our spot for the parade. Our traditional food for the Fourth of July meal included: watermelon, grandma’s homemade rolls, fried chicken, potatoes, and spaghetti (from our favorite fried chicken place), and whatever Fourth of July themed dessert that my grandma made from the July cover of Better Homes and Gardens.

Each year I looked forward to our trip home for the Fourth, but as I have grown older I realize that while I love fireworks and seeing my extended family, what makes this weekend so special are not the things we do, but the memories we share. Every year, my aunts and uncles would tell stories of their childhood, my grandma and great-aunts and uncles would tell us about growing up “back then,” we celebrated the traditions that were passed down from generation to generation as we enjoyed spending time together. It was during this weekend that we remember how we belong together and how our stories intersected even though we all live all around the world.

This year as I have been reflecting on the upcoming week, I keep thinking about the Last Supper that the disciples celebrated with Jesus. A meal that ended with Jesus telling the disciples to “do this in remembrance of me.” Jesus wanted to give the disciples a physical act of remembering their story and reminding them in the midst of struggle, busyness and stress that this is where they belong. Jesus wanted to point them to the visible signs of Jesus’ grace that abounds around us.

When we take communion, it isn’t just a piece of bread and a sip of juice, it is the sign and symbol of who we really are—this is our story, this is where we belong. It is easy to forget with the overwhelming lives we live and yet it keeps coming back: this is who we are—Jesus says, You are my beloved. I love you and I am right here.

Even though my grandma passed away, grandchildren are grown, some have married, children have been born, loved ones have passed away; my family still goes back every other year to celebrate this wonderful holiday. The events have not changed nor has the famous Fourth of July meal. What has changed is who is telling the stories. Now as adults, grandchildren remember the stories of the past and continue to tell our stories that shape our family’s future.

Our individual stories are important; they tell about struggles, joys, tears, laughter and day-to-day life that shapes us. But what brings us back to our Christian story are the moments we return to experience the grace found in simple bread and cup, the people we share the meal with, and the story of Jesus that is living within us all.

Blessings to you this 4^th of July. May God be with you until we meet again at the Lord’s Table.