Letter from Rev. Clarence, 7/3/22

Dear Members and Friends of St. James,

Apologies, I determine, are different from excuses. I offer neither, rather an explanation. Technological difficulties beyond my control delayed my forwarding to you the homily share at Eucharist on Sunday. Inasmuch as my meditation had at its center thoughts pertaining to today, 4 July 2022, our national observance of our Declaration of Independence from an absentee monarch, perhaps my reflections are still pertinent, and also not tardy. As your time permits, I would urge you to take a glance at the lectionary for the day, as the readings may give us all a better understanding of our role as a nation among nations, but more specifically how we as people of faith may make more evident our belief.

On this day of remembrance and celebration of national independence, I bid you pray for our country:
Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.