Good evening and Happy Sabbath. Just a reminder that tomorrow we will be having a Red, White and Blue themed potluck in all three congregations

250 years of the United States of America

4th of July. Independence Day. Or just simply, ‘The Fourth.’ Whatever phrase you use, tomorrow marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of America.

Technically speaking, it’s the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. John Hancock signed it that day as the President of the 2nd Continental Congress, thus making it official. The remaining 55 delegates from all 13 of the original colonies would sign it between then and August 2, 1776.

Our enduring legacy

America is known for a lot of things. ‘Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet,’ as the old commercial goes. Military strength, a certain pride and dozens of other things you could probably think of.

But above all, America is known for and values one thing above all: freedom. Freedom of speech, to assemble, to believe what we want. It’s that freedom that allows us to keep God’s Sabbath and His Holy Days without fear of persecution.

A greater freedom

We are blessed with many freedoms the world can only dream of. But we would do well to remember there is a great freedom than that we possess, available to all people of earth, regardless of their country of origin.

We have freedom from sin and death through Jesus Christ.

As you celebrate the 4th of July this weekend, we absolutely should take time to thank God for the many amazing blessings we have in our nation. But don’t forget about the most amazing freedom of all, the freedom granted to us by God the Father through His son, Jesus Christ.