Liturgy w/communion for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence

Call to Worship
Nations rise and fall,
but God’s steadfast love endures forever.
We worship the God of justice and mercy.
Empires boast of strength;
politicians guarantee superiority.
We hope in Christ, who welcomes the outsiders.
On city streets and down country roads,
in halls of privilege and homes filled with loss,
The Spirit gathers us as the Beloved Community.

Prayer of the Day
In freedom, you chose to create everything
which is good, which is gentle,
which is caring, which is beautiful,
God of incredible imagination.
From those snow-capped mountains
to sandy beaches at the edge of oceans,
from the meadows rippling with grain
to those forests overflowing with life,
you brought it all forth,
and then in freedom, you gave it all to us,
those creatures shaped in your image,
trusting that we would take good care
of every leaf, every flower, every bird.

In freedom, you became one of us,
Jesus of justice,
and we are set free from all our foolishness,
our fears of those who are different,
our inability to let go of harmful pasts.
So, in our freedom, may we see those
who are forgotten in our rush for more,
who have been belittled in the drive
to show how great, how powerful we can be,
who are seen as less than we think we are,
who are treated as if they are not our siblings.

In freedom, you offer us your wisdom,
Spirit of peace, patience, and practicality,
so that we can hear the voices of all who have
been ignored by those who control the narrative.
so that we can listen to hearts broken
by prejudices taught so long ago,
so that we can reach out our hands and walk
with the vulnerable and lonely who feel
that no one cares one tiny bit for them.

In freedom, we could choose to be arrogant,
we could choose to be selfish,
we could choose to be uncaring,
so may we choose to be like you,
God in Community, Holy in One,
who created us to be good,
to be compassionate, to be loving,
even as we pray as Jesus taught us,
(The Lord’s Prayer)

Call to Reconciliation
We recall the days when freedom was seen as embracing each person. We also know there are promises put on hold, justice delayed, voices not heard. Yet, the God who created us welcomes the truth of our lives in these days. And so, trusting in God’s mercy and not our exceptionalism, we offer our broken lives to God.

Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
   God of history, we celebrate freed in this time, yet so many are held captive by fear, hate, grief, and unjust systems. We speak of justice while some enjoy benefits and others are forgotten. We pledge loyalty to a flag while ignoring newcomers whose stories do not match ours.
   God of every nation, may we never let patriotism become idolatry or criticism become despair. May we never forget that we are citizens of your Beloved Community before any human loyalty. We pray this through Jesus Christ, who tears down all walls which divide us and creates one family from all peoples. Amen.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Grace
Remember: God sent Christ into the world not to condemn it but redeem it. Christ opens the doors we would lock, the Spirit gathers us as one when we would become many who are isolated, and no matter how often we forget, the Creator calls us beloved.
Thanks be to God – we are forgiven! God sends us forth to love our neighbors, to welcome the stranger, and seek good for all people. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication
You do not ask us to pledge our lives, our fortunes, our sacred honor, God of our times, but simply give a portion of our blessings that the forgotten might be exalted, the hungry fed, the lonely welcomed, the hurting healed, and for justice to be shared by all. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of freedom be with you.
And also with you.
Children of God, lift your hearts.
We lift them to the One who sets us free
for lives of service and hope.
God's children: let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
We will sing our songs of freedom
to the One who calls us to new life.

Before there were borders or flags,
before declarations or constitutions,
you spoke your Word into chaos,
Creator of every person, every nation.
Starry nights stretched across the sky,
waves of every grain shimmered in the sun.
Mountains towered above plains
overflowing with abundant fruit,
lands stretched from sea to sea
where we could live with you.
We were shaped in your loving image—
not to be strangers or enemies,
but neighbors and family.
Every time we built walls of fear,
you sent prophets of justice,
every place power crushed the vulnerable,
you raised voices crying out for freedom.
When we forgot that liberty belongs
to all your children,
you called us back to righteousness.
And when we wandered
from your dream of unity,
you sent your own Child,
not to wield power
but to wash feet,
not to destroy the enemy
but to love them,
not to create an empire
but reveal your Beloved Community.

Therefore, with saints and citizens,
with dreamers of freedom
and those still longing for justice,
we sing our thanksgiving to you.

Holy, holy, holy are you, God of all nations.
All creation rejoices in your freedom.
Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One whose truth sets us free.
Hosanna in the highest!

You are holy and just, God of life,
and blessed is your Child, Jesus.
As others built fences,
he opened doors to all,
when crowds sought revenge,
he offered grace to all,
where fear would divide neighbors,
he made room for all.
Loving your mercy for us
more than his own life,
he willingly chose to go to the cross,
that we might receive your gracious gift
of life forever with you.

As we remember the freedom he offered to all,
as we celebrate the gift of life which comes to us
here at this Table of love,
we speak of that mystery called faith:

In freedom, Christ came to live among us.
In freedom, Christ chose to die for others.
In freedom, Christ will return.

At this Table of grace and love,
pour out your Spirit upon these gifts
of the bread of life and cup of grace
and on all who gather in this moment.
As the bread which is broken
can make us whole,
may divided people become one,
may broken neighborhoods
become communities of healing,
may freedom walk hand in hand with justice,
and liberty, responsibility, and compassion
become our faithful guides in our time.
As the cup fills us with grace,
remind us that before any nation,
we are first citizens of your Beloved Community,
that in this land which is still
a work in progress, we may speak
truth and not angry words,
we may seek justice with hope,
we may share freedom with all,
and love neighbors without exception.

And when all time has ended,
all borders crumbled and nations dissolved,
we will gather with our siblings
from every time and place,
forever singing your praises,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.

Sending
Our calling as God’s people
is the same call we have as a nation:
we are not to live as partisans,
but as disciples of God’s grace;
we are called to not win arguments,
but to share the justice of Jesus;
we are not to be bearers of fear,
but to carry Spirit’s peace and hope
into a world desperate for these gifts.
We will welcome the outsider,
we will hear forgotten voices,
we will respect the vulnerable,
we will practice humility,
we will speak truth to power,
we will seek justice with grace,
we will live as citizens
of God’s Beloved Community.

© 2026 Thom M. Shuman

Venmo: @Thom-Shuman