The 4th of July

One of the privileges I have as Outreach Coordinator for the VICaP Faith in Action program of Beatitudes Center DOAR is to attend various worship services of the faith communities that  are our covenantal partners.  This past Sunday, July 1, the congregation of Shepherd of the Hills Congregational Church (UCC) in Phoenix, one of our covenantal partner congregations, recited a litany entitled “July 4th Litany” during its worship service.  I have printed it in its entirety below as my way to wish all who read this post a Happy 4th of July. 

We are the children of God.  Some of us come through many centures from native peoples whose history in this land has no recorded beginning.

We are the children of God.  Some of us come through many centuries from Spanish, French and English sailors who arrived here to conquer a new world.

We are the children of God.  Some of us come through a couple of centuries from Africans who were forced to come.

 We are the childrenof God.  Some of us come through a couple of centuries from Asians desperate for a way to earn a living.

We are the children of God.  Some of us come through this century from Latin Americas fleeing oppression.

We are the children of God.  Some of us come through this century from Mexico seeking a way to feed their children.

 We are the children of God.  God, we are your children.  United us into a loving family.  Amen.