A Note from Pastor (July 2026)

The Declaration of Independence begins with these words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” With great humility, we thank the Holy Trinity for His “first article gifts” that help us to pursue Life, Liberty and Happiness. But we are not at liberty to pursue our own “happiness” at the expense of others. These gifts are given to serve our neighbor, because we must also acknowledge that all men are sinful and equally in need of a freedom far greater than any human government or document can provide. We hold this to be self-evident, that all men need to be set at “liberty” from sin, death and the power of the devil by God Himself. A freedom that only Christ can provide to those who hear the Gospel and believe. Having experienced this freedom, St. Paul reminds us ‘For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all,’ (I Cor. 9:19), Luther wrote about our freedom and service to others two hundred and fifty years before the Declaration of Independence, stating that “A Christian is an utterly free man, lord of all, subject to none,” but that, “A Christian is an utterly dutiful man, servant of all, subject to all.”  (On the Freedom of the Christian, 1520). Therefore, use your God given gifts of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness to love and support your neighbor as God has called us to do even as we thank and praise Him for our nation and our independence.