“This is the final boarding call for [Airline Name] flight [Flight Number] to [Destination].”
During these summer months, many people are heading off on well-earned vacations. That familiar announcement echoes through airport terminals as travelers hurry toward their gates, hoping to board before the doors close.
Most of our journeys are taken by choice and for pleasure. History reminds us, however, that countless others have traveled because they had no choice at all. They fled persecution, violence, or oppression in search of safety and freedom.
History reminds us that long before America became an independent nation, European settlers crossed the Atlantic seeking a new home. The Pilgrims came in search of a place where they could worship according to their convictions without interference.
The bedrock of the Jewish faith is the remembrance of the exodus from Egyptian oppression. The faithfulness of the chosen ones was rewarded after wandering in the wilderness before God delivered them to the promised land.
Today, July 16, Islam celebrates Hijrah, the journey of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina to escape persecution in 622 AD. This is regarded as the beginning of the Islamic calendar, marking not merely a physical relocation but also an event that solidified the Muslim community and led to the establishment of Islam as a major religious and socio-political entity.
As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, we rightly give thanks that ours is the “land of the free.” Those words from The Star-Spangled Banner remind us of freedoms we should never take for granted, especially those protected by the First Amendment: freedom of religion, speech, the press, peaceful assembly, and the right to petition our government.
With gratitude for those who helped secure these freedoms, we need not flee elsewhere to worship God. Americans are blessed to enjoy the protections of religious liberty. Rather than taking that freedom for granted, let us gladly use it. Join us this Sunday, July 19, at 9:30 a.m. as we gather to worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
And, if you happen to miss the final boarding call, I’m sure our welcoming ushers will still let you join worship mid-flight!
Blessings,
Pastor Marc
