Yesterday began the week of festivities in a town I moved to when I was 7.  I had returned off and on for 40 years to visit my parents and my brother and his family.

I was part  of the July 4th committee many years ago and so I knew some of the activities being planned.

Sunday was the beginning of the July 4th celebration and it started with Worship In The Park.  This town has a beautiful park with wonderful areas of relaxing and sports.  We all came to the bandstand about 10:15AM and the sounds of music were everywhere.  People of all ages came with their chairs and blankets to enjoy the service and a pitch-in lunch afterwards.

Two churches…the Central Christian and First Presbyterian joined together 9 years ago to create this service and it continues to grow each year.

The weather was perfect and the air was morning cool. Both ministers, ladies, how wonderful, took turns leading the service. There was music we all knew and voices gained a little more ‘spirit’ as the worship progressed.

The sermon touched on being united…as  when God created all of all…thereby showing  us nothing would  being able to survive and flourish without the other.    Seeds needed dirt, sunshine, water, day and night, warm and cold to do what was asked by the creator….  All things matter, no more, no less.

We are to remember that as humans, we cannot survive and flourish without one another, in spite of our foolish thinking that each of us is an island.

We live in a house united, in a town united, in a county united, in a state united, in a country united..and…some day, with Gods plan in mind, a world united.

Our communion was a gentle reminder of how Jesus brought His friends together before He died, and offered them the first opportunity to come together in His name, as we do now, regardless of the pathway we presently choose to believe.

I know towns all over this great country have plans for celebration this week….It is unity that brought us this far….and unity that will help us reach our goal of heaven on earth.