Fun on the 4th with Family & Friends
"I am apt to believe that it (the legal separation of the 13 Colonies from Great Britain) will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever."
John Adams, 2nd President & Signer of the Declaration of Independence
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| . Playing "Duck, Duck, Goose" |
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| Singing patriotic songs |
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| Dressing the part |
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| Skits |
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| More skits |
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| BBQ (of course!) |
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| Egg toss! |
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| Water Wars! |
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| Kicking back with her ukelele |
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| Watching the entertainment on the lawn |
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| Swinging away the day |
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| Back at home for the backyard fireworks show! |
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| Oooh ... Aaaah .. Yeaaah! |
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| Not spectacular -- but special still .... |
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| We thought this was a sparkler -- turns out it was the light stick for the fireworks .... |
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| ... but the kids passed it around and it kept them entertained for quite a while. |
Happy 236th Birthday, America!
May God continue to bless you!
Prayer for the Protection of Religious Liberty
O God our Creator,from your provident hand we have received
our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
You have called us as your people and given us
the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God,
and your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,
you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,
bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel
to every corner of society.
We ask you to bless us
in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.
Give us the strength of mind and heart
to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;
give us courage in making our voices heard
on behalf of the rights of your Church
and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.
Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,
a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters
gathered in your Church
in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,
so that, with every trial withstood
and every danger overcome—
for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,
and all who come after us—
this great land will always be "one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
