Weekly Greeting - July 4, 2025
Greetings friends,
Since 1988, my family has been spending the Independence Day week at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. It began when I was working with a mission education youth camp at our United Methodist Southeastern Jurisdictional Assembly. In the ten years that I led the camp, my family would make the trek to spend July 4 with me.
Lake Junaluska Assembly is not only a United Methodist program center, but it is surrounded by both summer and year-round cottages that have been built over the past 100 years. This quaint community provides rental lodging for people who attend the training and services, and it is also the retirement home of many including Methodist preachers and bishops. It is all centered on a lake that is surrounded by a huge tabernacle for worship and meetings, a stone chapel, large buildings for youth and children’s programs, three large hotels, and youth lodging. It is somewhat crowned by a giant, lighted cross prominent on a high point that is visible from anywhere from the lake.
In short, Lake Junaluska is kind of the “Mecca” for United Methodists in the southeastern USA. On July 4, they feature a ‘hometown’ style parade, barbeque lunch on the grounds, concerts, and an impressive fireworks display.
Four years ago, we were staying in a rental house with our close friends and their two adult sons. That year, both sons brought the women who they were dating at the time. It was coincidental that both the women were Jewish. As with many Jewish people, they were not very familiar with Christian rituals and practices. And our Christian friends asked a lot of questions about their religious practices.
Stay with me, I am going somewhere with this.
We set up chairs in a parking lot beside the lake so we could watch the annual fireworks display. As the artillery barrage of fireworks exploded overhead, one of the Jewish women noticed that the lighted cross was being flanked by the bright, colorful explosions. She pondered out loud, “Jesus must really like fireworks! I know about the cross, but are fireworks a part of worshipping Jesus? What would he think of this?”
I am not sure, but I think that she was kidding. However, I still ponder her question. How do we honor Christ while still celebrating our nation which gives us the freedom to worship as we choose?
Some of you may ask the same. I can tell you that the worship planners at Bethlehem are trying to be careful to do just that this Sunday. We will give thanks for our nation and those who have defended our freedom. And we will consider our dual loyalties to God and country (Galatians 5) as we gather for the Lord’s Supper. Our ‘fireworks’ are provided by the Bethlehem Bluegrass band who will bring us a message of faith in their music. I think that Jesus will feel worshipped and honored. Come join in person or online and see how you feel about it.
God bless!
Terry
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