Dear Church Family, I am glad some of the traditional 4th of July activities are returning to the community this year. Salisbury will be celebrating at the Grove with a concert by the town band and the reading of the Declaration of Independence. Undoubtedly the movie 1776 will be shown during the weekend with its incredible cast of characters—the insufferable though passionate Adams, the literate, but love deprived Jefferson, the acerbic, and slightly lecherous Franklin—as well as a whole host of others who managed against all odds, to finally agree on a Declaration of Independence. This miracle at Philadelphia was duplicated a decade later, when the Constitution was adopted. It is incredible to think that a document, drawn up for a largely agrarian, undeveloped nation of 4 million would prove enduring for a highly diverse, industrialized, technologically sophisticated, urbanized nation of 330 million. The Constitution seems to have been put under considerable strain in recent years and perhaps we wonder if it will prevail. It brings to mind the question shouted at Benjamin Franklin when he emerged from the Constitutional Convention, “well, Doctor, do we have a republic or a monarchy?” Franklin’s witty but ominous remark was, “a republic, if we can keep it.” Every generation is asked to do what is necessary to keep our magnificent form of government alive. On this 4th of July weekend, we’ll spend some time reflecting on this in the sermon, “The Christian and the Country.” The texts are Psalm 33:10-22 and Romans 13:1-7. Have a good holiday weekend. See you in church. Rich PS Don’t forget the service the following weekend will be on Saturday, July 9 at 5 p.m., to accommodate the Falls Village Car Show. We will also be having a bake sale that day. .