Diversity is a gift, yes, but sometimes our own internal, unspoken rules prevent us from accepting that gift—and hinder our witness to God’s abundant love. Some of these rules come to us from the culture in which we were raised or in which we are now immersed. Often, we don’t even realize how deeply our culture affects us and shapes the beliefs we hold.
No matter how different we may be, we are bound to one another in baptism and are now members of the same family, the household of faith. This is most evident in worship—especially in Holy Communion. After the chalice, we often connect with and encourage each other over the cup—of coffee or tea. Christians have long formed and sustained deep friendships over a cup of brew.
At fellowship Sunday, try to say “hello” to someone you don’t usually talk to, someone who seems very different from you. Maybe over a cup of coffee, you’ll find you have more in common than you thought.
Today, the Fourth of July or Independence Day, is a federal holiday that celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This message was adapted from “In Spirit and Truth” by Kate Sprutta Elliott that appeared in the January/February 2011 issue of Lutheran Woman Today (now Gather) magazine.
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