Page Title

Text Box: Some thoughts on religion and politics A significant factor in this year’s election has been the religious views of the candidates and their advisors. We have seen this most recently in the sermons and interviews with The Rev. Jeremiah Wright of Chicago, Barack Obama’s former minister. All of the media coverage during the primaries raises the question: How does a nation that is truly under God behave? What are the policies, the laws, and the treatment? What does it mean to take an oath in the name of God or to pledge our allegiance to a country that identifies itself as “under” the authority of God? The belief of our founders was that this land was the opportunity to fulfill God's covenant. There is obviously debate about what exactly that means. In the biblical tradition, the test of a community's obedience to covenant with the God of Israel has always been "is justice done among the people?" It is tempting to act as though all it takes to trust in God and for our nation to be under God is to say the words when we happen to be at a ball game or being sworn in at court for or for elected office. What about the rest of the time? Harvey Cox, theologian and professor at Harvard University, recently said: “Acting on the implications of the theology we develop becomes our ethical choice, the way we decide to exercise our individual rights – political, economic and moral.” If we are actually to be faithful to God, the grounding of that faithfulness for Christians is in our baptism, and in the promises we have made to strive for justice and peace and to respect the dignity of every human being. It is not merely about having a motto prominently displayed, or saying “God bless America” but about how we live our lives in relationship to one another and to God; how we carry out our responsibilities; what our checkbooks and calendars show about our priorities. It means looking at policy and attitudes from the perspective of the person whose life is affected by those policies or attitudes. It means respecting all people, rich and poor alike, native born and foreign, black and white, male and female, old and young, regardless of faith or religious beliefs. It means having the courage to take a stand that may be unpopular. It means addressing the prejudice and darkness within our own hearts. It means praying not only for the nation and the leaders but for our enemies as well. The point of Jesus’ challenge to his disciples and to us is an image of life, which offers an ever-deepening process of internal transformation, the primary quality of which is compassion. Can we look at ourselves in the mirror and see ourselves as truly under the sovereignty of God? That is the challenge of the Gospel for us today as we make political, economic and moral decisions. Faithfully,

The Gracevine

Grace Episcopal Church

Whittle Parish

P. O. Box 32

The Plains, Virginia 20198

(540) 253-5177

Text Box: People of Grace Church Clergy: The Rev. Caroline Smith Parkinson, Ext 1 caroline@gracechurch.net Vestry: Sue Smith - Treasurer Barbara Merchant - Senior Warden Meg Dalton Dallas Wolfe Wendy Ault Robert Dryden Catherine Delaney Susan Leslie-Fraser Alan Caudill Juilanne Clifford Thomas H. Valk Teresa Whitticar Becki Ryder, Registrar Staff: Sam Carabetta, Organist/ Choirmaster samueljc@starpower.net Clif Stroud, Assistant Organist Anne Michael Breeden, St. Cecilia Choir Director Michelle Adzima, Preschool Director littlegraces@gracechurch.net Vicky Griffith, Parish Administrator Ext. 2: Vicky@gracechurch.net Belinda Durney, Administrative Assistant to the Rector; Ext. 3: Belinda@gracechurch.net Sue Carter, Sexton The Episcopal Church welcomes you.

Calendar	7
Art Show	2
Serving Schedule	6
Little Graces	8
Outreach	3