One Nation Under Whose God?

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Freedom 250 Invites All Americans to Come Together in Prayer and Worship Ahead of the Nation’s 250th Birthday

On Sunday, May 17, 2026, the National Mall will be the scene of a historic gathering as Americans of every background across the country prepare for the nation’s 250th birthday with Scripture, testimony, prayer, and rededication of our country as One Nation to God. From morning fellowship in front of the U.S. Capitol to an evening filled with music anchored at the main stage on 12th Street, Rededicate 250 will be rooted in giving thanks for God’s presence in our national life throughout 250 years of American history and asking for his guidance for the next 250.

 I have been attempting to create some emotional distance from the daily insanity south of the border. The astonishing collapse of both democracy and decency in America is almost beyond comprehension. I've realized that I feel bleak and disillusioned by the blind support leaning into idolatry by right-wing Christians for a president whose words and actions are diametrically opposed to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It's clear that these "bible-believing Christians" do not read their bibles. 

So why was I surprised when I read about this upcoming event in the heart of Washington DC this weekend?  President Trump was enlisted to endorse this rally although it's hard to imagine he'll attend when his round of golf beckons at Mar a Lago. And wouldn't all those bibles burst into flames? I heard two earnest commentators discussing the gathering with one describing it as a celebration of a "resurrection" in the United States under Trump. This doesn't come close to passing the smell test for blasphemy.

When I watched the PBS series The American Revolution I was struck by several observations about the religious sensibilities those future Americans who led and those who participated in the conflict. George Washington was who saw the divine as more a principle of destiny than anything related to traditional Christian faith. 

Thomas Jefferson was a deist who admired the teaching of Jesus but never formally joined a church and felt that the bible contained both "diamonds" and "dung".  He also expressed his feeling that the way others chose to worship was none of his business as long as they held to certain principles. Of course, both of these men enslaved humans beings in contradiction to equality and  "liberty and justice for all."

The series also made a point of noting that there were some Jews and Muslims who fought valiantly for freedom from the British. We were also reminded that Indigenous peoples were valuable allies on both sides of the conflict and they weren't Christian.

It is a lie to insist that America is a specifically Christian nation and to promote this revisionist notion in the service of what is the wolf of White Nationalism in Christian clothing. 

As a person of prayer and respect for scripture I may get on my creaky knees before my Creator and Saviour, seeking a might deluge in Washington this Sunday. 

Moose Hide Campaign Day

 

This coming Sunday at Trenton United we will hear about the Moose Hide Campaign as part of the United Church commitment to Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. The UCC was part of the shameful participation of several Christian denominations in the Residential School system in Canada in which more than 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend institutions. This system was more about erasing culture and indoctrination than proper education. Often the "schools"  were little more than forced labour camps and many of those children never went home. 

Today, May 14th, is Moose Hide Campaign Day, an opportunity to consider specifically the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and more. Many people will wear Moose Hide pins to commemorate the day. Here is the campaign news release followed by the United Church release. 

Today is Moose Hide Campaign Day! Across the country, people are coming together to stand against violence, deepen their learning, and walk a shared path toward healing and reconciliation. Grounded in ceremony, community, and the belief that we all have a role to play in creating a safer future, this day is an invitation for all of us to take part in change.

Walk with us. Watch the Livestream  Explore the Workshops We invite you to take a moment today. To reflect, to learn, and to stand alongside others in choosing a path forward rooted in respect, love, and healing. Join in whatever way you can. We’re honoured to have you with us. May we continue to walk together in respect, love, and healing.                                                          ************ Here is a portion of the United Church release: "May this moose hide remind me of my commitment..." The Moose Hide Campaign is more than a day; it is a mobilization against the national crisis of racist violence facing Indigenous women, girls, and 2S and LGBTQIA+ people. Indigenous women, who make up just 5% of the female population, are disproportionately affected by gender-based violence in Canada. These are not just statistics; this is a reality we cannot ignore.

Mary Oliver & the Beauty of the World

There is a new documentary about the late Mary Oliver, poet of earth and sky and water. Oliver won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award along with many other awards and accolades. Of course, there was a consequence for her acclaim and popularity. There is a certain group that seems to feel that popular and accessible poetry can't be good poetry.

We have appreciated Oliver, now gone to her eternal reward, because of the earthy spirituality expressed often in her work. Mary left organized religion at some early stage, then returned to it later in life as an Episcopalian -- that's American for Anglican. But it was her profound sense of God as Creator, more often implicit than explicit -- that appealed to so many regardless of their sensibilities. 

Oliver expressed what our early church forbearers including St. Augustine and St. Benedict, along with many others maintained. There are two books of revelation, Creation and Scripture,  and both are vital to our faith. 

A few years ago an Episcopal congregation in the States offered a Sunday "Poetry in Lent" series featuring Oliverm preceded by a worship service with the title Mass on the Epiphany in Creation: A Eucharist Drawing on the Poetry of May Oliver. Very creative. 

I have, as well,  a book that's 20-plus years old now called God of Dirt: Mary Oliver and the Other Book of God, drawing on the name of one of her poems. Maybe a study series would be timely. The documentary will be aired on PBS in August and I'm looking forward to it. I'm hoping that it doesn't coincide with our time in Newfoundland where the the title could be God of Rock and Sea. 

Here is the link to the trailer for the doc and her New York Times obituary from 2019:

https://app.doclands.com/film/mary-oliver-saved-by-the-beauty-of-the-world

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/17/obituaries/mary-oliver-dead.html

Gabbing it up for Spiritual Health

 You may have heard a parent of this generation responding to the pique and raised voice of their child with the phrase "use your words." It's part of the "gentle parenting" movement which may end up causing nervous breakdowns for all these ultra-patient moms and dads but it is not a bad suggestion for any of us.

According to research we are speaking about 300 or so fewer words each year so the decline over a decade and a half has been dramatic. I heard about this on the CBC Radio program Quirks and Quarks and because I'm lazy I'll share their blurb about the segment: 

We're not speaking as much as we used to — and scientists are concerned -- April 17

People aren't talking to each other as much as they used to, and our gift of gab and our cognition may suffer as a result. Scientists compared the number of words people spoke per day over nearly a decade and a half. Valeria Pfeifer, from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, said they found that in 2019, people spoke an average of about 12,700 words per day compared to 15,900 back in 2005. The decline was significantly worse in younger individuals than older, leading the scientists to suggest the rise in smartphone use and social media may be playing a role. The study is in the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science.

The outcome of our disappearing speech could be increased loneliness and both social and cognitive decline. We don't have to speak to a cashier in lots of stores now and we can texts friends and family rather than call. 

This got me thinking about taking part in worship and our use of words throughout the service. We sing hymns and we join in responses for prayers, something Rev. Isaac is strong in using. There are also the conversations that happen before and after the service. Ruth jokes that I "work the room" wandering around the sanctuary chatting people up including those with dementia who come with family members. 

The study notes that the decline in speaking is prevalent in the young but a lot of older people live solitary lives so wouldn't a chin-wag be of benefit? When I was in pastoral ministry I made a point of visiting those we used to call "shut-ins" (not a great term) and sometimes they would talk my ears off because they didn't have much contact with others.

Come to think of it, the bible was an oral tradition, sometimes for centuries before the stories were committed to papyrus or parchment or paper. So, gab it up, for Jesus' sake, and for our spiritual and mental health!

The Census and Homelessness

 

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. 

Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.  He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place in the guest room.

Luke 2: 1-7 NRSVue 

I am exceedingly grateful that Ruth took on the thankless task -- well, I thanked her profusely -- of filling out  what turned out to the longer census form for 2026. At one point she commented that there are now questions about homelessness, the first time as part of a Canadian census. 

My immediate thought was that questions about their plight or the census itself would be low on the agenda for any unhoused person but the second question below is about those we know who might be homeless or seeking shelter with others. 

What’s New in the 2026 Census?

The 2026 long-form Census, which is sent to one in four households, now includes two dedicated questions on homelessness. The first captures experiences of sheltered and unsheltered homelessness over the past 12 months: sleeping on the street, in parks, in makeshift shelters, in vehicles, or in abandoned buildings. The second captures hidden homelessness: those who are, or recently have been, staying temporarily with friends, family, or others because they had nowhere else to go.

It's hard to know whether this will ultimately be useful but it is an attempt by the federal government to get a better understanding of a "hidden in plain sight" segment of our population. Homelessness is a crisis in many communities across the country and governments at every level are struggling to keep up with the demands. Our congregation, Trenton United, hosts the Quinte West warming centre and there was a significant increase in overnight stays this year. Despite efforts to address the issues here in Belleville we regularly see sites where people are "living rough" around the city. 

I've mentioned before that when we are cycling or walking Ruth regularly greets persons by name because she volunteers with the meal program which began at Bridge St. Church and now at The Bridge Hub. This is a practical expression of her Christian faith. 

Wading through the census questions tested her faith far more! Of course, a census of sorts and an unhoused Holy Family plays a central part in our Christian story, so we should probably be grateful for the concept, although I won't suggest this to Ruth. 

Do Not Fear, O Soil

 

Do not fear, O soil;

    be glad and rejoice,
    for the Lord has done great things!
22 Do not fear, you animals of the field,
    for the pastures of the wilderness are green;
the tree bears its fruit;
    the fig tree and vine give their full yield.

Joel 2:21-22 NRSVue

We spent time at the National Art Gallery in Ottawa not long ago and walked through the exhibit called  Sylvia Safdie: Nature, Earth and Being Human.

 “As a child I collected objects from the earth: seeds, pods, stones, bones and other organic materials. I stored these in a small cave near my house and spent hours assembling and reassembling them. Looking back, I now realize that it was my refuge from the world and a place where I held my own communion with nature. My studio then became akin to my cave, and the collections of organic elements have since become the language of my work.“   

The photos above are of soil Safdie has collected over the years in an amazing variety of shades. This installation is quite intriguing although don't get too close or the security guy will ask you to step back, we learned. 

                                                                Sower -- Vincent Van Gogh

Can hanging out in a room full of soil samples be a spiritual experience? It felt that way and it got me thinking about a report I heard about Bill S-230, championed by Ontario senator Robert Black, which passed its first hearing at the House of Commons in April after moving through the Senate last month. It proposes developing a a Canada-wide strategy for soil health protection, conservation and enhancement.

According to the CBC report: 

The bill resulted from the Senate’s 2024 report on soil, which found that although enhanced practices have improved soil management and increased crop yields since its 1984 report, continued soil degradation and loss of agricultural land still persists across Canada.

The 2024 report laid out 25 recommendations to better recognize soil as a strategic national asset. They include directing the federal government to work with various levels of government to support soil health, build and enhance funding for soil-related incentives, among others.

We know that there are many threats to soil health including depletion and toxic substances. Wildfires are now so intense that they consume all the nutrients and living things in the soil, making regeneration next to impossible. 

There are lots of references to soil in scripture beginning with Adam, the "adamah", the groundling or red clay creature. Jesus told earthy and agricultural parables. So, whether it's coming upon a art installation or a bill in the House we Groundlings can pay attention and honour this aspect of Creation. 

Julie Maw is vice-chair of the Grain Farmers of Ontario and runs a third-generation grain farm with her family that rotates crops of corn, soybeans and wheat. She believes this legislation, if passed, can create additional tools to allow farmers to keep producing and help overall food security.

Cherishing & Supporting Religious Diversity

 

I'm a sucker for graphs and images such as this one and I'm always curious about religious diversity. We now live in a world I couldn't have imagined as a child in the 50s, one in which we can be informed about the religious practices of others beyond caricatures and stereotypes. This said, we are also in a disturbing moment of rising hatred toward those of other religions and the need for governments to address anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. 

I am encouraged to see that according to Pew Research Canada has the highest level of religious diversity in North America and ranks "very high" amongst all nations. We should be proud of this. 

Yet we are aware of alarming incidents of increasing vandalism at synagogues and mosques and harassment of those who wear religious garb. I have expressed my alarm at what is discriminatory legislation in Quebec with bans on wearing religious symbols and clothing in public as well as gathering for public prayer. All of this is regressive and none of it should be acceptable.

I write this as a Christian who is committed to my faith and its unique tenets. I also have respect for other religions and have benefitted from dialogue and mutual projects such as refugee sponsorship with wonderful people from other faiths. 

I hope that we live up to this high standard and will contintue to work to ensuring it. We can't take religious diversity for granted.