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Witness to Freedom

Rev. David W. Brown

Sunday, June 28, 2026

Scripture

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Thank you for sharing with us as we celebrate both the freedom we enjoy as a nation and the greater freedom we have through Jesus Christ.

This week, Rev. David W. Brown shares a message titled "Witness to Freedom," based on Psalm 13:3–6. In this psalm, David cries out to God in a season of struggle, yet ultimately places his trust in God's unfailing love. His journey from lament to praise reminds us that true freedom is not simply found in favorable circumstances, but in the steadfast hope we have in the Lord.

As we also commemorate 250 years of America, we pause to give thanks for the blessings of liberty, remember those who have sacrificed to preserve it, and reflect on our calling as followers of Christ to be faithful witnesses of hope, truth, justice, and love. Our greatest freedom is found in the One who redeems, restores, and calls us to live as His people.

Worship Resource Outline

CALL TO WORSHIP adapted from Discipleship Ministries UMC

LEADER: Come, let us gather with joyful hearts, for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is true freedom.

PEOPLE: We gather to celebrate the blessings of liberty and to remember the story of God’s grace among us.

LEADER: What does the Lord require of us on this day and always?

PEOPLE: To do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God.

Leader: Let us worship the Source of all our freedoms, who calls us to a life of peace, unity, and love.

HYMN America the Beautiful #696 UMH

O beautiful for spacious skies,
for amber waves of grain;
for purple mountain majesties
above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed his grace on thee,
and crown thy good with brotherhood
from sea to shining sea.

O beautiful for heroes proved
in liberating strife,
who more than self their country loved,
and mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine,
till all success be nobleness,
and every gain divine.

O beautiful for patriot dream
that sees beyond the years
thine alabaster cities gleam,
undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God mend thine every flaw,
confirm thy soul in self-control,
thy liberty in law.

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH The Apostle’s Creed #881 UMH

SCRIPTURE Psalm 13: 3-6 (NRSVUE)

3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God! Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, 4 and my enemy will say, “I have prevailed”; my foes will rejoice because I am shaken. 5 But I trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord because he has dealt bountifully with me.

HYMN God of the Ages #698, vs 2 UMH

Thy love divine hath led us in the past;
in this free land with thee our lot is cast;
be thou our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay,
thy Word our law, thy paths our chosen way.

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER Adapted from Andy Langford, U.S.A., 20th Century

HYMN God of the Ages #698, vs 4 UMH

Refresh thy people on their toilsome way;
lead us from night to never-ending day;
fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
and glory, laud, and praise be ever thine.

OFFERTORY

SCRIPTURE 1 Peter 2: 13-17 (NRSVUE)

13 For the Lord’s sake be subject to every human authority, whether to the emperor as supreme 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish. 16 As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil. 17 Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

MESSAGE Witness to Freedom

HYMN America #697 UMH