A holiday weekend is a great time to be together with family. July 4th seems to be an extra special time for families to be together for picnics, backyard barbecues, and fireworks. It's a reminder that our nation is a nation of families coming together as one big family to celebrate our freedom.

This Sunday we will learn that families are important in the church, too. The Gospel lesson from Mark 6 tells us a little bit about Jesus' own family. The people of Jesus' own home town have a hard time believing His message proclaiming the forgiveness of sins because they knew Him when He was growing up, and they know His family. Jesus is rejected in His home town, and yet sends his disciples out on a mission to proclaim the kingdom of God.

When Jesus is rejected because of His ties to His family, He reaches out to people through the family of God. He wants all people to be part of God's family. And He ultimately makes that completely possible through His own death and resurrection.

On July 4th we can celebrate our political freedom, but we can also celebrate the freedom that we have as forgiven members of the family of God who loves us and gave His only Son for us.

Pray for Mt. Calvary, that we would be a loving family proclaiming the Gospel of the kingdom of God! Bring others to church at Mt. Calvary, where they will find themselves to be part of a loving, church family! Tell others about a God who adopts people into His own family through His Word and Holy Baptism!