For Removing an American Flag from a Christian Sanctuary
Holy God,
we have gathered in this space
to honor you and you alone;
to offer our simple presence
and full attention to the freedom
we have in you and you alone.
Amen.
We are removing the American flag
from this sanctuary during worship
because this action is worthy
of a public and corporate word.
Like so many generations before us,
we have a habit of compromising
our national and spiritual identities.
We long for the Kingdom of God
and our national pride to validate
and align with one another. But Jesus said,
Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s,
and give to God what is God’s.
Since this sanctuary is a house of God,
we remove the symbols that ask for
our allegiance to mortal and earthly powers.
This sanctuary is rest and resistance
a house set apart from all other loyalties,
from the ways we divide the world
and draw lines between God’s people.
This sanctuary is rest and resistance
a place to celebrate love that collects
the whole creation in sacred citizenship,
a commonwealth of manna and mercy.
This sanctuary is rest and resistance.
It is where we worship the God
who told Israel they did not need a king,
who warns every generation of idols.
This sanctuary is rest and resistance.
Where our symbols recognize Jesus,
whose palm protest refused to make
heaven smaller to satisfy Rome.
This sanctuary is rest and resistance.
Here we practice being known and loved
by a jealous God who will not timeshare worship
with our national pride and local loyalty.
This sanctuary is rest and resistance.
Today we remove these symbols
and offer them back to the world where
they hold a measure of power and authority.
May our fidelity to God,
our Creator, Liberator, and Sustainer,
be made plain in this house of worship.
And may our faith in the God who reigns
beyond civil liberties cause us holy tension
and complicate our daily lives
with divine truth that sets us free. Amen.
This liturgy is free to use or adapt
for congregational use
and with my prayerful solidarity.