Marilyn's Musings
July 7, 2026
As I sit here on this quiet, rainy day I hope all of you are safe from what Mother Nature threw at us this past week. The 100+ degree weather was dangerous and unsafe for those who had to work in it. The celebrations for July 4th were numerous and the Sail250 on the Hudson was memorable to see. (I watched it on TV) Everyone looked like they were having fun but in the background was the security in full uniform ready to defend us and protect us. Thank you to all the men and women who worked the whole weekend going from crowds and 100-degree heat to severe storms and all the damage left behind. What a weekend!
For those who came to church on Sunday, whether in person or virtually, we had a wonderful service by Pastor Debbie. There was a quote in the bulletin at the beginning of our service that she read by Alexis De Tocquiville in 1874 and it says “Liberty cannot be established without morality, nor morality without faith”.
1. Liberty is defined as the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views
2. Morality is defined as principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior
3. Faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see
I’d like to put this together with Liberty being the state of being free within society because we have morality and know right from wrong and faith is what makes us happy and we know we have the assurance from God that he knows what we hope for and we know he sees the what we don’t and has traveled the journey of 250 years with us. And that is why “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” I can’t count how many time I heard that quote this past weekend. It is important to remember and I hope I don’t forget it as the rest of 2026 is head of us. We don’t know what the future holds but let’s remember how to continue to make our country great and that is done by remembering our faith and the Faith of Our Fathers.
Frederick W. Faber wrote that wonderful hymn “Faith of our Fathers” in 1849. He was inspired by the lives of saints and the enduring faith of Christians who faced persecution, particularly during the Reformation when English Catholics were martyred under Henry VIII and Elizabeth I. His conversion and deep devotion to Catholicism shaped the hymn’s themes of steadfast faith and spiritual courage.
The hymn emphasizes the continuation of faith from one generation to the next. Its lyrics honor the spiritual legacy of those who suffered for their beliefs and encourage worshipers to remain faithful in their own lives. The refrain, "Faith of our fathers! Holy Faith! We will be true to thee till death," underscores the call to personal devotion and loyalty to God.
“Faith of Our Fathers”
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=RziT4wJMrGQ&si=Qq6saCnpNhglN5qp
Preview YouTube video "Faith of Our Fathers"Preview YouTube video "Faith of Our Fathers"
