Billy Graham is said to have stated, "Eleven o'clock Sunday morning is the most segregated hour in America." I am not sure when that statement was made, but I saw evidence this morning that at least in some parts of New England, it is no longer true.
I had the privilege this morning of attending a church service in a town about an hour from my home. I was there because my Pastor was there to help install a new Pastor in that church. As I have said, this was not my usual church, and I was totally encouraged to be there. In addition to a beautiful service in a unique location (the church meets on the third floor of an office building), I saw evidence that, at least in that city, the church is coming together.
This was a relatively small church, and I saw people of all ages, races, and ethnic backgrounds. So at least in some parts of Massachusetts, eleven o'clock Sunday morning is not the most segregated hour in America--some of us have put aside our differences are are working together to make our families stronger, our communities better, and our country more like what our founding fathers envisioned.
The church has a role to play as America moves forward. We are in a unique position to know who is in need and to help them out. We are in a unique position to deal with some of the addiction problems our society has developed. And we are in a unique position to strengthen families--the building blocks of our society. Thank God that some of us are learning to work together regardless of age, race, or ethnic background. I am sure that there are other churches out there throughout the country that have put differences aside to work together in ways that show the love of Jesus, and I am grateful for them.
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