As congregations approach July celebrations and the broader America 250 conversation, this worship resource offers a theologically grounded way to reflect on faithful discipleship, national identity, and expands the meaning of “America” beyond the United States to honor the diverse peoples, lands, cultures, and histories of North America, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
This worship resource offers a theologically grounded litany, Great Thanksgiving, and four-week sermon series framework for congregations reflecting on faithful discipleship, national identity, and the call to worship God above all else. Designed for the first Sunday in July and the broader America 250 context, the resource expands the meaning of “America” beyond the United States to honor the diverse peoples, lands, cultures, and histories of North America, the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
Centered on the theme “No Other Gods,” the resource invites congregations to examine idolatry as a daily discipleship issue—asking what competes with God for first place in our hearts, loyalties, resources, and public witness. Through prayer, Communion liturgy, and sermon starters, this resource helps churches celebrate God’s diverse creation, confess claims of superiority, remember displaced and erased peoples, and recommit their allegiance to the God of liberation, justice, and love.
Includes:
- Litany
- Great Thanksgiving
- Four-week sermon series framework
- Worship resources for congregational reflection
For deeper study, pair this with GCORR’s 5-session book study based on “The Flag + The Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American Democracy” by Philip Gorski and Samuel Perry.
Recommended for: July worship planning and civic holidays.
This content was originally published by the General Commission on Religion and Race; republished with permission on ResourceUMC.org on June 15, 2026.