In July 2026, America will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. There will be grand celebrations across the country—
But the most important one may happen in your own front yard.
Philadelphia will host events near Independence Hall, where the Declaration was debated and adopted. Cities, towns, military bases, parks, and Main Streets across the country are preparing fireworks, concerts, parades, and public gatherings.
All of that is fitting. A 250th birthday deserves a little effort from all of us who benefit from being citizens.
But here’s my suggestion: Don’t only watch America celebrate on a screen. Celebrate with the people who live near you.
We live in an age when we can know the opinions of strangers across the country while not knowing the name of the person across the street. We can argue online with a stranger who lives in New York and never chat with the widow watering her flowers three doors down. Technology has made the world smaller, but it has not made our neighborhoods closer.
That should concern us both as Christians and as citizens.
When Jesus was asked to name the greatest commandment, he said to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Then he added, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). He did not say to love the idea of neighbors. He did not say to love humanity in general while avoiding the new family next door. He said to love your neighbor.
That begins with knowing them.
It’s a Christian duty for sure—but we should also regard it as a civic duty.
A nation is not held together only by laws, elections, and patriotic songs. It is held together by ordinary people learning to live near each other with patience, respect, gratitude, and care. Liberty works best when neighbors are not strangers.
So, this Independence Day, join a neighborhood celebration. Attend the gathering in your subdivision, apartment complex, street, or cul-de-sac. Bring a chair. Bring a dessert. Bring your children. Bring your curiosity.
And if your neighborhood is not planning anything, consider hosting something simple. It does not have to be fancy. Distribute a few flyers inviting them to your front lawn and put out a few chairs. Share watermelon. Invite people to bring their own drinks. Let the kids run around with glow sticks. Start small. Most good things do.
At Hillcrest Church, we are encouraging our people to celebrate America’s 250th birthday by getting to know their neighbors. You can find ideas and next steps at this page. Be sure to tell us your plans—you’ll find out how to do that when you click to the page.
This July, the fireworks will last a few minutes. A friendship with your neighbor may last much longer.
Tom
Hey, Hillcrest Family! We started the "Next Step" campaign a year ago to call attention to our quarterly budget needs. The church has been so faithful to rise to that challenge! As the 2026 Second Quarter winds down, be in prayer that we finish this quarter strong! And if you can increase your normal church contributions to help us meet this month’s need, it will be put to good use!
To review the sermon that kicked off the Next Step campaign, click here.
Tapestry Threads
Each week in this space, I provide links to articles and podcast episodes that I recommend you check out for yourself. I try to alert you to articles that might be behind a paywall with “($),” but I sometimes miss it.
Why Hot Takes Are the Enemy of Conviction. Joe Carter probably penned this as a reaction to reports on the (apparent) waning interest in maintaining prolife convictions. It certainly applies to it.
The Whimsy and Heartbreak of America’s Garage Sales. “For $100, I bought bric-a-brac that explains a nation.” ($)
Abigail Shrier: “Gender Ideology is a fundamentalist religion—intolerant, demanding strict adherence to doctrine, hell-bent on gathering proselytes.”
About Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone.” Read the transcript here; listen to the podcast segment here.