June 10, 2026
This week we continue our “new music” streak with a couple of tunes that were very popular back in the 20 “teens.” Two different writing teams, two different styles, same message (same God, right?) The songs were joined together by a very popular orchestrator/arranger named Russell Mauldin, who does a lot of the music our choir sings here at Salem. Anyway, he arranged it back in 2013, but because the world hasn’t changed much except to get crazier, the message is still pertinent. The title is In God We Trust medley, and we introduce it this week so that our congregation can learn it and sing along with the choir enthusiastically on Patriot Sunday. Interestingly, Patriot Sunday here at Salem came to be in the same year – 2013.
I brought the concept of Patriot Sunday to Salem after many years of celebrating it at the first church I served as Music Director. I pitched it to the staff there as an opportunity to celebrate the Christian heritage our country has, and to encourage them to recognize that you can be a Christian and a patriot at the same time. It was a huge success and became the second highest attended Sunday at our church (after Easter Sunday). Salem’s staff was willing to try it too and even expanded the idea to include appreciation for our first responder community as well as our past and current servicemen and women. Our congregation got behind it and in pre-Covid years Patriot Sunday was a whole day of celebration that began with worship and continued with a potluck/BBQ lunch and games and activities for families after.
Post-Covid, Patriot Sunday is still going strong, albeit without the extra frills. It is a special worship service – one of my favorites – where we honor God for His goodness to our country from its beginning to today and implore Him in prayer to bring it and its citizens back to Him. We honor those who have served (and still serve) our country in its armed forces or as first responders, and the families who support them. Our congregation is challenged to honor God above all and to practice good citizenship – praying for our country and its leaders, serving God with all our hearts and souls, and serving our country as He leads. This year marks the 250th anniversary of our great country, and we are desperate for God’s intervention and blessing, now more than ever before. Nothing is impossible for Him, and we need that limitless power to help us get back to being one nation, under God.
Patriot Sunday is June 28th this year, and I hope you will come and worship with us. See you Sunday!
Careen
Worship Songs for June 14:
You Are Holy (Prince of Peace) – Michael W. Smith – https://youtu.be/S0xUnb35-6E?si=TtG3trMkyMur-QAT
In God We Trust – Chris Tomlin/Hillsong Worship/Russell Mauldin –
Be Thou My Vision – Selah – https://youtu.be/39Qk2z70LIA?si=57JLhPmg4XanTam9
Great Is Thy Faithfulness – Worship Circle/Christy Nockels – https://youtu.be/WvtaGtTeMpI?si=jA6uO_k2RFNQSqap