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But music directors and worship leaders at many conservative Protestant churches said they feel compelled to include patriotic displays in their services.

"Many conservative Americans believe America has a special role," said John Green, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. Believing that the U.S. is the "product of providence," conservative Christians "honor America with effusive celebrations that do identify American foreign policy with doing the sorts of things that God would like accomplished," he said.

At First United Methodist Church in Ashland, Ky., church members will perform a musical entitled "America: A Pilgrim's Prayer, A Patriot's Dream," that describes the role of religion in the founding of America.

While Sunday services typically draw about 150 people, the Sunday closest to July 4 is far more popular, attracting a crowd of about 600. In addition to the musical, Margaret Vance, the church's music director, will decorate the sanctuary with enlarged pictures of veterans from the congregation in uniform.

Cannons will fire confetti into the congregation after a service that includes a salute to veterans and traditional patriotic songs.

"I'm a real flag-waver. I think the proper people need to be thanked for our freedoms," said Vance, who called concerns about the separation of church and state a "bunch of hooey."

Copyright © 2005 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Our corporate site's Independence Day area includes links to Christian History & Biography's issue on the American Revolution, Mark Noll's answer to whether the Revolutionary War was just, and other resources.

First Baptist of Euless has more information on its God and Country Day online.

The First Freedoms Project site has the content of the packets.

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June (Web-only) 2005, Vol. 49