Happy Flag Day! This day commemorates the adoption of the U.S. flag on June 14, 1777. Later, in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation officially establishing June 14 as Flag Day. In 1949, on August 3, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress. Our own Episcopal Flag was adopted on October 16, 1940, by the House of Bishops and House of Deputies at the 53rd General Convention held right here in Kansas City! The Episcopal Flag, like the U.S. flag, is red, white, and blue, and represents the American arm of the Anglican Communion. Other symbolism includes: a red cross on a white field, representing the cross of St. George, patron saint of England, and our descent from the Church of England; and a white saltire cross on a blue field, representing the cross of St. Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, and acknowledgement of our first bishop, Samuel Seabury’s consecration in Scotland. The white saltire cross is made up of nine individual Jerusalem crosses representing the original dioceses of the Episcopal Church in 1789: Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and South Carolina.

Today, there are 111 total dioceses in the Episcopal Church USA (99 in US proper, 11 in other countries or outlying territories, and the Convocation for Episcopal Churches in Europe). All dioceses will gather beginning next week for the 81st General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Louisville, Kentucky. We will have an Adult Formation class this Sunday to discuss what resolutions are on the table at General Convention this year. Please come join us at 9:15 a.m. in the Common Room. One big event this year is the election of a new Presiding Bishop.

This Sunday is also Father’s Day. We will continue our tradition of handing out BBQ rub following all three services. So, whether you celebrate flags, dads, convention resolutions, or BBQ, we’ve got you covered this weekend!

Please continue to pray for one another, for our Cathedral family, the nation, and the world.

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