I hope everyone had a safe and happy 4th of July celebration. Perhaps, since it was yesterday, you are still celebrating. I preached a sermon many years ago on the history of what we call Independence Day. Here are a few interesting items I discovered in my research (mostly from the National Archives). The Second Continental Congress actually approved the Lee Resolution for Independence on July 2, 1776. This resolution had been put forth by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia on June 7 of that year and contained three parts: a declaration of independence, a call to form foreign alliances, and a plan for confederation. The first part, the declaration, was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776; the plan for forming alliances and making treaties was approved in September and the plan for confederation in November. Because the declaration was adopted on July 4, printers began printing and distributing it with that date, but most delegates didn’t sign it until August 2, and some as late as November. July 4th didn’t become a Federal Holiday until 1870. So, whether you celebrated July 2, 4, today, or all week, I hope it was enjoyable.

Here is our financial snapshot through May 2024:

Revenues:

MTD Budget $223,231; MTD Actual $146,655

YTD Budget $888,021; YTD Actual $789,019

Expenses:

MTD Budget $175,783; MTD Actual $167,568

YTD Budget $878,917; YTD Actual $835,235

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

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