Happy Independence Day! As our nation celebrates its 249th birthday today, it feels more and more like we are very much a divided nation. We have always had differences with others, but it just seems to be less civil than before. I want to celebrate our freedom as a nation as much as the next person, but I also want to celebrate other freedoms today, and every day, such as freedom from fear and oppression, freedom from hate and prejudice, and freedom from violence and war. But it’s not just about freedom from the things that hold us down, it’s also about freedom to be and do the things that lift us up. Freedom to love who we want and create memorable lives together, freedom to live as the person we were created to be and be worthy of love and acceptance, and freedom to support all those who work to make our world a safer, cleaner, and better place for all people to enjoy. Love helps us get there because, as St. Paul reminds us, “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” That is the type of love that brings true freedom, because it is open and honest and allows us to thrive as children of God.

We have lots to look forward to in July.

• Our first parish breakfast will be Sunday, July 13 at 9 a.m.
• Saturday, July 19 will be the Northwest Metro Deanery Ice Cream Social from 3-5 pm at HJ’s Community Center across from St. Andrew’s in Brookside. Please register if you’d like to come to this event.
• Fr. James begins a new book study on July 20 at 9 a.m. We will be reading The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis.
• Movie night will be Friday, July 25, at 7 p.m. in the courtyard where we will be watching Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. RSVPs are appreciated.
• Diocesan Ordinations will take place on Saturday, July 26, at the Cathedral at 10 a.m. Three people, including Deacon CJ, will be ordained as priests.

There is a lot going on and a lot for which to be thankful as we celebrate all the freedoms we have in Christ.

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