Happy 4th of July

This Sunday we will sing Hymn 718, “God of our fathers, whose almighty hand,” for our entrance hymn, as we prepare to celebrate our nation’s 248th birthday next week.

This hymn appears in the last section of the 1982 Hymnal under National Songs. The text was written in 1876 by the Rev. Daniel Crane Roberts, rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Brandon, Vermont, to commemorate our nation’s centennial celebration on July 4.

The music, National Hymn, was written by George W. Warren in 1892 and wasn’t paired with the text until the celebration of the centennial of the adoption of the United States Constitution on October 8, 1892.

We often associate this hymn with our own Independence Day, but since it doesn’t refer to a specific nation, it can be used by any freedom-loving people or nation.

(Information from The Hymnal 1982 Companion, Vol. Three B, edited by Raymond F. Glover and adapted from Cathedral News).

The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe

The Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, bishop of Northwest Pennsylvania and bishop provisional of Western New York, was elected and confirmed June 26 at the 81st General Convention of the Episcopal Church, held in Louisville, to serve as our presiding bishop. His nine-year term begins November 1, 2024.

The House of Bishops elected Rowe on their first ballot and the House of Deputies confirmed him with a near unanimous vote. Installation is expected to take place on November 2 at Washington National Cathedral, the traditional seat of the presiding bishop.

Rowe, age 49, becomes the youngest bishop ever elected to serve as the church’s presiding bishop. He also was the youngest Episcopal priest in the U.S. when he was ordained at age 24, and he was the youngest member of the House of Bishops when he was ordained and consecrated at age 32.

Rowe is married to Carly Rowe, a Christian educator; they have a daughter named Lauren.

Bishop Rowe will be in Kansas City to ordain and consecrate our to-be elected diocesan bishop on May 3, 2025.

Ushers, Readers, Acolytes and Eucharistic Ministers

Would you like to get more involved without a big commitment of time?

Please consider volunteering to be an usher or reader on Sunday mornings. We also need acolytes and eucharistic ministers.

Please see Elaine Gilligan or Fr. Jonathan+ for more details.

Thrift Store pick-ups available

Hillcrest Ministries, supported through Resurrection's outreach program, operates several thrift stores in the Kansas City metro area.

Hillcrest Thrift wants your donations! All items should be new or gently used, clean, and in working order. Items accepted include:



• Clothing, shoes, coats, purses, accessories, jewelry
• Toys, games, books, video games, DVDs
• Furniture, housewares, decor, linens
• Newer televisions, small and large appliances (in working order)
• Collectibles and antiques
• Musical equipment (in working order)
• Wall art and decor
• Tools (in working order)
• Sporting goods and more!
• Click here to see items not accepted

Have large items or a bulk donation you would like to donate? Hillcrest will pick them up on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Call or text 816-551-7965 Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm. Hillcrest will ask for photos and descriptions of the items before scheduling a pick-up time. Items will need to be in a garage or driveway for pick-up.