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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: Elizabeth Mullen |
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COLORADO TO BE HONORED AT SPECIAL SERVICE WASHINGTON – On Oct. 16, Colorado leaders and citizens will be celebrated at a special worship service at Washington National Cathedral. More than 250 pilgrims from the state and natives now living in the nation’s capital will gather at the majestic house of prayer for this special event. The Jefferson Unitarian Church Choir, from Golden, will perform a prelude to the 11 a.m. service. State worshipers will play key roles at the service, bearing communion elements and offering up gifts to the poor. Young people will take part in a grand opening procession waving colorful banners from their homes of worship. The Right Rev. Robert J. O’Neill of Denver, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado, will serve as chief celebrant. The Very Rev. Samuel T. Lloyd III, dean of Washington National Cathedral, will deliver the sermon. The St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Community Choir, from Littleton, will perform prior to the Cathedral’s Evensong service that day. As part of its national ministry, Washington National Cathedral offers prayers for the people and leaders of each state annually. The cathedral honors each state with a major observance once every four years. “The National Cathedral Association invites all from Colorado to participate in this special day,” said Vanessa Andrews, director of the National Cathedral Association. “Since 1899, when people first gathered on the Cathedral site, we have recognized that the strength of Washington National Cathedral is the citizens from across our nation and around the world who helped build this cathedral church, and who enliven it daily by worshiping here.” Dean Lloyd will address the congregation from the historic Canterbury Pulpit, where the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his final Sunday sermon, and from where former Missouri senator John Danforth, an Episcopal priest, gave the homily at Ronald Reagan’s state funeral in June, 2004. The state flag will be featured in the procession into the service marking Colorado State Day, and it will remain on the chancel steps for the following week. Invited guests include Governor Bill Owens, Senators Ken Salazar and Wayne Allard, Colorado members of Congress, and members of the Colorado State Society, the organization of Centennial State natives now living in the Washington area. After the service, the National Cathedral Association will host a reception for visiting worshipers. Afterwards, docents will lead guests on a special tour of the cathedral, the sixth-largest in the world, highlighting references to Colorado. For instance, the coat of arms of the Episcopal Cathedral in Denver is carved on one of the cathedral’s half-bosses. The state also is represented on a needlepoint wall hanging in the War Memorial Chapel. “As a national house of prayer for all people, the cathedral opens its doors to all. On October 16, we especially welcome Colorado citizens and churches as we honor their contributions to our nation,” Andrews said. “Colorado Day will be an energetic celebration of the state and the role it plays in the life of the cathedral and our nation.” The National Cathedral Association (NCA) is the friends’ organization of Washington National Cathedral. It counts more than 14,000 members in every state and around the world who support the cathedral’s missions and ministries. The Cathedral’s lead volunteers helping to plan Colorado Day are NCA regional leaders Sherry Brown of Monument, and Marlene Evans of Estes Park. ATTN PRINT MEDIA: An account of the celebration and photos from the event will be available by Oct. 17. If you desire e-mail transmission of this account and/or photos sent as JPEG attachments please contact Elizabeth Mullen at the number above. Available on the web site are print-quality photos of Washington National Cathedral (“Photos for Print” under “News” at www.cathedral.org/cathedral). | |