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A Memorial Service for the Crew of the Space Shuttle Columbia February 6, 2003 Photos from Service (click on photo for 300 dpi version): 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 Order of Service with Participants | Invocation | Blessing | Prayer | The Cathedral’s Space Window Hear homily by Brigadier General Charles C. Baldwin Video of entire service (modem) Video of entire service (broadband) A Prayer and Blessing for the Crew of Columbia O creator God, at your command all things came to be; the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, moons, the planets in their courses and this fragile earth our island home. As your human creation we have always longed to touch the stars and extend our knowledge to those heavenly places always dreamed of but not yet realized; those celestial temptations that stretch our understanding of the sciences, that test our endurance, that challenge our courage and call us to explore places known only to you alone. And in our passion for the possible we have once again become painfully aware of the attending risks of our passion. Most gracious God we ask you this day to bless the departed crew of Columbia; Michael, David, Kalpana, Laurel Blair, Rick, William, and Ilan, who gave their lives searching for ways in which to make life here on earth better for each one of us that they have left behind. We ask you to bless and care for their families and friends who grieve and for colleagues who mourn the loss of 7 members of their NASA family. Bless our Nation and the Nations of Israel and India during this time of sorrow and pain. And yet even in our sorrow, bless and strengthen our resolve to fly tomorrow even higher that the wings of an eagle have taken us today, believing in the words of the great Old Testament Prophet, Isaiah who said to those were left behind and broken, weary and downhearted: Have you not known? Amen. The Right Reverend John Bryson Chane |