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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAJOR EVENT CELEBRATES NEBRASKA AT WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL WASHINGTON -Close to 100 Nebraskans, including an Omaha choir and state leaders from a half-dozen religious denominations, took part in a major worship service and celebration Dec. 14 at the landmark Washington National Cathedral. Pilgrims from the Cornhusker State comprised a substantial portion of the 400 worshipers who attended the cathedral’s 11 a.m. service marking Nebraska State Day, despite a winter storm that hit the nation’s capital overnight. Welcoming the visitors, The Right Rev. A. Theodore Eastman, Vicar of Washington National Cathedral, said the service was an intimate one. “We have a lot of major state days but today seems to me to be especially spiritual,” Eastman said. “There was a sense we were gathered closer together than one feels often in the cathedral. It may have something to do with the weather but I think it has to do with the Nebraskans who are here.” The Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Choir and the Cathedral Choristers performed a 20-minute service prelude, culminating in a soaring rendition of “Ave Maria.” It was the first time performing in such a large venue for the 17 adults and 25 children who were assembled into the traveling outfit. At rehearsal in the cavernous nave of the world’s sixth-largest cathedral, John J. Bennett, one of the group’s directors, beseeched the singers to propel their voices. “Watch me!” Bennett told them, “When you see a signal, it doesn’t mean sing louder, it means put more energy into the consonants.” Afterwards, Bennett said the performance was a success. “I thought they sounded fine,” he said. “They sang up and over the altar and their voices sang into the room.” “It was a lot different from back home,” said Rachel Shelton, 15, motioning to the cathedral’s gigantic stone piers and gleaming stained glass. “I thought we did very well.” “The acoustics were much better than we’re used to,” said Irene Pullum, 14. “Since we didn’t get a full warm-up in, it was a struggle for some of us but I thought it turned out good.” Her sister, 9-year-old Lauren Pullum, said she reached back to project herself. “I had to make my voice cover a lot,” she said. The Right Rev. Joe G. Burnett, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Nebraska, was chief celebrant at the special state service. The Very Rev. Thomas J. Hurley, Dean of Trinity Cathedral in Omaha, and The Very Rev. Richard J. Martindale, Dean of Saint Mark’s Pro-Cathedral in Hastings, were co-celebrants. Additionally, judicatory leaders representing other Christian denominations took part in the service after Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska scheduled its annual retreat in Washington to coincide with Nebraska State Day. Church leaders who participated were The Rev. Ken Carlson, executive of the Midwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church; Susan Gillies, Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of Nebraska; The Rev. Dr. Gilmer Fauber, interim Nebraska Conference Minister of the United Church of Christ; The Rev. Dr. Peter Frazier-Koontz, Executive Presbyter of Homestead Presbytery; and the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Moore, Regional Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). “The participation and support of these church leaders makes this a model state day because it reflects our goal of bringing together people from all religious traditions and supporting the mission of the National Cathedral as a House of Prayer for All People.” said Vanessa Andrews, Director the National Cathedral Association, the group of individual supporters of the National Cathedral and sponsor of the Major State Day program. The Rev. Bart Brenner of Omaha, past president of the Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska, was featured as guest preacher. He addressed the congregation from the historic Canterbury Pulpit, from where the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his last Sunday sermon The Rev. Brenner, Executive Presbyter of the Missouri River Valley Presbytery, related efforts by Nebraska churches to provide health, legal and financial services to farmers and ranchers, Native Americans and immigrants. Long before policymakers began promoting faith-based initiatives, the Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska partnered with the state to deliver social services, he said. “The statewide ecumenical witness of the church has been forged, to a large degree, in response to the growing rural crisis in the state,” The Rev. Brenner said. “Farmers and ranchers have learned that the church is there for them.” For the past five years, Washington National Cathedral has set aside one major state day each month in seeking to fulfill its outreach mission to all faiths. The National Cathedral Association, the organization of friends that supports the cathedral’s ministries, organized Nebraska State Day and invited religious and political leaders and parishoners to take part. Cornhuskers played key roles throughout the worship. Marilyn Mecham, Executive of Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska, read Scripture, as did Linda Walker Gardels of Omaha, National Cathedral Association regional volunteer leader. Sarah Gardels of Omaha, Lt. Col. Val Dugie of Bellevue, Debra Andrews of Omaha, Carol Walker of Lincoln and Washington resident Steven O’Brien, a Nebraska native, and his daughter Alex, carried gifts to the altar during the offertory. The Nebraska state flag was placed on the chancel steps, where it will remain for a week in further recognition of the state. Afterwards, the National Cathedral Association sponsored a reception recognizing Nebraska participants. Bishop Burnett, The Rev. Brenner. Dean Martindale and Dean Hurley were made honorary NCA members. Cathedral officials thanked the NCA’s regional volunteer leaders and association members in Nebraska, part of a network of more than 13,000 people in every state and around the world. |