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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: Elizabeth Mullen |
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NEW MEXICO TO BE HONORED AT SPECIAL SERVICE WASHINGTON – New Mexico leaders and citizens will be celebrated at special worship services June 11 at Washington National Cathedral. Students from New Mexico State University choirs will perform a prelude to the 11 am service marking New Mexico State Day. The St. Paul Lutheran Church Senior Choir, of Albuquerque, will perform at 3:30 pm prior to Evensong service. Invited guests include New Mexico political and religious leaders, travelers from the state and New Mexico natives now living in the Washington DC area. The Very Rev. Samuel T. Lloyd III, dean of Washington National Cathedral, will deliver the sermon from the historic Canterbury Pulpit, where the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his last Sunday sermon. 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 New Mexico flag will be placed on the chancel steps for the service and will remain there for a week in further recognition of the state. “The National Cathedral Association invites all from New Mexico 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 prior to construction, 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 help us live into our mission as a national house of prayer for all people.” Afterwards, guides will lead guests on a special tour of the Cathedral, the sixth-largest in the world, highlighting references to New Mexico. For instance, the state seal is represented on a needlepoint wall hanging in the War Memorial Chapel, and the coat of arms of Saint John’s Episcopal Cathedral in Albuquerque is carved on a boss stone high above the cathedral nave. “As a national house of prayer for all people, the Cathedral opens its doors to all. On June 11, we especially welcome New Mexico citizens as we honor their contributions to our nation,” Andrews said. “New Mexico Day will be an energetic celebration of the state.” 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. Its regional leaders in New Mexico are Joan Werner of Albuquerque and Caroline Thompson of Las Cruces.
ATTN PRINT MEDIA: An account of the celebration and photos from the event will be available by June 12. 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 (you may also click “News” then “Photos for Print” at www.cathedral.org/cathedral.) | |