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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: Elizabeth Mullen |
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PENNSYLVANIA TO BE HONORED AT SPECIAL SERVICE WASHINGTON – Pennsylvania leaders and citizens will be celebrated at a special Nov. 20 worship service at Washington National Cathedral. More than 650 pilgrims from the state and natives now living in the nation’s capital will gather at the majestic house of prayer. The Rev. John P. McNamee, noted author and pastor of St. Malachy’s Church in Philadelphia, will deliver the sermon as guest preacher on Pennsylvania State Day. Worshipers from the Keystone State 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 St. David’s Episcopal Church Choir, of Wayne, will perform a prelude to the 11 a.m. service in the cathedral’s 400-foot long nave, celebrated for its outstanding acoustics, giant stone piers and stained glass windows. The Inspiration, a University of Pennsylvania a cappella group, will perform prior to the 4 p.m. Evensong service. The Right Rev. Robert Deane Rowley, Jr., bishop of the Erie-based Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania, will serve as chief celebrant at the 11 a.m. service. The Right Rev. Charles E. Bennison, Jr., bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, based in Philadelphia, will serve as concelebrant. 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 Pennsylvania 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.” McNamee 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. McNamee has written several books advocating the rights of the poor, including Diary of a City Priest that was made into a 2001 film starring David Morse. In 1994 he was honored with The Adela Dwyer - St. Thomas of Villanova Peace Award, which recognizes contributions to the understanding of justice and peace in communities The state flag will be featured in the procession into the service marking Pennsylvania State Day, and it will remain on the chancel steps for the following week. Invited guests include Governor Edward Rendell, Senators Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum, Pennsylvania members of Congress, and members of the Pennsylvania State Society of Washington. 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 Pennsylvania references. Artisans from around the state contributed to the majestic cathedral. For instance, the needlepoint rug at the High Altar was stitched in Pittsburgh. Philadelphia artists Samuel Yellin and Howard Keyser designed much of the cathedral’s wrought iron and portions of the Cathedral’s stained glass came from Lawrence Saint’s studio in Huntington Valley. “As a national house of prayer for all people, the Cathedral opens its doors to all. On November 20, we especially welcome Pennsylvania citizens and churches as we honor their contributions to our nation,” Andrews said. “Pennsylvania 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. The Cathedral’s lead volunteers helping to plan Pennsylvania Day are NCA regional leaders Janet Rose of Shippensburg, Lowrie Ebbert of Pittsburgh, Carolyn Langfitt of Wynnewood and Peggy Schneider of Gladwyne. The Cathedral thanks the University of Pennsylvania community for their support of Pennsylvania Day. ATTN PRINT MEDIA: An account of the celebration and photos from the event will be available by Nov. 21. 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). | |