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Attn: Religion Writer MAJOR EVENT CELEBRATES NEW YORK AT WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL WASHINGTON — Four Episcopal Bishops, U.S. Rep. Major Owens of New York City and Albany’s United Methodist Church Bishop Susan Morrison led New York citizens in celebrating and praying for the State of New York during New York state day at Washington National Cathedral on Sunday, July 20. Washington National Cathedral, in seeking to fulfill its outreach mission as a “National House of Prayer for All People”, sets aside one major state day each month. Citizens are invited to join political and religious leaders in a special service honoring their state. The National Cathedral Association, the outreach arm of the Cathedral, organizes these days. Bishop Morrison, president of the New York State Community of Churches, was the guest preacher. She said she tried to keep in mind the Cathedrals mission to be open to all people of many faiths while writing her sermon. “I tried to preach a sermon that had to do with who people were themselves, and to do it in a way to connect with them,” Morrison said. Bishop Morrison, president of the New York State Community of Churches, was the guest preacher. She said she tried to keep in mind the Cathedral’s mission to be open to all people of many faiths while writing her sermon.x “I tried to preach a sermon that had to do with who people were themselves, and to do it in a way to connect with them,” Morrison said. Rep. Owens noted the day’s lesson when reflecting on the day. “We need to care about justice and peace in the world,” he said, referring to ongoing poverty around the globe. “The fact is that we particularly, as Americans, are leaders but we’re not doing a good job of leading right now.” As for speaking from the towering Canterbury Pulpit, where the Rev. Martin Luther King preached his final Sunday sermon, Morrison said it was a heady experience. “I’ve never been so high when I’ve preached,” she said. The Right Rev. Orris G. Walker, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, was chief celebrant. Joining Bishop Walker were the Right Rev. Jack McKelvey, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester; the Right Rev. Gladstone B. Adams III of Syracuse, Episcopal bishop of central New York; and the Right Rev E. Don Taylor of New York City, assistant bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Many New Yorkers played key roles throughout the service. Amy Nicholas, a National Cathedral Association regional volunteer leader from New York City read scripture. Ryle Watson, 16, of Brooklyn, bore the New York flag in the opening procession. Ben Shaw of Sidney, Bridgette LeConey of Liberty, Debra Peacock of Malta, William Elwell of Pittstown and John Bly of Fort Ann, carried gifts to the altar during the offertory. Janine Leverich, 11, of Port Jefferson, and Shayla Fisher-Gouveia, 3, of Hewlett served as gift bearers. Teen-age acolytes representing St. Anselm’s Episcopal Church in Shoreham, the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City, St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church in Brooklyn and Trinity St. John’s Episcopal Church in Hewlett participated in the service-opening procession by carrying colorful banners and placing them to the side of the altar. A reception, sponsored by the National Cathedral Association, followed the service. Afterwards, guides offered special tours, pointing out to New York visitors how their state is represented in the stone and glass of the cathedral, the sixth-largest in the world. The National Cathedral Association has more than 13,000 members from denominations in every state. # # # Office of Public Affairs July 22, 2003 ATTN PRINT MEDIA: If you desire e-mail transmission of this account and/or photos sent as JPEG attachments please contact Steven Gotfried at the number above. Also, print-quality photos of Washington National Cathedral are available on our Website, www.cathedral.org/cathedral. Click on "Cathedral News." |