Minnesota State Society   

Minnesota Day
at the National Cathedral

Sunday, December 8

[From the National Cathedral Association]

Click Here for photos of the Service

WASHINGTON — During a special Dec. 8 service at Washington National Cathedral, hundreds of worshipers including more than 100 Minnesotans were urged not to allow frustrations and pressures cloud good works that can be achieved during the weeks leading to Christmas.

The Rev. Peg Chemberlin, executive director of the Minnesota Conference of Churches, was the featured preacher during the 11 a.m. service marking Minnesota State Day at the landmark house of prayer.

Acknowledging that time demands during Advent can be overwhelming, Chemberlin urged perspective.

“In God’s time it is never too late. It’s never too late to choose love, never too late to forgive oneself for past failures, to offer yourself to others, to share love with family and community,“ she said. “It is never too late to seek justice and work for peace. This Advent season gives us each the opportunity to evaluate our work and to make a midcourse correction if needed.“

Relating personal frustrations in campaigning against homelessness and seeking peaceful resolution to U.S. conflict with Iraq, Chemberlin also sounded a warning.

“As a country we will continue to be wracked with fear and suspicion until we align ourselves with the work of peace and justice,“ she said. “As long as we are an island of affluence in a rising sea of poverty, as long as we try to build our relationships by holding to our military might, there will be little room for true security, peace and hope.“

An estimated 700 worshipers marked Minnesota State Day at the cathedral, including visiting Minnesotans and natives who live in the Washington area.

The Right Rev. James Jelinek, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota, lead a pilgrimage group that undertook several days of sightseeing in the nation’s capital before the Sunday service marking Minnesota State Day.

After presiding at the worship, Jelinek noted ties between the state and the Washington National Cathedral, including a statue of Henry Benjamin Whipple, Minnesota’s first Episcopal bishop, placed near the High Altar.

“I am very glad he is commemorated in this cathedral,“ Jelinek said. “I think there are very few American bishops along with the full panoply of saints“ represented in the building.

Washington National Cathedral, in seeking to fulfill its outreach mission, sets aside one major state day each month. The National Cathedral Association, the Cathedral’s friends group, organized Minnesota State Day, inviting religious and political leaders and parishioners from around the state to take part in the service and a reception afterwards.

The Rev. Canon Peter F. Grandell, Precentor and senior canon at Washington National Cathedral, greeted the visitors and assisted in the service. “We welcome pilgrims from Minnesota especially warmly today, because they really have a stake in this national cathedral. Generations of Minnesotans helped build this church, and we hope people from that state will continue to come here for generations to come.“

Minnesotans played key roles throughout the service. Rep. Martin Olav Sabo of Minneapolis and Angela Gemza, a St. Paul native and event chair of the Minnesota State Society in Washington, read scripture during the service.

Rep. Sabo said worship gatherings like the Minnesota service provide an outlet for reflection when the economy is uncertain and talk is of possible war with Iraq. “It always brings people together and everyone gathers strength from each other,“ he said.

Archdeacon Irma Wyman and Canon Gary Gleason from the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota also participated in the service.

Dale Skov and Bronwyn Clark Skov of Hastings, Barbara Baldwin Solbrig of Rochester, Justin Chapman of Minneapolis and Wendy Audette of St. Paul carried gifts to the altar during the offertory.

The Minnesota state flag was placed on the chancel steps where it will remain through the week to further recognize the state.

A dozen young Minnesota acolytes represented their home parishes, including All Saints Episcopal Church of Northfield; St. Luke’s Episcopal Church of Hastings; St. John Evangelist Episcopal Church of St. Paul; Christ Episcopal Church of Redwing; St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Brainerd; Grace Memorial Episcopal Church of Wabasha; and La Mission el Santo Nino Jesus of St. Paul.

The Rev. Sandra A. Wilson, rector of The Church of Gethsemane in Minneapolis, also participated in the day’s events as preacher during Washington National Cathedral’s morning service.

After the service, the National Cathedral Association and the Minnesota State Society co-hosted a reception for Minnesota visitors. Canon Grandell presented pins signifying National Cathedral Association membership to Bishop Jelinek, Rev. Chemberlin and Rep. Sabo.

Following the reception, guides conducted special tours, pointing out to Minnesota 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 13,500 members from many denominations in every state.