WEST VIRGINIA DAY AT THE NATIONAL CATHEDRAL - JANUARY 27

A Very Special Day at Washington’s National Cathedral
January 27, 2008
By Shirley Caniford

There are some events that happen in life that words cannot describe. There just aren’t enough adjectives to explain the full meaning of the event and what it brings to your body, mind and spirit. And so it was on Sunday, January 27, 2008, when a small band of us, St. John’s pew warmers, made our way into the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Included in the band was The Reverend Georgia DuBose, her husband, Bob Dubose, Margie Yoe, Anne Wood, Veronica Carden, Kevin Carden and myself. It’s enough to just walk into the big wooden front doors of the Cathedral and see the hand-carved black gates, knowing that President Kennedy’s funeral was preached there, and that more recently President Ronald Reagan’s funeral was there, and then just a few months ago Washington, D.C.’s past Mayor Barry’s wife, Effie, had her funeral preached from there. All were broadcast on national television and I witnessed them all. So to actually step on the marbleized stone floors and walk down the long aisle of the nave, gave me a special feeling of warmth and closeness, all by itself.

Imagining how many great Americans, and others, have stood in these halls, just boggles the mind. When before you is spread one of the most Holy scenes in the Nation, you are captivated and spellbound by its wonder.

But on this particular Sunday, January 27, 2008, the Cathedral was even made more special than ever. It was West Virginia Day. We were welcomed and greeted with love and importance. Special stickers were given to each of us so we would be identified as “special” visitors that day. We shook hands with Congressman Monahan and got a real close look at Governor Manchin. We had ringside seats in the vestibule where nothing escaped our sight. And as we sat and listened to the choir from Fairmont, West Virginia, we gazed at the stain-glass windows and the beauty of the sun shining forth through each one. We kept looking around for others from Zion and Trinity, knowing we were among our fellow-Episcopalians.

Some of our favorite songs, “My Lord, what a morning”, “The Lord’s Prayer”, “Glory to the God in the highest”, were several of the seven songs in the choral prelude. Then we all stood proudly as our own priests marched strongly down the long nave aisle into the vestibule while we all sang “The Church’s One Foundation”. Can you hear the organ? Can you imagine the march? Can you see the face of the Reverend Georgia DuBose as she walked tall and humbly with the great throng of West Virginia acolytes,
deacons and priests, banners flowing, hearts thrilled and deeply touched?

And then there he was. The Right Reverend W. Michie Klusmeyer, Bishop of West Virginia….our Bishop, with opening prayer. And before long, our Governor was reading the lesson of the day. The service was full of music and singing praises to God, Alleluia! The sermon, given by Dr. Rick Warren, was so inspiring that I told my commuters on the way home, it made me depressed to think I could never live up to his challenging words. For those who are not aware, (and I wasn’t), Dr. Warren wrote the book, “The Purpose-Driven Life”, a second best-seller in the world, only to be outsold by the Bible. And his sermon dealt with how he had handled his wealth and fame giving service to God’s son, Jesus Christ. Dr. Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, one of the largest churches in America, with an
average weekly attendance of 22,000 persons. He is also a global strategist, theologian and philanthropist and was named by Time magazine as one of the “l00 most influential people in the world” in 2005. What a treat it was to listen to what he had to say.

Having Holy Eucharist in the National Cathedral with over 1500 people is no easy feat either….can you imagine that in our church with just 100 people? The visiting priests stood around the front altar of the church forming a semi-circle, in groups of two with bread and wine, and lines were formed by the congregation so that they quickly made their way to the communion table and back to their seats. The service ended all to
quickly, again, with the most captivating song and organ music one can imagine. We were able to give a hug to our dear Reverend Jane Kempster and greet our Bishop, telling him how we all were anticipating his visit on February 10. And of course we were all embraced by our Reverend Georgia as she made her way through the crowd at the end of the service. We noticed the Bishop seemed in great spirits and said he was looking forward to seeing us all on February 10.

With that, we hurried out the front door, taking a last look at the great round stained glass window over the big front wooden doors, given by the State of West Virginia, made entirely of Blenko glass, in its magnificent colors, and thanked the Lord for such a beautiful day. The sun was shining as we made our way to our car in the parking garage and we sped back up the highway to our West Virginia hills. As we headed home, we all were proud of our heritage, our little church of St. John’s, and our priest, the Reverend Georgia DuBose, who does so much for this little community. Praise the Lord. Amen.