National Prayer Service 'has many mansions'

The National Prayer Service has Many, many mansions, writes Mark Silk at Spiritual Politics.

In addition to Sharon E. Watkins, says the Presidential Inaugural Committee announcement:

The National Prayer Service will include a traditional prayer for civil leaders, a prayer for the nation, a selection by the Washington, D.C.-based Children of the Gospel Children's Choir, and, for the first time, feature a sermon delivered by a woman.

Reverend Samuel T. Lloyd III, Dean of the Washington National Cathedral, will welcome attendees to the event, followed by the invocation of Reverend John Bryon Chane, Episcopal Bishop of Washington.

Reverend Otis Moss Jr., Senior Pastor Emeritus, Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio will provide the opening prayer, followed by a prayer for civil leaders delivered by Reverend Andy Stanley, Senior Pastor, North Point Community Church, Alpharetta, Georgia.

Scripture readings will be provided by Dr. Cynthia Hale, Senior Pastor, Ray of Hope Christian Church, Atlanta, Georgia as well as Archbishop Demetrios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, New York City, and the Most Reverend Francisco Gonzalez, S.F., Auxiliary Bishop of Washington. Rabbi David Saperstein, Executive Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Washington, D.C., has been asked to deliver a psalm.

Responsive prayers given by six leaders will symbolize America's traditions of religious tolerance and freedom:

• Dr. Ingrid Mattson, President, Islamic Society of North America, Hartford, CT.
• Rev. Suzan Johnson-Cook, Senior Pastor, Bronx Christian Fellowship, New York City.
• Rabbi Jerome Epstein, Director, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, New York City.
• Rev. Carol Wade of the Washington National Cathedral.
• Dr. Uma Mysorekar, President, Hindu Temple Society of North America, New York City.
• Rev. Jim Wallis, President, Sojourners, Washington, D.C.
• Rabbi Haskal Lookstein, Congregation Kehilath Jeshurunm, New York City.
• Pastor Kirbyjon Caldwell, Senior Pastor, Windsor Village United Methodist Church, Houston, TX.

The service will conclude with a prayer for the nation delivered by Donald W. Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, D.C., followed by a closing prayer provided by Bishop Katherine Jefferts-Schori, Presiding Bishop, Episcopal Church USA and a benediction by the Reverend Wesley Granberg-Michaelson, General Secretary of the Reformed Church in America.

Inclusion indeed.