A crane accident at the National Cathedral,Washington, which damaged two buildings and hurt one person, has prompted the cathedral to move most of its planned Sept. 11-related events to the Kennedy Center.
The Washington Post reports that today’s and tomorrow’s events include concerts by military musical groups, a speech by President Obama and performances by Patti Labelle, Alan Jackson and Denyce Graves.
“The safety of our visitors and the staff of the Cathedral is our top priority, and we will make no compromises when it comes to that responsibility,” said Cathedral Dean Samuel T. Lloyd III in a statement. “At the same time we will not let obstacles put in our way stop us from fulfilling our mission as the spiritual home for the nation.”
A planned interfaith vigil will be moved to Washington Hebrew Congregation in Cleveland Park on Sunday at 8:30 a.m. said Richard Weinberg, spokesman for the National Cathedral. Other events — a forum on compassion and a religious service — also have been moved to the synagogue Sunday morning.
Saturday’s planned concert featuring local artists will be postponed and rescheduled at a future date, Weinberg said.
Weinberg said that although the events won’t be on church grounds, officials would be “able to take the cathedral on the road.” The Kennedy Center events will feature three large screens projecting images that represent the cathedral, Weinberg said.
“The cathedral is living out its mission as a spiritual home for the nation,” Weinberg said.
He said that the crane’s fall was “like threading a needle in that it fell in the path of least harm,” and that there was minor damage to the side of the diocese’s office, known as church house, as well as one of the ground’s gift shops.
“Things could have been a lot worse,” he said. “We’re disappointed that they cant take place at the cathedral itself, but … the goal of bringing the nation together will still move forward.”
The National Cathedral’s past week’s have been dominated by the impact of the earthquake.
— Crane topples during work at National Cathedral
— Quake-damaged cathedral hangs netting
— Cathedral damage will cost millions to repair
— Damage from quake will take time to assess
— National Cathedral damaged in earthquake
Links to above at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post_now/post/national-cathedrals-sept-11-events-moved-to-kennedy-center/2011/09/08/gIQAfSuECK_blog.html
See PRAY2DAY – this site – for daily prayers over the anniversary of 9/11
The major Episcopal Church conference and retreat centre in Texas has been vacated due to fires in the area. See WORLDWIDE – this site.