2009 Philadelphia Cathedral Festival - Stirring, Majestic & Memorable
A day of joyous celebration that welcomed those from the Diocese, the community and the surrounding region.
This year’s Philadelphia Cathedral Festival was an event not to be missed. On Sunday, May 31st, the Cathedral buzzed with activity in an atmosphere of joyous celebration and anticipation.
The day was filled with activities for those of all ages and included a “Garden Party”, tours of the Cathedral, Art Exhibition, our very own Cathedral mime, a splendid Choral and Instrumental Concert, Liturgical Dance, Poetry, and a beautiful Ceremony of Welcome for Bishop Rodney R. Michel.
The Festival Concert with the Cathedral Singers and Cathedral Brass Ensemble, directed by Dr. Riyehee Hong, the Cathedral’s Director of Music and the Arts, served as a majestic prelude as the members and representatives from diocese, the city and the larger community gathered to formally welcome The Rt. Rev. Rodney R. Michel as Assisting Bishop for the Diocese of Pennsylvania. Bishop Michel, who at age 65 retired two years ago as suffragan bishop in the Diocese of Long Island, will serve as assisting bishop in this diocese for as long as three years.
In his address to the congregation, Bishop Michel admitted he saw “more challenges than a sane man should probably be taking on at my stage of life. But I must tell you,” he continued, “that I feel that I have been called by God to enter this fray and address these challenges. A crisis is a terrible thing to waste, and I believe it is God’s will for me to be here in this time of crisis, or great necessity, and use it for good and for God.
My prayer today is like the prayer of Solomon centuries ago: that God will give me the wisdom to be a faithful bishop of the church and bring peace and harmony to God’s broken people, a new vision of mission and ministry to the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, and to help everyone work together to let justice roll down like the waters, as they live out their baptismal vows.”
He stressed that he will lead the diocese to serve those in need and will work to make its membership “an inclusive rainbow community” of all peoples. Quoting the Rev. Edward Waldron, an Episcopal priest, who expressed worry about the church turning away from the poor and from inner–city ministry, Bishop Michel said; “Jesus commanded us to go to all nations, and our Lord will not have a monochrome church. Repeatedly, our Lord condemned our desire for exclusiveness.
“Dear friends,” he said, “the kingdom we are building with God is an inclusive rainbow community of every color and race and sexuality and economic stratus and language and expression of worship and service to the Almighty—all bundled up in justice and mercy and love for God and others. As people of God, we need to realize and remember, in the words of Dr. Jonathan Sacks, chief rabbi of Britain, “that difference is not a problem to be managed, but an essential part of creation itself.”
Civic leaders and interfaith representatives gave greetings in a series of brief speeches. They included Bishop Wayne Wright of the Diocese of Delaware, with whom Pennsylvania Episcopalians share may joint ministries; Bishop Claire S. Burkat of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, who promised more Episcopal–Lutheran common fellowship in the months ahead, and Everett A. Gillison, an Episcopalian who is Deputy Mayor of Public Safety for the City of Philadelphia.
Members of the Art and Spirituality Center housed at the cathedral made a presentation to the bishop that included a poetry reading by Fatima James.
Ardie Stuart Brown, of the Church of St. Andrew and St. Monica performed a liturgical dance to Richard Smallwood’s “Total Praise”.
Following the reception, Zoë Cohen, the Cathedral’s 2008-09 artist in residence, discussed her exhibition “Sacred Origins: An Interfaith Project for West Philadelphia,” which was unveiled and installed as part of the cathedral’s permanent art collection.
8 Jun, 2009 — Daniel Tomko
