As an Episcopalian, I’m proud that the state funeral for President George H. W. Bush is being held today in the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. The National Cathedral is the Episcopal cathedral of the Diocese of Washington, and is often considered the nation’s cathedral because many important national events such as this funeral are held in its magnificent space.
You can find the bulletin for the service here. Notice that the celebrant is the Most Rev. Michael Curry, our Presiding Bishop, and the service is taken directly from the Book of Common Prayer. In other words, this is the exact same service every Episcopalian is entitled to. It says a lot to me that all people, from Presidents to ordinary people, are viewed the same in the eyes of the church and receive the same dignified words of the Prayer Book. I notice that the final hymn is “Eternal Father, strong to save.”
President Bush was a faithful lifelong Episcopalian and a member of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston, TX, where he will be remembered in a funeral service tomorrow. May he rest in peace.
Bill