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Toward GC81: Preachers, presiders named for General Convention daily worship

May 29, 2024
Office of Public Affairs

Episcopalians registered to attend the 81st General Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, are invited to daily worship services that seek to embody the church’s “beautiful mosaic of diversity.” Three Eucharist services—including one entirely in Spanish—and three Morning Prayer services will be offered June 23-28 and livestreamed.

Members of the public who would like to attend worship services can preregister online and should be prepared to show a confirmation email and photo ID. Seating is limited and subject to availability on the day of the service.

The newly elected presiding bishop will preach at the closing Eucharist, which opens with a “Four Directions Prayer” led by the Rev. Leon Samson of the Episcopal Church in Navajoland.

The services include liturgies from the Book of Common Prayer and “Enriching Our Worship,” with music in various languages and traditions from around the world. They include a land acknowledgment for the city of Louisville. The core of the worship planning rose from chaplains and musicians within the House of Deputies and House of Bishops.

“The worship team has done a remarkable job in a very short time,” said the Rev. Ann Hallisey, canon to the presiding bishop for ministry within The Episcopal Church. “Essential to the creation of beautiful liturgies is all the behind-the-scenes work like production and staging, volunteer organizing, bulletin production, and countless unnamed, unknown details that contribute to an inspiring worship experience for hundreds of people attending.”

The Eucharist services are scheduled for 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. each day and will be in the ballroom of the Kentucky International Convention Center. Listed below are the preachers and presiders:

Sunday, June 23—Opening Eucharist
Preacher: Julia Ayala Harris, president of the House of Deputies
Presider: The Rt. Rev. Terry White, bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky

Wednesday, June 26—Eucharist in Spanish
Preacher: The Rev. Yejide Peters Pietersen, associate dean and director of formation, Berkeley Divinity School
Presider: The Rev. Connie Sanchez, canon to the ordinary in the Episcopal Diocese of Honduras

Friday, June 28—Closing Eucharist
Preacher: Presiding bishop-elect
Presider: The Most Rev. Michael Curry, presiding bishop and primate, The Episcopal Church

The House of Deputies and House of Bishops will hold joint Morning Prayer services in the ballroom at 9 a.m. Monday, June 24, and Tuesday, June 25. Morning Prayer will be held separately in each house at 9 a.m. Thursday, June 27. The House of Bishops will hold a Noonday Prayer service on Thursday, June 27. A worship booklet containing bulletins for all services is also available online.

“Through those participating in leading, or supporting worship, we have striven to offer a glance of the beautiful mosaic of diversity that is present across our church,” the worship team writes in an introductory letter. “We invite you to approach your convention worship experience with a deep sense of humility and a willingness to be led by the movement of the Spirit.”

In addition to daily worship, a revival service is scheduled for 7-9 p.m. Saturday, June 22, at the KFC Yum! Center in downtown Louisville. Bishop Curry is scheduled to preach. Learn more and register.