Congregants of the former Crystal Cathedral and the Christ Cathedral will join together to honor veterans and our fallen heroes with an ecumenical celebration. Garden Grove, calif., (April 28, 2016) – The Very Reverend Christopher Smith, Rector and Episcopal Vicar of the Christ Cathedral and Pastor Jim Kok of Shepherd’s Grove will lead worshipers in an annual joint Memorial Day prayer service held within the Arboretum building on the Christ Cathedral campus, May 30^th at 11 a.m., followed by an observance within the Memorial Gardens Cemetery, located on the campus, beginning at 12 p.m. This prayer service and solemn observance within the cemetery will honor our fallen heroes, offer prayers remembering the faithful departed, and continue the important and collaborative relationship between Christ Cathedral and Shepherd’s Grove. “We are truly blessed as a community of faith to celebrate the contributions of veterans and those who have been welcomed by our Lord into eternal life. It is an honor to join with Pastor Jim Kok and the Shepherds Grove community in this unique observance and celebration. We are in many ways one community who share a common journey of faith,” said Fr. Smith. The Memorial Day observance will begin with an ecumenical celebration in the Arboretum, complete with music and prayers honoring the service of our veterans and the sacrifices made by them and their families. Following the service, congregants will follow bagpipes, a color guard and a cross as they process to the Cathedral Memorial Gardens for a solemn observance. A 21 gun salute and dove release will honor fallen veterans as part of the observance within the cemetery. “Many of those interred in the Cathedral Memorial Gardens, veterans and loved ones alike, were members of our community of faith. We are blessed to honor their memory and pray for their families together with the Christ Cathedral community. These important joint celebrations are helping our communities to grow in faith together,” said Pastor Kok.