A Service of Prayer for the Nation
Tuesday, January 21 • 11 am eastern
Washington National Cathedral’s founders envisioned this Cathedral as a “great church for national purposes,” and one of the Cathedral’s core missions is to open its doors to the nation at times of joy, mourning and national significance.
The Cathedral will host an interfaith Service of Prayer for the Nation on Tuesday, January 21, the day after the presidential inauguration. In this special service, the Cathedral will gather with our interfaith and ecumenical partners to offer prayers of thanksgiving for our democracy and to seek God’s guidance in the years ahead.
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde will preach, and music will be offered by the Cathedral Choir, the Cathedral Contemporary Ensemble, and special guest musicians as we gather to seek healing, unity and wisdom in the months to come.
Service Livestream
Due to security concerns and the large number of expected guests and dignitaries, this service is not open to the public. All are welcome to watch the livestream below, or on the Cathedral’s Youtube Channel. ASL interpretation is offered for this service.
Service leaflet download coming soon
Frequently Asked Questions
Access to the Cathedral is limited to invited guests, due to heavy security and a large number of expected government officials. Invitations are extended by the Cathedral and the Presidential Inaugural Committee.
The liturgy for this service was drafted by the Cathedral’s Worship Department in the summer of 2024, and was intended for use regardless of who won the presidential election. All speakers and readers were invited by the Cathedral.
This service is intentionally different from what has occurred in the past (typically on the day after a presidential inauguration). This is a service for the nation, not any politician or political party. This service was designed to pray for unity, reconciliation and bridge-building in our divided nation. It will also include prayers for all who serve, including those whose service is not typically visible to most Americans.
We are expecting President-elect Trump and members of the First Family, as well as Vice President-elect Vance and his family, to attend the service. The Presidential Inaugural Committee has extended invitations to members of Congress, the incoming administration and others in government positions, in conjunction with the Cathedral.
The Presidential Inaugural Committee is the appointed by a president-elect to help coordinate events for and around the inauguration. Members of the Committee are representing the new administration in preparing for the Jan. 21 service at the Cathedral.
Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde will be the preacher for the day, and the Cathedral has invited our ecumenical and interfaith partners to participate as readers. Musical guests are still being determined. The service will feature elements from Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other faith traditions.
The first service to mark the peaceful transfer of power between administrations was held in 1933, with the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt. The services moved around Washington, D.C., before returning to the Cathedral in 1985, for Ronald Reagan’s second term. The services continued with President George H.W. Bush (1989), George W. Bush (2001 and 2005), Barack Obama (2009 and 2013), Donald Trump (2017) and Joe Biden (2021).
Our friends at St. John’s Church Lafayette Square, across the street from the White House, are planning a private service of Morning Prayer for the President-elect and the First Family, continuing a tradition of services held on the morning of the Inauguration for every president (except Richard Nixon) since 1933.