{"id":1331,"date":"2008-12-17T20:04:00","date_gmt":"2008-12-17T20:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/deaconsbench\/2008\/12\/a-purpose-driven-inaugural-updated.html"},"modified":"2008-12-17T20:04:00","modified_gmt":"2008-12-17T20:04:00","slug":"a-purpose-driven-inaugural-updated","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/deaconsbench\/2008\/12\/a-purpose-driven-inaugural-updated.html","title":{"rendered":"A purpose driven inaugural — UPDATED"},"content":{"rendered":"

Several weeks ago, I received a couple of e-mails from concerned voters, who were convinced that the men offering invocations at Barack Obama’s inaugural would be Louis Farrakhan<\/a> and Rev. Jeremiah Wright<\/a>. <\/p>\n

So this news<\/a> might surprise them: <\/p>\n

Aretha Franklin and Dr. Rick Warren, an evangelical minister of the Saddleback Church, are among the select group of people who will participate in Barack Obama\u2019s inaugural swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 20.<\/p>\n

Mr. Obama has also chosen Elizabeth Alexander, an African-American poet at Yale University, and some of the world\u2019s premier musicians, including Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma, to share the podium with him.<\/p>\n

In honoring the civil rights movement, Mr. Obama has asked the Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, dean of the civil rights movement and co-founder with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, to deliver the benediction.<\/p>\n

The inaugural program, which begins about 10 a.m. on the West Front of the Capitol, is an historic ritual that is both an intensely personal statement by the new president and a way for him to set the tone of his new administration.<\/p>\n

The program was announced today by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, chaired by Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California.<\/p>\n

The program opens with musical selections by the United States Marine Band, followed by the San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus. Ms. Feinstein will call the gathering to order about 11:30 and deliver opening remarks.<\/p>\n

Dr. Warren, author of \u201cThe Purpose Driven Life,\u201d will deliver the invocation. He will be followed by Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, who sang \u201cSomeday We\u2019ll All Be Free\u201d and \u201cRespect\u201d at a concert for Bill Clinton in 1993, but not at the inaugural ceremony.<\/p>\n

Justice John Paul Stevens will then administer the oath of office to Vice President-elect Joseph R. Biden, Jr.<\/p>\n

John Williams, the composer whose music was heard at Mr. Obama\u2019s victory party on election night in Grant Park, will compose a new piece to be played for the incoming president.<\/p>\n

His new piece will be played by Mr. Perlman on violin, Mr. Ma on cello, Gabriela Montero on piano and Anthony McGill on clarinet. (Usually at this juncture in previous inaugurations an operatic soloist performs.)<\/p>\n

Chief Justice John G. Roberts will administer the oath of office will then be administered to President-elect Obama.<\/p>\n

At that point, Mr. Obama will deliver his inaugural address.<\/p>\n

He will be followed by Ms. Alexander, who will read a poem, and Dr. Lowery\u2019s benediction.<\/p>\n

The ceremony will close with the United States Navy Band \u201cSea Chanters\u201d singing the National Anthem.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Of course, not everyone is thrilled<\/a>.<\/p>\n

UPDATE:<\/b> The president-elect on Thursday defended<\/a> his choice of Warren.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Several weeks ago, I received a couple of e-mails from concerned voters, who were convinced that the men offering invocations at Barack Obama’s inaugural would be Louis Farrakhan and Rev. Jeremiah Wright. 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