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Bring reconciliation to your neighborhood! Order Shirts and Yard Signs HERE		For Immediate Release July 18, 2008 Contact: Dr. W.G. Robinson-McNeese 217-679-1216 e-mail: pastorMD926@aol.com www.SpringfieldMinisterialAlliance.org Abraham Lincoln Washington to Address Solemn Assembly SPRINGFIELD- Abraham Lincoln Washington, Pastor of Rock of Our Salvation Evangelical Free Church located on Chicago’s west side, will address the 8th and Final Solemn Assembly in the “2008 Springfield Year of Reconciliation.” The assembly will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2008 from 11:00 a.m. until Noon at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception downtown Springfield. A march to the 1908 Race Riot Marker at the Old State Capitol will immediately follow where prayers focused on the theme of Justice & Mercy will be offered. “We welcome Pastor Washington to Springfield and look forward to his participation in this spiritual and historical event,” said Sister Mary Jean Traeger, of St. Katherine Drexel Parish and a member of the Ministerial Alliance. Rock Church was founded in 1983 by Washington’s older brother Raleigh Washington and from the beginning has blazed a trail in the area of racial reconciliation. Located in one of the largest and poorest areas of Chicago, Rock Church forged a partnership with Glen Kehrein, Executive Director of Circle Urban Ministries and together they have offered a holistic approach to ministry addressing both the physical and spiritual needs of the community for over two decades. Racial reconciliation has always been an important part of this relationship as both ministries have sought not only to talk about reconciliation but to actively live it out in a community affected by racial strife. In 1998 Abraham Lincoln Washington became Pastor of Rock Church and the two ministries were joined. More information about their dynamic ministry can be found by visiting www.circleurban.org Seven previous Solemn Assemblies have been held on the first Saturday of each month since January in the “2008 Springfield Year of Reconciliation” “God has blessed our prayer efforts over the past months and I sense He has forgiven our sin and is beginning to heal the land. May His name be glorified” said Dr. W.G. Robinson-McNeese, President of the Ministerial Alliance of Springfield. Designated prayer leaders from Springfield’s faith community will participate in this final assembly. Some of the leaders are Bishop George Lucas, Rev. T. Ray McJunkins, Sister Katherine O’Conner, Leroy Jordan and Pastor Steve Seiple Mayor Tim Davlin, Chief of Police Ralph Caldwell, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Walter Milton, Jr. and other City Officials have been invited to attend.