The worshipers were trumpeters, trombonists, and sousaphonists. Cheerleaders, color guard members, ladies twirling umbrellas. Drummers, singers, cymbal-players. Young children, senior citizens, and everyone in between.
They came from all over the country to their church’s national headquarters for an annual Memorial Day weekend celebration, including a parade that marched around the Mt. Vernon Square and Shaw neighborhoods.
The United House of Prayer for all People‘s annual parade on Saturday began and ended at the pentecostal church’s home base at 6th and M streets NW (“God’s White House”) and looped up near U Street. The event honored the church’s founder and subsequent bishops (you can see some choirs and usher groups named after bishops in the photos). The current leader sat in a gazebo by the church’s front entrance, receiving all of the groups as they finished their march.
Some photos from the event*:
*Front seat at the parade courtesy of friends Ivey and Annie, who live across the street from the UHOP.
