cathedral times The Weekly Newsletter of the Cathedral of St. Philip, Serving Atlanta and the World
January 10, 2016
SAND DOLLARS AND STARS It’s been almost a hundred years since the sand dollar looked like a dollar. Our dollars have turned from gold to silver, and from round discs to sheets of paper. Now, our dollars are figures on a check, or digits on a credit card, or maybe just a swipe of our smartphone. But the “sand dollar” name persists. It is the name of a lovely shell, a skeleton, really, along the Atlantic coast, and in oceans around the world. Alive, the animal has little spikes, and thus is one of the echinoderm phylum of animals. The word “echinoderm” means “spiny-skinned.” The sand dollars that I find on the beach are flaky gray discs, with a beautiful five-pointed star pattern on one side. That five-pointed star pattern is a good clue that the sand dollar is actually related to the starfish, or what we call the starfish. The true name of the starfish (not a fish, per se) is the sea star. At the Feast of the Epiphany, we in the Christian Church pause to celebrate a star. It was the sign of a star that led wise men from the east to be searching for the one who would be messiah and who would shepherd God’s people. They found the child Jesus. That star, and stars in general, continue to be signs for us of the light of the world. Somehow, stars indicate a mysterious and powerful light, light that comes to us not just in one line, but in various rays. Light radiating out from its core, in several rays, is what we call a star. Often, we give five rays to a star, but there are obviously so many more. One of the features of sea stars is that when an arm, or ray, is broken off, another one grows in its place. Its body is able to regenerate. (Echinoderms are known for their radial symmetry.) Such is the power of star light, too. It is able to regenerate. When we look for light in our lives, we are looking for something powerful enough to regenerate, powerful enough to touch us again and again. We may be looking for something spectacular and heavenly, but the true lights of the world can come from most anywhere. True lights of radiating mercy can come from right beside us, in someone we know. Or from someone we don’t know. True lights of radiating mercy may even come from the ground below us, from the ocean mud and the sand.
“‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’” From this week’s lectionary Luke 3:16
True lights of radiating mercy can come to us in the form of a gray and flaking skeleton on the beach, a sand dollar. It may look like old currency, but there is something holy in it. It has carried the value of spirit in times past, and it can carry the value of spirit again. During this season of Epiphany, I want to find the stars of heaven. Those stars may not be in the skies. They may be in the sandy beaches of our state. They may be in what the waves and water have washed up and left behind. With God, there is another chance. God wants to show us light, and God will regenerate that presence, again and again, if we need it. I hope you find some of God’s sand dollars this season. They won’t buy you a thing at the shopping mall, but their value will be unsurpassed. They will have the ability to show us, again and again, that God’s light and God’s love are eternal.
PROGR A MS DUR ING THE WEEK T U E S DAYS The Dean’s Men’s Bible Study: 7–8 a.m., Room 319. This group meets consistently to read and study scripture, share faith stories, and support each other in prayer. A light breakfast is available. We finish by 8 a.m. so those gathered may go into the world to carry on their ministries.
2016 CH APTER Rob Adams (Junior Warden), Mary Bondurant, Josh Borden, Kate Brewer, Matt Caine, Mary Caroline Cravens (Senior Warden), Joan Gilbert, Austin Hall, Jason Hultgren, Lindsey Hardegree, Wade Hooper, Eric Mininberg, Doug O’Bryan (Treasurer), Brad Reeves, Julie Rief, Ruth Russ, Susan Troutman, George Watson, Anne Young
CLERGY A ND SENIOR STA FF The Very Rev. Samuel G. Candler Dean Dale Adelmann, Ph.D. Canon for Music The Rev. George M. Maxwell, Jr. Vicar The Rev. C. Wallace Marsh IV Canon for Worship and Parish Life Mary Hunter Rouse Canon for Education The Rev. Carolynne G. Williams Canon for Pastoral Care and Elder Ministry The Rev. Catherine Zappa Canon for Spirituality and Mission The Rev. John William Harkins III, Ph.D. Priest Associate The Rev. Todd D. Smelser Canon Associate for Pastoral Care The Rev. Theophus “Thee” Smith, Ph.D. Priest Associate The Rev. Juan Sandoval Deacon for Hispanic Ministries
Early Morning Women’s Bible Study: 7–8 a.m., Walthour Library. Canon Cathy Zappa leads this group. Women of all ages are encouraged to join us for good fellowship and lively conversation. W E D N E S DAYS The Dean’s Women’s Bible Study: 10:45–11:45 a.m., Room 319. This group meets consistently to read and study scripture, share faith stories, and support each other in prayer. We close promptly at 11:45 a.m. in order to get to carpools and lunches! Eat Your Word Bible Study: Noon, Room 239. Canon Cathy Zappa leads this Bible study. Centering Prayer: 6:30 p.m., Lanier House Chapel. Contact Jeannie Mahood at jmahood@ stphilipscathedral.org. T H U R S DAYS Centering Prayer: 4 p.m., Lanier House Chapel. Contact Ann Hickman, mannhick@aol. com.
WOR SHIP SCHEDULE
MUSIC
Sunday, January 10, 2016 / Epiphany 1C
Sunday, January 10, 2016 / Epiphany 1C
7:45 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Mikell Chapel Celebrant and Preacher: The Rev. Dr. Bill Harkins
11:15 a.m. Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist / Cathedral Choir David Hurd, Father in Heaven Michael McCarthy, Vidi aquam
Liturgy of the Word Lesson: Isaiah 43:1-7 Psalm 29 Epistle: Acts 8:14-17 Gospel: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
8:45 a.m. Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist, Cathedral Celebrant: The Rev. Dr. Thee Smith Preacher: Canon Todd Smelser 9 a.m.
Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist, Mikell Chapel Celebrant and Preacher: The Rev. Dr. Bill Harkins
11:15 a.m. Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist, Cathedral Celebrant: The Rev. Dr. Thee Smith Preacher: Canon Todd Smelser 11:15 a.m. La Santa Eucaristía, Mikell Chapel Celebrant: The Rev. Dr. Bill Harkins Preacher: Deacon Juan Sandoval 4 p.m.
Evensong and Holy Eucharist, Cathedral Officiant and Preacher: Canon Wallace Marsh
8:45 a.m. Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist / All Choristers and Staff Singers Sue Mitchell-Wallace, The Baptism of Jesus Harold Friedell, Jesus, so lowly
4 p.m. Choral Evensong / Cathedral Schola Craig Phillips, Preces and Responses (St David’s, Roswell) Roland Martin in D, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buffalo David Hurd, Father in Heaven Richard Lakey, Spirit of God, descend upon my heart
CHILDREN
The Nurturing Center is open for children three and younger from 8:30 a.m. through the end of the 11:15 a.m. service each week. Children’s Chapel takes place during the 8:45 a.m. service as an option for parents and children who are not yet ready to experience the full liturgy together, though children are always welcome in “big” church. Children three years through third grade begin in church with their parents, follow the children’s acolytes and leaders out at the Sequence Hymn, then rejoin their parents at the Offertory. Two-year-olds attend their own chapel service, which begins at 8:45 a.m. Parents who would like their children two years old and younger to join them for communion may go pick them up from Room 227 at the Peace.
ADULT EDUCATION Adult classes meet Sundays at 10:10 a.m., unless otherwise noted. Find out more at stphilipscathedral.org/learn. OLD FASHIONED SUNDAY SCHOOL Room 133 Led by Canons Cathy Zappa and George Maxwell Religious extremism and violence are back in the news. Everyone seems to agree that religion and violence are related, but not everyone agrees on how or what to do about it. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks recently published a book titled, Not in God’s Name: Confronting Religious Violence, in which he argued that only religion can solve the problem of religiously inspired violence. This term, we look at Rabbi Sacks’ argument in general, and his reading of the Book of Genesis in particular, and use it to talk about the nature of fear, violence, and religion, and how we, as Christians, should be responding to the threats we face. BEGINNING BIBLICAL GREEK Room 356 Led by the Rev. Dr. Thee Smith We offer this introductory class on a drop-in basis and require no previous knowledge of Greek. Every class begins with alphabet and pronunciation practice. This year we use the proven successful, Basic Greek in 30 Minutes a Day: A Self Study Introduction to New Testament Greek by James Found. Continuing Biblical Greek meets Sundays, 1:15–2:45 p.m. in Room 356. For more information about either Greek class, contact the Rev. Dr. Thee Smith, 404-727-0636 or thee.smith@emory.edu.
SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY Room 122 Led by Jim Bingham and Gordon Mathis Jim Bingham and Gordon Mathis lead an ongoing small group Bible Study focusing on a particular book of the Bible for several months at a time. This year, we will begin with a focus on the Gospel of John, which provided the church with a foundational document for its great Christian doctrines. We are reading one chapter each week. Bring your study Bible or favorite translation. We want to read John’s gospel story of the life, teaching, death, and resurrection of Jesus as a community.
BE NOT AFR AID Room 120 Sundays, January 17–February 7 Led by Canon Wallace Marsh Does God heal? Where do I turn when my faith is fragile? How can I face my own death? This series will look at what it means to “Be Not Afraid.” Canon Wallace Marsh will use Samuel Wells book, Be Not Afraid: Facing Fear with Faith to look at what our faith has to say about overcoming the common fears in life.
CATHEDR AL BOOK STOR E SMALL TREASURES – WRITING ABOUT YOUR LIFE IN SHORTS! This winter, the Rev. Martha Sterne will lead a small group in writing short memoir pieces. Martha says, “Everybody has a small book in them. Come write yours.” There’s no telling what you will want to do with what you create! The group will meet from 10 a.m.–noon on Tuesdays, January 12, 19, and 26, and February 9. Space is limited, so reserve your spot ($45) now, through the Book Store: 404-237-7582 or cbs3@ mindspring.com.
CATHEDR AL BOOK STORE HOURS Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday–Sunday 10 a.m.–1 p.m. cathedralbookstore.org
PILGR IM AGE You are invited to consider joining a Roots of Anglicanism pilgrimage, June 3-15, to visit English cathedrals and collegiate foundations that have been influential in the history of Anglican worship. Each day will include a visit to one of England’s great cathedrals or collegiate foundations—including Canterbury, Cambridge University (King's, St. John's, and Trinity Colleges), Durham, Fountains Abbey, Salisbury, St. Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Winchester, and York Minster—and will include an opportunity to join each institution’s worshipping community for Choral Evensong or Eucharist, sung by its own resident choir. The pilgrimage will be led by Canons Dale Adelmann and Wallace Marsh. Maximum group size is anticipated to be 30, and priority will be given to persons closely affiliated with the Cathedral. For more information, contact Dr. Adelmann at dadelmann@stphilipscathedral.org or 404-365-1051.
MUSIC CHOR AL EVENSONG RESUMES THIS SUNDAY At 4 p.m. this Sunday, the Cathedral resumes our weekly offering of Choral Evesong. Sung this week by the Cathedral Schola, music will include works by American composers Craig Phillips, Roland Martin, David Hurd, and Richard Lakey. Come and worship in our marvelous sacred space through music of some of the greatest living American composers.
Jonathan Harvey, Laus Deo Olivier Messiaen, “Les Mages,” from La Nativité du Seigneur Michelangelo Rossi, Toccata Settima J.P. Sweelinck, Ricercar del nono tono
CHILDR EN ALLEGRO: MUSIC FOR YOUNG CHILDREN Using play, movement, singing, and instruments, Allegro and Musikgarten classes help younger children through age 5 develop musical skills and knowledge as well as an appreciation for music, using the Musikgarten curriculum. Classes start again in early January and are grouped by age, featuring varied times and age-appropriate curricula. All classes are taught by Brenda Pruitt, and are held in the Allegro room, downstairs next to the choir room. For more information and to register, go to stphilipscathedral.org/allegro.
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JUILLIARD STUDENT TO PERFORM ON SUNDAY This Sunday, January 10, at 3:15 p.m., we welcome Parker Ramsay as our Sunday afternoon recitalist. Parker is a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory, with Master’s degrees in organ and harpsichord, and is currently pursuing a degree in harp from the Juilliard Conservatory. A winner of the prestigious Sweelinck International Organ Competition in the Netherlands in 2014, Parker has performed in Europe, North America, and Asia. We encourage everyone to come and hear this marvelously talented performer.
CATHEDR AL A NTIQUES SHOW CATHEDR AL ANTIQUES SHOW TICKETS NOW ON SALE Tickets to all Antiques Show events are now on sale in the Cathedral Book Store and at cathedralantiques.org! If you are a show patron, some event tickets will be included in your patron package. If you’re not a patron, it’s not too late to join us! Check the website for all the benefits of each patron level. FIRST PLACE PASSION TOUR ($20) Sunday, January 31, 1–4 p.m. Five unique homes in the charming Springlake neighborhood are on tour and reflect the creativity and passion of first time homeowners. PREVIEW PARTY ($150) Wednesday, February 3, 6:30–9 p.m. The Preview Party is a gala opening night, which offers an exclusive look of the show. Sponsors, patrons, and their guests will be able to walk among the antiques and flowers while enjoying delectable offerings of food and wine. THE ANTIQUES SHOW ($15) Thursday, February 4 and Friday, February 5, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturday, February 6, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The Antiques Show features more than twenty-five select dealers from around the country offering a wide variety of beautiful antiques and collectibles in a broad price range including exquisite porcelain, furniture, jewelry, rugs, art, and silver. FLOWER FESTIVAL (INCLUDED IN PRICE OF ANTIQUES SHOW) Thursday, February 4 and Friday, February 5, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturday, February 6, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. See the best in creative floral design. Multiple spaces throughout the Cathedral are adorned with the work of Atlanta garden clubs and flower guilds. TALKS AND BOOK SIGNINGS ($20 EACH) Thursday, February 4, 11 a.m. Suzanne Rheinstein, Architectural Digest 100 interior designer Friday, February 5, 11 a.m. Clint Smith,* Veranda magazine editor Friday, February 5, 2 p.m. Gudrun Cottenier,* European floral designer Saturday, February 6, 11 a.m. Julia Reed, Garden & Gun contributor ` *Choose the “Friday Bouquet” to hear both floral experts, see the show and the Flower Festival, all for $45 TOUR OF HOMES ($30; $35 DAY OF TOUR) Sunday, February 7, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Step into a world of timeless style as five of Atlanta’s most beautiful private residences are opened to the public for just one day. Each home is a showcase of the best in interior design, architecture, and craftsmanship.
FOR MORE DETAILS ON SPEAKERS AND EVENTS, VISIT CATHEDR ALANTIQUES.ORG.
OUTR EACH
EYC! Join us weekly on Sunday evenings in Room 382 for fellowship, worship, dinner, and conversation. Middle school 5-7 p.m. High school 6-8 p.m. Dinner provided
Mother’s Morning Out!
We are open Monday–Friday from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. in the Nurturing Center and welcome children ages 3 months through 4 years. Register online at stphilipscathedral.org/ mmo. Contact Dorsey Delong, teamdelong@gmail.com, or Mary Holmes, mcholmes73@comcast.net, for more information.
HELP ST. VERONICA’S GUILD COLLECT TOILETRIES As we approach the Epiphany, St. Veronica’s Guild invites you, in the spirit of the Magi, to help us offer gifts of hospitality to strangers. Bring personal care items to support several ministries that serve people in Atlanta who are poor, homeless, or have mental and emotional disabilities: Crossroads Community Ministries, Emmaus House, Holy Comforter Friendship Center, and Church of the Common Ground. Some of the items you can donate are unopened hotel and airline toiletries, such as soap, shampoo, deodorant, razors, shaving cream, toothpaste, and toothbrushes. Place your gifts in the marked containers in the Atrium on Sundays in January, or bring them to the parish Epiphany party hosted by Sara and Donnie Chapman on January 6. St. Veronica’s Guild will organize and deliver your gifts to the ministries listed above. These are small packages, but they help the people served by these ministries in a big way, allowing people to retain their dignity by being clean and healthy. For more information, contact Lucy Perry, 404-350-9494 or perry72@aol.com, or Judy Bodner, 404-814-1468 or jhbodner@ mindspring.com.
PR AYER S For those who are ill or recovering Katherine Thomas Jacques Jean Morris Priscilla Beale Karen Bellaire Virginia Bicksler George Bird John Blair Josh Borden Susan Carlisle Winnie Clark Sally Coulter Lawrence Cowart Terry Dornbush Sarah duBignon Angela Ellis Mary Elrod Mary Ann Frazier D. Louis Gruver, Jr. Connie Hoar Ruthie Hunter The James Family Karen League Jack Lyle Herb Matthews Dick Miller Mary Nevins Kay Ottley Marian Palmore Garry Pryor
Jennifer Rankin Jonna Rankine Joseph K. Steele Roy Unkefer Chandra Westafer Dick Wilson Hollis Youngner Julia Alston Rodger Beatty Campbell Beckwith Paige Blakenship Priscilla Bleke David Boone Joan Brooks Keith Brooks Lauren Anne Johnson Brookshire Meredith, Adam, and Leo Bugenske Denise Carlson Andrew Clark Jackson Culbreth John Dunn George Dunn, Jr. Carleton Fuller Susan Gill Eudelle Lanier Graham Stan Haines Patricia Hentz Robert Hoder Bernard Andreas Kan Dorothy Lanier Kenerly
Dexter Kimball Judith Klauba Kelly Kolak Lisa Krysiak Margaret Winders Kuhn Bonnie Shields McCormack Lorraine McKnight Jan McPherson Helen Patterson Cary Purvis Baby Ridley-Lin Anna Robbins Rand Rollins and Penelope Rollins Logan Shannep John Turman Roush Vance Caroline and John Westerhoff For those who have died Berenice Torruco Tamayo Dona McEachern David Ryan Whitfield, Jr. Nora McMahon For all those serving their country away from home, for their safe return, and for their families who wait for them For all expectant parents
MEMBERSHIP NEWCOMER DINNER The Cathedral Newcomers Committee invites you to join us for the first time or come back for seconds at the Newcomer Dinner, Thursday, January 21, 6:30 p.m. in the Gould Room. Please RSVP to Christie Jennison, cjennison@ stphilipscathedral.org or 404-365-1079.
NEW MEMBER Darrell Grizzle, from Marietta DEATH Dona McEachern, died November 1, 2015 BIRTH Waller Frank Bazzel, son of Rodes and Frank Bazzel, grandson of Barbara and Frank Bazzel, brother of Martha and Nash Bazzel, born January 1, 2016
LETTER S TO A YOUNG EPISCOPALI A N Dear Anna, I ran into Adam Anderson yesterday. I don’t think you have seen him since his son died last year. I know you like the hymn, “God is working his purpose out.” Adam’s story reminds me of that hymn. Adam’s son was only sixteen when he died. It’s still hard for me to believe. I wasn’t sure that Adam would be able to bear the loss. He just couldn’t make sense of it. Adam remembered a prayer that our priest prayed as he scattered dirt on the coffin. “In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to almighty God our brother … .” Adam realized that the hope in this prayer was a hope for a new creation – not just for his son, but also for all of us. Paul Tillich said once that resurrection is not just something we think might happen in the future. It’s the power of our union with Christ to create life out of death, here
and now, today and tomorrow. It is the power of that new being to create eternity out of every moment in time. Adam stopped looking for explanations, and began reimagining what his life would look like if he were a new being, participating in the new creation. At some point, he came across a meditation by Henri Nouwen that uses the story of the two disciples who walked from Jerusalem to Emmaus and back as a basis for reflecting on the Eucharistic life. Adam felt like he was reading his own journal. He saw all of the loss, separation, and resentment that he felt. But, he also heard the promise of finding life after death in the offering of hospitality to strangers. Adam began working in the Saturday arts program at Emmaus House, an organization that provides social services to a neighborhood on the south side of town. He met Thaddeus there, a sixteen-yearold boy who also worked in the program. Thaddeus lost his father years ago and
grew up in the neighborhood with his grandmother. You should see the two of them together; laughing with each other and helping each other help the other kids. The gratitude they feel for each other is all over their faces. In the words of the hymn, it’s like “when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God as the waters cover the sea.” I thought you would like that picture. Your affectionate uncle, Ames
This letter is part of a series of fictional letters by Canon George Maxwell intended for Episcopalians young and old who wonder what it means to be faithful in the world today. Read previous letters in the series at stphilipscathedral.org/letters.
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Christmas was once again a joyous celebration at the Cathedral, including the telling of the nativity story at the Christmas pageant. Left photo by Dan Murphy; Right photo by Jo Reeves.
SUE ALLEN TO SPEAK AT THE CATHEDR AL St. Clare’s Guild invites all ECW guild members to an evening with Sue Allen, Bible study leader, blogger, and Director of Women’s Ministry at Northside United Methodist Church. Join us for an informal talk with wine and cheese with this wonderful local speaker on Thursday, January 14, at 7 p.m. Sue will discuss “The Art of Holy Listening: Pray. Wait. Hear. Obey.” Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at stphilipscathedral.org/payments. Please buy tickets in advance so we know how many to expect. Contact Ruth Russ, ruthruss@me.com, for more information.